The Studio

I'm back safe and sound in Dar, but not before experiencing a number of near-mishaps!

On the way to the airport in Houston, I realized that after making lists and making sure I had everything, I had forgotten my iPhone at home! Not that I use my iPhone in Tanzania, but it's definitely needed for my return to the bay area in September. Fortunately, by sheer luck, I realized my phone was missing when we were only 10 minutes from home, instead of at the airport or at some much later time. We still made it to the airport in plenty of time to spare.

During my 8-hour layover in London, I actually had to leave the airport and go into the city center to the Accenture office to pick up some contracts to bring them back to Dar. Such things are necessary when there's no reliable postal system. =P I convinced Mickey to meet me for a late lunch while I was there, which was a boon. As Mickey was walking me to the Accenture office, he realized he had left his iPhone on the table outside of the canteen where we had lunch. We hadn't walked super far, but we did sort of meander around for the last 4 blocks. Mickey handed me his backpack so that he could sprint back to the canteen. As I waited for him, I became more anxious with each passing minute because I assumed that had he recovered his phone, he would be able to promptly return. Just as I was about to call his phone to see if someone else had it, here comes Mickey with a triumphant smile. Phone recovered.

During lunch, I had tried to email my contact at the Accenture office who had the contracts which I was trying to pick up to let her know that I was coming, since I had failed to do so before departing the US. However, I couldn't connect to any wi-fi network. So, I arrive at the Accenture office only to find that she's out of office! Very poor planning on my part. Her backup knew which contracts I was talking about, but couldn't find them. After a bit of searching, she suggested that I come up to the office while we try to reach the other lady on her mobile. I waited in the lobby for the lady to come down and walk me up stairs. When she arrives, what does she have with her other than the contracts! YAY! Had she not been able to find the contracts, all my effort of coming into city center would have been for not. Phew.

I walked the few short blocks to the closest underground station so that I could take the tube back to paddington station, where I could connect to the Heathrow Express train. I go through the turnstile, and descend the escalators. Midway down, I think to check for my Heathrow Express train ticket and find that it's not in my pocket! I know it must have come out of my pocket when I pulled the oyster card out to scan it on the turnstile. When I reach the bottom of the escalator, I immediately take the escalator back up and back at the turnstile, I exit and start looking for a tiny receipt. I go around picking up small pieces of paper, but only manage to pick up a few ATM receipts. After checking out every piece of paper that's on the floor, I still haven't found my train ticket. I'm only even bothering to look because a Heathrow Express train ticket costs 18 GBP - that's about $29! Flustered, I hover about the turnstile I originally went through, and not 20 seconds later, what should be blowing around my feet but my train ticket!! Another mishap avoided.

Elated, I promptly return to the airport and get myself to the BA lounge. I immediately take advantage of the shower service in hopes of washing off whatever ironic badluck/goodluck dust off of me. I remembered what Mickey said after he recovered his phone - "things must be looking up if things that could go wrong don't go wrong" - and smile to myself the same way one smiles at inside jokes.