A Trip to D.C./Dano’s Mistake

Last fall one of Kennedy’s teachers nominated her to attend the Junior National Youth Leadership Conference held in Washington, D.C. Considering this a very fortunate opportunity we decided we would do what we could to get her there. She and I left from Jordan to fly back to the U.S. It was the longest flight of my life. Our travel agent had missed on the arrangements and we ended up with a direct flight from Amman to Chicago. The nice part is ‘direct.’ The not-so-great part was that it was a thirteen hour flight. To begin our trip we were delayed in Amman for two hours while their systems were down. Then, because Kennedy and I look so threatening, we were selected to be completely inspected. This was after the security line where, in Arab countries (at least Saudi and Jordan), women go through a separate line into a booth-type room and are given a pat-down just one step up from what I imagine is given in a prison frisking! After that lovely experience we stood and watched as two security guards went through everything we had, speaking of course in Arabic so I had no idea what they were saying (probably wondering what deodorant is!) Kennedy and I had a really difficult time explaining what knitting needles were. I was beginning to think there was no way they were going to let them through. After showing them Kennedy’s handiwork-in-progress, they let us pass.

I was a little apprehensive when the young man sitting behind us asked the flight attendant when the cigarettes were coming around that he could purchase. I quickly began thinking to myself, “Surely, surely non-American airlines don’t allow smoking.” Nothing was going to make my flight worse than sitting in front of someone smoking. Well, one thing. I then couldn’t take my mind or eyes off a few small groups of Arab men huddling together speaking Arabic. I kept telling myself they most likely weren’t terrorists, but then the underwear bomber looked like a nice kid, too. My convincing notion came when the customs forms were passed out and I watched them fill them out. Of course, if they were going to bomb the plane they wouldn’t take time to fill out the customs forms. Phew! Oh, the things the over-active mind thinks of when squished on a large, seemingly endless flight. Talk about paranoid, erroneous racial profiling.

In spite of my inflight migraine it was a relatively quick flight. I have to say, I was very impressed with my navigation of O’Hare terminals, getting through customs, and rebooking our connecting flight we had missed because of our delay in Amman. It probably sounds ridiculous, but it was thrilling to know we were back on American ground and could actually understand the people everywhere! As it turns out some of the “potential terrorists” were on our flight to D.C. as well. I really wanted to say something in Arabic to them but wasn’t ever close enough.

We arrived in a chilly, rainy D.C. minus one piece of luggage, mine. I went to the lost luggage counter where two of the young Arab men were waiting. After they spoke to the not-so-helpful lady, I asked if their luggage had been lost, too. One replied that his had. I told them we had been on the same flights (Of course they knew this. We were sitting across the aisle from them and they probably saw me watching their every move. I think I may have a future in the TSA as an air marshal.) I then told him good luck. He wished me the same. Then I mustered my courage and told him, “Ma-salaama” which is quite typically said when parting and means “Go with safety.” He was noticeably pleasantly surprised and returned the wish. For a moment I forgot about my lost bag and was elated that I had actually conveyed something in Arabic, it had been understood, appreciated, and reciprocated.

About the best part of going to D.C. was being able to stay with my sister and her husband. They have a beautiful new home in Arlington, not too far from Kennedy’s conference site. My parents even came out to visit. It was so wonderful to spend time with them.
We arrived at my sister's home about 1:30 in the morning, chatted, and went to bed only to have my luggage arrive at 5:00…at least it arrived. We ran to Target later that morning to grab some final items for Kennedy. Ahhh, Target…need I say more. I was almost in a daze of wonder being back in one of “my” stores where items are found where they should be, prices are clearly marked, and there’s everything I need (except for khaki pants for one tweenie). My parents treated us to Mexican food at a really terrific restaurant a short walk from my sister’s house. I probably could have been satisfied just gorging myself on the chips and salsa. I think they knew Kennedy and I had been deprived of good chips because they put out a basket of chips for every two people. I think Kennedy and I polished off three baskets! Yum!

My aunt and cousin came over Saturday morning and joined us for brunch at another terrific restaurant with “life-altering” French toast. If any of you are ever in the Arlington area, I could highly recommend some really wonderful places to eat. We took Kennedy to the 4H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD, checked her in, and said goodbye. This was her longest time away from home. As we drove away, I decided that we’ll have a few years left in Ohio when we get back and then Dano will have to go job-hunting within a thirty mile radius of wherever Kennedy decides to attend college. I think a friend referred to this as a “smother mother.”
I had a very relaxing, great week with my mom and sister. We were able to go to the beautiful Washington, D.C. temple. I also had to take advantage of the spring blossoms. I could have stopped and smelled every blooming plant and flower. I did miss Dano and the little kids. It’s hard to be split like that. Thank goodness for Skype!
Kennedy spent the week learning good leadership roles. Each day they studied a different ‘voice’: voice of leadership, voice of freedom, voice of struggle, voice of courage, voice of change, and voice of the future. She met in focus groups to dissect and discuss the first amendment, visited some of the D.C. monuments, toured the Newseum, spent the night at Maryland’s Science Center, and spent a day at Harper’s Ferry discussing John Brown’s raid. There, they also participated in a reenactment of a Civil War Battle. Kennedy drew the role of nurse. She was pleased with her luck as she had chosen Clara Barton as her hero to report on at the conference. They were coached in what it took to be a nurse or doctor in the Civil War period. They were sent “soldiers” with all types of illnesses and wounds and treated them according to a list they were provided with along with medicinal treatments. As Kennedy was telling us some of their treatment options, she told us she most often bandaged their wounds and gave them opium. What a laugh! She told us it was the easiest medicine name to remember. Dano and I had to tease her a bit about this: Have dysentery? Here’s some opium. Got shot in the leg? Here’s some opium. Stabbed yourself in the eye? Here. Have some opium. Fortunately medicine has advanced and we don’t so readily rely on illegal drugs to feel better…well, most of us don’t.

It was a great week for both of us. However, Dano’s mistake was this: allowing me to come back to the States because now I remember just how much I enjoy life in the States, how comfortable I am there, and how I miss it and my family. However, our life right now is in Saudi and we’re enjoying it as well. Sometimes we need to miss out on things to realize how much we appreciate them. I hope my family is gaining a great respect for the people here, people different from themselves and situations different than what we’re used to and appreciating it. Conversely, I hope it makes us all value more what we have in the United States. It’s such a great country.