Halifax

While I have so far blogged about my anxieties about travelling; I actually don't arrive in Rwanda until next Saturday.

Today I flew to Halifax to attend the Global Outreach Course. This is actually a course I have wanted to attend for several years so the timing is quite good.

Dr. Brendan Finucane was on the flight with me. Dr. Finucane of course hired me so many years ago and it was his presentation on his trip to Rwanda that inspired me to volunteer for this mission. He has been back one other time so I got some last minute brain-picking in the departure lounge and also in the taxi we shared from the Halifax airport.

I interned in Halifax, finishing almost 28 years ago. It is still one of my favorite places to visit, not just because I met my wife there (she is like me from BC go figure). I am staying at the Lord Nelson Hotel near Dalhousie University. The Lord Nelson, when I interned, was known as a spot that had seen better days but was still a place where you could cheaply rent a clean room. It was better known for the Ladies Beverage Room or LBR which I visited a few times. On checking in, I was given an upgrade to a suite. Most likely in recognition of all the money I spent in the LBR so many years ago. The Lord Nelson appears to have also been upgraded and has so far been a very pleasant place to stay.

There was a reception and buffet dinner tonight where I met some of the other doctors and more importantly the resident who will be accompanying me. We seem to have hit it off well although we will see after a month or so of living, travelling and working together.

Everybody I talked to is really positive about the mission and I am getting really excited.