Sunday 23 February 2014

OMW=On My Way

On my way back to Ontario, home city and school. It is a wonderful sunny day while I sit her in Starbucks enjoying my favourite Chai Latte.

On our last day in Alberta my boyfriend and I decided to go to the Science Center to visit the Harry Potter Exhibition. I am a HUGE Harry Potter Nerd.
It was funny my boyfriends first question was "So have you seen all the movies". HAVE I SEEN ALL THE MOVIES? Was that supposed to be a joke question?! Not only have I seen all the movies (3/7 in movie theatres and on opening nights), but I have also read all the books and have a Slytherine-like tie. I was like a little kid in that Exhibition. I got goosebumps as I heard the Harry Potter opening theme music, saw the videos and the items they had on display. Even the obviously fake British accents that the staff had didn't bother me! Only down-side was we were forbidden to take pictures in the exhibit. How could would it have been if I had a picture holding my hands with a petrified Colin Creevy or me sitting in Hagrids huge chair! Oh well, it is the experience that counts anyways. After the exhibit we decided to explore the rest of the Science Center. The body exhibit was my personal favourite. So much to smell, see, touch, hear and balance on! It was more hands-on than I expected.

And then came the time for goodbyes.

Waking up at 4:30am was no piece of cake. Not only were we upset that these were my last few glances of Alberta and my boyfriend, but also waking up early sucks. We made it to the airport with a couple of minutes left to say our heart-felt goodbyes. The mean security guard in the line wouldn't even let my boyfriend stand with me! [He has been allowed to stand with me every time I've flown before, I seriously don't know who hurt her that morning that she wouldn't let him stand beside me, it's not like he'll get through security with no boarding pass.] Her aggressive "no" made me so upset and the water works began.

All alone, I finally made it to the security conveyor belt thing. My stuff went through smoothly, my body was a whole different story.

I beeped. But I beep sometimes it happens. What they usually make me do is go back through again. Assuming this I turn around to walk through. The security guard *yells* at me saying "If you went through once you don't need to do it again". Jesus, that fine. I don't mind, no need to be a bitch.
And then the aggressiveness continues. She frisks me. But this was no usual frisk. She checked every inch of my body, with the metal checker thing as well as her hands. I've travelled a couple of times now within Canada and never have I been treated so poorly by security. She didn't talk to me through anything, she didn't ask me whether she can STICK HER HANDS DOWN MY PANTS. WTF LADY! After doing things to me that were extremely intimate she faces me and asks "Did you want to be frisked by a female or have the body scan?"... Wait a minute I thought you covering my entire body with your hands was called frisking. Bitch I am a security guard too, I know exactly what frisky is and you just did it to me, being aggressive and rude the entire time.
I was livid by this point, but of course I couldn't talk back/be rude/ be anything but nice-ish to her so I don't get kicked off my plane, I just spoke a couple of words "I don't care, just give me the body scan".
She shouts over the entire damn airport about needing a person to do a body scan for me. I turn to her and I'm like "I'd like to get my stuff first"... bitch because if I lose my laptop and phone and every other essential I have in my carry-on I'll try my best to get you fired.
At this point comes a MUCH kinder and definitely more people-friendly security guard. She asks me to take of most of my lose clothing and step into the machine. SURPRISE SURPRISE I did not have crack up my ass, nor anything else! She told me to have a nice flight and I was on my way.

The airplane ride was much more comfortable and pleasant than the airport itself. My seat was upgraded to the "Plus" section (this is similar to business class in international flights). I got tons of space and complementary lunch!! It was wonderful. Usually travelling in economy you only get pretzels and a cup of refreshments. It was nice to have an actual sandwich considering I was starving.

During my flight I met a lovely old lady from Pakistan. She was sitting in the same row as I and during the flight she needed help with english and her belt. She proceeded to tell me about her Islamic religion and how I should consider converting (after I told her I was Russian Orthodox). She was so happy that I was so respectful and still listened to her talk no matter how different (or in some cases similar) our religions are. At the end of the flight she said, in her thick accent "I will call my son and I will tell him what a wonderful flight partner I had". She was just so sweet.

My dad picked me up from the airport, he fed me and drove me back to my home city. During the trip we listened to my "hip" music and then he requested I transfer most of my music over to him. I wonder how he'll feel about my music after he hears all of it.

Anyways it is nice to be home. Just under 2 months left of school and research. I can't think of where life will take me next.

I apologize for my language in some of the areas. I guess I shouldn't be so angry, but I really am. I felt the way I the situation was handled at the airport was very inappropriate customer service.

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