Doug Van Pelt

Blog #1: Chicago Airport [Uganda.17]

So, I'm trying to take the trip advice seriously, which mentioned that one of the ways to possibly prevent jetlag or keep it from being so severe is to avoid caffeine early on in the trip. And here I am at a little cubicle near the gate in Chicago next to a Starbucks stand.

This little kiosk from hell is tormenting me like demonic fallen angels, reading the minds of history past, knowing lots of tiny little details about the things that tempt man. Every espresso drink they make means more beans are swirled around in their coffee grinder, sending more tiny little particles of java dust into the air, slowly drifting towards my nose and swirling around my olfactory sensor control center like an American Airlines plane in a landing/holding pattern. Why am I sitting here? Those little devils in the planning department installed AC electrical outlets here so that I can plug in and type away.

I knew that logo of the sea goddess was a satanic symbol! I knew I should never have accepted that invitation from nice and smiling Christian rock band singer guy, Manuel Castillo -- who offered me coffee at his house. I mean, he had a mustache!!! I should have refused his offer. He so seductively showed me how to "make coffee not taste like coffee" by adding lots of creamer and honey to his brew. And here I am 17 years and thousands of coffee beans later -- weak and susceptable to the wiles of the bean. Just sitting here at this station has me caffeinated by inhalation. While it's not the same as a Triple Ventie Carmel Macchiato, it's got me on a wire.

So, we have made it this far. My wife and I have met Keely Scott, Shaun Groves, Brian Seay, and another couple I'm having trouble recalling ......... (each dot is an attempt to rack my brain for information) ..... Carlos & Heather Whittaker! (You get excited when you remember a name, so you need to utilize an exclamation point...that's how it is.) It looks like most all of the travelling group is here or has been here, finalizing their goodbyes to North American culture by wolfing down some food. We had a couple of Chicago style pieces of pizza. It wasn't Jeno's East, but it was alright, with its butter crust and all.

Shaun shared with me some guilty pleasure in watching un-seasoned travellers make a giant trek like this. I've thought about my own veteran-traveler tendencies and how much I'll be able to "stay in control." I have made a note to myself not to engage in any political conversations, unless absolutely dragged into them; as well as the usual family of egocentric behavior that makes me think that all cultures should look and feel just like mine. That one's pretty easy to conquer, because it's pretty natural to recognize one of the joys of travel is discovering new and different cultures. The differences really are or can be something to celebrate and appreciate. That's not to say I won't giggle if a newbie traveller makes a funny exclamation.

PS We just arrived at our hotel in Kabala, Uganda.