@KarRml @Dodoz
The flight from Lagos to Cairo was a 5hours flight (Egypt air) The flight schedule for the flight said it was 5hrs 50 minutes but I strongly believe the extra 50mins was added to accommodate their constant delay in taking off (and I was right).
I selected an aisle seat for both legs of the flight, because I find it to be the most comfortable for my long legs. The passenger on my left was a first time traveller, so many things were new to him and I had to assist him with many things during the flight. I like helping people, so it was no bother.
The food on the first leg of the flight was CRAPPY, and the entertainment was bad
but I knew what I was paying for. I wanted cheap, and I got it..
I went on that plane with enough food to last a couple a weekend in the Sahara desert. I had grapes, fried chicken, different assortment of biscuits and snacks ( as a matter of fact I had to leave behind 2/3rd of what I planned to travel with as snacks because my laptop bag which was supposed to have only a laptop in it was suddenly weighing 10kg. ).
Anyways, I was prepared and I was also generous.
My layover in Cairo was supposed to be 4 hours 30 minutes, but I quickly learned that Egypt air likes to add an extra hour to whatever time the airline communicates.
So we spent almost 6 hours waiting for the next flight. The good thing was, pre-boarding started early enough so there was some activity taking place and it was interesting to watch family dramas, English interpreters struggling with the words they ought to be interpreting and all the other entertainment that an airport layover offers.
On the second leg of the journey, I sat next to a beautiful 37 year old Jordanian woman who looked nothing like her age and had 3 kids (I later learned towards the end of the flight that she was pregnant with her 4th and she was hoping for a male child to please her husband's parents who so badly wanted her to have a son for their son but she and her husband had decided that the 3 months old foetus would be their last try).
I loved seating next to my friend, Ayja (let's call her that because I can't recall her name). Ayja and I kept exchanging looks and secret smiles whenever our 'window seat companion', a middle aged man with an extremely small bladder got up to pee..
He insisted on seating at the window seat where Ayja initially sat at the beginning of the flight despite knowing he was going to ask us to let him walk to the bathroom 70 × 7 times.
*phwew!*.
The food on this leg of the flight was more pleasant and was 10 times more edible than the 'sacrificial offering' initially placed in front of us enroute Cairo.
12 hours is truly a long time!!! I couldn't wait for the journey to end.
I'm a light sleeper so sleeping on the plane is usually a hurdle for me.
Thank God the plane landed safely in Toronto at 8:05am. Some people clapped, and I understood how they felt in that moment. We were very relieved.
Ayja and I said our goodbyes and 'hope to run into you somedays'.
She gave me one last tip before she walked away. She said "walk as fast as you can to Immigration. you don't want to be caught in the huge lines". I heeded and it was a breeze.
Writing this story and not telling you how I struggled with my 'hand luggages' will be like hugging a friend from the side. it'll never be complete..
About my 'hand luggages'; I had one really big 'laptop bagpack' that was so heavy, I couldn't carry it on my back. Then a carry on bag with rollers that weighed about 9kg. I also had a really massive winter jacket and a 'scarf' that should have been renamed 'blanket' that I had to haul around. I was a sight to behold. I kept tripping and falling on my luggage and 'scarf'. It was a lesson in _'How best to win a 'best in clumsy' award'_ .
Immigration was a breeze, not a single question asides "Can I have the address you'll be staying in Canada" was asked. I collected my luggage and in the process entertained a few people with the arranging and rearranging of my constantly falling bags from my trolley cart.
Customs was smooth. I was about to exit the terminal when I asked the customs officer at the door if he was the one to stamp my GTF list and he said 'no' and directed me to a room, while chastising me for ticking 'No' on the declaration form. (I still don't know where I was supposed to tick YES for GTF).
The customs officers searched the luggage of everyone who was ahead of me. Every single person.. I was too tired to start tearing off the bubble wraps on my bags so I decided that I'll try to make sure the officer that attended to me doesn't ask for my bags to be opened.. 'cos I would have regretted going through all that stress for a GTF list I could have done without..
So I initiated the conversation when I got to his desk. I didn't wait for him to ask me anything. I said _"Hi, I have my GTF form with me, I'll like it stamped. I didn't know I could indicate GTF on my declaration card, so I was directed here by the man outside "._
He asked to see the GTF form & declaration card and he rewrote it and signed it. No mention of opening my bags. Mission accomplished!.
I mention this because the person who went to the same officer after he signed my GTF form and while I was waiting for the cashier to resume at his desk was asked to open her bags and her bags were searched.
After clearing customs, and waiting for my family friend to pick me up, I was apapproached by a CIBC sales agent who offered me certain gifts (a free Sim card, free dinner card) in exchange for my contact information and told me about a promo that was ongoing whereby you open a CIBC account in the airport and get $52 instantly. The promo is solely for accoubts opened at the airport. I didn't open thre account at that time but thinking about it later, I wish I had. Cos it offers extra $52 coupled with other perks (no transaction fee for a year, etc) .
I left Pearson airport around 11am to the screams and excitement of my Canadian mum (my parent's good friend who is accommodating me)..
She was so excited to have me. She kept singing and thanking God for the safe flight and for the breeze with immigration. I felt really welcome. She also came along with a cup of Tim Horton's hot chocolate to welcome me to Canada and chase away the cold (I find that symbolic ).
Post script: Its been a week living in Ontario, still trying to find my feet, get a professional (engineering) job and in the mean time a part time job while I attend the engineering connections new immigrant settlement programs with Acces. So far I have opened a bank account and gotten a mobile plan/phone number and I'm figuring out the bus routes each day.
My story isn't done yet!
(NB: This story was initially written for a different audience; whatsa** group members, that's why its this long and some of the 'jokes' may not be understood by everyone.. )
