Plane Ride to Thailand

Checking-in from the airplane. There's no wifi but I'm going to act like there is. If you haven't realized, you will be reading the back track version of my accounts

So I just finished my first meal aboard Thai Airways International Flight … I must say I have not been disappointed. It has been awhile since I've flown Thai and I've forgotten how nice Thai stewardess hospitality is. After flying a lot of the other Asian airlines (Chinese ones in particular… Did I give it away?) I must say this is something to appreciate. The meal was decent, in fact, I should rate it as superb since they present you with these nice 3-course meal menus building up the anticipation that your economy may just turn into first class. They also served a palatable meal of Pad Thai with Salmon. Who serves you gourmet salmon in flight? Only the best.  The seats are quite comfy too. I know a lot of people say airline seats are often sized to fit the local clientele… Well, Thais aren't too big, but these seats don't discriminate if you are. You gotta +1 that! 

Now the captain of the ship has just announced our flight time. 16 hours. 2 hours more than what I expected, but at least 2 hours less than what it used to be like when I flew as a kid  *barf*. 

I like to listen to the pilots accent on the PA system. I'll rate this captain as good because it was comprehensible. I do take pride in the fact that Thai airlines tend to have the most comprehensible, if not best, English-speaking crew compared to other Asian airlines. I could be wrong and highly bias, but there have been times when I've flown with other airlines and have feared for my life since I could not, for the life of me, understand what the emergency instructions given were during a turbulent life threatening ride. Anyway, I think we're safe in this one.

First hour into the flight. I think this is a good time to share that I'm getting over a cold and have been doing my civic duty in wearing a face mask throughout the flight. Matt has already sneaked photos of ridiculous me (*ahem* not approved). Anyway, I'm not coughing sick germs. It's just the altitude makes my throat oh-so-dry that I have to cough. I hope the lady sitting next to me took her Airborne. Nevermind, she's already asleep again…

Sorry, this is all irrelevant. What I've been meaning to say is: it's our first hour into the flight and I think this is a good time to review/prepare our talking points for the roundtable discussion with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. First topic on the agenda? "Thai-American Community, Thailand and the Role of the New Generation". So far we've got points to talk about Thai-Americans and their influence on US policies, Thai-American professionals and the transfer of knowledge, teaching English in Thailand by Thai Americans, and the changing mentality of Thai-Ams Y Generation towards the elderly. If anyone who's reading this has any other suggestions or concerns that you would like us to address in meeting with the MFA, please feel free to comment back here. This is a democracy. We want to hear your voice too! 

All right, back to the drawing table. See you in T-land.

Noi-Supattra

–
Supattra Lerknant

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