Morning came VERY early today. We had to meet at 02h45 to get on the buses that would take us to CDG airport. As it happened, I never went to sleep last night but stayed up finishing Travail Soigné. Didn't plan it that way but it worked out all right. I had just enough residual energy/travel adrenaline to get me through loading the buses. Our students did great--everyone was on time with little or no last-minute pounding on doors required. The ride out to CDG went very quickly, partially because there was no traffic at that hour and partially because I fell sound asleep about 20 minutes in. We were so early that the Lufthansa desk wasn't even open yet, but we all got checked in by about 05h00, got through security, and had time to spare for snack-buying and duty-free shopping (to the student who was getting perfume for his girlfriend: I hope you went with Hermès).
I think most of us slept through the CDG-FRA hop. I actually missed the snack service--chocolate croissants--but they were giving out the extras as we disembarked and that was most welcome. In Frankfurt we had to go through passport control, which was pretty quick, and then walk a long way to our gate. On the way I stopped to get some juice and a package of crackers and was very excited to be able to use some of the German that I am learning from Duolingo. I picked up a package of what I was pretty sure were crackers but the picture on the packaging also looked a bit like butter cookies. So at the register I held up the package and asked the clerk "Ist das suß oder salzig?" (Is this sweet or salty?) "Salzig," he answered. "Das ist alles?" (Will this be all for you?) "Ja," I had the presence of mind to answer. HOLY COW. I CAN SPEAK GERMAN.
As I write we are about 45 minutes from Atlanta. This flight has been long but I was so tired that I slept on and off through about the first half of it. In fact, I fell asleep while we were taxiing, woke up as we took off and realized that the sound of the plane taxiing had made my sleeping brain think I was on the metro! My only complaint about this flight is that it has been freezing cold the entire time. The baby sitting next to me (who has been an angel, by the way) has on footie pajamas and I am wishing for footie pajamas. Of course, after an hour in Georgia I'll be wishing I were freezing cold again.
40 minutes to go. Then Baggage Claim and Customs (merde, where is my customs form?) and then hoooooooome!
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