On Friday morning, we expected to take a quick shuttle to the airport with our many bags.  But, the shuttle driver said, “There’s been a terrible accident on the road to the airport, and that road is closed.  You’ll be taking the train.  Get in the van.”

We loaded our bags and took our seats.  Then a lady came to the van and sat in the front seat.  She uses this shuttle everyday to go to work at the airport.  She said she would help us with the train.  She used her own card to get us quickly through the turnstile, thus paying for our fare.  She carried some of the bags, and led the way.  At one escalator, I didn’t know how I would get on while balancing all my bags.  Another man came up and offered to take my bag.  I was a bit concerned, since that bag held my passport, wallet, and computer, money, food and medication, all the irreplaceable stuff.  Hesitating only a moment, I gave him my bag, and off we went.  At the top, he gave it back to me, all intact.  Anyone who has traveled anywhere knows how foolish this would have sounded to a policeman, if the man had taken my bag and run.  But such was the situation that I trusted the man, and he proved trustworthy.  We crammed onto the train, and got to the airport.  Then the lady walked us all the way to our gate, carrying some of our luggage for us.  She smiled and said it was her workout for the morning.  She did all this wearing high heeled shoes.

We got to our gate and waited for the plane to Toronto. When we arrived in Toronto, there was supposed to be only a short time between flights, so we hurried to the next gate, only to learn that then next flight was delayed.  So we ate lunch in the Toronto airport.  We ordered two hamburgers, and one order of sweet potato fries.  I paid with a  $50.00 bill. (United States Dollars)  I received  $26.00 Canadian dollars in change!  Even though the food was delicious and a large serving, it was the most expensive hamburger we’ve ever had.

It was a long flight, 12 hours, and we arrived two hours late.   Since the school had a group of students returning from a trip, we waited another hour for them to arrive, and then got on a tour bus for the four hour trip to our school.  We arrived at midnight Saturday.   We were shown to our apartment, where the bed was ready for us, and we were ready for the bed!

On the next morning, we had a meeting to learn our schedules, and meet our colleagues.  I was asked to give a speech for opening ceremony Monday afternoon, and to turn it in Monday morning so the FAO could translate it.   I’ll post the speech separately.

Thanks to all who have helped us on our way.  We’re here, we’re working, and we’re happy.