Farewell America

I have 4 more days to relax at Michael's place in Aiken... I go for my little walks around town, find the post office and send my postcards, I actually clean the house, finally....!!!

Oh and we make it to the movies 'The Three Musketeers'  - don't bother - it's not that good....

And, we have a nice BBQ one night - all in all a very pleasant last week!

I walk for an hour to the charity shop to leave them some of my possessions I don't need anymore... good excercise (physically and emotionally)!!

 I check in online and am ready to leave early on Friday 28 November!  1 day before my US visa runs out - good timing.

Last impressions of some unique American lifestyle:

I got into watching 'extreme couponing' very very interesting! Americans are crazy people... They collect all these coupons and go shopping - a 1000$ shopping sprea would cost them maybe 45$... it is definately an art and takes these people a 35 hours week to plan and collect. It's a bit like hoarding - they buy quantities of stuff they don't need, just because it is free!  And they keep doing this.  Some shop like this and give it to charity - that I can appreciate!  I got Huda & Sarah (it's not as common in Canada as it is in the States) and also Michael into couponing ... in a very small way only... but what the heck?  why pay when you don't have to?!  We all need a lot more training in this art.....

Waiter on wheels... why get out of the car if you don't have to....

 Easy loans to be had everywhere. People even get 'payday loans' - because they can't wait for their pay cheque to clear.  Unbelievable !  (this is also common in Canada).... No wonder America is stuffed!!!

 Home sweet home...

On Friday morning, Michael drives me to Columbia at 8.30 am (about 1 hour drive) - we have breakfast at the Waffle House.  From there I am being picked up by a chauffeur driven car who will take me to Charlotte Airport (about 2 hours drive). 

I have to say farewell to Michael - but Inshallah I will see him in Germany in December - as his time in the States is also coming to an end!

My lady driver is very nice - turns out she is married to a German (how could it be any other way).  We got chatting about many things, and she commented on my Greyhound bus rides - that I would have experienced a different class of Americans - ie. poor and uneducated and mainly black.... interesting but true! 

She also tells me that one is no longer allowed to wish anybody a 'merry Xmas' - but only a 'happy holiday'... (actually it is the same in Canada) - I think this is taking the political correctness a bit too far!  They are crazy about being politically correct in US & Canada - where is my freedom of expression in this democracy?  Basically it is very very restricted! One way of controlling people!!!

Another thing we discussed is the bad economy in the US - there is a big divide now between the 'haves' and 'have nots'.  There are no jobs, lots of people have lost everything, people are uneducated and many are homeless.  However, South Carolina is still a place with a lot of affluent families - you can tell by the boutique shops and the horse farms - there is definately money there!

Also, Obama has basically no chance of being re-elected - as the Americans don't like him and blame him for everything that is wrong with their country - a the average American has no clue that there are other countries in existance - sad really.  They can not see further then their own back fence.  A shame!  Obama inherited decades of Bush mismanagement, which can not be resolved in 4 years of office.  But the good ones either get shot or get voted out!  Oh well....

Enough of politics...lets talk weather....

A storm was brewing on the horizon and they forecast snow for New York.  Oh well.... I have plenty of time to check in at Charlotte airport - but have to pay for my luggage $25.... I complain, and they tell me that the rules have changed - now all luggage has to be paid for - no more one free piece of luggage, the oil price has gone up - apparently.  Oh well....

Also, security is extremely tight: take off your shoes, your coat, your belt, your watch, unpack laptop, throw away your waterbottle ... thank goodness I have a lot of time!

A young girl starts talking to me - complaining about the waterbottle prices - anything from $2.50 upwards they charge... she reckons that the customs people are in it for a profit!.... What to do???

The airport is very quaint, to say the least:

Clowds and wind....when arriving at Charlotte airport.

 Very pleasant way of waiting for your plane.... in a rocking chair.... only in America!

 And of course, a piano player to lull the people in the rocking chairs... only in the South!

The flight was pleasant.  One funny thing happened before we took off:  there was a man sitting on the window seat - he went off to the bathroom.  A flight attendant came and asked whether the seats for available, as she had 2 passengers she needed to seat.  I told her about the guy.  Next thing - she brought the 2 passengers and sat them next to me.  The guy came back and wanted his seat - we sent him to the flight attendant, who insisted she did not know that the seat was taken..... short term memory loss...not a good sign in a flight attendant!  Anyway - she found him another seat and was sooo very apologetic to the guy - offering him free drinks and free food and free anything.... And we all said: what about us?

Apparently, in America, if a service staff makes a mistake, they can be sued... so of course they will bend backwards to make things right again.  Like what happened to me when I first arrived and my flight cancellation..... good to know!

We arrived savely at JFK airport @ 3pm.  My Emirates flight is not til 11.20 p.m. - so I have a LOT of time to kill.....  I walk around the airport - can't check in until 8.00 pm.  Have a coffee and sandwich and wish that I had taken my adapter with me (which I gave to Michael) - I coud have blogged for a few hours.  Oh well....

So I sit and watch people.... walk around a bit more.... and finally go to the EK check-in area.  The Indians are already queuing up, even though the counters are not open yet... typical!  Turns out the flight is mainly made up of Indian travellers, a few Whites and some Arabs - very interesting indeed!

I check in without any problems - am travelling light remember!!! and I walk to an area where there are meditation rooms, various church prayer rooms, and an Islamic prayer room!  This is definately a sign:  I need to pray before my flight!  I am happy, but apprehensive, as I am not used to praying in public.  I hang around for a while and then decide to go in.  I am glad I did.  The atmosphere was so tranquille.  It was good that I was able to pray, stop and just Be! Hamdullilah!

Inshallah we will have a safe flight to Dubai - 14 hours..... Oh well!

In summary:

Canada
I would love to come back with money and travel the country.... it is extremely expensive to travel in Canada doesn't matter whether you travel by air, train or road... the taxes make it so expensive - it's crazy and unfortunate.  It's a beautiful and big country and lots more to see, and the people are very nice and friendly ....Inshallah another time.... For now I will treasure the memories of this visit = the places and the wonderful people I have met=!

USA
There is some beautiful countryside here, however, people are strange - superficially friendly, not so friendly in the cities... they have attitude problems ....and they are gun happy....
It's another big country to explore... but not sure whether I would make an effort to come back....  I enjoyed my time here and loved the countryside down south! But Michael is leaving - and I don't think I really want to come back.....

So there; my first leg of my journey has come to an end = 3 months =.  I am very lucky!  And I thank all the people who have looked after me during this time!!!

Until next time.....Inshallah.

Sabine & Dougal & Hisham in memory