After waking up early on Wednesday morning and taking the train to Schiphol, I check in at Air Canada for my direct flight to Toronto, Canada.
“Canada?” you might be thinking. Yes!
Since my previous adventure in November 2023, there have been several new developments. Korfball is now being played in various places in the US, and local teams are being built to participate in the National Championship in September. Furthermore, the possibilities to order equipment have been further explored, still outrageously expensive but now more realistic. Additionally, a number of athletes and former korfball players have expressed interest in contributing to the development of Team USA. Moreover, Korfball Canada is in development, but above all, there are several universities in the north interested in at least demonstrating the sport, with the most concrete one being Niagara University in Niagara Falls. Here, we have an introductory clinic scheduled for this Saturday and a tournament in the afternoon. Around this, we are, of course, planning Team USA and USKF meetings, this time in locations in Buffalo, south of Niagara Falls.
Toronto is the best place to fly directly to. Otherwise, I would have a problem with the return flight, which would either start Sunday afternoon, making me unable to attend the korfball session on Sunday, or Monday afternoon. Leading up to this weekend, it was already evident that there will be a total solar eclipse in the region on Monday, and it’s being extensively celebrated, visited, and sold here as only Americans can do. Consequently, hotels from Sunday to Monday are mostly fully booked. And what’s available costs from $400 per night! That seemed a bit excessive to me, so I chose Toronto, from where I’ll fly back at 9:00 PM on Sunday evening.
I do have a challenge, though, as I need to drive from Canada into the US. It should be possible, but it seems it can take quite a while, and the Americans find it odd that you fly to Canada to be in the US. Additionally, when I land at 2:15 PM local time in Toronto, the weather is unabashedly dreadful. Driving in a country where you don’t know the roads, with rain pouring down, encountering various traffic jams, in a rental car without navigation, and no internet on your phone makes it a challenge. A stop at the Golden Arches (with good WiFi) helps a bit, but ultimately, it takes me two hours and fifteen minutes to cover a stretch of 92 kilometers. After another stop at a McD’s for WiFi, I figure out how to get into the US, and after some time, I reach the border. I naturally stop just past ‘a line’ on the road, which is heavily criticized by the border officer. However, the gentleman is understanding for my first time at this border post and sensitive to my sincere apologies. I’m allowed to park at a building a little further on; he keeps my passport. I have to enter the building at door 2, and it turns out to be a sort of border office. After fifteen minutes of waiting, I’m allowed to approach a counter and am interrogated by another, stern border officer. I answer his questions honestly and to the best of my ability, have my photo taken, and my fingerprints taken. After five minutes of staring at his screen and him staring at me, he seems satisfied, and I’m allowed to go to the next counter to pay $6. I didn’t ask why I had to do that, while I have a valid ESTA for the US. Just pay and move on…
I’m back in the US!
While waiting, I already checked the best way to get to my hotel, so once in the car, I confidently drive onto the bypass around Buffalo and towards the exit I need. At the junction with Highway 5 east, I turn off and head towards Clarence, where I have a room at the Clarence Inn. The Clarence Inn is a large house with a long, one-story building behind it containing 12 small rooms… This is where I’ll be staying for the next four nights.
Now, to prepare for some exciting active days, lots of new contacts, and of course, KORFBALL!
Best, as always…
Coach Dankmar