!!!!, or why I'm freaking out

BECAUSE I HAVE ONE DAY LEFT.

This time tomorrow I will be in the AIRPORT about to BOARD my FLIGHT to ISTANBUL!

There is righteous anger, right? This is righteous freak-out.

I guess I never told you, but the airline strike was called off due to mis-voting. The trains around London are still screwed up last I heard, but I'm safe.

My room has been delineated into the "taking" and "not taking." I still have a few piles to go through, a bit of shopping to do, another round of sorting, massive amounts of scanning and printing, a load of laundry, a few phone calls, and then... I'll be "ready."

I'm taking a small rolling suitcase and a hiking backpack as of now. If I can consolidate them into the backpack I might try to do that, but I'm not thinking I'll be successful (or even want to do that).

It has gotten to the point where I'm ready to be in Doha.

However, for Christmas, I got a Rick Steves' book on Istanbul (and some of you know how I adore Rick Steves) and began reading it. But on my 10 hour flight to Heathrow, then 4 hour flight to Istanbul, I'm thinking I'll have time to finish it, memorize it, translate it into Pig Latin, and re-copy it upside down.

So, my next post will either be a) tomorrow's Freak-Out Part Two or b) from Istanbul!

Can't Cut a Break, or how my other flight is in danger

So. I thought that all of my airline troubles were over.

Mais non!

British Airlines workers voted today to start a strike on Dec. 22. The sources I've read said it will go 12 days. That would be Jan. 2.

My ticket departs Seattle on Dec. 28th. I haven't gotten any alerts from British Airlines (i.e. they haven't outright cancelled my flight) so there is hope. I'm betting that BA gets things resolved before Christmas and I'll be able to flight out as scheduled.

If not, I still have a house to go home to in Seattle. They'd probably let me come back from the airport. In fact, they might even drive me back.

So now, as the drama continues, I sit and wait, watching and listening. What else could screw up my flight? I'm ready.

Slowly but Surely, or how I my trip planning is coming along

"A snail's pace" would accurately describe how my Turkey planning is coming. And my Qatar planning? Ha, give me a break.

Actually, a break is exactly what I need (and exactly what I'll get in just a few days!) I now OFFICIALLY have a flight from Istanbul to Qatar (finally! Just made my last call tonight confirming that) and have a hostel to stay for the few days I am there. It is close to all the tourist attractions in old town, but the trek I'll have to make at 23:00 to get there might not be so fun.

Another "preparation" that I made for my trip is going to smoke hookah with some friends around here. "But Corinne, how is filling your lungs with cancerous smoke preparing for your study abroad?"

A friend on Facebook said it best when he said "It's like 'cocktails with the boss' over here." Since Qatar is a Muslim state, there is no alcohol legally allowed. (Though apparently, if I try hard, I can get a liquor license since I am a foreigner, but THAT isn't exploring the culture, now is it.) Well, since I can't kill my liver with alcohol, I can kill my lungs with tobacco and flavorings. But seriously, it was fun and very low-key, which is not what I expected. Now, I am prepared for the "Doha Happy Hour" scene!

The Drama Continues, or how I spent yet another hour of my life getting a ticket

Man, I have the worst luck with these ticket things. After all the calls to my credit card company to have THEM approve my purchase, the AIRLINE doesn't approve my purchase! I can't show up in New York or Chicago to show them the card, so I got it approved electronically. At least, it is pending now, not just suspended.

See, if I hadn't been doing all this stuff to figure out this plane ticket, I would know what I'm doing in Istanbul (or Doha for that matter). I haven't packed, I've barely started saying my goodbyes... and don't even talk about studying for finals!

The itinerary thus far is:
Dec. 28th : Leave Seattle
Dec. 29th : Arrive in Istanbul, head to hostel
Dec. 30th - Jan. 3rd : Do stuff and don't die
Jan. 3rd : Fly to Doha
Jan. 5th : Orientation starts
Jan. 10th : Classes start (yes, that is a Sunday)
Feb. 25th - March 6th : Qatar Spring Break
March 6th - March 14th : CMU-Pittsburgh Spring Break (so saying hi to the IMPAQT group!)
April 25th-26th, 28th-29th, May 1st-2nd : Finals
May 26th : Leave Istanbul, arrive back in Seattle

...which leaves 11 weekends (13 if you could those right before and during finals) to travel!

Updated: Quarter a Minute, or how I still don't have a ticket to Doha

After another call, and another 3 transfers, I talked to an "account specialist" who didn't see a transaction for Air Arabia, but did for Etihad Airways. So he allowed that merchant and finally, FINALLY, I have a (more expensive) ticket to Doha.

Whew. Thanks, credit card company, for trying to protect me, but this was a bit ridiculous. And who knows if I'll ever be able to by an Air Arabia ticket!

Now, to plan, scheme, mastermind, and pack! 24 days until take-off!

Time Travel, or how I bought my plane tickets

The first round of plane tickets are bought. I am freaking out because I just spent $1000 dollars. And I have to use them now. Which means it is real.

I've been researching how to get to Doha for weeks now, and going the direct route seemed silly, since I am staying for an extra 3 weeks after my classes end. So I looked into going through Dubai or Bahrain, but, though they are bigger hubs, the flights there weren't any cheaper than going straight to Doha.

So Tuesday night, with two days left in the British Airways fare sale, I still didn't know where I was going. I looked at the cheap transatlantic flights; flying into London or Madrid or Frankfurt did nothing for me, since the money saved was less than the flight from there to Doha. Finally, finally, Istanbul caught my eye.

So Istanbul it is! I'll be there over the New Year, leaving Seattle on Dec. 28th, then returning home on May 26th (I know, happy birthday Dan and Rosie). I think it is pretty funny, but getting back from nearly half way around the world only takes "6 hours." I'll leave at 14:00 and get back around 20:00. That isn't as amusing as a flight I saw between Sharjah and Doha which takes 0 hours, leaving at 12:55, and getting to Doha at 12:55.

Whew.

My next step should actually be looking up flights from Istanbul to Doha. (Anyone know anything cheaper than the $270 ticket I found through AirArabia?)

Holes in Both Arms, or how my bloodwork is preventing me from buying plane tickets

I have been researching tickets to Europe/Middle East for weeks now, and I promised myself I would get them bought by Monday, the last day of fare sale at British Airways. However, then I discovered it lasts until Thursday, and that promise ended.

One of the requirements for entering Qatar is to be HIV and TB negative. I finally went to Health Services today and got blood drawn and a little bubble of dead TB put under my skin. I'll be going back on Thursday to get the results, and, being the irrational worrier I am, I'll buy the tickets after that.

I've decided that going to Istanbul on the 28th, then taking a plane to Doha a week later is my plan of attack. Slightly cheaper than going straight to Doha and back, and could provide more flexibility and fun. (If you really want to know the breakdown, it'll be about $1100 to go to Istanbul, then $270 to get to Doha one-way, versus $1600 to roundtrip Seattle to Doha.)

This post feels a bit drab. I'll spice it up with a picture of myself!