They say chance favors the prepared. So when it comes to third world travel, arrive early at the airport. After much experience with Air Malawi, I don’t take anything for granted. Ethiopian Air seems to be more dependable. Even so, I have a 3 pm flight…and I’m at the airport at 9 am. I can check in at 12:30. 3 more hours to wait.

The ‘terminal’ is under construction, so the passenger lounge is out of service. Never fear, said the lady behind the counter. I’ll hold your bag. Go outside and to the right.

Sure enough…outside and to the right I find a large tent. And inside I find all the contents of the old lounge. Tables with table cloths and cloth napkins. High top tables. A bar. Very inviting.

I order a Coke…which tastes so much better than Coke in America. And I settle in. 30 hours from now, God willing, I’ll be home.

I’ll miss this place, it’s peace and simplicity. But I have come to understand: one of the reasons I was born an American was to find ways to channel some of America’s resources here, to one of the 10 poorest countries in the world.

Works for me.