21 day debate journey from Vermont to Missouri to Serbia to Slovenia and back
to Vermont, January, 2003
| Part One | Part Two |
Part Three | Part Four |
Part Five | Part Six | Part
Seven | Part Eight | Part
Nine | Part Ten |
PART NINE: FROM MUNICH TO VERMONT
JANUARY 20, 2003
MUNICH TO NEW YORK
During
the night we crossed a number of borders, and at each point I would be awakened
and show my passport. It was never inspected very carefully and only took
a moment. I am not even sure how often it happened. At least we entered Austria
and then Germany.
I was concerned about getting off at the correct stop,
so I had set my timer to wake me up before MunichÕs main station. I arose,
gathered myself together, and packed while letting the music bring me into
consciousness. I talked to the conductor and he assured me that I would know
when we got to the right stop.
I watched the German countryside become much more urban
Munich and the train stations began to look more like major commuter stops,
although few got on or off. The general commotion in the cabins around me
made it clear that we were nearing Munich's main stop.
I trundled off the train and began wandering around
the main Munich train station. It was gleaming and modern, and not that crowded
even though rush hour was coming up. I noticed a hug change from Slovenia
Š this is a multiracial society. Citizens of European descent were making
their way to work alongside citizens who (visually) seemed to be of African
and Asian descent. I found an information booth and they guided me towards
the train that would take me to the airport. I found it easily and was soon
aboard it and experiencing the morning commute to work of normal Munich citizens.
Colorful newspapers splashed news stories alongside scantily clad buxom females
in a strange pastiche of journalistic styles. It was about ten stops until
the airport.
I
exited at the airport along with most other people and tried to find the check
in desk. I found Lufthansa and stood in line, then had my bag scanned by a
huge machine and then tagged, only to be told when I got to an agent that
since I was flying directly to New York I had to go to a special area and
be scanned and checked in there.
I found the separate area (in section B of the terminal)
and checked in, got a seat, and handed over my luggage. There was no problem
with my not taking the Belgrade to Munich leg of my trip, so Bojana had done
a good job with getting my tickets changed.
I had a lot of time to spend in the airport (about
six hours) so I had breakfast (quiche, bratwurst, and water), read newspapers
(International Herald Tribune, Financial Times, etc.), worked on my journal
(trip too long, I was way behind), and even caught a short nap.
Soon the boarding announcement came and I saw that
the flight would be very crowded. I checked through and found my seat. I had
my iPod, my iBook (with movies on CD), my book (The Challenges of Ivan Illich),
and a determination to not let the crowded 8+-hour flight get me down.
| In the Munich airport |
The flight was uneventful (my favorite kind) but the
time went by very slowly. The person in the seat next to me got up often,
so I took the opportunity to stretch my legs, because they really needed it.
We landed at New York's JFK airport and claimed my
bag and made my way through immigration and customs. I called my hotel (Doubletree)
and they sent a shuttle to get me. They arrived shortly and I made my way
to the hotel. It was a fine hotel in a not so fine neighborhood. I checked
out the restaurant and found it incredibly overpriced, so I walked a few blocks
for a hamburger and came back. I tried watching cable news but found it so
distasteful I switched to NBA basketball. I worked on my journal (still very
behind) and then went to sleep. I was back in America.
JANUARY 21, 2003
NEW YORK TO VERMONT
I arose in time to take the shuttle to the airport
for my flight to Burlington. I had a decent but overpriced breakfast at JFK
and after a bit of work on my journal I went aboard the brief Jetblue flight
to Burlington. I love Jetblue, comfortable, inexpensive, and prompt.
The flight landed in Burlington and it was cold. Really
cold. It seems cold all over the world except for the Primorska seaside. I
arrived at my office but thought that I should immediately go to my home to
turn the heat up from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to a more acceptable level. It
took quite a long time to free my car from a huge pile of snow and ice. I
went home, adjusted the heat, and then stopped at Healthy Living MarketÕs
organic food bar for a lunch salad before arriving back in the office at my
desk. Now I was home.
The longest debate trip of my life was over. It was
Tuesday afternoon, and I realized that I was scheduled to fly to Atlanta to
attend the National Debate Coaches Association and the Barkley Forum for High
Schools at Emory University, and I was scheduled to leave on Thursday afternoon.