SOL: Stanzas of Life

Traveling to the “mother of mankind”, namely Africa, has been an adventure. 7,771 miles from home, Detroit to Nairobi was the first leg of the the journey. In order to get to Nairobi, my family and I flew from Detroit to Frankfort, then Frankfort to Nairobi.

My family’s original connector flight from Detroit to Chicago, a major hub for transit, was delayed by two hours. Consequently, our flight from Chicago to Frankfort had to be changed. After the careful persuasion of the flight advisor, my grandparents rearranged the next available flight, directly from Detroit to Frankfort. A sudden weight was lifted, both literally and figuratively, as the plane left the runway.

The flight across the Atlantic was a perilous journey. At times, I felt like I was sitting next to Amelia Earhart, bracing myself against the rigid, confined Lufthansa chair. With the turbulence and constant vibrations from the dual propellers, I felt uneasy. The trip was then proceeded by a series of checkpoints, Security and Passport Control.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in other nations is drastically different from the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and TSA, “TSA incorporates unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, to accomplish our transportation security mission.” While security is beneficial for travel and the safety of passengers, efficiency is also critical. There were countless occasions where security checkpoints were duplicated and painstakingly slow. Consequently, my family was prompted to sprint to the gate and board immediately.

Arrival to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya was an eye-opening experience. As the seat belt signed was switched off, we paraded down the stairs onto the tarmac before boarding a shuttle to claim our baggage. Outside, local vendors sold flowers and mementos for tourists. Bargaining should be the primary language throughout Africa due to tourism as a major industry in most Southeastern countries. I proceeded to the nearby hotel to decompress and prepare for the upcoming adventures and remaining flights.

After circumnavigating several airports, lingering hours at security checkpoints, eleven lengthy flights, and thousands of miles surfing the clouds, I have finally arrived back home, at least calm temporarily.