The Waiting Game across Airports

Istanbul Atatürk Airport

I’ve been here many times before, but the last time was three years ago when I was with Karen and Eva en route to Dubai.

There are now two long tables with proper outlets for plugs at the food court.  As a consultant, I searched for these outlets everywhere, especially at airports, as I waited for my flight. The travels of a consultant are about plugging in and staying connected, keeping time zone differences in mind, and watching the flight timings across these zones.

It was 8:30 AM, local time (10:30 AM, Dubai), and for over an hour, I sat watching people, reflecting absentmindedly, writing down notes and reading ‘The Sand Fish’ and WH Auden. I packed up and got up, when I decided I was going look for a place where I could plug in. Then I saw these long tables, and waited a handful of minutes for someone to finish. I thought that if I could do this, I could spend my time writing poetry.

It was AED 40 taxi ride to the Dubai International Airport last night, having left at 1 AM, instead of 12 M. But it was still perfect timing, as I never had to rush to get there or check in or get to the gate. In fact, the gate wasn’t open, yet, and passengers crowded the seating along the open corridor outside the gate.

I walked off, looking for a place to sit, and found myself at the food court. I sat there, playing with my BlackBerry and smelling the oily, salty scent of McDonald’s. After several minutes, I gave in, as that scent gnawed at my resolve not to spend anything on food or drink at the airport. I bought a Big Mac dinner for AED 24.

I was duly satiated, and even more so on board Turkish Airlines, with the meal the flight attendants served.

Here I am not likely to spend anything. I have energy bars in my bags, just as I did on my Kuwaiti trip. I don’t have the right currency to buy anything here, and I don’t have a credit card either. Besides I’m still full from all that I had eaten last night. Remember, I also had a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich before I left my flat, thinking it would allay any hunger I would have. Wrong.