My First Flight Experience

I missed my dad who is in the US, but I was not too worried, I was also going there soon. It had been a few months of waiting but the day has finally come and I am so excited. I am told that traveling teaches us a lot and I am looking forward to this adventure.  

Today, I am going to the airport with my 4-year-old sister, Zoya and my mother and these are the last few hours that I am spending with my friends and family in Nepal. It is hard to say goodbye. 

We are at the airport soon. There is a long line and many suitcases that have to be put on trolleys. We have our bags x-rayed and soon are in the departure lobby. We have to wait for a long couple of hours which is very hard for Zoya who likes to walk about, play, and run around. She doesn't like sitting in one place for a long time. 

It seems waiting at the airport is one of the things I have to learn about international travel. Finally our flight number is called and we are in a plane. The airplane is big and carries more than 200 passengers. 

There were three columns of seats. Each row has nine seats. The airplane is not yet ready to fly. Unfortunately, my mother and sister are separated from me. They have seats in a different place and I have my seat in a 

different place. I wish I were seated next to my family but there is a nice lady next to me.  

When the plane takes off, I am somehow proud of myself for not being scared! After the newness of being in an airplane wears off, I am lonely until the lady next to me teaches me how to use the tablet attached to the seat in front of me. I can watch movies and play games. I learn how to use the controls. I see that it has movies like Harry Potter and Puss In Boots. It also has Discovery and National Geographic as well as other interesting channels. 

Zoya likes to watch Minnie Mouse, Masha and the Bear, Daniel the Tiger, Peppa Pig and other things. As the seat belt sign is off (we cannot get out of our seats when that sign is on), I go to tell them but I see that my little sister is cleverer than I thought! She has already figured out how to turn the screen on and is watching cartoons. I find that really funny! 

The flight attendants often come and ask what we need and give us food. They are very nice and the food is good. Airplanes are supposed to be fast and while that may be true, I feel like it isn’t even moving. After 

five hours we reach Qatar and we go through the long airport lobby. 

We have to wait before we get off the airplane. The airport is very big. We had to get from one place to another in a vehicle. There are many signs. I can see outside, there were many airplanes.  

We again come to the waiting area but we do not have to wait for long. Then we are on a plane to the US. Thankfully, my mom, Zoya and I are together which is great. This flight is pretty long so this time I am feeling a bit sick. We all slept most of the time, getting up to eat, and sometimes 

continuing the movie we are watching together. 

I am relieved when we at last get to Dulles airport in the US. They check our bags again using an x-ray machine and my mom does the paperworks and then… we are outside the airport where we meet dad! I am really happy! 

My aunt Manjari has also come to pick us up and we go to her house where I meet my grandmother. I really miss Nepal and the people I know there, but everything is going well, and I also like being here and looking forward to all the experiences waiting for me.  

(Vidheha studies at Spiny Babbler Evolution.)