Just before I left England we had a request from the interpreters for more laptops.
In just three days the request to interpreters yielded two older MacBooks, one Asus PC, and several offers to pay for second hand lap tops for me to take.
The problem now was that I had three lap tops to take, with a 20kg cargo and 5kg hand luggage allowance, tops. Just one of the Macs weighed 4kg!
I thought I’d try and see what I could get away with, packed a 21kg suitcase, 7kg hand luggage, a shoulder bag weighing 6kg, and a MacBook in a case in my hand. A total of 34kg, 9kg over.
Given that excess luggage is £15 a kg, it would have cost £135 extra. Just not affordable.
I explained about the project and the laptops to the woman at the flight desk. She called the supervisor who said I could take two but not three of the laptops.
After the supervisor left, the lady at the flight desk whispered to me, “quick, take all three laptops in your shoulder bag, I’ll check both suitcase in to cargo, and will write a note on your boarding pass saying ‘laptops allowed charity’ in case they stop you.” Which she did. (Top right hand corner).
All I had to do was carry my 9kg shoulder bag so as not to draw attention!
And so, 9 hours later I was in Gambia with the three laptops. The interpreters are absolutely chuffed. That’s one laptop for permanent use at GADHOH, for editing videos, and for the senior interpreter to use. One for the other interpreters to borrow as needed. And one for the interpreter in Basse so he can access the internet, and record / edit films of GSL.
small kindnesses big appreciation
In just three days the request to interpreters yielded two older MacBooks, one Asus PC, and several offers to pay for second hand lap tops for me to take.
The problem now was that I had three lap tops to take, with a 20kg cargo and 5kg hand luggage allowance, tops. Just one of the Macs weighed 4kg!
I thought I’d try and see what I could get away with, packed a 21kg suitcase, 7kg hand luggage, a shoulder bag weighing 6kg, and a MacBook in a case in my hand. A total of 34kg, 9kg over.
Given that excess luggage is £15 a kg, it would have cost £135 extra. Just not affordable.
I explained about the project and the laptops to the woman at the flight desk. She called the supervisor who said I could take two but not three of the laptops.
After the supervisor left, the lady at the flight desk whispered to me, “quick, take all three laptops in your shoulder bag, I’ll check both suitcase in to cargo, and will write a note on your boarding pass saying ‘laptops allowed charity’ in case they stop you.” Which she did. (Top right hand corner).
All I had to do was carry my 9kg shoulder bag so as not to draw attention!
And so, 9 hours later I was in Gambia with the three laptops. The interpreters are absolutely chuffed. That’s one laptop for permanent use at GADHOH, for editing videos, and for the senior interpreter to use. One for the other interpreters to borrow as needed. And one for the interpreter in Basse so he can access the internet, and record / edit films of GSL.
small kindnesses big appreciation
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