Prepare to Leave the UZ
Last week my mission was twofold: 1) collect no new assignments and 2) get someone else trained to do all of the daily activities I was doing. Some of the guys were feeling the pressure. I have been there since the day the GM material scheduling system was implemented, in January. All of the sudden I was going to be half a world away. I assured them that I would check my emails and answer daily. I really think the distance, at this point, will do them some good, as I am a bit of a crutch. Now that they have to write the question instead of just running over and asking me, I imagine they will answer many themselves.
Lunch at the Choixana
My plan was to go over the mountain, on Thursday afternoon. Four of the guys in the office decided to take me out to lunch on Wednesday. We went to the same Choixana (sounds like choy hana and translates to tea house) we had been to before. The tables at this establishment are traditional. They look like four poster beds. Four people sit on it, one at each corner and the food goes in the center. On each side there is a bench, for additional people. This time the weather was beautiful, so we ate outside. We sat at the edge of the property over looking a valley called the "pocket," under a tree and among the peacocks and peahens. The food was delicious. We started with tea, non (bread), tomato, cucumber and onion salad and a yogurt based cucumber sauce which reminded me of Tadzhik (the sauce on a gyro). Then came the osh or pilov. From what I am told, the amount that comes to the table is based on the amount of rice ordered. This time the order was for six kg. The guys gave me the choice so we ate with spoons. I figured my slacks had a better chance of not getting stained, than if we ate in the traditional manner, with our hands. When we were all full, the elder in the group implored the lunch party to join together and finish the rest. We all complied. When there was only a couple of spoonfuls remaining, our elder advised us that the youngest was obliged to finish. We all ate too much but the expectation of leaving nothing was met.
What a Trip
I left work as planned, stopped by the cottage to change and pack the car and headed over the mountain. It was around eighty degrees when we left at about 2:45PM. In three hours we were no longer in the valley. There was still some snow on the tops of the mountains. In fact it actually snowed on us. I took a few pictures on the way. Watch for FB updates. The thing about the pics is that you are not supposed to take them where people live or where the military is present. The driver made sure I understood when not take them.
I got to the Dedeman Hotel late in the evening. The same wonderful folks who had been so helpful in January were on duty and remembered me. I checked in, got my stuff into my room and headed down for a meal. I had the first steak I had eaten since I left Detroit. There was a violin and piano duo performing. Many of my family members were on Skype so it was almost like having dinner with them. I also enjoyed a wonderful local dry red wine. It was very nice.
The next morning a driver met me out front at 4:00AM to take me to the airport. I got checked in, through customs and passport control and got to the gate after the bus to the plane had already begun loading. Turkish Airlines flies the older 767s but the food was really good. The spinach pastry and the yogurt were my favorites. I really enjoyed the smells on this plane. I was in seat 1A and there was no one in 1B. The smells from the galley area wafted past each time they prepared a meal or a pot of coffee. In addition, the flight attendant wore a perfume which smelled of a Turkish princess. I suspect it was jasmine but it was really nice and filled my air space each time she passed.
In Istanbul I needed juice. My iPhone, which I use for reading, music and FB, while traveling, was getting low. I headed straight to my next gate and spotted an outlet. It was on a pillar behind some recycle bins. The configuration was the same as the ones in UZ. I sat on the floor, charging and reading, until it was time to check in for my flight to New York. Ironically, the ebook I was reading came to a chapter about Istanbul as I sat in that very airport. I know you already know I'm a bit of a geek so I'll go ahead and tell you I am reading a history book. It is "Inside Central Asia: Understanding the Post Soviet Republics of...." Good stuff!
My stuff was wiped down inside and out and I got the pat down. Standard procedure for everyone at this airport. Soon we boarded and we were on our way to NYC. Once there, nearly 12 hours later, we had to go through passport control and customs. At JFK you have to collect your bags, pass through customs and recheck your bags. I spent my layover in the Delta Sky Club talking to my family and getting another charge on my iPhone. It was here that I noticed the 110 really charges much slower that the 220 used everywhere else. I didn't quite get a full charge but my flight to Nashville was a short one.
My wife and two youngest picked me up. Airport hugs are some of the best you ever get. By the time I got home I had been traveling for over 28 hours. The day was still Friday. All in all, Friday April 1st was 34 hours long. Needless to say, on Saturday April 2nd I had no brain activity whatsoever.
Home at Last
Now I'm on vacation. I head back into the UZ on Sunday the 17th. I'll see many of you while I'm in town. Feel free to ask me to expand on any of the stories I've told. It has been fun sharing this experience. It makes me feel good each time someone makes a comment or tells me they like to read what I wrote. It is a connection to the people I know and love for which I am truly grateful. Thanks!!!
