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patgund12:41am, PST
Currently I'm writing this just south of Iceland, 1 hour and 55 minutes out from Amsterdam. 3020 miles gone so far, 39053 feet.
World Business Class on this airliner is an interesting experience. Smoked Salmon for dinner, and a airline seat that folds into a nearly flat bed. I ended up getting nearly two hours sleep. They have a fold out screen for movies, music, games, etc. A blanket, pillow, and a kit with comb, toothbrush and paste, shaving supplies, socks, etc.
Surprised they don't offer internet access. (chuckle). I can get really used to traveling this way.
The flight out from Detroit took us north over Montreal and Quebec City. Both are gorgeous from the air. Further north over Nova Scotia. Before I fell asleep, I got to see a moonlight glimpse of Greenland's ice cap.
The flight will take us over the north of Ireland, and over the UK around Manchester. Have no idea what I'll see - there's mostly clouds below us right now. Be interesting to see one of the countries my ancestors came from - even if from the air.
The only serious unpleasantness has been the woman next to me. A Nigerian-born doctor, who's in practice in Louisiana now. And, it turns out, a evangelical of the Jack T. Chick order. She wanted to spend the first 10 minutes of the flight talking about faith - which meant 10 minutes of prying questions about my beliefs and 45 minutes of her trying to witness to me, with a "I'm right everyone else is wrong" certainy that set my teeth on edge.
*Sigh* I have nothing against Christianity, but she made me very uncomfortable with her witnessing. Especially since I kept telling her I didn't want to discuss it.
As the plane was pulling out from the gate in Detroit, I was taken by the worse case of self-doubt I've had. A long period of "what am I doing, who the hell am I fooling, why am I going so far from my friends and my daughter???"
The answer - because I'm building a better life for myself and my daughter, and because Weil Cornell Medical College thought I was good enough on paper to spend a *lot* of money to bring me over here.
Even if I don't pass the probationary period, (which is pretty much geared towards making sure one handles culture shock), that's still a solid boost for my career.
I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing.
Repeat as needed.
I'm already home sick, I admit this. My first week in Doha is going to be one of the biggest shocks in my life.
1:22 am PST
Used the kit to shave, wash my face, brush my teeth, and comb my hair. Now feeling a bit more human.
According to the in-flight display, we're approaching the Irish Coast. 672 miles from Amsterdam, 1 hour and seven minutes. May shut down laptop to enjoy the view.
Looks like a nearly two hour stopover in Amsterdam. Good, a chance to get outside of the plane will be nice. It will be 10 in the morning locally when I get there. Might have a chance to see at least some of the rest of the airport.
Currently I'm writing this just south of Iceland, 1 hour and 55 minutes out from Amsterdam. 3020 miles gone so far, 39053 feet.
World Business Class on this airliner is an interesting experience. Smoked Salmon for dinner, and a airline seat that folds into a nearly flat bed. I ended up getting nearly two hours sleep. They have a fold out screen for movies, music, games, etc. A blanket, pillow, and a kit with comb, toothbrush and paste, shaving supplies, socks, etc.
Surprised they don't offer internet access. (chuckle). I can get really used to traveling this way.
The flight out from Detroit took us north over Montreal and Quebec City. Both are gorgeous from the air. Further north over Nova Scotia. Before I fell asleep, I got to see a moonlight glimpse of Greenland's ice cap.
The flight will take us over the north of Ireland, and over the UK around Manchester. Have no idea what I'll see - there's mostly clouds below us right now. Be interesting to see one of the countries my ancestors came from - even if from the air.
The only serious unpleasantness has been the woman next to me. A Nigerian-born doctor, who's in practice in Louisiana now. And, it turns out, a evangelical of the Jack T. Chick order. She wanted to spend the first 10 minutes of the flight talking about faith - which meant 10 minutes of prying questions about my beliefs and 45 minutes of her trying to witness to me, with a "I'm right everyone else is wrong" certainy that set my teeth on edge.
*Sigh* I have nothing against Christianity, but she made me very uncomfortable with her witnessing. Especially since I kept telling her I didn't want to discuss it.
As the plane was pulling out from the gate in Detroit, I was taken by the worse case of self-doubt I've had. A long period of "what am I doing, who the hell am I fooling, why am I going so far from my friends and my daughter???"
The answer - because I'm building a better life for myself and my daughter, and because Weil Cornell Medical College thought I was good enough on paper to spend a *lot* of money to bring me over here.
Even if I don't pass the probationary period, (which is pretty much geared towards making sure one handles culture shock), that's still a solid boost for my career.
I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing.
Repeat as needed.
I'm already home sick, I admit this. My first week in Doha is going to be one of the biggest shocks in my life.
1:22 am PST
Used the kit to shave, wash my face, brush my teeth, and comb my hair. Now feeling a bit more human.
According to the in-flight display, we're approaching the Irish Coast. 672 miles from Amsterdam, 1 hour and seven minutes. May shut down laptop to enjoy the view.
Looks like a nearly two hour stopover in Amsterdam. Good, a chance to get outside of the plane will be nice. It will be 10 in the morning locally when I get there. Might have a chance to see at least some of the rest of the airport.
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no subject
Date: 2005-08-22 11:00 am (UTC)Yes you are doing the right thing, and you are doing the thing that is right for you, at this time, little bit doesn't care about that education you are working on offering her right now she is very proud that her dad is going on an adventure, and she is very proud of the bear that you gave her just before you left, and she is very unknowning as to what is going to happen in the next months.
The last is something that the two of you share together with me, and all of these friends of yours that are seriously praying for your wellbeing.
It sounds to me, that what we had hoped would happen, is.
You are taking the time to review things going on around you and to talk to yourself and get some answers back. THIS is a GOOD thing, and I can only hope that you find some level of peaceful friendship to hold your relationship with yourself in.
Sometimes, being powerless to change outcomes that matter to us, give us the ability to find a new perspective - or way of thinking to allow us to free up needed resources we have allowed to idle too long in our lives.
Most of the time people need to make changes in their lives, it isn't outside forces that have sabotaged them before they even begin. We can't control what goes on outside our mental states, we can choose how we view what goes on outside, we can choose to let it roll off us, and we can choose not to let something have the power to hurt us, or to take something personally. Thus do I pray for you, that you find this wealth of peace
and practice it.
I love you.
By the way, you are ready to move on to another Sarah. Go find "Drawn to the Rhythm of the sea" and see if you can tell me why you are there.
I'm proud of you.
hugs
no subject
Date: 2005-08-22 02:16 pm (UTC)