After a 1 hr delay in Chicago we finally took off about 9:20pm on Thursday night and the pilot must have put the pedal to the metal because we still landed exactly on time in Abu Dhabi, 7:15pm here, 11:15am Friday in the east.
NYUAD treats its new employees well. After asking for a window seat at check in for my Etihad Airways flight the check in manager there told me they were overbooked in Business Class so to accommodate me he'd have to bump me to First Class. My response was simply "thank you".
First class was nice, to say the least. I watched three movies on my personal, 24" in screen television, slept for about 5 hrs, stretched out flat on my seat, I didn't use the personal pajama's they offered me and didn't take advantage of their offer to make my bed for me, ate three times and then we landed. It ended up being a 12:55 minute flight.
My friend Bill, who hired me, met me at the airport to say hello and to give me a friendly face when I arrived. The greeter got me through customs and my work visa issues, the porter picked up my three large bags and then I was put in a car and taken to my new apartment. After I got unpacked Bill and his wife Lisa took me out to dinner. I had Peking Duck at a Japanese restaurant (why don't they call it Beijing Duck, since the city changed its name?)
I finally put head to pillow about 1:00am here, which was about 5:00pm Friday in the east.
Next up my first day on the ground. This is simply riveting isn't it?
Well, I think this was riveting, WEY! I'm starting a one-woman foodie campaign to rename Peking Duck to Bejiing Duck. Good point! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.logoi.com/notes/peking-beijing.html
ReplyDeleteIn the 'For What It's Worth' category.....did you know China didn't ever change the name of their capital city? The Latin-influenced English translation changed the name. Listen how closely related Peking and Beijing sound. The English speaking population is so bold, aren't we?