I was settling into an aisle seat, pulling an ipod and ear buds from a carry-on bag before shoving it under the seat in front of me. After sitting upright a hand appeared directly in front of me, palm side up, 3 shriveled tan colored balls the size of plump cherries, resting in the center. I looked at the proffered items, then right at the Buddhist priest whose arm was extended across the small aisle. He said nothing but feeling like it would be rude to reject the offering, yet all the while thoughts of germs and dysentery racing across my mind, I took the 3 balls and popped one in my mouth. There wasn’t much flavor but after consuming the dried flesh a seed remained, probably an apricot seed.
The remaining passengers boarded, people talking and bumping each other as they put carry-ons in the overhead bins, then an announcement was made. The aircraft would be fumigated but the passengers were not to worry because the procedure was ‘perfectly safe’. A flight attendant walked from the front of the craft to the back with an aerosol can in hand, a noxious cloud spraying onto the ceiling with a turn at the rear he marched forward, continuing to spray. By the end of the ‘safety procedure speech’ the interior fog had nearly dissipated.
Half way into the flight, after the food service mess was cleaned and put away the four flight attendants gathered in the galley at the front of the plane. One pulled the curtain closed while another draped a blanket over a divider for added privacy. Laughing and lively conversation could be heard from behind the enclosure until the pilot announced the decent to the airport.
Just as the plane touched down people jumped up from their seats, arms outstretched to the overhead lockers, the clicking sound of the lockers opening. No order, no decorum, just total bedlam. After taxiing down the runway, after arriving at the gate, after the ‘fasten seat belt light’ flashed off, I overheard someone say with a laugh in his Indian-accented voice, “These Indians need to be taught discipline.” I just smiled as I stood up to grab my bag and deplane.
Pictures: The Buddhist priest, the enclosed galley
