You know you're in Africa when:
After experiencing the disappearence of mom-n-pop-style FAA Flight Service Stations in the USA 20-some years ago, you can walk in to the met office, and without a common language, get an excellent WX briefing by poring over the meticulously hand-drawn weather charts, looking at the GOES Satellite Photo on the screen(the days before real internet access), and reading the forecast departure and destination WX off a teletype(?).
When there is a machine-gun nest mounted on the ATC tower.
When, with the wonderful power of epaulets, it is possible to walk around AK47-armed airport guards as if they were posts, in order to avoid the long lines of locals, or duck thru any-old baggage conveyor opening to walk out thru any-odd ticket counter for the same purpose.
When walking around back of the baggage x-ray equipment, you see that the luggage conveyor works, but not the x-ray/viewing screen(yet operators are viewing it somewhat intently).
ATC finally gives you your entire ATC route clearance as part of your clearance for an immediate takeoff.
Last edited by 727gm; 14th Jul 2014 at 03:55.
Reason: sp./clarification