My first international flight was on October 14th 1985, bound for Washington DC together with 12 other young UAE nationals’ scholarship students. We met for the first time at the Dubai airport to take a Gulf Air flight to Paris.

Soon after I was seated, I started exercising my freedom by lighting a cigarette, when I heard a serious voice saying "it's a nonsmoking section" with his white finger pointing to the “No Smoking” sign right in front of me. I was so embarrassed, as only a fool could miss such a sign. I almost apologized to my cigarette as I was quickly putting it off.

After takeoff, I came to know through the enemy next to me that there is a smoking section on the plane. Soon I learned to never sit in that section as it smelled so horrible, even to a mad smoker. I was the smoker who always sat in the nonsmoking section.

Copying the enemy, I plugged in my air-phones but couldn't hear anything. All my struggles went in vane until I lost my mind and punched my seat’s arm. Suddenly, a classical music played in my ears. I punched and the channel changed again. I was happy for the success while cursing the rubbish design. My cunning nonsmoking neighbor kept watching me embarrassing myself until we landed in Paris.

I cannot imagine the shock on the flight attendant’s faces as they waived us “Goodbye” and watching few of us getting off with the Gulf Air blankets on shoulders. Luckily, I was not one of those innocent students.

During our 6 hours transit, those Gulf Air blankets looked better than precious Persian carpets, as 12 of us played cards in a Charles De Gaulle Air Port corridor. The 13th student was an Emirati female, settings quietly in our sight. Our patriotism suddenly flourished, so we sent her an ambassador offering her help and he returned delivering her appreciation. But while boarding the TWA, we realized it was us who desperately needed her as we heard her chatting with the airport staff, when we could not say even 2 words in English.

The UAE embassy hosted us for couple of nights to finalize our paper works and introduce us to our Academic Advisers. My adviser was Mrs. Nadine Salman, my Allah bless her soul. Then we split and departed to different states. I still know those who ended up in Colorado, but the rest I don't even recall their names.

May Allah bless you my friends, whoever and wherever you are.

Dedicated with Love.