As if there were any doubt that I would soon forget, my last night in Africa has been one to remember. I was awoken this morning, at 3 am, by a loud persistent beeping that sounded very much like an alarm, and the sound of rushing water. I went to turn on the lights, but soon found that there was no power.
I waited and listened and tried to fall back asleep as this was one morning I was actually able to sleep in. I hadn’t had many of those on the trip, and though I never really sleep late anyway, it’s nice to have the opportunity. We have had a lot of 5am wakeups these past two months! No power also meant no hot water so my ideas of being clean and not completely grossing out the person sitting next to me on the plane were quickly vanishing.
I lay awake listening to the noises and waited patiently for voices to tell me that someone else had heard the commotion. Then I started to wonder about fire safety and regulations in Africa. I hadn’t seen any smoke detectors nor any fire exits, and I was two flights of stairs and a corridor away from any real exit out.
So, what’s a girl to do in situations like that but throw on some clothes and venture out to investigate. My investigation only led me to discover that either I was completely alone in the B&B, or everyone else, including all the workers, were sound sleepers. I got closer to the sound of running water and realized it was contained, though very loud. I am not sure if it was what was causing the beeping. There was no one to be found, so I simply went back to my room to settle in. I turned up the volume on my alarm, worried I wouldn’t hear it above the ruckus, and crawled back in to bed. It was well after 5 am when I finally fell asleep.
I was woken up, at 7am, by what sounded like someone mowing the lawn, right there beside my bed, as well as all the lights going on. For the past 45 minutes, I have been listening to them rev the generator and watching the lights go on and off as the power surges. The hot water heater seems to be on again, so there are hopes that I will be able to shower and be clean before my journey home.
T. I. A.- This Is Africa! after all. Like I could ever forget.
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It’s now 2:30pm and I am at the airport, super early! I ended up having a refreshing (and freezing cold) sponge bath, as the power eventually conked right out and even upon return to the B&B in the afternoon, still had not been restored. In typical “me” fashion, I headed to the spa today for a little pre-journey pampering. I got my hair washed and dried (she was determined to make it curly, but I managed to persuade her not to!)
I had a pedicure and a hot stone massage on my legs and it was fantastic. 3 hours later, I was ready to hit the road and Eric, my driver for the past two days, helped me load up my backpacks and get to the airport. I will not miss lugging around my backpack. The thing still weighs a ton, even though I have given away a bunch of stuff and used up others. Traffic was less than expected so here I sit, waiting for the desks to open.
I haven’t heard from my dad in a while and I am starting to worry. I have about 24 hours of travel ahead. I can’t wait to see them all.
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Okay, last update before boarding… I hope.
Perhaps I cursed things by calling today’s post, T. I. A., but I went to check in only to be sent to the Customer Care office in the back. It turns out there wasn’t a ticket for me to leave today. Back in June, I changed my original ticket from the 25th to the 27th of August because we weren’t going to be done the tour in time to take the flight on the 25th. I got the new ticket, and printed the itinerary, and assumed all was sorted. Apparently it wasn’t.
After two hours in the office, 20 minutes on some kind lady’s mobile long-distance to Canada and some serious begging, I have a ticket and am in the waiting room hoping to board soon.
They told me I would be issued my boarding pass to Toronto in Addis so I have a feeling my flight issues are not yet over.
Fingers crossed!
WWT: Home, here I come! (I hope!!)
