Trip Date : 4 April 1996 – 9 February 1997
SHORT INTRODUCTION
First time taking a plane, first time living in a foreign land, first time FREE to do as I please. BY a great coincidence I ended up going to a Kibbutz in Israel where I planned to use my free time to learn English. It was all I had hoped for and much more. I was so busy living that I didn’t write much that year.
READ the first pages now >>>>>>>>>
First Airport experience.
I just got off the train and have no idea where to go from here. I don’t feel so clever now ad my heart is racing from all the running and the anticipation.
I take a look at my ticket and try to remember how they do this in the movies.
I follow people out onto the huge lounge and look out for big screens. I find my flight number and destination and see there is new information about check in so I look around until I find my number range and the arrow pointing to the right direction .
This is quite exciting, it’s like searching for clues in a treasure hunt.
I find the name of my Airline with my flight number and join the line.. There are a lot of people inside the airport and it’s vibrating with energy, lots of movement.
After about 15 minutes I am being called aside by some sort of agent dressed more like a cop. I follow her to a big table nearby as she proceeds to introduce herself and what she is about to do . I give her the permission to put my suitcase on the table and another officer comes to do this.
I am standing there thinking about how I overpacked with as much as I could and how this is all I have left in the whole world.
My whole life is right in there and about to be exposed in the open where everyone close enough can see. I try to think if I have anything suspicious. All I have is clothing, books and personal hygiene items such as shampoo, soap and mouth stuff.
And the Elephant.
She proceeds to open the suitcase and take the items out batch by batch, laying them on the table. While she slowly pats and checks the content with some electronic baton she questions me while giving me the hard stare.
– What’s your name ? Is this your suitcase ? Did you pack the suitcase yourself ? Is there anything in this suitcase you want to declare ? Did anyone touch your suitcase?/ Did you leave your suitcase unattended at all since you packed it ? DId you go to the bathroom at the airport and leave your suitcase out of your sight ? Is this all your belonging ? How long are you going for ? What are you going to do there ? Do you have family there ? Why are you going there now ? How long will you stay there ?
It went on for about 30 minutes and with all my stuff laying exposed on that table.
I answered all the questions thinking how someone carrying something illegal would be toast right now and it makes me feel good and safe, no bad people can go through for sure.
My Easter chocolate elephant passed with a faint smile.
Once all was out on the table and all questions answered she thanked me and authorised me to re pack which I did slowly and methodically so it would fit.
She brought me back to the check-in counter at the front of the line where I gave both my ticket and passport and after weighing my huge suitcase I was given a boarding pass.
I am so happy with myself at this point and get back to the treasure hunt.
I follow the direction the check-in Staff gave me and it feels like this airport goes on forever.
Now passing through a detection door where I will ring twice and be scared to be sent to body search . Luckily I am allowed to keep walking and head towards my Gate.
I understand now why it is advised to arrive at the airport 4 hours before departure and glad I didn’t miss that train.
I am following the clues to my Freedom.
After walking for a while I make it to my Gate where there is not much queue.
There are 2 high single desks blocking the entrance of a long tunnel , each with an officer standing.
It is quickly my turn and one of them calls me and takes both my passport and boarding pass while addressing me with a very severe expression.
Have I done something wrong ?
- Is this your passport ?
- Is this your name ?
- How old are you ?
- Did you pack this suitcase yourself ?
- Has anyone else touched your suitcase ?
- Were you accosted by someone in the airport ?
- Are you alone ?
- Where are your parents ?
- What are your parent names ?
- Do you have a boyfriend ?
- What’s your ex boyfriend’s name ?
- Why are you going to Israel ?
- Where are you going there ?
- When did you decide to go to Israel ?
- What are the reasons for you going there ?
- What is the name of the kibbutz ?
- What is the name of the person in charge ?
- What is your profession ?
- How will you provide for yourself ?
- Will you travel within Israel ?
- Are you planning on visiting countries around Israel ?
By the 4th question I am feeling guilty. Not sure what I am guilty of but the whole situation is not pleasant. I feel as if I am being accused of a crime and he is trying to get me to confess or make a mistake. I am getting a bit scared to be denied access to the plane.
I answer all the questions truthfully, hoping he will see how innocent I am and let me go but he does look pissed off.
Did I make a mistake by telling him that my decision to go to Israel was due to a flyer found on the floor ? Does he think of me as a lunatic that shouldn’t be let into the country ?
Oh Boy, the air is tense and I feel I am in trouble.
I cannot be turned away, it is not an option.
My thoughts are all over the place in my head and I am trying the right way to answer.
Ok, I pass.
The guy gives me back my documents and walks off after telling me to stay put.
Comes another officer who starts asking me the same questions.
Silly me think it smart to tell him that I have already answered these same questions to the previous guy. Just trying to not waste anyone’s time.
Bad idea.
That second guy doesn’t seem to appreciate my comment and gives me a nasty stare :
<< Yes, and now you will answer to me ! >>
I straighten myself, breathe and silently pray for him to please, pretty please let me get into that plane.
And there we go again, exactly the same questions and some more.
The whole gate process probably takes about 45 minutes.
45 minutes of standing, being stared right in the eyes and feeling so guilty that I could make up a lie instead of giving a perfectly innocent answer.
45 minutes before I am free to enter the tunnel to Freedom.
By now, I am just on time and arrive in the private waiting room as passengers are boarding.
My first flight.
What a trip already and it hasn’t even started yet !
Overall, I am okay with the security measures considering what is happening over there right now. If they do this with everyone there will be no bomb on the plane.
I figure guilty people would crack under that much pressure. I am innocent and I ended up thinking I was guilty.
If I had stolen chocolate at the boutique I would probably have confessed.
This is so nice now.
The Hostesses welcome me onto the plane and direct me to my seat, my tiny seat.
I am in between two people like a sardine.
The take off feels like some type of roller coaster ride . The air is too dry, too cold, it’s hard to sit for so long without moving and I get up every 30minutes to go to the bathroom.
I make a mental note to take the aisle seat next time so I can get up as many times as I want without bothering anyone and wished I had thought about this before.
I read the safety pamphlets and look around studying the plane trying to take it all in and watch the Staff demonstrate the emergency procedures.
There are few big screens hanging from the ceiling of the plane and the Hostesses distribute earphones for us to watch the movies being played.
The flight takes around four and half hours to Tel Aviv.