So, Thursday, after my Arabic teacher had been telling me all week that we would be going to the airport on a field trip "Insha'Allah", we finally went.
It was really an amazing trip. I was impressed with how they treated the girls and with all the information that they showed the girls. At first, we were met by a beautiful young lady, Al Yaziia, who escorted us through the entire airport. When I say "entire", I mean the whole airport from security, to ticketing, to luggage, to passport, to the tarmac, through security again, then customs then back out of the airport. At each station, she told the girls in Arabic what was done and asked the girls many questions based on what she told them. Keep in mind, I know NO Arabic and was able to tell what she was telling the girls based on the objects she was holding, or the role playing she was doing. The girls got to see what happens if someone goes through security with a gun and how the monitors light up and how the security thing you walk through shows where the item is on the person.
Then we went to ticketing where one of the girls got to be the "luggage" and she had the stickers placed on her and showed how the luggage gets from the ticket counter to the plane.
Then, on to Passport control where Passports were stamped. Here the girls got a "Passport" that was stamped with a piece of chocolate. And once again, we were sent through another security scan and given another piece of chocolate. Now we are in the area where one waits to board the plane. At this time, there was a plane preparing to leave to Calicut, India. So, we waited and watched the plane being pushed out and go to the runway. The girls were very excited and were saying "Look, Miss!!! Look!!"
After the plane took off, we were escorted through the airport and they explained how each passenger would have a retinal eye scan and a photograph taken. This is to ensure who is coming and going. While the retinal scan cannot be changed, people can change their facial features, beard, mustache, hair color, eye color, etc.
Then through another security scan. We found out that plastic will show up orange, aluminum will be blue and any stronger metal will be black on the security screen. This is to assist with quickly identifying dangerous materials from entering the country.
Now on to baggage claim, where our student who was the "luggage" would be matched up to the ticket that was given at the ticket counter. This ensures no stolen luggage.
Then to customs, where the girls were told that no food could be brought into the country and where bags would be searched. Here each girl was given a small box that looked like a briefcase. In it was a pen, a key chain, and a small notepad in a case.
Then we exit the terminal area and are back out at the front of the airport where we started. The girls were allowed to purchase items in the duty free shop and then we were on the bus back to school.
While it sounds like a lot, there is only one terminal and only one flight leaves and arrives at a time. So, it's not that big!! However, it was fun and the girls had a blast!
Here are a few pictures taken before I was told that I couldn't take pictures in the airport.
It was really an amazing trip. I was impressed with how they treated the girls and with all the information that they showed the girls. At first, we were met by a beautiful young lady, Al Yaziia, who escorted us through the entire airport. When I say "entire", I mean the whole airport from security, to ticketing, to luggage, to passport, to the tarmac, through security again, then customs then back out of the airport. At each station, she told the girls in Arabic what was done and asked the girls many questions based on what she told them. Keep in mind, I know NO Arabic and was able to tell what she was telling the girls based on the objects she was holding, or the role playing she was doing. The girls got to see what happens if someone goes through security with a gun and how the monitors light up and how the security thing you walk through shows where the item is on the person.
Then we went to ticketing where one of the girls got to be the "luggage" and she had the stickers placed on her and showed how the luggage gets from the ticket counter to the plane.
Then, on to Passport control where Passports were stamped. Here the girls got a "Passport" that was stamped with a piece of chocolate. And once again, we were sent through another security scan and given another piece of chocolate. Now we are in the area where one waits to board the plane. At this time, there was a plane preparing to leave to Calicut, India. So, we waited and watched the plane being pushed out and go to the runway. The girls were very excited and were saying "Look, Miss!!! Look!!"
After the plane took off, we were escorted through the airport and they explained how each passenger would have a retinal eye scan and a photograph taken. This is to ensure who is coming and going. While the retinal scan cannot be changed, people can change their facial features, beard, mustache, hair color, eye color, etc.
Then through another security scan. We found out that plastic will show up orange, aluminum will be blue and any stronger metal will be black on the security screen. This is to assist with quickly identifying dangerous materials from entering the country.
Now on to baggage claim, where our student who was the "luggage" would be matched up to the ticket that was given at the ticket counter. This ensures no stolen luggage.
Then to customs, where the girls were told that no food could be brought into the country and where bags would be searched. Here each girl was given a small box that looked like a briefcase. In it was a pen, a key chain, and a small notepad in a case.
Then we exit the terminal area and are back out at the front of the airport where we started. The girls were allowed to purchase items in the duty free shop and then we were on the bus back to school.
While it sounds like a lot, there is only one terminal and only one flight leaves and arrives at a time. So, it's not that big!! However, it was fun and the girls had a blast!
Here are a few pictures taken before I was told that I couldn't take pictures in the airport.
