Farewell Algeria

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This morning, I was taken to the airport by Habib and Kamel. I am flying back to europe to get a connection to Australia. I had been dreading this moment when I would have to say goodbye - would I end up making a scene, falling into a sobbing mess on the airport floor? I was already choking back tears, but they had no idea. So I just said a quick goodbye and went through customs without looking back. I thought that once I was on the plane I would be 'safe'. Habib must have wondered why I left in such an abrupt and cold manner. But it was the only civilised way I could manage it!

But the customs officer stopped me and wanted to go through my bags, and as he was carefully going through all my stuff - just for curiousity's sake - he came across my arabic language learning books and looked at them with great interest. He saw that I had been writing in arabic and asked me to read words that he pointed to. What a thing to do when you're overcome with emotion! He had no idea, and I knew that it would have caused an even greater scene if I had started crying there and then. So I started reading the arabic he wanted me to. This intrigued him no end, and actually helped me briefly cheer up. Soon I was surrounded by a crowd of customs officers who were in awe at a european reading arabic.

But then the flight was called and I boarded it. The plane took off and I felt I could bare anything but look down at the disappearing coastline of Algeria. One peek and I knew that would be "it". So I pretended to read the newspaper instead and managed to retain my sanity until the mountains around Geneva appeared and we began our descent into another world .....


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Prologue

Habib and I didn't end at Algiers airport. But that's another story. I'll never forget the time in Algeria and all the friendly people there. And to you Habib - a big THANK YOU for creating this wonderful memory! Hopefully you'll get to read this blog.

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Comments

[Ruth from Wales]

Fascinating
Just stumbled across your page and have been fascinated by your descriptions of your visit to Algeria in 1983. I hope you will be writing up more trips! Best wishes, Ruth.

[fafa]

Great blog!
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your blog on Algeria. I'm from Algeria, I've not been back to the country since 1989. Your memories of the hospitality, the inquisitive kids and the baths evoked many old but fond memories I have of Algeria [Oran, Blida, and Tipaza in particular]. What ever happened to you and Habib?