When I was five, our plane was forced into an emergency landing in a ditch at the end of the runway at Lagos airport, Nigeria. I shall always remember that glass of orange juice I was given by airport staff after the incident.
“Let’s do it again,” I said to my dad.
At eleven, I wanted to be an astronaut, like many kids, perhaps not most girls though, and at fifteen, air traffic controller was the only thing I could think of as a future career.
Planes and airports have always fascinated me and even today, at 53, I look towards the sky every time I see a plane and wonder, “Where’s it going?” For some reason, all planes are heading to a tropical location.
On my way back from the gym this morning, I heard an interview with a British author, Alain de Botton. He applied for a job as a writer in residence at Heathrow Airport. Botton has always had a fascination for airports, and my first thought was, lucky him. What a fantastic project to work on. During his interview on NPR (National Public Radio) he said, “Airports make us raw.” He said people open up and one man told him about his two families, one in Los Angeles, and one in London. How can a man have two separate families for fifteen years?
I love Heathrow airport Terminal 5, if you haven’t been there, I think it’s the coziest terminal I’ve ever experienced. Botton was stationed there and wrote, “A Week at the Airport.”
Another interesting comment Botton made was related to how we stand in line to go through security, and most of us have a vague sense of guilt but feel absolved once we make it through. Have you felt that? I know I have.
I just signed up for the World Domination Summit in Portland, Oregon to meet other adventure seekers like myself. This is my new adventure for 2011, Chris Guillebeau, Leo Babauta, and more exciting people are attending. Life is full of Gutsy Adventures, and I’m going to make it happen.
What would you like to work on that’s exciting for you in 2011?
I started following Alain de Botton on Twitter because of his Heathrow project. I loved all the witty observations he made! (Must buy book…)
Exciting new projects? Well, more travel is what I'd like to do most.
I love the sound of that project. I love airports, period. I never mind when I have to be dropped off early for a flight, I adore hanging out in the terminal, watching people.
I have so much I want to do in 2011–travel, write another novel, revise an old one that's in a drawer, create some information products, sponsor writing retreats. To name a few. Thanks for asking.
Over one month in Helsinki in real winter conditions and now back in Casa and blogging. 🙂
You asked about the guilt. I've felt it but nowadays I don't have a thing I should feel guilty about. Easier to travel.
I don't wear any metal, no liquid in my hand luggage etc. If I have boots on I take them off before entering the scanner…
I like that video. When I'm flying I always look around and imagine why he, she is traveling, what kind of history, secrets they have etc.
I don't like traveling, flying. But I do it because that's the only way to get from one point to another.
Before moving from Casa we're going to Australia for a holiday. We fly via Abu Dhabi where we used to live two years – that is interesting – to see how the airport looks today! 🙂
You asked if my feelings are mixed about Casa. Yes. Very.
I've written several posts why. Major reasons are people and traffic.
Even if Cairo was a busy city people were much more polite and nicer than here.
Traffic was bad in Cairo but here it's even worse.
Prices are high but quality bad.
Housing really expensive but badly built without heating. Now it's not very cold but humidity makes it feel colder and without heaters it would be uncomfortable. We bought one to our bedroom and one living-room.
We wanted to experience living in the center of the city after two years in the compound.
Now we know how it is. Dogs barking, pulling/pushing furniture on marble floor above us, clothes hanging from upstairs balcony, their three small kids scream etc. Elevator broken once for three weeks, electricity cuts…
Very restless life indeed.
I try to meditate, listen to the radio to stay calm 🙂
Now it's time for my morning exercise. I started yesterday and I noticed how tight my upper back/neck muscles are! I need at least one week to get them loose again.
Enjoy rest of the year!
Thank you for sharing the info about this group! Not that I will be there in June, but it was INSPIRING to read about the work being done…… VERY COOL!
I, for one, find the idea of virtually living in an airport, as a writer in residence, to be quite uninviting. There was a time in my life when I did quite a bit of air travel, much of it for business. Really, travelling and airport sitting got quite tiresome very quickly! And security queues are more frustration-inducing than guilt-inducing.
Writer in residence at a library, which also has an art gallery, and a multitude of public programs — that would be excellent. Writer in residence at a hospital; that would be challenging and interesting, but poses confidentiality problems. Writer in residence at a zoo and/or aquarium, perhaps? Or, perhaps, writer in residence in my own car, something akin to Steinbeck's Travels with Charley.
Writer in residence at my own house and local coffee shop is about what's likely to happen.
Here's to whatever, in 2011!
Hi Sonia!
I wonder if you enjoyed the movie "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks? I really enjoyed it!
I have a lot of new yard plans this year. I am just hoping that they all come to fruition. It's probably more than I can handle by myself but if I can get some muscle cooperation from my son and husband, I might be able to accomplish half of it!
I just need to get started EARLY before it gets too hot!
I hope that you get to attend the World Domination Summit!
Love Di ♥
@ladyfi
I just discovered him yesterday. How long have you known about this project?
@Charlotte
Welcome to my blog. You sound like me. I could spend hours interviewing people in airports. What a fun job that would be. Good luck with your plans. Make it happen!
@BLOGitse
Thanks for your long comment. I remember reading what you said about the kids screaming, the noise etc. in Casablanca. Cairo sounds better from what you say. I am envious of you going to Australia. Do you think there's a chance of moving there one day?
@Kelli
Yes, I am totally inspired by the type of people who love adventure and take risks. I'm very happy to have met some fascinating people like Chris Guiilebeau.
@Rob-bear
I didn't think you'd like the airport thing. I just happen to have a thing about people and travel, as you know. Like you, the coffee shop, is another one of my favorite spots to hang out. Happy New year Rob-bear.
I used to have the same admiration for train terminals, some were wonderfully Gothic edifices.
As a kid I loved to go with my parents to San Francisco International. There was a viewing deck where you could go outside to watch the noisy, smoky propeller DC-8s and Lockheed Constellations fire up.
When I fly I still take the window seat and study the landscape and chart our location from landmarks I recognize. I pay attention to the movement of the aircraft, changes in power settings, ascent and descent. I love to fly.. I just hate that security has ruined the experience so.
I fly a lot, motly internationally, and I enjoyed that video! I don't feel the same about everything but I do enjoy watching people and eavesdropping and making up scenarios about their lives. In international airports you find such interesting looking people!
Hoping for a delay so I can spend some more time hanging around? No thank you! And as far as guilt goes, I have not had that feeling because I can't imagine what I should feel guilty about.
Odd thing is that I am searched and pulled out of the line very, very often. I think it is because that way they can prove they are not profiling. I don't stand out in any way I can think of 😉