When the talk about the end of the year being busy, I don’t really think this sort of thing is what they
had in mind, but may be! Returning from RI at 2am on Friday, and then on Sunday, off to VA for a mini
Xmas part II before dinner and international travel, things get a little frazzled. Mother was kind enough
to drive me to Dulles for my 9:15pm flight. She walked me all the way to security, and I had lots of 2008
grad school send-off vibes. I was flying Royal Air Maroc and heading through Casablanca, Morocco to
Doha, Qatar to visit my good friend from Annapolis, Keith. Keith and I have been close friends for many years
now and since he began his engineering contract in Doha a year and a half ago, he has been telling me I
needed to come to visit. The invite for New Years 2020 felt like the perfect excuse to finally get my butt
over there. It’s a little surprising to look back and realize it’s been so long since I’ve taken a big trip and I
was especially excited to head back to the middle east after enjoying Jordan so much.
had in mind, but may be! Returning from RI at 2am on Friday, and then on Sunday, off to VA for a mini
Xmas part II before dinner and international travel, things get a little frazzled. Mother was kind enough
to drive me to Dulles for my 9:15pm flight. She walked me all the way to security, and I had lots of 2008
grad school send-off vibes. I was flying Royal Air Maroc and heading through Casablanca, Morocco to
Doha, Qatar to visit my good friend from Annapolis, Keith. Keith and I have been close friends for many years
now and since he began his engineering contract in Doha a year and a half ago, he has been telling me I
needed to come to visit. The invite for New Years 2020 felt like the perfect excuse to finally get my butt
over there. It’s a little surprising to look back and realize it’s been so long since I’ve taken a big trip and I
was especially excited to head back to the middle east after enjoying Jordan so much.
Part of me would love to share some sort of CRAZY and exciting travel story from my 7h flight across
the Atlantic of the most northern edge of Africa (my 1st time on African soil! But still can’t tick it off the
continent list yet), but I’m feeling a little lazy, and it was really just the average (so much better than
domestic airlines) flight. Aisle seat with no one in the middle, dimmed cabin lights, tiny single-serve
meals and utensils, movies, and (foolishly) not a lot fo sleep. Arriving in Casablanca in the early
afternoon, I was anxious to get out and stretch my legs.
the Atlantic of the most northern edge of Africa (my 1st time on African soil! But still can’t tick it off the
continent list yet), but I’m feeling a little lazy, and it was really just the average (so much better than
domestic airlines) flight. Aisle seat with no one in the middle, dimmed cabin lights, tiny single-serve
meals and utensils, movies, and (foolishly) not a lot fo sleep. Arriving in Casablanca in the early
afternoon, I was anxious to get out and stretch my legs.
The airport in Morocco was WARM. I’d warn layers for the flight but shed my leggings under my
joggers and sweatshirt ASAP. Unfortunately, that left me in a tank top for a shirt (aka bare shoulders)
and I got a LOT of stares from the other travelers. It wasn’t until arriving in Doha that Keith told me, it’s
best to have covered shoulders and knees when in public/family-friendly places. OOPS. I walked
around the airport as much as I could, making the most of my 4h layover. In Morocco, they speak
French and Arabic, so I wasn’t really sure if it was more appropriate for me to greet people in the shops
with a “bon jour” or a “sabah alhayre”. The French came more naturally, so bon jour it was. However, I
was then in the situation of people assuming I *actually* spoke French when the responded and there
was more than one awkward “oh, I don’t actually speak French” moment to follow.
joggers and sweatshirt ASAP. Unfortunately, that left me in a tank top for a shirt (aka bare shoulders)
and I got a LOT of stares from the other travelers. It wasn’t until arriving in Doha that Keith told me, it’s
best to have covered shoulders and knees when in public/family-friendly places. OOPS. I walked
around the airport as much as I could, making the most of my 4h layover. In Morocco, they speak
French and Arabic, so I wasn’t really sure if it was more appropriate for me to greet people in the shops
with a “bon jour” or a “sabah alhayre”. The French came more naturally, so bon jour it was. However, I
was then in the situation of people assuming I *actually* spoke French when the responded and there
was more than one awkward “oh, I don’t actually speak French” moment to follow.
While walking around the airport some aches and pains from travel started to become more obvious
and I figured, why not treat myself to a little TLC and get a nice massage while I wait for the next leg of
my trip. I was sweet-talked into the “deluxe holiday” package from the woman out front, and off I went.
Don’t get me wrong! The chair shoulder and neck massage, followed by the reclined, head and face
massage, followed by the calf and foot massage, followed by tea, was DEFINITELY a great and
relaxing way to spend almost 2h, but I did forget that the euro/dollar conversion rate was not what I
thought and ended up spending significantly more money than I would have otherwise. Oh well!
Perhaps it was the universe’s way of telling me I really needed that time for myself and it was good to
be a little pampered. I wasn’t totally sure how long the massage would be when I began so I did rush
out at the end, getting worried about the boarding time for my flight. After arriving back to my gate, I
realized that the departure time on my ticket was slightly different than what they had listed at the gate
(even though it showed “on time”) and I panicked for a second. BUT luckily the attendants confirmed I
was in the right place and even gave me a reassuring eye roll to further hit home the point that I had
overreacted.
and I figured, why not treat myself to a little TLC and get a nice massage while I wait for the next leg of
my trip. I was sweet-talked into the “deluxe holiday” package from the woman out front, and off I went.
Don’t get me wrong! The chair shoulder and neck massage, followed by the reclined, head and face
massage, followed by the calf and foot massage, followed by tea, was DEFINITELY a great and
relaxing way to spend almost 2h, but I did forget that the euro/dollar conversion rate was not what I
thought and ended up spending significantly more money than I would have otherwise. Oh well!
Perhaps it was the universe’s way of telling me I really needed that time for myself and it was good to
be a little pampered. I wasn’t totally sure how long the massage would be when I began so I did rush
out at the end, getting worried about the boarding time for my flight. After arriving back to my gate, I
realized that the departure time on my ticket was slightly different than what they had listed at the gate
(even though it showed “on time”) and I panicked for a second. BUT luckily the attendants confirmed I
was in the right place and even gave me a reassuring eye roll to further hit home the point that I had
overreacted.
**Side note** Apparently Sprint has free international roaming with their unlimited plan, and so while my
service most places in the US is pretty terrible, I was able to get messages back home with easy. When
I would be arriving in Doha, I’d be meeting Keith’s girlfriend, Alena, who was traveling from Moscow,
and she messaged me to say her flight may be delayed due to blizzard conditions! Not a huge deal, but
a minor hiccup as she was going to navigate getting us from the airport to Keith’s, having done it
several times before.
service most places in the US is pretty terrible, I was able to get messages back home with easy. When
I would be arriving in Doha, I’d be meeting Keith’s girlfriend, Alena, who was traveling from Moscow,
and she messaged me to say her flight may be delayed due to blizzard conditions! Not a huge deal, but
a minor hiccup as she was going to navigate getting us from the airport to Keith’s, having done it
several times before.
Another uneventful flight on Qatar Airways for 6h, which held slightly more sleep, had me arrive in Doha
International close to midnight, 12/30/19. By then I’d lost all track of what day it was, what time it was,
or where I was, and luckily I knew just enough of *who* I was to get me through immigration. Turns out
Alena’s flight was only slightly delayed so I waited for her in baggage claim and brushed my teeth to
feel a little more human again. (It’s amazing how clean teeth can help you feel like a new person
sometimes). Alena arrived around 2am and after collecting her luggage, and her buying a new SIM
card, I ordered us an Uber to Keith’s. **additional side note** Keith would not be arriving until late
afternoon on 12/31 so it was up to Alena and me to get to his place and settle in.
International close to midnight, 12/30/19. By then I’d lost all track of what day it was, what time it was,
or where I was, and luckily I knew just enough of *who* I was to get me through immigration. Turns out
Alena’s flight was only slightly delayed so I waited for her in baggage claim and brushed my teeth to
feel a little more human again. (It’s amazing how clean teeth can help you feel like a new person
sometimes). Alena arrived around 2am and after collecting her luggage, and her buying a new SIM
card, I ordered us an Uber to Keith’s. **additional side note** Keith would not be arriving until late
afternoon on 12/31 so it was up to Alena and me to get to his place and settle in.
No hang-ups fro my 1st international Uber trip (didn’t know Uber was international...guess it *has* been
a while since I traveled!) other than being unable to switch our payment from credit card to cash (rials)
mid-trip (which I also didn’t know you were able to do!...who’s feeling REALLY out of the loop now!!!!)
We arrived at the Dusit Hotel West Bay, and up to room 2404 where Keith lives with his flatmates
Ainesh and Fabi. Fabi was home with her family and was nice enough to let me stay in her room during
my trip.
a while since I traveled!) other than being unable to switch our payment from credit card to cash (rials)
mid-trip (which I also didn’t know you were able to do!...who’s feeling REALLY out of the loop now!!!!)
We arrived at the Dusit Hotel West Bay, and up to room 2404 where Keith lives with his flatmates
Ainesh and Fabi. Fabi was home with her family and was nice enough to let me stay in her room during
my trip.
After a quick shower, I flopped into bed around 4am (ugh) and crashed HARD.
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