Second leg- Atlanta to Paris

Airplanes are an interesting place to observe people, and probably be observed. With no one to talk to, you absorb more. To my left is a pair of energetic five-year-olds, to my right, across the aisle is a French couple. I have begun to notice to attractiveness of people who travel by air.

The airport in Atlanta began my international experience. The first woman waiting for the flight to Paris was Algerian. Algeria is a primarily French and Arabic speaking country West of Libya. She spoke English with a heavy French accent, and was very enthusiastic about my trip. She spoke with the flair of an French teacher, gestuclating; she said 'Ooh la, la' a lot. I guess  the expression is not related to just sexy things. If you want the condensed version, watch the video above. 


"It's gotta be turned off if it's not keeping you alive," said an Atlanta flight attendant, on the plane several hours later. I ended up sitting next to two bi-lingual kids who were traveling with parents, and fidgeted and played in their seats. The little girl directly to my left repeatedly pulled out the tethered remote for the headset displays lodged in the headrests of the seats in front of us. She figured out how to turn on the overhead light before I did. 


I'm a little jealous how much more seat room the two had on an eight hour flight. I only then noticed that it was raining out.


Watching 'Bridesmaids,' and  'Hanna,' on the headrest monitor, and being fed dinner and breakfast made the 8 hours 'fly' by. 


They didn't fly by, at all. I made a pun for my writer buddy Will. I slept a little, and kept myself busy with trying to learn more Arabic. More on that later.


When my watch finally said 4:15, Michigan time, it was brilliantly bright out. I watched the icon of the plane creep across the Atlantic via large GPS monitor at the front.


At 4:15 in Michigan it's 10:15 in Paris, and North Africa. I hope I can convince my body it's after 10 a.m. also.