Estados Unidos

Despite the best efforts of Brazilian Air Traffic Control, I arrived back in the US yesterday. My adventure began as I went to the airport for my flight out of Fortaleza to Sao Paulo, only to learn that it ws delayed by over 4 hours due to the continued air traffic control slowdown in the country. This delay would mean that I would likely miss my connecting flight in Sao Paulo to Washington D.C.

Fortunately, after I learned of the delay, I was able to talk to a representative from the airline that I was scheduled to fly from Fortaleza, TAM Brazilian Airlines, who agreed that the airline would pay to put me on an earlier direct flight to Sao Paulo with another of the Brazilian airlines, Gol.

Thanks to this change, I was able to arrive in Sao Paulo with ample time to collect my baggage and check in for my connecting flight with United. This United flight was delayed 12 hours on the previous night due to an aircraft problem, but I was told that the flight would depart on time on this night. Indeed, after clearing customs, we boarded the flight 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and seemed on course for an ontime departure as the doors were closed and we prepared to push back from the gate. Alas, Air Traffic Control struck again, this time as Brasilia Air Traffic Control handed down a 2 hour takeoff hold, delaying our takeoff. In the aftermath of the Gol crash, underpaid and overworked controllers have been refusing to handle the usual number of flights leading to widespread delays, particulary in Sao Paulo and Brasilia. In this case, our flight would fly through Brasilia airspace, thus the reason for the delay. Finally, after two hours of watching a movie on the inflight entertainment system, we took off bound for D.C. After a 9 hour flight, with little sleep, but many hours of listening to the collection of Christmas music playing on the plane's audio entertainment system (the same 20-25 songs over and over again), I arrived in a chilly and rainy Washington. Indeed the 40 degree weather was quite a shock as I arrived in shorts and sandals. dressed more appropriately for the 90 degree and humid weather of Fortaleza than the early winter weather of our nation's capital.

I'll spend the next two weeks in the US spending time with family and friends and heading to Charlottesville for a few days to set up things for my fourth year and to pick up supplies for Brazil before I return for the last 5 months of my fellowship.

Feliz Natal!