Happy Honeymooning Day -1 and 0: Leaving San Diego

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

2:49 PM

Chula Vista, CA

T-Minus 1 Day

To do before flight:

• Finish packing (packing cubes = !!!)

• Meet with Alberto about summer school

• Meet with Maria about IEPs next year

• Finish submitting Wells Fargo cc stuff after Edrick signs missing receipt docs

• Update [redacted name]’s incomplete grade from semester 1

London, Zanzibar, and Doha is a pretty wild grouping for a trip, but this is probably going to be my only honeymoon, so I’ll allow it. Zanzibar is the main event, of course. London is to break up the trip on the way there, and Doha is a 20-hour layover on the return home.

I’m excited for all of it. Kenny has never left the country except for driving to Mexico. I haven’t been to London in 15 years, and I’ve never been to Africa. Our packing looks pretty silly so far, with lightweight pants and bathing suits and sandals – and a heavy coat and sweaters and tights and beanies. Very rainy and wet and cold city vacation → tropical paradise → desert vibes.

I’m using Duolingo to learn Swahili right now, even if everyone in Zanzibar speaks English. (Also explains a lot of the names in The Lion King.) Swahili uses a Latin alphabet, which makes learning it much more straightforward than, say, Arabic (another language spoken in Zanzibar and definitely a huge influence).

Why a Latin alphabet? Well, Swahili used to use the Arabic alphabet, and then Christian missionaries came around in the 1800s and were like “nah, let’s do a Latin alphabet, thanks buds,” and so it got switched over. Christian missionaries were very pleased with their own culture and not super interested in respecting others despite coming to their homelands. That said, a Latin alphabet does make my life easier when learning a new language, which is arguably the most important aspect to consider.

Friday, March 21st, 2025

12:13 AM

San Diego, CA

Departure Day

Lots of stops and starts watching the season 2 finale of Severance. Up far too late. Trying to get more information about our flight tomorrow since it’s landing in Heathrow, which is currently closed due to an electrical fire. Is the flight delayed? Idk. Tbd.

Maybe it’s time for bed.

Friday, March 21st, 2025

10:58 AM

Chula Vista, CA

I am still at school. Kids are working on projects because it’s project time. I have March Madness playing in the background because I won my work bracket last year so I am obviously very invested in the tournament and keeping my crown.

And I do not have a clear answer on whether or not my flight will be okay since I can’t check in to my flight. The British Airways app is garbage, but it’s especially bad since they’re dealing with their hub (Heathrow) being shut down.

Kenny tells me that this might be Russian sabotage??????? But the only sources I could get for that were The Sun and The Daily Telegraph, neither of which I feel is particularly legitimate. 

What a time to be alive.

I’m leaving during advisory (11:40ish) so I can get to the airport to check in in person because I am NOT about to miss this flight. The Savoy is emailing to confirm our tea time tomorrow afternoon, Brasserie Zedel is confirming our dinner reservation tomorrow night, and Chishuru is confirming our lunch time on Monday. Imagine not making a flight just because Heathrow shut down? No. Couldn't be me.

The Savoy, as it has since it first opened its Tea Room in 1889, offers an Afternoon Tea with sandwiches and little cakes, an Afternoon High Tea that is the same as the tea only it includes a hot savory meal, and of course a vegetarian and a "plant-based" (vegan) option for both. It is going to be very fancy. Can't wait!!!

Brasserie Zedel is a French restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, and it also has a cabaret! We are headed over there right after.

Chishuru is a Michelin-star West African restaurant that has a fixed price for a meal with multiple courses. I am SO EXCITED for this!!!

(Yes, I brought my epipen, and I can just skip the peanut meal pretty easily.)

If I have to go to the airport 6 hours early to make sure I get all this in before my beautiful trip to Zanzibar with my beautiful husband, then so be it.

Friday, March 21st, 2025

2:47 PM

San Diego Airport

British Airways is not listed on any kiosk. They don’t have employees show up to help with check in until a few hours before the flight. I am just sitting here thinking really hard about whether or not I want potato chips, but I am too lazy to do anything about it should the answer end up being “yes, I would like some, thank you.”

Potato chips are the one food that is far superior in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Asian countries have some fascinating flavors but they are not good to taste in my mouth. Europeans are too focused on fries to really provide much of interest in the chip arena.

Maybe Africa will surprise me. But I feel like I’m more excited for the fresh fruit and the rice dishes (pilau, yum!).

Friday, March 21st, 2025

4:28 PM

San Diego Airport -- Gate 51

Kenny reading Invincible Omnibus Vol 2 while I creep a photo.

We are now at our gate. Only 3 hours before the flight leaves. But there is a working power source and we got a couch. I am no longer waiting in line behind the woman telling me how much she hated her 3 teenage children. She was serious. I know this because I started laughing when she called her daughter a bitch and apparently that was an offensive response. 

BUT! WE ARE DOING IT! Honeymooning. What a time.