ALLISON CROSS

Here is a breakdown of the steps it took to get from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Toronto, Canada:

1. Taxi from house to water taxi terminal: 5 minutes
2. Wait at water taxi terminal because the boat is late: 1 hour, 15 minutes
3. Water taxi ride across Sierra Leone river to Lungi, where the airport is located: 20 minutes
4. Van ride to airport: 5 minutes
5. Wait in line to check in, have bags (barely) searched: 2 hours
6. Snack at airport: 30 minutes
7. BMI flight from Freetown to London: 7.5 hours
8. Layover in London-Heathrow airport, where I revel in high-speed internet and fresh bagels: 5 hours
9. British Airways flight from London to Toronto: 6 hours
10. Wait at customs in Toronto: 20 minutes
11. Airport shuttle to downtown Toronto: 30 minutes
12. Subway ride to friend's house: 10 minutes

It's a good thing I didn't fly all the way to Vancouver, my final destination. It may have killed me.