One Week Left...

So here goes, testing the blog one week before departure.

My bags have already been packed, twice. Medication counted twice.

Obsessive? Absolutely.

But on with the good stuff. I'm jotting down today our estimated itinerary so you guys will know where my gang and I will be depending on the week.

June 27th - 8 pm
Take-off from Dorval Airport towards Paris, arriving at 8 am, just in time for breakfast à la parisienne. We'll be spending three days in Paris, chilin' in Montmartre until we shove off for Africa.

June 30 - 10 pm
Take-off from Charles de Gaule airport for Bamako, capital of Mali, population 6 million. We land (as do most if not all flights to Africa) at 2:30 in the morning.

July 1st - July 2
Short stay at a hotel in Bamako, where we'll get our hands on maps, organize transport around the country and most importantly, get to go swimming in a clean pool!!

July 2 - July 7
Camping, sub-saharan style, in a place called Kangaba, south of the capital. Imagine a cross between a resort and a campground. You're roughing it like mad, but you get to take language lessons and dance classes during the day. We'll try and film that last one, you guys ought to get a kick out of me and my six left feet. :)

July 7 - July 8
Single night stay in Bamako, and the next day our buts get to enjoy a 12-16 hour bus ride (the term "bus" is technical, and does not ensure speed or suspension). We arrive in Kayes, the town where we'll be living the duration of our stay, around 8pm.

July 9 - July 12
Orientation and crash course in African medecine.

July 13 - July 27
Two weeks of community medecine in an urban setting. Basically your simple version of a CLSC, plus an ER and OR.

July 27 - August 15
Two weeks of community medecine in a rural setting, an hour or so outside Kayes. We'll be following midwives and nurses. Out here, the doctors are few and far between, so it's up to us.

August 16
We trek back to Bamako via bus, another 12-16 hours.

August 16 - August 19
Debriefing in Bamako. Lots, and lots of chill time, and some time in the marketplace to get goodies to bring home.

August 19
Flight out of Bamako back to Paris

August 19 - August 21
Two day stay in Paris, and my inevitable ransacking of every gourmet grocery store I can find. I WILL bring home Branston Pickle and Herbes de Provence. Minimum. :)

August 21st, 5 pm
Flight to Montreal, arriving around 5:30 local time. Yay supper at home!


So there you have it, the whole schebang!

More to come June 28th when we've landed in Paris.