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Archive forJanuary 28, 2009

Canada: The First Trip to Abroad- Part two

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” - Samuel Johnson

Heathrow Airport in London is tremendously vast. It is consisted of four separate terminals. Each of which has various duty-free shops, restaurants, airline representatives and so on.

I just had thirty minutes to find Air Canada Gate because the Iranian airplane was delayed for an hour. As soon as I got off the plane, I asked a police officer:”Where can I find flight number 557?” He pointed out to the yellow line on the wall and said: “Just follow the yellow line; you will get there very soon.”I did not have much time to make mistakes, so I was carefully looking at all signs and boards. Fortunately, there was no need to change the terminal. Air Canada was in the same building that I entered.

 Heathrow airport was really elegant and little strange for me. All shops were decorated with heart shapes chocolates, boxes tied with red ribbon, fancy mannequins wore tailored clothes and etc. I really wanted to stop to window-shop but time was flying and I had to find my Gate. More interestingly, cars and buses were in the left side of the roads and drivers were on the right. That gave me the strange and interesting feeling.

Eventually, I reached the counter that gave gate’s number. A busy blond lady told me: “Run! Run! You just have ten minutes left!”  By hearing that, I ran immediately. However, I was relatively sure that the plane would stay for me since I had my boarding card.

Running with a heavy back-pack and two bags in hand was exhausting and annoying. My back was aching and my hands were red because of holding too much weight. But, I was running as fast as I could. In some areas, I took escalators to be faster. I did not know that some small cars inside the building took special people to the gate and I could ask them to help me as well. My feet were weak and I could not stand on them. I was thirsty and hungry. My stomach was singing a song like a frog in swamp: I am hungry! Hungry! Hungry! 

Lastly, I found the gate. I could not see anyone in front of the gate. I was the last person to board. An old kind lady asked me: “Where have you been? We waited for you for so long.” “I am so sorry. The plane had delay and I arrived right now.” I said sadly. She seriously looked at me and said: “OK, You can go this way.” And pointed out to the gate number six. Finally, the last person boarded on the Canadian Airplane.

 By the plane’s door, a tall slim smiley flight-attendant welcomed me and I found my seat near a window.

 

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The story of the week:Nasreddin and The Beggar

One day, Nasreddin was up on the roof of his house, mending a hole in the tiles. He had nearly finished, and he was pleased with his work. Suddenly, he heard a voice below call “Hello!” When he looked down, Nasreddin saw an old man in dirty clothes standing below.

“What do you want?” asked Nasreddin.

“Come down and I’ll tell you,” called the man.

Nasreddin was annoyed, but he was a polite man, so he put down his tools. Carefully, he climbed all the way down to the ground.

“What do you want?” he asked, when he reached the ground.

“Could you spare a little money for an old beggar?” asked the old man. Nasreddin thought for a minute.

Then he said, “Come with me.” He began climbing the ladder again. The old man followed him all the way to the top. When they were both sitting on the roof, Nasreddin turned to the beggar.

“No,” he said.

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