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Published: October 9th 2006
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Lester B. Pearson Airport
Air Canada terminal...so fresh, so clean! I’ve had trouble contacting the hostel in Fredericton to tell them that I wanted to cancel my booking. I’ve tried contacting them all the way back since I was in New York, but all I get is an answering machine with my cell phone number. I’m going to be spending the night at Kryssie’s house after what will be a huge Thanksgiving meal!
I wait for a hotel shuttle outside of the Royal York Hotel. There’s a beggar asking for a cigarette, which I don’t have but he also wishes me a nice day. It’s a shame I don’t smoke because I would have given him one after that. He forgets who I am, because about 7 minutes later, he asks me again if I have a spare cigarette.
The bus heads out towards Lester B. Pearson Airport, past the hotel that Dani was staying at. I wonder if she had already started making her way back home. I have to admit, it was great to do the travelling with her because always I’m lost in my own thoughts in transit, but this time we were talking, joking and being raucous every mile of the journey.
The
dude working at the HI Toronto’s front desk told me that his sister works at Pearson Airport and since today was Thanksgiving, there was heavy security with delays of up to three hours. After I passed check in, I had to go for a security check, which involved an emptying of my pockets, a removal and emptying of my money belt, a bag search (after the x ray) as well as a frisk down. The female security guard felt a little uncomfortable frisking me down, but I didn’t really have an issue with this young bird feeling her way for explosives. Just keep your mouth shut and don’t make stupid jokes, Johnny…
The airport looks very modern and futuristic. It is clinically white with leather chairs in the waiting lounges and clean glass looking out to the tarmac. I’m not sure whether I’m at the dental hospital or a plane terminal, but the terminal does look very modernistic and immaculate. Breakfast consists of a cheese and bacon beef burger, with fries, washed down with lemonade to repulse any hangovers that might want to ruin my day.
The plane I fly today is a lot smaller than the big
jumbos that I have been on for the past few flights. It’s a Dash-8 plane that can seat a maximum of 37 people to Fredericton. I sit next to a lady with her young daughter who is teething. The little baby has gone everywhere before but on this journey, the poor thing was crying and the poor mother did all it could. I was so annoyed at all the people around who had no idea of what was going on and who themselves were irritated; the mother tried everything she could to help her baby sleep. I was so tired and was so happy from my meal that I completely tuned out and went to sleep myself!
I woke up just as we approached Fredericton and realised that the mother was here to visit her parents for Thanksgiving. I remarked that I was here to visit my adopted family so far away from home, on Thanksgiving Night. Of course, we have no such tradition in Australia but this is something that is very important to everyone in Northern America.
Kryssie and her boyfriend Phil picked me up from the airport and gave me a brief tour of Fredericton, before driving me out to where Kryssie’s mom lived. Her little sister Jade was making the final preparations for the dinner while Kryssie’s mom’s friend (Richard) was watching TV. Once he caught wind of where I was from, he too was full of questions. He asked me about Paul Hogan, Steve Irwin, snakes, crocodiles, life in the outback and what we do for Thanksgiving in Australia. In return, I listen to Richard and his story. He’s a descendant of the indigenous peoples that were here long before European Settlement. Richard has given up the booze to focus on his paintings. Some of them resemble Aboriginal artworks I’d see at home. Kryssie’s mom is also inquisitive into all things Australia. I ask everyone over dinner if they’ve ever seen
Quigley Down Under and everyone replies yes! Phil remembers watching it in history class some time at school and so does Richard.
The ham was so tasty and there was corn as well as pumpkin mash, called squash here. The food here was abundant, both in quality and quantity. If we weren’t busy scoffing down this great food then we were passing the pots around, because everyone was here to enjoy it. I also got my first taste of Kool-Aid, something that is not found in Australia (to everyone’s shock). Kryssie makes me a cup and it is perfect! I need to look for some more before I head back home. Somehow, I find room for dessert, but after that, I need more Kool-Aid to aid in the digestive process.
As we watch movies at night, Kryssie asks me “if I brought that bear…” When he’s not molesting women coast to coast, he’s locked away in my luggage but I’m going to let Baz out to play for a bit. Phil, watch out! I also show off Kaz, the stuffed toy kangaroo that my workmates lend me. Richard puts on
Freddy Got Fingered but we stop watching it because everyone is interested in Australia. Kryssie wants to ask me about doners, which I find out is the equivalent of the kebab.
Sometime after dinner, I have the heart to try and ring the hostel. It turns out that I was the only one that had a booking in there tonight! I pondered how good this trip had been thus far. I can’t believe I only scheduled Fredericton for one night. Kryssie’s family has gone all out to make me feel welcome. And to think that I wanted to spend the night all by my lonesome in a hostel? Screw that! Tomorrow I also have a morning flight, which means I probably won’t be able to spend too much time here tomorrow. I know one day I will be back, for longer. Maybe next Thanksgiving!
Summary
Toronto - Fredericton: 1060 kilometres
Total Canadian Kilometres: 1280 kilometres
Total North American Kilometres: 16636 kilometres
Total: 28577 Kilometres
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