Travel Diaries
So far the Calgary visit has been brilliant. The amount of facilities and the Automotive department over here makes ours look tiny. Our whole workshop at Box Hill compared to here equals one tenth of the size. It is truly massive. All the teachers have been very welcoming and so have the students. They are definitely keeping us busy with local business tours and rotating through all the different classes. Canada is definitely different to Australia. The language (words mean different things) has made me laugh on numerous times … plus they drive on the right hand side of the road. And we have to tip the waiter and the like. I think I'm over tipping. I'm enjoying my time over here – I'm just so glad for the opportunity.
(GEN exchange student from BHI to SAIT Polytechnic, 2004)
-----Original Message-----
From: MJ
Sent: Mon 9/27/2004 12:23 PM
To: mnop@netspace.net.au
Cc:
Subject: Safe Arrival??
Hi,
Am assuming that no news is good news! Hope things are going well and you're having a great time. Thinking of you all!
M.
-----Original Message-----
From: mnop@netspace.net.au
Sent: Tuesday, 28 September 2004 6:23 AM
To: Melanie Jenkinson
Subject: Re: passport & air ticket
Hi M,
I sent you an email but it bounced back (I missed an 'n' in the address). I received your faxes this morning. Thankyou for that but I haven't lost the original photocopies (yet).
I will be trying to make my way to a police station to make a statutory declaration. A said something about the commission might require an interview but this could be difficult since I would have to be in Vancouver. We will look into it and see if something alternative could be arranged.
Apart from this slight mishap, I've been having a blast! :) The weather has been fantastic. Sunny every day so far. Have received an itinerary from the department head and will start classes tomorrow morning.
We have also been taking a lot of photos. We are collecting them all on J's laptop and will burn them all to a cd when we get back to Australia so there should be plenty to go around.
Will keep you up to date on the passport issue.
S.
-----Original Message-----
From: mnop@netspace.net.au
Sent: Tuesday, 28 September 2004 4:23 AM
To: MJ
Subject: Re: passport & air ticket
Hi,
Sorry for leaving this email so late but I've been a bit preoccupied.
I'm writing this to let you know I have lost the black leather pouch that we were given for the trip. I believe it was misplaced some time between landing at Calgary airport and arriving at the hotel. It contained the following:
- Passport
- Flight tickets
- Canada Customs card
- Goods declaration form
- RACV Insurance Policy
- some Canadian money
I have phoned the taxi driver, the Calgary airport lost and found desk, and the Air Canada desk. All of them came up negative on all of the items. While typing this I thought it might be wise to call Vancouver airport just in case I lost it earlier than what I thought.
I still have the photocopies of the passport and plane tickets as they were in my main baggage. The goods declaration is not important, it just means I have to produce receipts for some of my items in my baggage if I happened to be questioned. I'm pretty sure the insurance policy should still be honoured even though the policy and all was lost. I mean, what if it was in my main baggage and was stolen? The insurance should cover the lost money also. However, I think I require a Statutory Declaration from the police station saying the items were lost/stolen. I will be asking the hotel for nearest police station after finishing this email.
What do you think would be the next course of action? A said we will ring the High Commission(?) tomorrow (Monday) to enquire about a temporary passport replacement.
S.
From: mnop@netspace.net.au
Sent: Thursday, 30 September 2004 1:40 AM
To: MJ
Subject: Re: Hello from BHI!
Hi M,
The mall was pretty good. K and L went to the water park there while J, R, L, C and myself went to the amusement park (rollercoaster, etc). Was very long trip though, 6 hrs round trip bus ride and 6 hrs at the mall.
The accommodation is pretty good although the shower control can be annoying. Getting the exercise going up/down the stairs instead of using the elevator.
The program for us computer guys is good in my opinion. It places us in a variety of classes, some of which we don't really look at with our course at BHI. For example, some classes delve more into the engineering side which makes it interesting.
We haven't worn the BHI polo shirts yet. We were contemplating getting in a group shot of them but I'm not sure how that conversation ended up. We will probably wear them when we do our individual presentations to some of the students here at SAIT.
I've been in contact with my family to let them know I had arrived and also about the passport issue. I've told them not to be concerned as it is all under control but I can feel the stress of it is starting to get to me. I nearly had a panic attack while navigating public transport yesterday trying to find a police station for my statutory declaration. I finally got one but by the time I got back to the hotel and phoned the Australian Commission, they were closed. I have to wait for the office to open and will call them again.
I was looking at the insurance policy online and noticed that I probably won't be covered as the policy states I should have reported the incident within 24 hrs. I know it is not as important as trying to replace the passport but it is still a kick in the guts. I will try and explain the situation to them and how I wasn't able to report it within the 24 hrs.
Other than this issue, the trip has been fantastic. The students (both BHI and SAIT) are good to get along with and we've been having a lot of fun.
S
-----Original Message-----
From: mnop@netspace.net.au
Sent: Monday, 4 October 2004 3:52 PM
To: MJ
Subject: RE: Hello from BHI!
Hi M,
I was going to email you sooner but the computer at the motel has been out of order. I am using N's laptop at the moment.
On Thursday I flew to Vancouver and filled in the paperwork to replace the passport. They will issue me with a temporary Emergency passport (lasts 7 months). I could not get a full passport issued as I didn't have full documentation (who carries their birth certificate, etc overseas?). I'm not too worried about that as I can apply for the full passport once I return. They said it will take 48 hours for the passport to be issued and they will mail it to the motel. I am expecting it around Tuesday/Wednesday.
As for replacement information, anyone losing their passport and needs an emergency replacement will need the following:
- 2 passport photos (obtained from shop down the road from the Commission)
- 2 pieces of ID (Photo ID, License, Credit Card, etc)
- $59 Canadian (around $65 AUS)
- Fill in a passport form at the Commission
You can then wait 48 hrs and return to pick up the replacement or have it
mailed to you.
On a side note, Vancouver is fantastic. I can see why it is the most livable city in the world. It is like Melbourne but seems more open, greener, and cleaner. It also seems to be less crowded.
On my return to Calgary, I also had my tickets reissued and they are safe and secure in the safe (no pun intended).
I will phone/email Canada Customs to find out what I have to do since the departure card was stapled inside the passport.
You were right though. I enjoyed myself in Vancouver since I had to travel by myself and had to make my own way around. It's kind of hard to explain.
Anyway, I must be off. It's getting late and I'm sure N would want me out of her room.
S.
(GEN exchange student from BHI to SAIT Polytechnic, 2004)