They were so excited

On the last day of June I stood in a long line at the check-in counter at the Prague airport. Of course, that is no fun. But this time it wasn\’t so bad. Because I was standing behind about 40 pretty girls, and their appearance makes such a long wait very enjoyable for a guy.

I knew immediately that they were South Africans. The inscriptions on the same T-shirts spoke volumes about each of them, and it was enough to listen for a while. And they were so cheerful. They were on tour in Europe, and to be able to travel to the other side of the world with friends at that age, to travel to several foreign countries, to play at noble-sounding events and quite fascinating places, and still enjoy a vacation, was surely a dream that only the socialist generation of my youth did not have.

As I later discovered, they were on a musical trip. With their school, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof, in Stellenbosch near Cape Town, they traveled to Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, explored some pretty interesting places, sang on the Charles Bridge, among others, sang in churches and cathedrals in those countries, and at the Prague Conservatory. They performed, and the South African Ambassador himself and his guests visited Prague to see them perform.

And by chance, I was there when they flew home from Prague airport. I was in the same check-in line, right behind them. But their satisfaction did not last forever. It was replaced by disappointment and frustration. That\’s when I learned that their, and therefore our, flight was going to be delayed significantly. Well, it was supposed to leave in about two more hours, but it was still in Qatar, not Prague. But according to the check-in guy, it was no problem. I would miss my connecting flight, but the airline would take care of me in Qatar. They put us up in a regular hotel and arrange alternate flights for everyone.”

These girls must have been relieved in Qatar. As was I. Probably because a number of us were on the delayed plane from Prague, which delayed our connecting flight to Cape Town by more than an hour. But the relief was only temporary. We were reunited in Cape Town. At baggage claim. Because it was a pitiful sight to see a belt without a single piece of luggage. And no one knew why.

Thus, the aforementioned South African girls will surely remember their unique experience on their tour to the other side of the world. The girls won the award for best vocal technique at the Musica Orbis Festival. And this is where their luggage arrived three days later.

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