Toronto Pearson Airport

[Schmelle 0]

Well after a long day of waiting for Mr. Postman to arrive I left my house at 430 pm defeated yet another day. I thought maybe some new nail polish would make my heart hurt a little less...so off I went across the street to Shopper's Drug Mart. Just 15 minutes later I was walking hone and feeling a little better at the thought of shiny red toes when I see a Canada Post Truck coming down my street. In my brain I'm thinking this is just another cruel joke as it would be the third Canada Post Truck that has blown past my little house on my one way street that day. THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT!!! It stops, the man gets out and says "Obviously you have been waiting for this!" I reply, " Would you mind if I hugged you!!!" So there you have it...5pm it arrived...the big fat xpresspost envelope filled with a mysteriously sealed envelope (obviously filled with all my work from the past year) and my newly pimped passport. Suddenly that lump in my stomach vanished and I started sob.

I only allowed myself a moment to indulge...had to get on re-booking my ticket to Florida. See I knew that if I could still get a flight out that day, Tuesday, there was still a shot at getting a fair priced ticket. Well this option was ruled out pretty quickly. I knew that if I booked that 7pm flight that there was no way to get to the airport (5pm traffic) and get through customs in 2 hours. So I booked a flight for Wednesday morning at 6:45am....it's expensive but prices didn't get any better until after the weekend and I didn't have that long. I figured I could get there by 430am when customs opens and get through a little more efficiently. Now I feel good...ticket is booked...called my hubby...all is well. Then I see the weather...ICE PELLETS AND SNOW STORM WARNING FOR TORONTO!!! I think...well I really don't care at this point as long as my flight is booked. If it is canceled the airline will take care of it.

So at 3am I get out of bed and check the airport update...75% of flights are canceled...I keep looking....my flight is ON TIME. Ok...I think...I have got to get to the airport. I had booked a taxi for 4 am but man the weather was really really bad. Snow covered roads with ice pellets....not cool. My taxi arrived at 3:50...he was laughing at me...he was like "I'll take you but your flight is canceled" I go, "NO it's not canceled, it's on time and I can't chance it going without me and losing another flight!!!" So off we went...it took an hour to get to the airport when it should have taken 20 minutes but the driver was great...really nice and he got me there safe and sound. My flight was on time. I checked in and started on my way through customs.

So I get to "normal" POE and as expected he sends me and my fat envelope to the secondary room. I check in and wait. There really isn't much to tell at this point. I waited from 5am to 5:50 am and then the lady in the office called me in. She verified my address in Florida, took my fingerprint, and had me sign what I guess will be my new Green Card once it get processed. At 6am I was on my way. My flight boarded at 6:15...it was a little late leaving because of the de-icing but no worries.

I arrived in Fort Lauderdale safe and sound...my luggage did not. Had to wait for the next flight to arrive with my luggage. A long day but the end result was sweet success...had dinner with my hubby.

All in all the POE portion of the day was such a non issue. There is nothing weird except for the wait. Make sure you give yourself at least two solid hours before your flight....I would suggest two and a half. I was there at 5am and it still took an hour....if my flight had been later in the day I'm sure customs would have been even busier. So that is all. The end of the story....for now anyway. Good luck to everyone on your journeys and thank you all again for the help and support.

[trailmix 77]

Well, sounds a bit nerve wracking - but successful !! Can you believe you are even there yet?

[Allie 5]

Congrats on your arrrival

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

This was an awesome post!

Thanks for sharing that...I loved it.

Congratulations on finally being home.

I wish you all the best!!!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Welcome to the Dark Side !!!!!

[Izoom 0]

Congrats! I'm hoping my fiancee's POE in Halifax will be less hectic. They have U.S. Customs Pre-Check thing in the airport, so if theres any problems...she's still in Canada

Again, glad to hear you made it safe and sound.

[T.O_2_FL 0]

Congrats! Another Cdn VJ arrives in Florida! =)

[kimmbo 0]

...great review! enjoy Florida (Im sure youll be enjoying wearing sandals and showing off your red toenails) and be glad your out of TO, expecting anywhere from another 10 to 25 cm of snow...starting tomorrow morning!!..

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Wow - what an experience! Congratulations - and enjoy that lovely warm weather - Spring has certainly arrived for you

[Krikit 1,165]

Congrats! Another Cdn VJ arrives in Florida! =)

Yay for Florida! I mean, welcome to Florida!

[Flames9_RN 358]

glad it turned out well.