Passport To Africa

Sweet!

I sent my passport off to the Togo Embassy in Ottawa on a Thursday.  Amazingly, it was sent back to me - with a very official looking stamp - by the next Tuesday.  That is some pretty high efficiency for a government agency.  Maybe it's the fact that no one else is applying for a visa to Togo.  I may have been their only customer!


Not so sweet.

I decided to start taking my Typhoid Fever pills.  Four of them in total, one every other day, on an empty stomach.  (when does that ever occur??)  I checked out the package before popping the fist pill and realized that it said "Keep Refrigerated".  Now, on top of my dresser for 2 weeks is not what most consider refrigeration.  I called the pharmacist and he suggested getting a new prescription, since they are only good for approximately 12 hours outside of a fridge.  Another $40. These aren't very fun pills.  The first one gave me a weird, nauseous feeling for a couple of hours.  Maybe it was because of the empty stomach...?

The only medications I have left are the pills that I need to take when I leave - and continue taking once a day for a week after I return home.  Hopefully they taste more like chocolate!

Big Old Jet Airliner

Tickets to and from Togo are in place.  I ended up swapping from Air Canada and SN Brussels and going with Air France.  It will cost a bit more initially to go with AF but will make traveling back from Mango to the Lome airport much more convenient.  I hope to hitch a ride with a group from Ohio that is heading out of Togo at the same time.  Hopefully Air France has good food on board.

The Pack Mule

 

I haven't told too many people that I am going on this trip.  I mean, I've told people close to me, those that may want to follow along with what's going on, and even with those that like to laugh at others' pain and suffering.  Sometimes those characteristics are embodied in the same person!

I have had numerous people come up to me over the past couple of weeks at church and ask if they can send items along with me to take to the Westons over in Togo.  Now, I like most of these people.  I like the Westons, too.  (well, I like Nate... and the kids... Erin is just my sister.) 

I have been asked to take medical supplies (I'm not a doctor, not going to a functioning hospital, but whatever), maple syrup (seriously, it won't make it all the way there! Mmmm.), and even toys for their pet dogs (what the ....????).  When traveling, it's always nice to be loaded down with as much as possible.  Those extra baggage fees are nice.  Having to haul extra weight around an airport you've never been to is gratifying.  Is your sarcasm meter pinging yet??

Now, I know people just want to be supportive and show how much they care.  I get that. I just will say no after a while.  There are lots of items that have been requested by Erin and even more stuff that family members here want to get delivered.  Somewhere in all of that I want to fit an extra pair of underwear and my teddy bear!  Two checked bags at 50lbs each, a carry-on bag and one 'personal item' are all that I'm allowed to take.

I was just messaging back and forth with Erin while typing some of this out.  She says she now has a bunch of stuff to send home with me...  A pack mule.  That's the reason for my trip. Sounds good to me!



Oh, one more thing...  I asked my boss for the time off.  He said "Don't worry, won't miss you"...