Prep for Canada

[dvandom]

Next week (Sunday through Friday, although Sunday and Friday will be mainly taken up by travel), I'll be in Edmonton at the University of Alberta for a conference, and it'll be my first trip outside the U.S. since 2000 (when I went to Guelph for a conference).


Currency:

Thanks to wistling I have $20 Cdn as seed money. However, since there's no cafeteria meal plan this time, I'll probably use that up in the first couple of days.

I've checked with my bank, no special currency conversion fees, just the usual out-of-network ATM fees. I checked with my main credit card company (Capital One), and no fees for using it in any foreign country. So I should be okay.

Communications:

My cellphone needs to have International Roaming enabled, assuming I have a model that is capable of it (I think mine is on the list on Sprint's webpage, but the physical phone doesn't have a model number on it, I'll have to check the instruction manual when I get home). However, it's 59 cents a minute, so I'll probably leave it off unless there's an emergency. Looking into seeing if there's a landline in the dorm room for making local and calling-card calls.

Edit: Okay, the "phone capable of it" is just for the data functions, not talking. I called up Sprint and had international calling enabled (I'd never even tried calling out of country before). Also, the dorm will have a phone for outgoing local calls, but incoming calls have to be routed through the main desk.

Still don't know what sort of wireless access we'll have on campus, but I'm presuming there will be some sort of arrangement, since there has been every year for a while now. The wireless doesn't extend to the dorm, but I can get wired access for $5/day if I need it, and I'm bringing an ethernet cable for my EEE.

Thanks to my EEE PC, I should have fully functioning connectivity when I do have a signal, unlike the kludges experienced trying to make do with my PDA in previous years. :)

Bureaucracy:

I have a passport now, got it several months ago.

I plan to turn on the EEE while in line at security so it doesn't get mistaken for a Suspicious Device That Isn't A Real Laptop.

Hopefully they don't decide on my return to the country that they need to fully copy my EEE's drives, since I only have a 90 minute or so layover between Denver and KCI.

Entertainment:

I have several paperbacks for the plane, will be rotating my iPod's contents before leaving, and have identified the local radio and TV stations (I have one of those radios that picks up VHF band audio).

I have found the location of a comic shop near the U of A campus. :)

I will be checking out the bus schedules when I get there, I should have time on Thursday (if not earlier) to go hit the West Edmonton Mall, assuming there's bus service between there and campus.

As far as I know, none of the Canadians of my personal acquaintance live in Edmonton or reasonably close, so I don't currently plan to try to meet up with anyone. But if I'm wrong on that count, feel free to let me know. ;)

Comments

[susp.livejournal.com]

I went to West Edmonton Mall ten years ago during a vacation. Don't recall there being any great toy stores of note, but I distinctly remember enjoying my visit.

[liabrown]

Would this online bus schedule be of help?
http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_280_218_0_43/http%3B/CMSServer/COEWeb/getting+around/routes+and+schedules/

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Looks like route 4 goes from the university to the mall. :)

[(Anonymous)]

How long did it take you to get your passport, Dave? I've heard horror stories about how backed up the system is, but people who had smooth experiences tend to not complain to the media. :)

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Well, it took a couple months, but since I applied WAY in advance, I didn't really pay attention to the amount of time it took.

[grant-p.livejournal.com]

I had mine in under two weeks, but I also did mine in advance. Good luck with everything, I hope it goes as smoothly as my Bermuda excursion.

[acoustic-rob.livejournal.com]

OK, thanks. I've heard horror stories of ~6 months back when you started needing passports to visit Canada and the Caribbean, and was hoping that things had gotten better.