Field Trip to the Airport and New Flight

After boarding the plane, I'm patiently waiting to start the travels, still holding back tears and texting Brent. Doors lock and we are ready! WOAH!!!! I start reading to distract my thoughts about missing everyone already. Suddenly I realize, the plane isn't moving. hmmmm. We must be waiting for our turn on the runway, interesting, there wasn't very many people in the airport is there really a line for the planes? Half an hour after our take-off time, the pilot's voice is heard on the intercom, expecting to hear "Blah blah blah, we'll be taking of shortly, blah blah blah, thank you for your patience." What I did hear was, "Blah blah blah, one of the plane's hydraulics isn't working, but the plane has backup so we can usually fly with one being out, blah blah blah, HOWEVER, there is another issue with the plane, with these two issues we cannot fly, luckily Columbia has ground mechanics so we are going back to the gate. Thank you for your patience."
My ears perked when I heard "However". However and But are never two good words to hear from a pilot. Well people are frantic, babies are crying, the stewardess is now on the intercom, trying to calm people down, but never saying what the other problem is. I am just waiting for security to come on the plane to escort someone off, or there was a threat of some kind, or something that would only be on a lifetime movie. Anyways, the maintenance crew asks for everyone to get off the plane, which doesn't take long, its a little puddle-jumper. Back at the gate, we wait. We may board this plane again, we may need a new plane, no one knows. Meanwhile, I am calm, just thinking "typical African travels", "who can I text", "man I wish I didn't pack my beef jerky in my check in bags." Eventually, there is an announcement over the loud speaker, "Blah blah blah, we are going to reboard at 4:00pm, arriving in DC at 5:15(ish), if your connecting flight leaves DC before 6pm, please come to the ticket desk."
Yep, saw that one coming. The staff at the desk are amazingly calm people. I was second in line with 20 impatient angry people behind me. After half an hour, and several phone calls, I am re-booked for tomorrow. During this half an hour, I am trying to talk my way into first class, of course. I didn't get upgraded, but I do have window seats again, no super long layovers, and I think a better itinerary.

Practice makes perfect right? The public health side of my is reminded of Bandura and the social cognitive theory. I will say my self-efficacy in my ability to go through the check-in and boarding procedures is higher now, and it added some humor in my good-byes.

Even though today is a little lonely, everyone is at work, I have already said my good-byes, everything is packed, and it's just relax time. Having relax time with nothing to do is unusual for me. But is very much needed. So if you hear something on the news about Brussels, Rwanda, etc. I am not there. Here is my new flight plan:


Columbia to Washington: United Flight 7167 Departs: Tuesday at 2:37pm, arrives at 3:59pm.

Washington to Amsterdam: United Flight 946 Departs Tuesday at 5:43, arrives at 7:15am.

Amsterdam to Entebbe, Uganda: KLM Flight 561 Departs Wednesday at 10:40am, arrives at 8:40pm.