From Ethiopia

An entry I wrote in the Ethiopia airport, but couldn't post:

You wouldn't believe what it took to get here and how lucky I will be to get home Saturday night. I am currently in Addis Ababa, using internet at the airport, but only by shear luck and a gracious, loving gesture by Deirdre.  I completely owe her more than I can even comprehend.
 
Did you know that when traveling in places not the US, that "be sure to check you flight status" actually means you have to call them 5 days before you leave to let them know you still want your seat?  Even with a paper ticket?  Yeah, neither did I.  So Deirdre and I showed up at the airport, about 2.5 hours before our flight, only to be told they weren't expecting us and there was no space on the plane for us.  And that was it.  I was at first angry, then surprisingly calm.  Then we were told that she was trying to get us on, but began preparing us for traveling tomorrow instead and working on changing our flights, as if there would be some available on a days notice.  So then I started crying.  Hard.  And couldn't stop crying.  We found a woman who let us use her phone, so D called back to the house, and finally reached someone to tell them to expect us another night and we needed a ride back from the airport. 

Then we were told she could take one of us.  One.  Deirdre told me to go - then she teared up.  It was so painful to walk away from her - utterly painful.  I felt so horrible and kept looking back behind me until we took off.  I was hopeful she would make it, and it looked like there was one empty seat, but she never appeared.
 
So now I'm traveling completely alone and feeling so guilty for taking the one seat.  It was a terrible way to leave such an amazing experience.  I surely never expected that to be the way I would depart.  I'm so grateful to be on my way home, but still worried about the journey ahead.  I have to collect my luggage in Paris and figure out customs.  I have no idea what that even means.  Oh the nerves...I'm so anxious.  And I just feel so bad for Deirdre.  I can't believe she let me go.  While a little extra time in Tanzania would be nice in a way, and I truly can't believe I have really left there, I was so ready to come home.  I just can't believe how close I already came to missing that.  I literally had worried about many other issues, but never that they had given away our seats.  Truly ridiculous.
 
My last day at Tekua was truly amazing.  I taught a little, talked to my students, had one of my students sing my favorite song of his for my video camera, was explained what the Tanzania flag colors and design mean (so so so cool), and then had my goodbye ceremony.  They sang many songs to me, including another of my Tanzania favorites (BOMBA!!), then we passed out sodas to everyone, stood in a big circle with me in the middle while they cheered to me.  Amazingly, I didn't cry, just enjoyed every moment.  Then many pictures were taken and goodbyes said.  I will really miss that school and those students.  Then it was home, repacking, rushed lunch, crazed running around and stressing out, last run into Tengeru town to pick up my tailoring, and back home to say good bye and hop in the bus.  Only to arrive and find we weren't necessarily leaving.
 
Thank whoever for Deirdre - she is my lifesaver.  I really can't believe I have actually left Tanzania and my adventure is over.  It is amazing how fast 5 weeks can go in retrospect.  I feel as though it was all a dream and I was never even there.  So crazy.  And this weird split feeling is painful - part of me wishing to still be in Tanzania, and part of me so excited for home.
 
Just means I have to go back for sure.