Travel Diary: Johannesburg → Dubai → Algiers
My KOVA handbag and passport in hand, the flight to Johannesburg was short and sweet. I caught a little nap, missed the meal, and woke up just in time to catch the clouds before landing.
Walking through OR Tambo was overstimulating but exciting. We passed so many stores and browsed through them. Some of my colleagues were looking for plugs, others for snacks. I was well packed (read overpacked), so I didn’t need anything, but I was curious to see what I could find.
We needed the toilets, and they were full as expected.
The lady manning them ushered my colleagues to open stalls and then took me to one near the entrance meant for people with disabilities. I was thankful… until she muttered that she’d appreciate something afterwards.
I was like “huh?” but continued because I really needed to pee.
When I came out, she was waiting by the sinks and repeated, “just give me something small, mama.” I told her I didn’t have anything but sweets, and she said yes, even that. So I washed my hands, dug through my KOVA for the pack of Maynard jelly beans I’d packed for the long flight, and handed it over.
Such a weird interaction, I had to shake it off.
The great part about OR Tambo though was the free WiFi. It was actually great, which meant the wait wouldn’t feel too long. I updated my socials, walked around, and before we knew it, it was time to board.
Emirates was taking us to Dubai!
This was about a ten-hour flight and I was uncomfortable most of it. Big plane, but those seats? Terrible. And worst of all, I had the middle seat.
I was sat between a Ghanian gentleman whom I later found out was also heading to IATF and a lovely older German lady who was traveling to Austria to visit her brother.
Us three? We bonded and took care of each other this flight, haha.
When my screen wasn’t responding, he helped. We woke each other up for meals. We chatted. The lady accidentally turned off her phone and didn’t know her PIN, so it stayed off.
Later in Dubai we tried to call her son for help, but WhatsApp calls aren’t allowed there, apparently.
At the airport, Arlene and I walked side by side, navigating the crowd to find our next terminals. We said goodbye when we found hers first. It was the cutest interaction, I hope she had the best time in the Swiss.
Dubai Airport is huge and so cool. I was in awe the entire time.
I joined my Namibian colleagues, stopped by the toilets to freshen up, and then we headed to our next boarding gate.
Next stop, Algiers. North Africa, baby!
