I’m sitting in the business center at the hotel looking out over the pool and into the Indian Ocean sipping a vodka soda.  Today, I checked into my new home. 

This morning, we began our trip to the FBO and the plane.  Twenty minutes into the drive we received a call that our passengers would not be making the flight and we will be flying empty to Mumbai.  Translation, our passengers were hung-over and did not want to travel.    

I’m pretty wiped out myself and feel as though I’m in Night of the Living Dead.  I’ve barely had any sleep since arriving in London a few days ago and now. Let’s retrace this.

Friday – Houston to London 10hour flight.  Arrive in London Saturday morning 9:00am and as I’m having breakfast with the pilots they receive a call that the Father of jet owner wishes to fly out later that evening to Dubai instead of the following day.  The pilots and I walk all around London until 8 pm when we arrive at the jet and meet our passengers.  We fly 4 hours to Ankara, Turkey to refuel and promptly fly into Dubai.  Are you keeping up?  I already hadn’t slept since Thursday night.  When I’m in a new city sleep is as useless to me as a steak.  I have no interest in either.  We arrived in Dubai yesterday 7:30 am.  I was last in Dubai a few months ago and have toured much of it so I wasn’t suffering from kid in the candy store syndrome.  However, by 11:30 a.m. sleep and I still weren’t making friends.  One Ambien CR later and I was out like a rocket for a mere four hours.  By 6:00pm I met one of the pilots at Cin Cin for his favorite wine.  A few hours later the other pilots met us for a steak dinner (since I’m a vegetarian and all).  We parted ways at 9:00pm Dubai time which is about 2 or 3 in the afternoon Houston time.   It was midnight before I fell asleep and by 3:30 am I was wide awake.  My internal clock is so screwed up.  I still have yet to fall asleep since then and am trying to wait till dark.  I’m hurting big time.

My stomach is majorly upset – I’ve barely eaten anything and am trying to get calories from alcohol because I need something in my system and don’t know what else to do until my stomach toughens up.

Tuesday May 12, 2008

Last night I met up with the pilots in the executive lounge for drinks and to watch the sunset.  I had to stop writing when one of them came down.  As we’re talking and drinking CNN was on.  A Chinese woman who couldn’t have been older than myself ran up to the television as flashes of the earthquake hit, “My parent’s live there.” She excused herself and a half hour later reappeared unable to get through to anyone. 

Tragedy.

I have a feeling this trip is going to tax my liver or at least dump more red wine into my system.   Dave and I probably went through 3 bottles sitting by the pool last night and talking.  He’s going to make this trip livable and easier to get through. We’re both kind of in the same boat. He’s got things he wants to take care of and I need to start thinking of retirement.  IF I DO THIS FOR A FEW YEARS I COULD RETIRE BY 35 and be able to get a new sailboat for my parents. 

I’m staying in a super ritzy place – I have to buy a new camera and will update soon.  This morning I went for a nice walk along the Indian Ocean.  EVERYONE was staring at me!  Apparently I stick out.  I’m probably going to have to dye my hair so I blend more.   When I caught someone’s eye I’d smile because that’s American culture.  The women would blankly stare back at me with an empty gaze.  The men would smile back while obviously checking me out.

This company has been really great about putting us up in only five star hotels.  We’re headed to Calcutta today and flying some Bollywood actors that own a cricket team….oh and some Indian princess as well.

Gotta Jet!

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-photos/bomjw-jw-marriott-hotel-mumbai/

We’re flying to Calcutta tomorrow and I’m going to see if by chance i can talk the guys into going to some of the missions.  I’m thinking i’ll have a better chance talking them into crashing the plane though. 

Hi you,

**This is more of a diary for me, so years later I can look back and remember this experience

After just returning from dinner/drinks with the pilots I will work with for the next year, the nature of this blog is about to change drastically.  I’ve taken on a huge risk.  I’ve singed on with a family who is based in Bombay (Mumbai, India), we fly into dangerous and exotic places.  Bangkok, London, South Africa, France, Kuwait, Calcutta….etc…

Indian culture is different than American culture. . Both of the pilots I fly with are Americans. One is retired two times over and the other is but a mere nine years older than me; he and I hit it off from first meeting. I knew I’d get along with him when we were walking around London and said, “Why do they make all the police and traffic men dress like second rate Village Men?,”. He’s the type of guy I’d have as a friend had we not met through working together. 

I’ve learned, I may be kidnapped in certain countries because of the way I look (red hair and American accent), I know I may be kidnapped at any moment. I know there are people out there who are going to want to harm me simply because  WHO I’m working for.

Prior to dinner with all three pilots (India based plane – India requires you to have an Indian Pilot on board at all times) Dave told me “Captain” (Indian pilot) was explaining more of the Indian culture to me.  After a son or daughter gets married the family will remain living in the same house.  Our Indian “Captain” is married with two small kids.  Curious as I am I inquired how that works and no one wants to threaten murder..  He (Indian Captain) and I had somewhat of a communication breakdown.

J: “How does this work? Does everyone get along? I know from my  own personal experience living in close quarters with my family after ten days I wanted to take an ax to their heads.”

Captain; “No. No. You don’t understand we all live in the same house and under the same roof..

Captain and I went around several rounds in communication breakdown – he was not able to understand my explaining to him that families fight – I know it would be hard so I wanted to know how it worked … how he made it work.

Enter Dave (pilot I get along with from California (good looking surfer type guy)

“He doesn’t understand the question you’re asking. I know from reading the newspapers in Mumbai when families start to fight  a brother will kidnap, violently rape a wife and then burn her.  They use the excuse the wife disgraced the family.”

Captain: “Yes, now I get you.  The police not to long ago were tired of a family fighting so they burned Mother and Child. THE POLICE!.”

Gulp!

J: “Well, I will do my best not to disgrace the family.”

I am afraid of fire and heights!

I’ve only just begun this journey and can bail anytime I decide to do so.  I left Houston Friday for four months. 

*****The thing about traveling****I may be seeing the world on someone else’s dime and putting away money tax free. It’s really hard not seeing my friends.  I know – woe is me- the average person who doesn’t travel for a living won’t get it.  And I don’t expect them to understand such.  I’m going to truly circumference the globe a few times over, it’s really lonely.  

I’ve always loved deeper than I should and held on to people harder than they’ve held on to me. I read people and know I’m water in their earth; they take me for granted and say, “See you when you get back…have a safe flight.”  I’m going to have to end a few friendships due to their actions before I left.  I want to think there is an excuse but there is not. I know I expect a lot out of people however, it’s only because I know what I put out to be their friend. 

And then there are my Cathy’s who say, “What! Dinner tonight? I need my Tornado and will miss you terribly,” after I cried at dinner she said please call every day, she got it, her and Darren will miss me.  I’ll miss seeing her belly grow like poison ivy.    I’m not just a party or going out friend to her.  She’s a sister I chose along with Shelley, Linds, Shana and my Tiffy.

When I return, there is a chance some of these people I can flip a coin on will come back to my world for strictly social purpose.  And if not, well, fuck em’.

Currently i’m sitting at the IAH airport in Houston writing this from the president’s club and sipping on a glass of white wine.  I fly out in two hours to London Gatwick and arrive there Saturday 0745.  I arrived at the airport extra early in hopes to see my parents prior to leaving the country for four months.  Their plane is now delayed.  I board at 3:10 and they arrive at 2:50.  This now means I will not see my parents for a good eight months.  This would have worked out a lot better when I was a teenager and wanted nothing to do with them. 

I meet up with the pilots in London for breakfast and then Sunday we’ll fly in a Falcon 2000 to Dubai.  We’re spending the night in Dubai where i’ll meet up with my friend Romi who’se drivin in from Quatar.   Monday afternoon we will fly to Mumbai (Bombay). 

I have no idea where i’ll go from there.  Right now, I’m just sad to leave. Four months is a really long time to not see Casey have her baby, Cathy’s belly grow (I’m prob not going to be here for her babyshower either…but they are naming their son “Jet” so props to her), I won’t be here to witness the revolving door of one friends bedroom, or hear of E’s new conquests on a daily basis, i won’t be here to see my nieces grow or watch my older sister receive her P.H.D. from UPENN.   I’m going to miss talking to Lauren and taking her shopping (15 yr old i nanny for) and talking Jim, her son down from the ledge (Jk Jim).  I’m going to miss it all….and i’m going to miss that fucking cat of mine, jo.

The option to extend this contract is available…shall i wish to. I’ve committed to four mounths