As Bushie's World Turns (The Update Thread)

[Franzl]

I certainly wouldn't spend $2,000 for less than a week, and I also certainly wouldn't go with a church group (I'm certain you won't experience Kenya the way you could doing it differently.), but in general, if at all possible, you should try to go abroad.

If I were you, I'd spend the money going to somewhere in Europe...but ok, that's a matter of preference.

[Franzl]

But if it's about seeing the world, wouldn't it perhaps make sense to organize this trip outside of a church mission with perhaps a different destination (somewhere in Europe for more time and less money)? Or is Africa somewhere you absolutely want to go?

I can think of much more interesting things to do with $2,000

[Franzl]

I'm having so much fun looking at possible flight paths going to and from Nairobi. Interesting cities showing up such as

Memphis, Tennessee;
Atlanta, Georgia;
Detroit, Michigan;
Chicago, Illinois;
Newark, New Jersey;
Dallas, Texas;
Detroit, Michigan;
Los Angeles, California;
London, England;
Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Istanbul, Turkey;
Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
Frankfurt, Germany;
Zurich, Switzerland;
Brussels, Belgium;
even Addis Ababa, Ethiopia showed up.

Some extremely long flights and layovers await. Up to 16 hour flights (Dubai to Dallas) and up to 12 hour layovers.

Nothing out of the ordinary there. Aren't the flights being booked for everyone by your tour organizer....or is it every man for himself?

[Franzl]

You know, I wouldn't entirely put it past you to do the whole Kenya thing just in order to have an excuse to start up the Update again

[Franzl]

Passports are important. Although Amsterdam let me through once on an expired German passport. (Had my American passport and German ID card with me, but wasn't aware of tbe expiration myself) I wonder if the Dutch noticed or just didn't care.

[Franzl]

Are you seriously defining walking inside your house as a serious way to lose weight?

[Franzl]

Will this become the new update thread?

Will it become? It was the purpose of this thread from the beginning.

[Franzl]

Is there ever an election when you don't claim to support the Republican for a while...only to switch back later on?

[Franzl]

lulz

Only Bushie can use "vote for the person" reasoning and come up with Mitt Romney as the best choice.

I could see an argument for voting for a "competent" person. Not meant as voting for personality but rather for the individual judging his capability.

That said, I think it's silly to vote for the person most of the time (except internally within a party of course).

[Franzl]

I expected this guy to change parties.

Considering his history, it wasn't a terribly brave expectation to have. I'm not sure how often he's switched to Republican - and subsequently switched back. At least twice before now, though.

[Franzl]

I now have my Kenya Flight Itinerary

For your enjoyment:

Delta - 11:37 am 03/16/2012 - 01:40 pm 03/16/2012 - Oklahoma City to Minneapolis
Delta - 04:20 pm 03/16/2012 - 06:35 am 03/17/2012 - Minneapolis to Amsterdam
Kenya - 10:35am 03/17/2012 - 08:40 pm 03/17/2012 - Amsterdam to Nairobi

Kenya - 11:45 pm 03/24/2012 - 06:45 am 03/25/2012 - Nairobi to London
Delta - 09:05 am 03/25/2012 - 12:45 pm 03/25/2012 - London to Detroit
Delta - 03:22 pm 03/25/2012 - 05:07 pm 03/25/2012 - Detroit to Oklahoma City

That's not too bad. Amsterdam is quite a user-friendly airport and should be relatively convenient for someone to connect in that hasn't flown internationally before.

[Franzl]

The fact that your final destination is outside the U.s. isn't really relevant, you're still leaving on a domestic flight the same way anyone else stopping in Minneapolis is.

60 minutes is what I'd do, although 90 would give you time for a drink (or a sweet tea or whatever ) before departure.

[Franzl]

The fact that your final destination is outside the U.s. isn't really relevant, you're still leaving on a domestic flight the same way anyone else stopping in Minneapolis is.

I used to think that too, until I flew long-haul international for the first time and had the check-in attendant yell at me for showing up late for the domestic leg of the flight.  Apparently it does make a difference, and you still have to show up 2 hours before.

I've checked in even 40 minutes before once. An hour before is totally normal between St. Louis and Europe (Always first having a domestic flight), but then again, maybe in Bushie's case, being his first time, and the fact that he won't listen to anyone with a reasonable time , he should get there earlier.

[Franzl]

Now that you mention it: I'm just now sitting at a departure gate in Frankfurt, ready to board for Newark. Got to the airport about 2 hours early (not intentional, just worked out that way), and it's totally empty here. This could be a pleasent flight...

[Franzl]

$9.25 for a big beer at Newark airport?? Now that's a good reason not to be waiting at the airport too long... Unfortunate that my flight to STL is 90 min. late.

[Franzl]

You'll be grateful for Brussels in place of London, at least.

[Franzl]

Another question for the European airports.  Both Netherlands and Belgium are Dutch speaking countries.  What language will they speak at the airport to announce the start of the boarding process and any flight updates?

English

[Franzl]

Spreading Christianity to uncultured peoples.  Surprised this still goes on.  A trip to Viking Resort in the Dominican Republic would be so much more worth your while Bushie.  Just tell everyone you're going to Africa for "missionary work" then use the money to have a good time!

Too late! I've already got $1600 plane tickets to Kenya!! ($1200 ticket + $400 Travel Agent fees)

Cereal?

I thought they were quite high, myself, but I'm just grateful to be able to fulfill a dream I've always had.

You've always had a dream to go to Kenya? Nothing wrong with it....just kind of a weird dream to have always had.

[Franzl]

I pack anywhere from the night before to 5 hours before transatlantic trips.

[Franzl]

Please don't ever listen to advice your family gives you. We've seen this script before.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Did I miss some new advice?

[Franzl]

How can it possibly be bad to accept a job offer if you can get out of it later? That's just free unemployment insurance...

[Franzl]

If this does work out for you, then excellent. Just don't quite see why anyone would rig the game against themselves (i.e. decrease their chances of employment voluntarily).

[Franzl]

I'm confident it will.  I Know it's not the most conventional move, and if I had any less of a certainty, I would have definitely gone this morning.

So, what did you save by not going?

That's what I still don't understand.

[Franzl]

Bushie has the job according to Facebook! Congratulations! Was sceptical but am very happy for you!

[Franzl]

This would have made for a brilliant Intrade contract. "BushOklahoma to be offered permanent job on or before March 31, 2012".

Wonder what it would have been trading at the last few days