Europe and Africa

I arrived in Europe on Tuesday, at 6:15 am local time, after a very long, uneventful flight (which is better than an eventful flight). A tip to anyone traveling from Newark: don't hire the baggage guys to help you with your luggage. Although a baggage cart costs just about a much and is much harder to find, the search would be worth it. (Newark charges for its baggage carts, which is unusual I think). Anyway, the guy helping me with my luggage got in a fight with another passenger, then kept wandering off while I was in line waiting for my baggage tags. I don't get the new airport system, either, where they have 2 people doing baggage tags for 5 lines, and then make you take your bags to the scanner rather than putting them on the belt themselves.

It's the middle of the night here, which I am seeing thanks to jet lag! I was hoping to avoid it for the most part, because I only slept for an hour on the plane, but my body still thinks it's 10 pm, not 4 am.

Yesterday was the twin's first birthday, which was fun. Dave is away in England on business, so Eowyn had a family friend and her young daughter over for cake, and they are having a bigger party on Sunday, more as a thank you for everyone who has helped out over the past year rather than for the babies, who won't remember anything and probably don't care. They had cake yesterday for the first time. Max loved it, because he loves everything, and Kate was unimpressed, but is a much pickier eater than her brother. They got some clothing from me and some toys from Eowyn's friend.

Well, I have a battery warning on my computer which means digging out the adapter later today, but for now, I am signing off before my computer powers down.

I am leaving for the Netherlands today, in the afternoon, although I'm eyeing the rain outside and wondering if Newark will delay my flight. I think departing international flights have priority, but Newark loves delaying flights and will do so for the slightest reason, such as "there's a small breeze, let's call it a strong wind and delay all the flights!" The later in the day, the worse it is, and my flight is at 4:15 pm. When I went to Europe in December, my flight was also delayed, but for engine repair, which is justifiable. I'd rather be late arriving than late period.

By the way, yes, that is passports plural. I tried to check in on northwest's website using my Canadian passport and I was denied! I had to use my American passport (I'm a dual citizen, for anyone reading this who may not know). I always travel internationally on my Canadian passport. It is easier. Sad but true. One of my cohorts suggested finding out at the airport in Nairobi if it's cheaper to get a visa using the Canadian passport. I will take advantage of whatever perks come along with being a dual citizen. Having the American passport makes it easier to re-enter the US, unless I have cheese, which American customs official seem to really hate for some reason.

I am pretty nervous about leaving - I've been away from home longer than this before, but never to do anything quite so important to my career! And last time I was away for a summer, I dislocated my ankle. Let's all hope nothing like that happens this time! I am looking forward to arriving in the Netherlands and putting the flight (at least the first one) behind me. I hate flying - I'm not afraid of it, but it's so tedious. The whole thing. Checking in, going through security (especially here - why do I need to take my shoes off?), waiting for the plane (being delayed), and then the actual flight. I don't like sitting for that long. At least it's an overnight flight, so I can hopefully get some sleep.

And then: babies! I am visiting my sister and brother-in-law in the Netherlands for 4 weeks. They have a 5-year-old daughter and 1-year-old twins (a boy and a girl). So this will be a working vacation, too, just not school work. Eowyn (my sister) and I are taking my older niece (Maddie) to London for a couple of days while I'm there, too. And abandoning Dave (my brother-in-law) with the twins, although I think he's done it before. I think they are also planning some nights out while I'm there, because they have a built-in babysitter and I do love taking care of the kids.

Right now, I'm just waiting for a load of laundry to be done, then I'll be officially finished the packing. I'm a bit worried my checked baggage will be over the weight limit. I tried to weigh it, but my scale is broken and I think 10 pounds off, so while I think I'm okay, I'm not sure. Did any of the Canadians notice if luggage restrictions are being lowered on domestic Canadian flights? Here, on international flights, we can still have 2 checked bags, but on domestic flights, only 1. That might make traveling back to Canada for Christmas tricky, but that's months from now. Anyway, the people in first class get 3 bags, which seems lame to me. I know they are paying a ridiculous amount of money, but come on. 3 bags per person for 10 people, and one bag per person for everyone else? How about just 2 bags for everyone? Makes way more sense to me. What is it with airlines lately that they seem to hate their customers?

All right, that's about it. Next entry will be from Europe. Wish me luck getting out on time.

Today I got more money from the university in the form of a $700 grant cheque from the dean of the graduate school, Harvey Waterman (thank you, Dr. Waterman!). This helped me cover some of my travel related expenses, most notably the vaccinations and medications that I need to go to Kenya. I feel like I walking drug store inside my own body, having had five separate injections since February (this doesn't count the ones I already had, like tetnus and meningitis) and a TB skin test (I don't have TB - big surprise). I also have anti-malarials, anti-biotics, and just about ever over-the-counter medication you can think of to come with me. It's daunting, since the only other places I've traveled have been within Canada, the US, and western Europe. I needed no vaccines to go to any of these places. It feels strange to go to a country where there is so much risk.

All of my drugs and I are pretty much packed to go, at least in terms of field supplies. I still have to pack clothing for Europe, but that will only be a small suitcase that I can take onto the plane with me. I am a bit concerned right now about how much stuff I will have to manage on the return flight. I know my action packer (a heavy-duty Rubbermaid container) will be much emptier on the way back, since all the food I've packed will be eaten and most of the clothes and some equipment I can leave in storage in Nairobi with the rest of the field school stuff, but my problem is that I'm flying into JFK on the way back, which is in New York City, not into Newark. That means I have to negociate the from the airport to Penn Station with an action packer, a hiking packback, a regular backpack and a small suitcase. Good times all around. At Penn station, I have to go down stairs to get to the train platform from the NJ transit holding area (this is where they keep everyone from New Jersey, to separate us from normal people). I probably shouldn't be thinking of this over 3 months in advance, but I am anyway. I was just going to say I've never been away this long in the summer, but that's not true; I was away for 4 months when I worked for Landsong (the summer I dislocated my ankle, which I know most of you remember!) Still, this is different, because I will be on two different continents.

Here's hoping the suitcase situation works out on the way back.

Hello, everyone! I got the idea for this from Dan, who did a traveller's blog last year when he went to Ghana. Unfortunately, I won't have email access for most of the time that I'm in Kenya, but I will keep a written journal (what's that?!) and type it up (or most of it) when I get back to Nairobi or the Netherlands.

For those of you who don't know, I will be in the Netherlands for 4 weeks, then Kenya for 7 weeks, then the Netherlands again for 3 weeks. During my first stop in the Netherlands, Eowyn, Maddie and I will be taking a trip to London for a couple of days. I have a sister, brother-in-law, 2 nieces and a nephew in the Netherlands. In Kenya, I have my PhD field work to begin! Should be fun. And hot. And dusty.