Bumped (up)

At the risk of offending whatever gods I've pleased, I have to say that this trip so far has been most excellent.

Knock wood.

For anyone who flies on a regular basis, one the nicest sounds you can hear is your name being called in the departure area. It sounds like: "Would Douglas Johnson please see an agent at the check-in desk?" It usually means that you'll be trading your tourist class seat for one in first class. (Or that there is something wrong with your security check...)

Anyway, last night I got "The Call" and was bumped to first from my flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam. While I am somewhat accustomed to being bumped on domestic flights, I can count on one hand the number of times I've been bumped internationally. It is truly something that should happen to everyone at least once, just to learn what it means to be treated like a valued person by an airline.

You board first. No worries about overhead bin space. You are greeted with a large seat with a real blanket, real pillow and real glass of champagne on hand. You are handed a menu with three lovely entrees plus appetizers and desserts and of course all the booze you can handle. Oh, and a list of snacks just in case you get peckish between meals. You get a little kit that contains slippers, eyemask, toothbrush, comb and other goodies. You get a private video screen with your choice of movies and nice headsets. We in first class get our own bathrooms, unsullied by those of you back in steerage.

But the best thing is that the seat has more controls and positions than those vibrating chairs at Brookstone. It reclines until it is almost 180 degrees. You need that pillow and blanket. It massages your back. For a guy my height, that alone makes the trip a pleasure. I sleep on planes, but it's rare I don't wake up with a kink in my neck and cramps in my legs when I do. (Not to mention the drool down the front of my shirt.)

Since I am too cool to actually show any excitement about being in first class, I did not take the picture above, but it looks just like my seat. The little old lady sitting beside me had been bumped up for the first time and it was fun to hear her excitement about everything.

And it keeps getting better. First class seating gets you free admission to the business lounge here in Schipol airport. Free wi-fi, free food, quiet atmosphere, and, of course, more free booze. I guess airlines like their good customers well lubricated. For an eight hour layover, camping here in the business lounge is almost as good as the flight in first class.

I suspect this about uses up my good karma for the next 5 years, but it has been really nice. I've always suspected I was switched a birth with another child from a very rich family since I enjoy these experiences that would be very expensive should one actually pony up the funds. There is probably a rich person out there who couldn't care less.

Now, onward to Cairo!

Oh, if anyone who is attending the same event you are sees you sitting in first class, always act surprised that they are in coach. Saying "You mean the event organizers/school/organization didn't give YOU a first class ticket?" is always a fun trick to play.

Oops, time to go refill my wine glass...

Institute finished

Survivors of the two-day NESA Librarians Institure, Amman, Jordan, Oct 31-Nov1.

I am sort of sad to have my work with the NESA librarians done. This was a wonderful, thoughtful and very interesting group with which to work. As always, I wonder who learned more - them or me. Thanks to any who may be reading this.

Where does the man who sells the authentic Arabian coffee in the hotel lobby go on break?

Why the Starbucks just down the hall, of course. (I am not making this up.)

How to make your travel pictures more interesting:

Some things not in Fodors

In response to my entry about Petra, Linda commented:

Okay you have the hat at Petra but where is the Indiana Jones whip and trusty horse to make a quick getaway?

My whip was confiscated by security in Minneapolis, and the only 4-legged transport was this:

No cracks about who's the bigger jackass. Oh, my donkey-boy cut my head off taking the photo. Not Photoshop.

Rules of Jordanian driving: When there are two-lanes and one car, use both lanes. When there is one lane and two cars, make two lanes. I believe this applies to most of the developing world and all the areas around Florida retirement communities.

I was surprised when my rather staid, middle-age taxi driver on hearing Celine Dion on the radio, grunted, "Yes, this is from movie Titanic. I've seen it six times." Romantics are everywhere, I guess.

The Jordanian press reported earlier this week that Osama Bin Laden's approval rating here has dropped to only 19%. I'm guessing that's still higher than George W's.

Whenever I am in another country, I try to eat at McDonalds at least once. The Coke tasted funny at the McD's in the Mecca Mall, but the two cheeseburger meal was the "same-same." And yes, they try to get you to super-size it here too.

Anytime I speak at an international conference, I worry about my US-centric POV and materials. Tomorrow I'll be sharing some information about the demographics surrounding the Net Generation and their love of technology. I was somewhat relieved when at Jerash this morning, my young friend Acmed made a point of showing me his mobile that takes pictures, shows movies and does other wonderous things. The paint on device's keys was nearly worn off. Maybe kids are kids, no matter the place or level of affluence?

Normally I prefer to do my work first and play afterwards. But this trip I had to schedule my vacation before the workshops. I'm adopting this new priority, perhaps as a simple tip of the hat to my own mortality.