Adventures in Ukraine

While waiting to board the transatlantic flight I got a chance to people watch. As I said before, there was a senior tour group waiting to fly to Moscow as well. I sat next to a couple who reminded me of Michael’s great-grandmother, Granny and PaPa Harris. We had to have our papers checked to insure that our passports had Russian visa’s (if needed). That required us to stand in line and have the ONE ande ONLY employee check everyone’s papers before they could board. So I just happened to be up there asking a question when she started checking papers…any way!

The couple had watched my bags for me and so I agreed to watch theirs. Of course I was sarcastic, my like my Dad, and asked if they did tricks? They looked at me, I said, ‘you know, tricks, roll over, play dead…’ the wife got it and started laughing…the husband…not so much…oh well, not everyone gets my humor.

In line to get their passports checked were three sisters and their brother. He looked like the lone Banty rooster in a hen house FULL  of hens. And hens that were sure going to tell him how to do it! They reminded me of Fiddler on the Roof where Tevia is being henpecked by all the woman in his family. They talked over each other, and repeated the same instructions over and over because they each heard the instructions as if for the first time, even though their sibling had JUST been given that same instruction. “You must have your boarding pass”, “Sister, I have to have my boarding pass, do you know where it is?”, second sister “Sister, I have to have my boarding pass, so you have yours?”, third sister “I have to have my boarding pass? Sister, do you have my boarding pass?” I couldn’t help but giggle. The poor brother went from sister to sister, making sure that the papers they had left with their bags, got to the appropriate sister…and then back to get the second ones papers…etc! It was better than any TV sitcom on the air!

Finally…everyone was boarded and we took off for Moscow! We hadn’t been in the air more than 20 minutes or so when the captain came on the speaker and asked for any Dr. to find a flight attendant. Uh-oh! That didn’t sound very good to me. We kept flying for a little while, when the captain again came over the intercom and announced that we were going to make an emergency landing in Boston to deplane a passenger that needed to have medical attention.

Needless to say Sharon was surprised to hear my voice still in the States! We had to be on the ground for over an hour before we could fly on to Moscow. (before landing we also had to get rid of fuel and it looked very weird out of the side windows to see them dumping it!)

Then…on to Moscow!

till later…

I got thru the check in process, and the security, and finding my gate, and getting something to drink…aghhhh…with no problems. I was quite early so I had plenty of time to sit and read my book while waiting for the flight to board.

As,  we waited in the gate area the lady sitting next to me had a Kindle (electronic book) with her and I asked her about it. As we began chatting, I learned that she was from Terrel, TX and her son and my grandson had played against each other in soccer years ago! (it IS a small world) As we chatted, we noticed a paramedic team arrive at the gate. They were let in the gate, and were soon followed by four fireman. Of course…the electricity in the room went up a few notches. Everyone wondering about who the paramedics were here to help, and joking about the pilot needing medical attention “ha ha ha” in very insecure tones. As it turns out we were delayed by forty minutes while they took care of a pregnant lady who needed some help, and by the other people having to wait to deboard…it turned out to be not TOO bad, but we got a late start.

The flight to Atlanta was very uneventful, although my seat mate was very interesting. She was Venezuelan (living in the States now), and just as animated talking with her hands as someone YOU all know! We had a very interesting conversation about her children, work, etc. (she has two, and works for FICA) She asked about what I was doing and I shared some of my Ukraine work with her. She said she wasn’t very religious, but…I shared about why I do what I do, and talked some about Jesus. When we deplaned, she waited for me and made sure that I got to the right gate area to catch my next flight, and then hurriedly gave me her card so that I could email her with how my trip went. It was a very kind act on her part, and I really appreciated her help in a strange and different airport for me.

I finally found my gate, and was just stopping to buy something to eat when they announced a gate change. Of course it was for a gate on the opposite end of the terminal! So I dropped my food and ran to the other gate area. I bought some lunch when I got to the correct gate.

There was a tour group of seniors that were also in the gate area waiting for their flight to Moscow, and a cruise up one of the rivers there in Russia. We were starting to pre-board when the rest of the team from Arkansas arrived. I thought for just a moment that they would not make it for some reason!

We eventually got on the flight and began our journey.

till later…

Another trip to Ukraine is well on its way. I had no way of knowing that this trip would be one that started with so much “adventure”. When I arrived at DFW, everything was going great so far, the traffic had been very light…You know the drill…getting the bags all situated…getting checked in etc….

I arrived with two check in bags and two carry ons. My bags weighed in at exactly 50 lbs apiece, I had much concern over what to take and what had to be left behind, but they were right on the money for the weight. So…the gentleman that checked me in looked at my ticket and asked me how you said the name of the city where I was going. Of course I answered correctly, and in a Russian accent, the name Dnepropetrovsk. He smiled and showed me his name tag and asked what nationality it was. I said, very facetiously, “Polish?”. Of course he winced, and told me he gave me every opportunity to say Ukrainian!! I laughed, and he smiled and told me his grandparents were Ukrainian, although he was born here, he had ties there. He had never been there, but…we had a pleasant exchange.

As I was saying about my bag weight…it was exactly 50 lbs. until I put on the straps that would help identify them and keep them from bursting open and strewing my things all over two continents. After the straps, the bags were 51 lbs. One pound over the weight limit and subject to excess weight charges…for BOTH bags! He looked down as he threw the first one on the conveyor belt, “Hmmm…”, and as the second one weighed exactly one lb over, he said “you are consistent with the weight of your bags” and threw the second one one the belt as well! (with no charge to me) I just smiled and said “yeah…thanks!” That was the first of my blessings on this new adventure! Thank you “Delta Man”, I appreciate your courtesy, and forgiveness in my overage!

till later….