Lovely bright warm morning In Nairobi!
Had great flights and having the wheelchair was great. Made all the flights on time and all 6 hockey bags. The crutches and wheelchair arrived with me. Going through Customs and Visa was a bit of a hassle. I don’t remember this from the last trip but then we were in the capable hands of Libby Osgood so just followed her lead! Really should have filmed the reshuffling of product at the Charlottetown airport for your entertainment!! Toronto was straight through, no second security check or customs, which was great.
The flight from Toronto to London wasn’t full so lots of free spots so I could stretch out. No one was in my seat but I never thought to move into the middle seat so when a lady came and asked if there was a free seat I couldn’t day no thus I sat all night and had little sleep.
Was in the wrong queue for Visa… How would one know in these countries but in 30 minutes I was done! I got to the head of the line before I knew that I was in the wrong one!!!! Then there is the guys you have to ask for help to lift 50+ lbs bags onto the carts and manoeuver the carts, wheelchair, and crutches. And to make matters worse these are the wheelchairs that lock if the handle is not down far enough. Of course, they have your best interests at heart and don’t want you to have to pay going through customs so they offer help but expect to be paid!
With the help of these two men I go outside the terminal to meet Ben, our consultant in Nairobi. You can’t go in the terminal to greet your company so you look for a sign when you come out confronted by dozens of people.I saw a sign and a tall handsome man waving at me so we headed to him. I said “Ben” and shake his hand, he nods and then says we have to go get the car. He takes me to the end of the driveway street lighted area where you wait.
By the way Vanessa and Marcie I can hear you know “Only Mom would do this!!!! Don’t let her out on her own!!!” Guess what? I am with the wrong man!!! All is good, though. The man explained he was to pick up another white lady so another nice man comes and I explain what happened, he offers to help me (with no sign of a money request) and he helps me take all of my items back up front where I see this tall black man and I ask: “Ben?” and yes, its him this time. It took another 30 minutes for Ben to go get his car Dr. Jonathan his work friend and neighbour also took a vehicle in order to get our luggage all home.
Ben lives outside Nairobi in a house he built this summer.He has a daughter, a son and his wife is expecting this summer. For my Qatar friends think of housing there and its a match! Nothing doing we had to share a meal at 10:30 at night!! Wonderful hosts and beautiful people.
This morning I came into work with Ben. Honestly, I am ready for a sleep now!!! Went to his bank on campus, this afternoon we will exchange money, buy my computer internet card, some sims cards and have a meeting with a lady who works with Days for Girls in Kenya.