Thursday, July 31, 2008

Going up to get down Down Under


I prefer to be on solid ground. However flying the Australian airline QANTAS has one great and sad consequence (besides getting one safely to and from Australia). It makes one realize how nice it would be to have a butler. The unfortunate side is that on disembarking most people realize they have not the money for a butler, and will henceforth have to get their own meals, blankets, and booze. 


On our flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, my husband Bob and I wondered again if moving halfway around the world, just two months after our wedding,was a good idea. Though we had been to Australia twice before, once on a four month working visa and once for Bob to meet his new co-workers, we weren't sure if we were ready for an extended stay overseas. But, not being logical people, we decided to give it a go.


 During our flight our lovely Australian steward served me a hot dinner, free alcoholic drinks (within reason), a night bag with comfy socks, eyemask, and snacks, a refreshing hot towel in the morning and a nice hot breakfast as well. All I was expected to do was sit nicely in my economy seat, watch my choice of over 50 movies, eat and drink. The only real thing I was responsible for was taking myself to the bathroom. 


Our flight over the Pacific was long but smooth. The only bothersome thing was the odd lady sitting at the end of the aisle who glared at me the few times I politely asked to get up. I'm sorry, but on a 14 hour flight people will have to go to the bathroom at some point- the stewards aren't going to do it for you. 


Sleeping was a bit hard to do sitting up and cramped between people. But to cross the Pacific Ocean in less than a day, and avoid having to take a long boat ride, I will take a few sacrifices. At 6 A.M. we descended into a slightly cloudy but sunny Sydney. Bob and I were about to start a new life as expats. And I was really looking forward to a horizontal bed, shower and a toilet.