~Destination: 14th Ave~

Hello oh, hm, it's me again.

Mutallab day - Jan 9th 2010:

So with all the Mutallab going on, I had thought my flight back to the US would be unbearable and annoying. In fact, I actually had high expectations. Once, I dreamed that I was being searched (body) and instead of the guy to do his job, he was just molesting me and I slapped him. Lol.

I honestly looked forward to it happening and me slapping whoever, whether man or woman. I know, my mind wonders to far places, but you know, you can never tell. All these people, hm. I even thought they were actually going to use body scanners on me and other victims of the circumstance. Yes oh, I'm a Victim and anyone else who's been subjected to all these.

Those who had left before me heading to the US informed me of how thorough there search was and I was quite disturbed by all of it. I was really not looking forward to traveling. Alone, traveling such a long distance from Port Harcourt to USA is tiresome, talk-less of the extreme searches.

Jan 9th 2010(Port Harcourt airport)

My Prayer -God, please take control.

This kind of airport that doesn't have an AC, hm. I can't shout. I thank God for my daddy's people who were helping me lift my boxes and all of that.
Box X-ray: We went in for the first luggage search process (X-ray). They don't even try self. Open the box and show it to the whole world. Can't they be discreet about it. Cheum. I don't even know what they were searching for. Then the first set of men to check were asking me to do New Year for them. I did oh, I told them 'Happy New Year, may it be filled with only happiness'. They are like which kind New Year is that, that I should by coke or something. Me I just smiled.
Second checking by women. One of them was begging me to give her my set of eye shadows. See me see wahala oh. 'Do New Year for me na, give me this one na'. I was just looking at her and it was my favorite eye-shadow. lol.

Check-in: I had checked in online earlier that day so I went to get my tickets and weigh my luggage. 50.4lbs and 51.2lbs. Kai, I thought they would make me reduce it, but the lady said it was okay and even asked me if I wanted to check-in my carry-on for no extra cost. Ah! Miracle. I said yes oh, I don't mind but that I would have to take a purse from one of my other boxes to put my wallet and documents in. Hm, I checked in 3 boxes and mind you, I was in economy class oh. No hassle, lol.

Customs/Immigration: Not sure which it was, maybe both self. lol.

Security Check: So finally time to go in and wait at my gate. Mind you, in Port Harcourt airport there's only one gate. lol. Anyway, passed through everything, no hassled apart from the man in front of me. He carried one big gongolo of Mouth wash in his carry-on and when they took it from it, katakata burst oh. He's like why are they seizing it and that when it was checked at X-ray, they didn't say anything. That is it his responsibility to make sure everything he packed is suitable as a carry-on. LMAO. He was there causing unnecessary commotion when he was 100% at fault and me I was hot. I just had to interfere because he was wasting my time! 'Sir, I do not mean to interrupt but generally, liquids are not allowed not to talk of the big bottle of mouth-wash.' At least he listened to me. Hm, I won't lie oh, I though he would give me one dirty slap and ask me who I am to be correcting him. Lol. Security Check- safe.

Awaiting boarding: So hungry and they were selling 2 pieces of snail for N600, imagine life oh. I just had to buy it. It was hard ehn and the oyinbo sitting in front of me was chuckling and smiling at me while I ate. It was so embarrassing. It was hard oh, I won't lie. To bite was problem that I even had to put the whole thing in my mouth. Imagine my face. Thank God for napkins sha. Flight delayed, ended up making a new American Friend from Houston who was in Nigeria on business. Most of my conversations with people always end up with Christianity or at least it comes in somewhere. My arguments of the night 'My ignorant American friends' and 'Christianity is not a Religion'. I will save that conversation for another time. Flight delay (as usual)

All on board: I was admiring the Flight crew o jare. French people, there's just something sophisticated about them. Especially the male species. BTW I took Air France. I found myself sited at Class Premium Economy -people, no be small comfort. The tv screen was bigger, there was space, my seat could move in two directions, the tray could be long or short, I had head phones already there waiting...in fact, let me stop there. I was overwhelmed. What a nice experience. We stopped to pick up the Lagos passengers.

I don't know about you guys, but me I always hope some nice looking young man or lady would be sitting beside me and not otherwise. I'm never lucky :(. I even wished the friend I made at the airport would be the one sitting beside me. Well it was a young-elderly man who was even forcing me to eat oh. See wahala. I had already told him I don't eat on the Planes because I get sick but he kept waking me up everytime they brought food. He even asked the Air hostess on my behalf if they had any other kind of food for me. I mean, I thank the man for trying to take care of me, but I wanted to sleep. Lol

Jan 10th 2010 (Paris Airport)

Arrival Paris CDG: Went through security check for my connecting flight. I was still waiting for the extreme search thing oh, but nothing yet. When I got to my gate, they had blocked the area and said that all flights going to the US would have another search before boarding. I had 4 more hours till my next flight. (Flight delay, as usual). They said once you go through the security check, you can't leave the gate area. No problem, it's not like I had to use the restroom or buy anything. I was the second person they searched. It wasn't even thorough. In fact the Lady and I were conversing in french and she told me I had a lovely French accent. Blush-blush. 'Merci madame, j'habitais en France'. They didn't even single me out for holding Nigerian Passport oh, Everyone had the same type of search, even children. In fact, the latter people searching were even asking passengers to remove their shoes. They didn't ask me any of that. I thought they would subject me to a Mutallab, but no.

Boarding: I was hoping for the special Premium Economy seat oh, but who dash. In fact, my seat was terrible. Not at rear of the cabin, but at the last row before a wall. As usual, I started sleeping and we had another flight delay while on board. 2 hours. The journey was long but the plane was moving fast and made it to Atlanta 30mins after the supposed arrival time. Imagine, after over 2 hrs delay, it was only 30mins late? Exactly, the plane was moving faster than normal.

Arrival: Very sweet, safe and sound. Shortest time I've ever spent at Immigration and Customs(30mins all together, no jokes). I declared my snails, oh sweet sweet snails. I had to re-check in the luggage and take the train to the South Terminal at baggage claim. We went through security check again. There was water in my purse and I told them they could have it, biko, me I have a shuttle to get to. My Shuttle was to leave at 4.00pm and by the time I had gotten to the Baggage claim, it was already 4.15pm. I called the shuttle service but they didn't pick up. Sad me. I went outside to make inquiries and found out I could take a taxi straight to Tuscaloosa for $220. Hm, me I no see money reach oh so I called my dad and he said 'Go ahead, that's better than having to wait for the 8 o'clock shuttle'. Me I was mourning the money.

Departure: I told the lady at the counter that I would return. I went to get my luggage and on my way to the counter, my phone started ringing. It was the Shuttle people and she told me the driver was still outside waiting (4.40pm). Ehn! I was so happy, see inner Thanksgiving. I got to the bus, the driver helped me with my things and on our way we were, -to Birmingham. From Birmingham I then took a Taxi to my Apartment in T-town. The taxi driver was just talking and talking and talking and I was like 'Ey God oh, please make this man stop talking. I just want to get home and sleep'. God didn't answer my prayers. Lol

We arrived my apartment at 7.30pm and the guy gave me a discounted rate for some reasons he stated. Yay! I was back at last! BTW, I FORGOT TO ADD HOW TERRIBLy COLD IT WAS/IS. I got into the Apartment and it was like a Freezer. I put on the heat, called/texted who I needed to contact, brought out my snail and ate 5.

Praise God! Prayer! Happiness!

2 hours later, I was in bed and woke up around 3.30am. Returned the Nigerian missed calls, Facebooked a bit, and now typing this note.

Conclusion/Testimony:

I'm very grateful to God because I didn't go through anything out of the ordinary. I got the same treatment as everyone else, in fact better, polite treatment. I said, 'God, please take control', and He really did!

I won't lie sha, I was looking forward to the slap. LOL. Not like I would have even slapped anyone self. Maybe I'll break down and start crying for them and they would put me on CNN world. Lol. I can think too much. I was not alone through out my journey and He accompanied me through people. I pray God will also accompany you through people and His word. You're not alone!


~Al