“You are sweating in the Air Conditioning!” I paused and turned. I knew there was going to be trouble. The lady was wearing a smart uniform, she looked official. Here we were stood in the middle of a large airport departure lounge and this guy was sweating even though the air conditioning was pumping out. She was paid to spot trouble. It looked like she had found some. Do you hate it when you want to speak but the words don’t come out? Do I tell her that I am ill, and risk being prevented taking the flight? I can’t lie as my value set will not allow it, I don’t want to try and mislead her. I mention diarrhea. “Oh, you run?” That’s what they call it over here, ‘running’. 100m in 9.42 seconds I reckon. Plus of course the long jump.
The lady accepted my explanation. What I could have also said is that I was waiting in the queue with the minutes counting down to ‘check in’ closure, when someone stood next to me explained that my bags had not been checked. They were heavy bags and I was tired. My friends had not been allowed into the airport. Only those that have a passport and a valid ticket can get past the armed guard. I pulled and carried my bags to security. “Why have you been in Ghana?” “Where have you stayed?” “Where do you live?” I had to open my bags for them to be checked, there was no smiling, just work. At last the guard scrolled chalk marks on two of my bags, “You can go” she said. I thought, “Only if I make check-in”. I was still out of my depth, as check-in is preceded by weigh-in. “Why is your hand luggage so heavy” asked the two men undertaking the weight checks. I wanted to say, because of the gifts from my friends, but the truth is; that my bags were balanced badly as I am a novice at international travel. 8kg this, 38kg that, what do they think? Do they really expect everyone to have a butchers weighing scale dangling from their ceiling at home. A bag is a bag. You fill it until the zipper will not close. Then you sit on it, and if it closes then all is fine.
Now someone notices that I am travelling Business Class and the position changes. “This way, Sir” “Excuse me Madam, you have to wait there. This route is reserved for VIP’s.” Mmm, I like business class.
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