SOMEWHERE IN THE SKY
Senior Haylee Winstead details the trip home from Zurich
Four a.m. was pretty early for the rest of the crew, PeeDee and me.
We were all up early to be at the Zurich airport to prepare for the 10:15 a.m. departure and a 10-hour flight home.
Haylee Winstead (Contributed photos)
We were all wondering why we needed to leave so early for a later morning flight. Well, after getting through check-in and customs and finally boarding the plane, I now know why.
At check-in, attendants asked me a few seemingly random questions. The questions ranged from “Is this your luggage?” to “What mode of transportation did you use while here?”
After check-in, my passport was checked three more times before I boarded. One of the times was during a “random search” initiated as my name was called over the intercom. I was told to go behind curtains and remove items from my bags such as my laptop, cameras and phones. Then the attendant swabbed my hands and laptop, which I later learned was for possible evidence of explosive powders.
Now I understand why waking up at 4 a.m. was essential for being on time.
While waiting to board, I bought a few sodas from a little shop and got my money exchanged into three different currencies. I later bought Starbucks coffee and purchased my items with the three different currencies.
I thought this was a neat experience because I did not expect the Zurich airport to use any other currencies but the Swiss franc. This experience is useful and important for future travels, especially if they are for business.
For example, when waiting for check-in, I met the guy behind me. He noticed my East Carolina gear, and we started the conversation about his friend who went to ECU (what a small world) and ended it with a discussion about his job. He told me he travels to various places every few months for his engineering company, so he is now used to airport protocols for leaving and entering a country. I have been in a few airports, two of them foreign, yet had never had these experiences.
PeeDee is prepared for the flight home.
PeeDee believes comfort is key for a 10-hour flight.
Wheels up, and they’re off.
This also makes me realize that terrorism will always be a threatening factor to travelers and how much security continues to improve safety measures. All in all, airports have always piqued my interest as they are different in some ways whether located in Raleigh, Seattle or Switzerland.
So what to do on a 10-hour flight home? Sit back, try to relax, eat some snacks and watch Wonder Woman. As soon as you know it, just like that, time has passed and you are home at last.
-by Halee Winstead, senior from Rocky Mount majoring in management
June 16, 2018