Archive for June, 2011

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Most Orderly Graduation Ceremony Ever

June 10, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

high school choir at graduation

There she is in the front row looking up to search the crowd for her parents.

graduates standing in line for diplomas

Standing in line for that trip across the stage and that well earned piece of paper

graduate names in the printed program

Just look at all the wingdings after her name. They stand for National Honor Society, North Carolina Academic Scholar, Honor Graduate, and Academically/Intellectually Gifted.

graduate and grandparents

The proud grandparents

graduate and father

Proud DaddyBird and his BabyBird

There were 4 speeches and 400 graduates, yet it only took 1 hour and 15 minutes start to finish. A well oiled machine, I’d say. This is due in large part to the strict instructions that grads and guests received. “Guests will not be allowed to approach the stage to take photographs or to videotape. … We ask all parents and their guests to refrain from yelling out, screaming, clapping, or acting in any inappropriate manner as names are called. Diplomas are not awarded to seniors who conduct themselves in an inappropriate manner or whose guests disrupt the solemnity of the ceremony.” There was also a rule against bringing any flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, or gifts into the ceremony.

You almost could have heard a pin drop in that place as the names were called. Only two pebbles were thrown into that pond – one grad fell down in the middle of the stage and one family disregarded the noise prohibition and proceeded to whoop and holler for their grad. They were promptly escorted out. As she was leaving the grandmother said “We came too far to be quiet!”

The rules seemed a little harsh, but I am very thankful. It was a pleasant ceremony. Of course, once everyone had their diploma and it was time to turn the tassels, the cheering began.

Posted in Us, USA | 6 Comments »

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A Taste of the South

June 9, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

red brick church building

Here are a few sights to give you a taste of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

shelves full of barbecue sauce in a store

You can never have enough choices when it comes to barbecue sauce.

gallon jars of cheese ball snacks

sign for American Flag Storage

For your excess flag collection needs.

leather belt with the Confederate flag and the words we shall rise again

Divided loyalties.

sign for Dixie Music and Military Supplies

For all your shopping needs.

Posted in signs, USA | 1 Comment »

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Seeing the Forest and the Trees

June 8, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

forest

I’ve been enjoying the plethora of trees. The city is spred out over a large area and heavily forested. We spent the afternoon in the botanical garden.

strange purple flower

The mud dauber wasps made it challenging to find the women’s restroom.

women's restroom sign with wasp nest over the O

Can you see the frog?

lily pond

Here he is.

lily pads and frog

This was the most unusual flower – golden shrimp plant.

yellow cone shaped flower

Despite the heat, it was a pleasant afternoon.

yellow daisies

Posted in flowers, plants, USA | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Served with a Side of Loud Mouth

June 5, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

restaurant befind a used car lot

Craving an American breakfast, we went to the Waffle House nestled behind a used car lot.

eggs, biscuit, hash browns and two pork chops

Eggs, biscuit, hash browns, and two pork chops. The food was tasty, but the staff were loudly discussing their private lives. Also, they only refilled our coffee cups once, which is a travesty. Coffee should be cheap and bottomless. So, the experience turned out to be as classy as the used car lot setting.

Since sitting there a spell, drinking coffee and reading our books peaceably wasn’t an option, we went in search of a better place to do that. We ended up at Books A Million bookstore which is close to our hotel and has a little coffee shop.

So, this librarian is spending her vacation browsing for books that might be of interest to her future students. No surprise there.

Posted in food, restaurant, USA | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments »

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Voyage, Not Particularly Bon

June 4, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

white cat sitting on top of suitcase

Oliver made his opinion about us packing baggage very clear. He did his best to get in the way and delay the inevitable.

golden decoration

We began our journey at the un-ostentatiously decorated DXB airport. The only frustration was the process required for paying an extra baggage fee for the third suitcase (because the website had stated clearly that we were allowed 2 each – LIE!). Instead of just being able to pay the person who was checking in our bags (as is done in any other airport) our boarding passes were carried to a different counter by a second person who turned it over to the staff of that counter. We then stood in line (too long) waiting for the first of the two people at this counter to match up our paperwork and ask us pointless questions. She then passed the paperwork to her coworker who actually took the money and gave us back our boarding passes. FOUR PEOPLE. Really, does it take four people to handle this transaction? No. It takes four people to delay you so that you stand in line saying, “we should have flown Emirates Airline.”

map showing a single line

We proceeded to Heathrow Airport where getting to your connecting flight is so complex it requires a map.

sign stating face direction of travel

And they give good advice.

It was not the best of trips. It was not the worst of trips. We really must stop this flying halfway around the Earth in one shot business.

Posted in cats, signs, travel adventures | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

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I’m Not a Tourist Here

June 4, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

So, we have completed a marathon travel experience to reach North Carolina for our daughter’s one and only high school graduation.

It began like this…

[Dubai] At about 11 pm we dragged our suitcases out to the curb to begin the process of flagging down a taxi. DaddyBird remembers suddenly that he forgot the money that others have given him to buy a few things (iTunes cards and barbecue sauce), so he runs back to the apartment and I am left standing on the curb with three large suitcases and two smaller bags looking for a taxi.

A taxi pulls over almost immediately. The driver gets out and comes over to me. He begins telling me that it is a busy night. It is difficult to get into and out of the airport. I have a lot of bags. And then a sentence that I think was supposed to be along the lines of what was I willing to pay for this service, but ended with something along the lines of  “how much give to you?” I needed to stall anyway, until DaddyBird had time to return. So, I made this guy repeat his request several times, saying that I didn’t understand what he was asking, which technically is the truth since his grammar was all backwards. He gave up just as DaddyBird appeared around the corner, got in his taxi and went away.

We got in another taxi soon thereafter. There was no discussion. The driver helped get the bags into the car quickly and away we went. He got us to the airport quickly. We paid the fare and tipped him well. That is how it should be.

The first driver must have seen a white woman standing near a hotel with a ridiculous amount of luggage and thought “here’s a tourist I can scam.” Sorry buddy, I’m not a tourist here anymore. I know I don’t have to haggle for a taxi ride.

As for the rest of the trip, our first flight via British Airways to Heathrow Airport was a little taste of hell. There were no vents above the seats to blow cool air and it was horribly hot the entire flight. We desperately needed to sleep, but could not. Second leg of the flight from London to Raleigh/Durham North Carolina was better temperature-wise, but sleeping was not easy or very satisfactory due to the discomfort of economy class seats. This flight was operated by American Airlines and I will say that the food was good.

We changed our currency and ended up with quite a wad of bills because about half of what she gave us was in $5 bills. Thankfully, she didn’t resort to giving it to us in ones.

Anyway, we landed safely, although exhausted and a bit smelly. We checked into the hotel and went immediately to sleep.  It’s about 3 am local time now, so I should try to get a little more sleep and try to adjust to the new time zone. Jet lag is a cruel mistress.

Posted in Dubai, taxis, travel adventures, USA | Tagged , , | 5 Comments »

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