FINALLY, TRAVELLED BY AIR.

I am only writing this because ‘he’ asked me to. Most importantly because ‘he’ rubs me the right way in so many ways #swerve. This could be embarrassing or interesting to someone, either way it remains my experience.

Never in my history of 22 years have I ever travelled by plane. The closest I had come to one was when dropping my aunt to the airport and packing an x’s suitcase (memory that was).If anything, I think my aunt is the only one in our family, both nuclear and extended, that is widely travelled.

My travel to Kisumu came as a shocker, who would have thought interns get such opportunities. It was one of those ‘kawaida’ days at work when there is so much to do, you can hardly hear yourself breath. “Beth book your flight to Kisumu for Wednesday” my boss said. “Is she speaking to me?” my mind whispered. “Of course she just said Beth dummy”, my mind added.

I work in an open office where your boss sits across the room. There are no hierarchical partitions, everyone is equal. Well of course, apart from the pay cheque. My boss is a busy body, who is often glued to her computer. She often gives me instructions and I think it’s a mantra she is reciting.

The thought of travelling by plane is exciting but the procedures are complicated to suit the crème in society. After all, you don’t expect beggars to board planes.

I had been instructed to book and print the tickets and ensure the seat I book for my boss is the best lest I would lose my job (kidding).

In addition, I was to check in on line and print a boarding pass. You can imagine this is what I had to go through when the only means of transport I have known are javs and buses.

I may have made the procedure experience sound complex, but wait until I narrate my airport experience.

On Wednesday the 19^th, I got into work as usual. Nobody in the office cares if you are supposed to travel. All assignments must be completed before travel. Early morning, it had been made clear that I had to be at the airport 2 hours earlier unless I had checked in online.

The second option was out of the question for Beth. All I felt was the fear of getting to the airport after my boss, even worse getting late for the flight. How would you blame me? #amateurvibes.

2.45pm

I am in the cab and thinking the driver is too slow. There is no horrible feeling than fear of the unknown. ‘What if I get late? What if I get confused at the airport? What if I embarrass myself? I couldn’t help but ask myself .Traffic on Waiyaki way, Uhuru highway and Mombasa road can ruin your day. Nairobi isn’t the kind of place you hover around and expect to be on time.

4.00pm

Delighted to be at the airport but another challenge is posed. I have no idea where to begin. The feeling worsens when everyone seems to have a sense of direction. I commend the cab thou for dropping me at the local flights section or I would have lost it.

In a bid to confirm my fears wrong I approached a section of airline cashier counters. Phew! It wasn’t that difficult because the airline were distinctly announced with huge banners. “Even a fool can tell” I whispered.

Swiftly, I approached the KQ counter and my ticket was approved .I then got my luggage checked and went to the boarding section.

Here, they print the boarding pass and tag your luggage to avoid loss. Everything was falling into place until I found myself on the wrong queue. Unlike on the outside, the tags on the inside airline counters were not as distinct.

After queuing for ten minutes, I felt lucky to finally reach the counter. The attendants ask for your ID and boarding pass. ’Kindly assist me with your ID and boarding pass”, the attendant asks. “Here you go”, I reply, while confidently handing over the necessary documents.

“Madam this is flight 540 and your boarding pass reads KQ. Kindly go straight ahead to that counter at the end”, he adds, while pointing at the KQ counter. This was extremely embarrassing, at some point I almost sunk in the ground.

Just when I thought that was the only surprise of the day I am met by hard facts at the departure section. When everyone else in the outside world is busy thinking as long as you travel by air you are classy, at the airport it’s a converse story. You are defined by the airline you use.

Of course on this I was lucky. I mean, I was flying KQ. From the nature of the airlines boarding section a lot can be denoted. Other airlines have crowded boarding sections because they are cheap, the attendant’s uniform are outshined by KQ and the aura is not refined. If I just stepped on your toes ‘sorry.’’

Mine might have been a local flight but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling important. More so because of the attention my mum was giving me. I felt like I had just been newly born. “My dear did you get to the airport safe? Please make sure you don’t snack a lot minutes to your flight because you might feel nauseous. Also make sure you update me on every single detail”.

At some point I felt like everyone knew I was an amateur who just couldn’t keep calm or a freshman during orientation week.

I would love to delve into my on air experience but then that would mean exposing myself to public ridicule. In an nutshell though, it was amazing and given a chance I would travel by air any day,everyday,anywhere..Hehe.