I was going to start this by saying that the last time I was in an airport on my way home I was having a bit of a freakout due to the combination of the claustrophobic/introspective and cynical music I was listening to (Radiohead, I think it was In Rainbows, but it might have been either OK Computer or Hail to the Thief), my white guilt alarm ringing loudly (I was coming back from Mexico) and the enormous group of high school kids acting like a disorganized shrewdness of apes high school kids. But I realized that I was wrong - the last time I was in an airport I was accompanied by a moderate hangover (and a couple buddies, one of whom's hangover was far more memorable) and an overwhelming desire to catch a few winks, but instead was being forced through the uncomfortable wringer of airport security. I didn't exactly get treated like a terrorist, but it's certainly no cakewalk. At least there wasn't a group of entitled 11 year-olds1with 2 chaperones waiting to fly to a hockey camp where they will obviously learn from better than Winnipeg has to offer. That was shitty, not to confused with "the shit," which 11 year-old hockey players are certainly not, nor are their head-in-the-clouds chaperones/dads. Also, Toronto is a great time, and it's worth dealing with any amount of hangovers/hockey teams, including the Leafs.
The second last time I was in an airport however, was kind of a unsettling experience. I had been hobbling around on a cane (which was rather stylish, by far the best part of breaking one's leg) on the beach in Mexico all week2 and was suffering from a rather sore ankle, so I kind of just wanted to sit and be undisturbed by the goings-on of the airport. Unluckily, our flight was delayed and we ended up spending at least 6 hours in the Toronto airport, 2 of which amongst a group of boisterous young adults who were probably in grade 11 or so. It was the first time I'd watched high school aged kids interact in quite a while, and it was shocking to watch the group dynamics play out, and it caused a considerable amount of introspection. This bled over into thinking about the ethics of travel (particularly by plane), and questioning my own motivation for visiting Mexico for a week. To flex our egos/financial superiority? To relax in a warmer climate? Posties around the city are constantly going away for a week and coming back with a far more even and deep tan than our blue-on-slightly-different-blue uniforms allow. Also, usually a little fatter, that postie metabolism will catch up to you when you're sitting on your ass drinking mojitos all day.
This time out I'm being hit with a lot of the same sentiments, sans hangover this time though. I am unbelievably tired (probably something to do with the whole "not going to bed last night." I'm pretty sure it'll pay dividends soon enough. Like when I fall off this bench in a snoring heap in 5 minutes). The entitled nature of people sitting in airports particularly in Canada and our neighbours south of the 49th parallel, frustrated at being "forced" to pay $10 for a subpar cheeseburger, tiny dogs in their little dog carriers making very undoglike noises, and just generally loud, obnoxious individuals trying their best to make sure that everyone knows that their personal opinion is of utmost import to their neighbours, even if that opinion is just about how much they hate Air Canada.
I'm fully aware of the fact that a month spent in another culture is hardly monumental. Andrea and a number of her teacher friends spent 2+ years in Thailand, my friend Rachelle is on her (I think) 4th or 5th year total in Palestine, and any number of close friends of mine have spent around a year away in Europe, South America or Asia on some sort of exchange program or another, but even after a month (or a week will do apparently) in a completely different culture, it feels bizarre to be back in Canada. Granted, Vancouver airport is as full of Asians as any you'll find in Canada, so it's a bit of a buffer, but at the same time, seeing everyone dressed in their typical North American pleb garb, sucking back their outrageously sized McDonald's sodas - it's a trip. And I don't think one that you can fully prepare yourself for. Upon arriving in Thailand I was blown away by the hustle and bustle, the traffic, the smells, the heat, the noise...a fairly stereotypical case of culture shock. But that wore off, and although I still think that Bangkok is way too busy, I got used to it. Being back in Canada, I know I'll adjust very quickly and acclimatize myself back into a North American way of living rather quickly, but perhaps it's the reverse culture shock that one should really take note of, and examine what it is that is actually so shocking about North American culture. The water warms up so slowly that we don't jump out, but there are a number of bizarre and perverse aspects of North American (dare I say consumer culture? I do, I do dare. I triple dog dare me in fact) that are worth taking a second look at. Start by taking your bike for a ride, I know that's on my list of things to do when I get back.
Trip itinerary - Stay up all night in Bangkok. Leave Bangkok at 6 AM (which was actually 6 PM yesterday in Winnipeg, but 6 AM today in Bangkok). Land in Tokyo 6 hours later, 3 hour layover, take off, spent 8 hours in the air between Toyko and Vancouver. In an hour, get on a plane, fly 3 (or so) hours to Winnipeg from Vancouver, arrive 7ish Winnipeg. So basically we left at 6 this morning, and we're getting to Winnipeg 13 hours later. Travelling over the international date line is weird.
2the first and only time I've ever gone to an all-inclusive resort - it was a surprisingly good time. It helps that I couldn't really walk, it's easy to have a good time lying on a bed outside, underneath an umbrella with enormous iguanas wandering by on occasion, and waiters taking your drink orders much more regularly. Iguanas would make poor servers, they're far too inconsistent. And scaly.
3 Apparently this time out I decided that Godspeed You! Black Emperor would be a better choice to not invoke feelings of alienation and tension. Good job, sleep deprived/zombiefied brain.
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