Traveling.

It's 12:30 am London time and the airport is deserted. My flight got in a couple of hours ago. The long, bleak, poorly-marked trek from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 via customs and the baggage claim was only vaguely creepy. The check-in desks and security and food places all seem to be closed for the night. My flight to Cairo is at 9 am and my only solace until then lies in the $12/day Wi-Fi and overhead fluorescent lights. So, I'm writing.

Thinking about it, the flight from Chicago was also pretty desolate. Empty spots outnumbered the peopled ones. One of the flight attendants seemed to have time-warped from the '80's, shoulder pads, big hair, and all. The seats didn't have individual TVs and I was too lazy to find the corresponding audio to the one show that was playing a few rows ahead of me so I watched in silence a program that somehow involved RENT, Titanic, Princess Di, auctions, art galleries, and people (maybe just one person?) getting indicted for something. I guess that was interesting.

Tomorrow I get to Cairo, ان شاء الله, so we'll see how that goes. Goals for the semester include less social anxiety and more being comfortable communicating/interacting with people, especially in Arabic. Also, gaining a basic (ha) understanding of Middle Eastern history and politics, my ignorance about which at this point is almost shameful. Also general awesomeness. Wish me luck.

Okay computer's dying. I guess I'll find something else to distract me, that or an outlet. Will write from Cairo!