Bienvenue au Canada! As if free healthcare and education weren't enough Canadians also have gratuitous WiFi at the airport, so we present to you now the premier updates from the first leg of our journey:
1) Despite weeks upon weeks of meticulous planning as of 9:00 pm the night before the team's departure our illustrious trip leader Jordan Burns was unable to locate the card verifying her yellow fever vaccine- literally the only document apart from a passport needed to enter Rwanda. Luckily CU's Wardenburg Health Center was able to provide a replacement, though this course is not recommended for future travelers; based on Jordan's experience apparently if you're catching some early morning sleep outside waiting for the clinic to open, the staff will assume you've been passed out on the pavement all night and direct you to Urgent Care before hearing out your explanation.
2) Contrary to the statement on their website claiming all passengers aboard international flight will "enjoy a complimentary selection of spirits and non-alcoholic beverages", AirCanada did not provide us any libations of the alcoholic sort on the Denver>Montreal flight. Hopefully the situation will improve on the Montreal>Brussels portion. More on this to come.
3) Apart from the minor mishaps described above, everything is well with the EWB Rwanda team, spirits are high, bags are checked, cash is in hand, and the maple syrup is flowing bountifully. Perhaps our next post will come straight from the source in Kigali, Rwanda!
1) Despite weeks upon weeks of meticulous planning as of 9:00 pm the night before the team's departure our illustrious trip leader Jordan Burns was unable to locate the card verifying her yellow fever vaccine- literally the only document apart from a passport needed to enter Rwanda. Luckily CU's Wardenburg Health Center was able to provide a replacement, though this course is not recommended for future travelers; based on Jordan's experience apparently if you're catching some early morning sleep outside waiting for the clinic to open, the staff will assume you've been passed out on the pavement all night and direct you to Urgent Care before hearing out your explanation.
Jordan napping at the Montreal airport to make up for the hours of rest she lost driving to the health center. Fortunately Canada's social welfare programs have reduced homelessness to the point that the dastardly armrests placed to prevent vagabonds such as ourselves from getting too comfortable are no longer necessary.
2) Contrary to the statement on their website claiming all passengers aboard international flight will "enjoy a complimentary selection of spirits and non-alcoholic beverages", AirCanada did not provide us any libations of the alcoholic sort on the Denver>Montreal flight. Hopefully the situation will improve on the Montreal>Brussels portion. More on this to come.
3) Apart from the minor mishaps described above, everything is well with the EWB Rwanda team, spirits are high, bags are checked, cash is in hand, and the maple syrup is flowing bountifully. Perhaps our next post will come straight from the source in Kigali, Rwanda!
Vaya con Dios compadres,
Michael Salka
P. S. Fun fact of the day: there is an urban myth stating the death rate of those inoculated with the yellow fever vaccine has been measured at 1 per 100,000 which just so happens to be the same rate as those who die of contracting yellow fever! According to the myth, this is why the vaccine is only administered to travelers headed for high-risk areas.
Michael Salka, you have the golden gift of blog! I can't wait to follow you guys on your adventure this time around!!! :)
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