What do goodbyes look like for people who have supported each other through changes, losses, wins, beginnings and firsts? For us it was backbreaking hugs, watering eyes, last words of adoration, and then at the end just a small wave and a, "Bye!" As if we were hanging up the phone or moving forward in the grocer line.
Let me rewind, Dan went scuba diving. Dan learned how to swim three days before he passed his scuba test with the group. Dan did it for himself. I remember looking out at the sea and seeing six bodies floating face down in the water, don't be alarmed, it was Dan and his friends learning together how to float.
Devon and I are lying in a bed on thanksgiving night. The lights are off and we don't need to talk to feel comfortable. Devon is bravely fighting her sickness. The mosquito net is draped over the fourposter, we can hear the clatter of the street and a mother screaming, "Mohamed!" over and over. We just lie there. Then the group shuffles into our room and places on the bed a thanksgiving feast wrapped in aluminum foil and watch for my response in every bite. Even though I secretly see a spider crawl over my dessert, the turkey is cold, and my potatoes are over buttered. I squish the spider before anyone could see and it is the best Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had.
Ian grew his wings. The hardest goodbye was to the one we were leaving behind. With his pack on his back he headed off to find somewhere to stay alone until his flight to somewhere in Africa to do something good, who knows, we were losing him to this continent! It was like leaving a soldier to fight the battle alone. But indeed I do not think he felt that way, he was ready to fly.
Zach wondered through the bending cobblestone streets of stone town beneath the slim rectangle sky, just discovering. When he realized he was lost he asked a local for directions. He returned to us sweaty and desperate for cab money.
Kaan saw a sea turtle and a victim of the sea.
Kirsten found herself.
Kathryn bargained for local wares up until the last day for her loved ones, getting free carved gifts from Obama, and the best scarf deals from the two brothers. And while she described to me the people she was buying for, I would hear a boy behind us yell how she had broken his heart by not saying hello.
Britt and Zik will go on to inspire another group, or just more people.
Love.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I'll order it from ZANZIBAR
Perfectly white sand, crystal clear water, tropical warm breezes, and fresh delicious coconuts. Not exactly the Thanksgiving we imagined but it'll do. Karibu Zanzibar! Yesterday we arrived in Stonetown after spending 4 days,3 nights at the rasta relaxing Dhow Beach Village on Jambiani beach. We spent those 4 days playing beach vollyball, getting our tans on and in pure amazment of the mile long stretch of only knee deep translucent water. All of us waded out, walking on and on until we realized we weren't getting any close to the waves we saw crashing in the distance. Floating in the 5 feet of heavenly ocean we couldnt believe how fortunate we were to experience this rare taste of living. Monday morning we relished in the fact that while others were studying for midterm exams we gratefuly basked and lounged in our ocean classroom. With a bittersweet heart we awoke Tuesday morning at 5am to leave our paradise but to experience another life style...SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS! Now when I write swimming with dolphins, I don't want to give the wrong impression, so let me clarify. We were not swimming in a pool, the dolphins were not trained, and the price wasn't more than 10 dollars. We took a small boat 30 minutes away from shore decked in full Snorkel gear and on our guides command we recklessly threw our bodies overboard. We were surrounded, a pod of dolphins freely swam amoungst us. Once their beautiful bodies had outswam our artificial fins it was back in the boat to catch up with them. Swimming with dolphins was unforgettable. Moving on to the present. Today is our first full day in Stonetown, Zanzibar. All of us have just completed and passed(for all you worried parents) the written test portion of our Scuba Diving test! Tomorrow we hit the pool to see how the swimming goes and to test our gear.
The days are passing like seconds now and as exciting as the upcoming holidays are we are all going to miss the big ol' family we've become.
OH before I go, to really increase the jealously TONIGHT we are eating at a local traditional cuisine and seafood outdoor buffet market. Just try and soak that all in. Fresh fish, lobster, crabs, prawns cooked in front of your eyes to perfection and some typical Zanzibar chakula (food)to dabble in.
7 days till we depart our East African home.
Peace and love
dev
The days are passing like seconds now and as exciting as the upcoming holidays are we are all going to miss the big ol' family we've become.
OH before I go, to really increase the jealously TONIGHT we are eating at a local traditional cuisine and seafood outdoor buffet market. Just try and soak that all in. Fresh fish, lobster, crabs, prawns cooked in front of your eyes to perfection and some typical Zanzibar chakula (food)to dabble in.
7 days till we depart our East African home.
Peace and love
dev
Monday, November 23, 2009
oneal, beach, homestay
Hello to all,
We finished part of a week with homestays, which did not end on the best note ever but we got through it as a group and have moved on from it. After that we headed back to pete oneals, which is starting to become more of a second home than anything else. Pete oneals hospitality towards us is something we all greatly appreciate. While we were with pete oneal we were able to meet another group of traveling studens. It was fun comparing stories and talking about our different programs. The food their was aboslutely delicous and we were treated like kings and queens. Saying our goodbyes was hard for everyone but keeping in mind that we were heading for the beach made it much easier.
Dar south beaches were spectacular. A friend of Zack's came and visited and everyone seemed to enjoy his company. White sand for miles and hole in the wall restraunt with cheap prices. We also managed to go back into dar for one night and see mama Charollette from the Oneal's perform. Most of us enjoyed it but it ran a little to late for us so we went back in need of sleep.
Overall we have been having a blast for the last home stretch of trip hope all is well at home.
ian
We finished part of a week with homestays, which did not end on the best note ever but we got through it as a group and have moved on from it. After that we headed back to pete oneals, which is starting to become more of a second home than anything else. Pete oneals hospitality towards us is something we all greatly appreciate. While we were with pete oneal we were able to meet another group of traveling studens. It was fun comparing stories and talking about our different programs. The food their was aboslutely delicous and we were treated like kings and queens. Saying our goodbyes was hard for everyone but keeping in mind that we were heading for the beach made it much easier.
Dar south beaches were spectacular. A friend of Zack's came and visited and everyone seemed to enjoy his company. White sand for miles and hole in the wall restraunt with cheap prices. We also managed to go back into dar for one night and see mama Charollette from the Oneal's perform. Most of us enjoyed it but it ran a little to late for us so we went back in need of sleep.
Overall we have been having a blast for the last home stretch of trip hope all is well at home.
ian
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Goat blood and lions!
Where to begin? Some in the group said that the past couple weeks changed their lives. Some said it was the best week of their lives. Now I must endeavor to describe the group experience.
The safari: Led by our beloved Godwin and Riche we poked our heads out of two Toyota Land Rovers and drove through The Terengerri National Park and Ngoroagora Crater. Thousand year old Boabob Trees shaded endless wildlife. Giant elephants walked lightly under their multi ton weight, flapped their ears, and passed closely by the car in single file. A pride of lions snuggled the afternoon away, the male with a full royal mane, and baby cubs tumbling and playing with their parents. Giraffes, giant, and adorably awkward would trot nearby incredibly gracefully for all their lankiness. Zebras, wildebeast, cheetas, hyenas, impala, hippos, and more!
The Boma: Small mud huts surrounded by a fence of bristles, (To keep out the lions of course) was our home for nine days. The Massai are goat, sheep and cow herders, every Massai man carries with him a long stick for this purpose and every Massai wears plaid cloths and elaborate jewelry. Because their livestock is their lives, they have reduced their diet to blood, milk and meat. Even water is an unnecessary luxury.
Of course they allowed us to taste their food and almost all of us took a nice sip of warm chunky goat blood after watching them slaughter and skin the animal. Personally at the second slaughtering I was privileged enough to help skin the animal and so my job was to hold the testes. To juxtapose this experience right after this I was asked into their home to hold their three day old baby. Yes,a baby was born while we were there in the very boma we were in, and the mother and baby will be forced to stay inside for three months while the husband sleeps outside.
For all the travelers like ourselves coming through, the Massai still live incredibly traditionally. Last year their school was built and occasionally they buy seeds for vegetables at the market, but they seem to prefer their ways. The days are spent in freedom, they eat when they want, work when they want, and relax when they want. They marry as many women as they want and it is impossible to tell whose child belongs to whom because of the unconditional love shared in the community.
The simplicity of their lifestyle, it's proven endurance of hundreds of years, and the visible happiness in the people could not be missed by anyone. I think we will all go home thankful for our luxuries and jealous of the beautiful MAssai people.
Thanks for reading about our adventures!
Lizzie
The safari: Led by our beloved Godwin and Riche we poked our heads out of two Toyota Land Rovers and drove through The Terengerri National Park and Ngoroagora Crater. Thousand year old Boabob Trees shaded endless wildlife. Giant elephants walked lightly under their multi ton weight, flapped their ears, and passed closely by the car in single file. A pride of lions snuggled the afternoon away, the male with a full royal mane, and baby cubs tumbling and playing with their parents. Giraffes, giant, and adorably awkward would trot nearby incredibly gracefully for all their lankiness. Zebras, wildebeast, cheetas, hyenas, impala, hippos, and more!
The Boma: Small mud huts surrounded by a fence of bristles, (To keep out the lions of course) was our home for nine days. The Massai are goat, sheep and cow herders, every Massai man carries with him a long stick for this purpose and every Massai wears plaid cloths and elaborate jewelry. Because their livestock is their lives, they have reduced their diet to blood, milk and meat. Even water is an unnecessary luxury.
Of course they allowed us to taste their food and almost all of us took a nice sip of warm chunky goat blood after watching them slaughter and skin the animal. Personally at the second slaughtering I was privileged enough to help skin the animal and so my job was to hold the testes. To juxtapose this experience right after this I was asked into their home to hold their three day old baby. Yes,a baby was born while we were there in the very boma we were in, and the mother and baby will be forced to stay inside for three months while the husband sleeps outside.
For all the travelers like ourselves coming through, the Massai still live incredibly traditionally. Last year their school was built and occasionally they buy seeds for vegetables at the market, but they seem to prefer their ways. The days are spent in freedom, they eat when they want, work when they want, and relax when they want. They marry as many women as they want and it is impossible to tell whose child belongs to whom because of the unconditional love shared in the community.
The simplicity of their lifestyle, it's proven endurance of hundreds of years, and the visible happiness in the people could not be missed by anyone. I think we will all go home thankful for our luxuries and jealous of the beautiful MAssai people.
Thanks for reading about our adventures!
Lizzie
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Zach
Hey, just got to Mwanza from Kigali and I'm loving it here. The views are fantastic but the internet is sloooow.
Safari...HERE WE COME!
Habari,
After an 8 hour, bumpy, dirty, and significantly awkward bus ride from Benako, we have finally reached Tanzania's second largest city - Mwanza! It is absolutely gorgeous; we are surrounded by beautiful views of Lake Victoria and are preparing/stocking up for the next 3 weeks of exciting activities! We leave for our Safari in just a few days; everyone is EXTREMELY excited! Stay tuned for updates on all the wild animals and adventures that are yet to come... :)
Kwa Heri,
-Kirst
After an 8 hour, bumpy, dirty, and significantly awkward bus ride from Benako, we have finally reached Tanzania's second largest city - Mwanza! It is absolutely gorgeous; we are surrounded by beautiful views of Lake Victoria and are preparing/stocking up for the next 3 weeks of exciting activities! We leave for our Safari in just a few days; everyone is EXTREMELY excited! Stay tuned for updates on all the wild animals and adventures that are yet to come... :)
Kwa Heri,
-Kirst
Scavenging
Ian and I (Kathryn) are traipsing around the beautiful city of Mwanza, and enjoying every boiling-hot second of it! We are practicing our Kiswahili with the locals, purchasing congas (sp?), mailing post-cards (expect one in the mail family!) and being led around by yet another Moses. Our hunt for lunch is about to draw us back into the heat!
-Ian and Kathryn
-Ian and Kathryn
Still in a hotel we can't afford.
Walking around the city today has proved easier then my initial attempt in Kampala. Love the city of Mwanza and love Tanzania from what I've seen of it. Can't wait for the Safari and the Masai visit.
Sincerely,
Kaan (With Lizzie next to me)
Sincerely,
Kaan (With Lizzie next to me)
In a hotel we can't afford.
Dearest beloved readers,
We are breaking a few social rules and asked a few favors of the locals for our endeavor. For instance we are using a residents only computer in a very cosmo hotel, and asked the kind receptionist if we could use her celly.
Otherwise we love it here, it's a little hot but it's absolutely beautiful. Huge rocks and a lake-side own enraptured us all at the first docking.
xoxo
Lizzie (with Kaan by my side)
We are breaking a few social rules and asked a few favors of the locals for our endeavor. For instance we are using a residents only computer in a very cosmo hotel, and asked the kind receptionist if we could use her celly.
Otherwise we love it here, it's a little hot but it's absolutely beautiful. Huge rocks and a lake-side own enraptured us all at the first docking.
xoxo
Lizzie (with Kaan by my side)
Team Bangi (pt 2) DAN &DEV
Today we were spit in teams of two(Guy and Gal) to explore Mwanza,Tanzania.Devon and I are at an internet cafe which is extremely slow,but no worries(acuta matata)we've having lots of fun exploring.
P.S We're Half way done with our trip!crazy huh!
Anyway Toodles
Simply Dan
P.S We're Half way done with our trip!crazy huh!
Anyway Toodles
Simply Dan
team bangi (pt. 1)
A haiku written in detication to my current situation:
my back is sweaty
this internet is too slow
drip... drip... down my back.
paz & amor
dev
(p.s. lovin' Tanzania, epitome of all that's beautiful in East Africa)
my back is sweaty
this internet is too slow
drip... drip... down my back.
paz & amor
dev
(p.s. lovin' Tanzania, epitome of all that's beautiful in East Africa)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Goodbye Uganda, Hello Rwanda
Woooh!
It’s been quite an amazing disasters couple of days. As it being our first time planning free travel we’ve learned many valuable lessons. The most important being:
1-It’s not as easy as it sounds
2-Because of number 1 the earlier you plan the better.
3-Little to nothing (more of the latter) works out as planned despite how hard you’ve worked, so roll, roll, and keep on rolling with the punches.
The Matatu that was supposed to pick us up at 3:45 am (in order to get us casually across the boarder) didn’t show up until 6:30am, forcing us to accept that we were not crossing into Rwanda that day. To our advantage (this was another blessing in disguise) we ended up staying in the beautiful small city of Kabale, just 30 minutes outside the Rwandan boarder.
Once in Kabale we stayed at this epic hostel Edirisa, which means window in the local language. The hostel is a CBO whose main goal is to emphasize community development. There we met the man who created this CBO, headed and funded the hostel. He suggested we take an extra day to explore our gorgeous surroundings. We took his advice and the postponed the Rwanda trip for another day to see Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is truly a treasure in Uganda. We canoed across the beautiful lake and spent the day cooking, working, and discovering more about the local women’s traditions and life style. It was AMAZING! Our day concluded with making various crafts out of papyrus grass and as always getting our groove on to some local beats! There was no better way to spend our accidental extra-extra last day in Uganda!
From there we finally had ourselves organized and headed off to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, which is where we are now. Kigali has been intense and shocking in many ways. The modern fast pace of this city took us all by surprise. It’s almost like being back in the US (or Canada for Kirst) with the double-foam-grande-mocha frappuccino and Mercedes that are parked on every street. Nonetheless we all smiles and soooooooo stoked for our Tanzanian Safari adventure. Everyone sends there love.
Miss you mom and dad and gamma and shmay.
dev dev dev
Spirtual Week
So after we spent a wonderful week working with Youth Encourage Services it was time to say our goodbyes. Jacob(volunteer) luckily volunteered to drive us to our next destination Lake Nkaruba which is only45 minutes away from Fort Portal.When we arrived the first thing everyone notice were the beautiful black and white colobus monkeys and the less attractive vervet monkeys.In the days to follow we practiced yoga daily with our very own Britt Base.The yoga was much need after a week of little to no activate.From their Zik led us through various activites like TOE 2 TOE which is a game were we stand toe to toe with a partner while Zik would shell out questions that we answered like (what does spirtuality mean to you) and so on.In the evening we went on slients hikes and looked for bush babies (needless to say bush babies are Awsome). We also met with two lovely Irish women Margret and farrah who spoke to us about spirtuality,Loving yourself, and other soul searching topics after we practiced meditation(Loved it).Marget and Farrah also acompanied us to visit the Sikh (which is a relgion that origined in India).After a joyest visit with the seek we head back to hostel to have more indepth conversations about spritual week.Spritual Week was wonder experience everyone began to open up more anbout their selfs with was great. Now were Head off to see the chimps.
That is all for Carpe Diem's First ever Spirtual week
Dan
That is all for Carpe Diem's First ever Spirtual week
Dan
CHIMPANZEEEEES
Hello from Rwanda! We are currently living the luxurious albeit expensive life in Kigali, but you'll have to wait for a future blog post to hear more about that. I am here to catch you all up on what we've been doing on the first half of our free travel (the beginning of this past week). After our rejuvenating retreat at Lake Nkuruba, we did a 180-degree turn away from relaxation and headed north to Budongo Forest Reserve, which is part of Murchinson Falls National Park in search of the elusive CHIMPANZEES!
Our adventure started with an exhilarating matatu drive (if you can classify a slightly terrifying ten-hours packed like sardines in matatu, at extreme speeds over bumpy roads as exhilarating).We had a few bumps in the road (literally) on our way there, but nevertheless pulled through and made it to our desired destination. We were all thrilled to be able to stretch our legs and go chimp trekking/tracking! We were incredibly lucky in this activity, not only because we saw chimps up close, but because in the few days before we arrived the chimps had been in hiding and none of the guides were able to find them! It just so happened that the day we showed up they decided to climb down from their nests and soak up a bit of sunshine. We had to stay at a distance of 30 ft away, and were not allowed to wear yellow or red clothing for fear that they might attack (the yellow and red simulate a flash of a camera which aggravates them). Fortunately, we had nothing but a safe and incredibly satisfying experience.
While the tracking took up the entire morning, we were still free for the afternoon and so decided to head to Murchison Falls to make our day complete. On our way there we saw baboons scampering on the sides of the roads and some buffalo in a watering hole, but they were nothing compared to the sight that awaited us. I think everyone in our group can agree that Murchinson Falls has been the most beautiful waterfall that we've seen in Africa, if not ever. It is a humongous roaring, rapid of a waterfall and we arrived at a perfect time: just as the sun was slowly sinking down and so formed perfect rainbows across the falls. We had a grand time soaking in the sight and the spray from the falls and taking photos.
The following day we headed back to Lake Nkuruba, to let our bums recover from the abuse they received during our matatu ride. We spent the day relaxing, doing laundry, journaling and finalizing more details for free travel. That evening the staff of the campsite performed a little farewell ceremony for us, which was genuinely heartfelt and entertaining. We all headed to bed fairly early that evening as we had to be up at 3:45 the next morning to start the next segment of our free travel!
--Kathryn
Our adventure started with an exhilarating matatu drive (if you can classify a slightly terrifying ten-hours packed like sardines in matatu, at extreme speeds over bumpy roads as exhilarating).We had a few bumps in the road (literally) on our way there, but nevertheless pulled through and made it to our desired destination. We were all thrilled to be able to stretch our legs and go chimp trekking/tracking! We were incredibly lucky in this activity, not only because we saw chimps up close, but because in the few days before we arrived the chimps had been in hiding and none of the guides were able to find them! It just so happened that the day we showed up they decided to climb down from their nests and soak up a bit of sunshine. We had to stay at a distance of 30 ft away, and were not allowed to wear yellow or red clothing for fear that they might attack (the yellow and red simulate a flash of a camera which aggravates them). Fortunately, we had nothing but a safe and incredibly satisfying experience.
While the tracking took up the entire morning, we were still free for the afternoon and so decided to head to Murchison Falls to make our day complete. On our way there we saw baboons scampering on the sides of the roads and some buffalo in a watering hole, but they were nothing compared to the sight that awaited us. I think everyone in our group can agree that Murchinson Falls has been the most beautiful waterfall that we've seen in Africa, if not ever. It is a humongous roaring, rapid of a waterfall and we arrived at a perfect time: just as the sun was slowly sinking down and so formed perfect rainbows across the falls. We had a grand time soaking in the sight and the spray from the falls and taking photos.
The following day we headed back to Lake Nkuruba, to let our bums recover from the abuse they received during our matatu ride. We spent the day relaxing, doing laundry, journaling and finalizing more details for free travel. That evening the staff of the campsite performed a little farewell ceremony for us, which was genuinely heartfelt and entertaining. We all headed to bed fairly early that evening as we had to be up at 3:45 the next morning to start the next segment of our free travel!
--Kathryn
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Fort Portal - YES Hostel
So as the trip reaches its 3 week mark we are in Fort Portal, Uganda volunteering our time to an NGO. This NGO, Youth Encouragement Services, works with children who are HIV / AIDS positive or have lost all family to the disease. Talking to Carrol (the founder of the organization) truly showed us what situations this children were in before they were helped. Some of the kids were living with a mother who could not care for them because she was so sick from the late stages of the disease, and others were living alone because the disease had already taken their parents. What YES does is it finds these kids who are so misfortuned and brings them into an orphanage.
The one home that we visit and work with is the Manna Rescue Home. Here there are around 20-30 kids who are all HIV positive. At the rescue home they recieve proper nutrition in the form of 3 meals a day, a bed, a playground, the medicine they need to fight the disease, and most importantly the love that these children deserve. It was incredible to play with these children as the littlest interaction could make the smile go from ear to ear. While coloring with the kids our inner children came out as we took the paper and made paper airplanes. Minutes later the kids were outside throwing the planes all over the yard. From coloring, to airplanes, to soccer, to just talking with the kids you can tell that your efforts were most definitely paying off.
Yesterday we also did our fair share of manual labor at the YES farm. This farm was put in place to guarantee that the children always have food. The foundation is also building a house on the property for a farmer to stay there 24/7. If there was not someone there to protect the crop the neighbors would "accidentally" farm into their yard. So yesterday was dedicated to helping around the farm. Britt, Zach, Dan, and Kirsten took the dirty end of all the work when it came to hoeing, weeding, and de-grassing a large area for the farm. Ian, Devon, Kathryn, Lizzie, and I did the more busy work when we had to move bricks and aggregate and move them to another location using shovels and 2 wheelbarrows. And our Super Man Zik took the more skilled end of the labor and plastered and smoothed the inside walls of the house. We all played a big part in moving the farm along.
Since we've been in Fort Portal we've had a few un-welcomed guests. A few thousand to be exact. Last night while some were cleaning dishes and others were inside just have a relaxed evening a whole nest of winged termites came out. Apparently they only come out twice a year and it is only for the purpose of mating. Thankfully the termites did not bite. When Devon, a member of the cleaning crew at the time, turned around in the kitchen looking for her co-leader Britt she had stated that Britt was, "Lost in a tornado of wings". When all was said and done and the termites had done their bussiness all that was left in the morning were wings.
We also had our first Ugandan earthquakes and we didnt even know it. While some were talking about it in the morning others, me being one of them, had no idea it had even happened. I am definitely upset I missed them as I have never felt one before. Zik described it two ways. One being "It was like a train was running through nearby" and the other being "It was almost as elephants were running". But family and friends need not worry as even me in my light sleeping habits did not awake from my beautiful malaria pill affected dreams.
Hope everyone is keeping away from Swine back home. And all other sicknesses as well.
We Love You All,
Kaan Yarar
The one home that we visit and work with is the Manna Rescue Home. Here there are around 20-30 kids who are all HIV positive. At the rescue home they recieve proper nutrition in the form of 3 meals a day, a bed, a playground, the medicine they need to fight the disease, and most importantly the love that these children deserve. It was incredible to play with these children as the littlest interaction could make the smile go from ear to ear. While coloring with the kids our inner children came out as we took the paper and made paper airplanes. Minutes later the kids were outside throwing the planes all over the yard. From coloring, to airplanes, to soccer, to just talking with the kids you can tell that your efforts were most definitely paying off.
Yesterday we also did our fair share of manual labor at the YES farm. This farm was put in place to guarantee that the children always have food. The foundation is also building a house on the property for a farmer to stay there 24/7. If there was not someone there to protect the crop the neighbors would "accidentally" farm into their yard. So yesterday was dedicated to helping around the farm. Britt, Zach, Dan, and Kirsten took the dirty end of all the work when it came to hoeing, weeding, and de-grassing a large area for the farm. Ian, Devon, Kathryn, Lizzie, and I did the more busy work when we had to move bricks and aggregate and move them to another location using shovels and 2 wheelbarrows. And our Super Man Zik took the more skilled end of the labor and plastered and smoothed the inside walls of the house. We all played a big part in moving the farm along.
Since we've been in Fort Portal we've had a few un-welcomed guests. A few thousand to be exact. Last night while some were cleaning dishes and others were inside just have a relaxed evening a whole nest of winged termites came out. Apparently they only come out twice a year and it is only for the purpose of mating. Thankfully the termites did not bite. When Devon, a member of the cleaning crew at the time, turned around in the kitchen looking for her co-leader Britt she had stated that Britt was, "Lost in a tornado of wings". When all was said and done and the termites had done their bussiness all that was left in the morning were wings.
We also had our first Ugandan earthquakes and we didnt even know it. While some were talking about it in the morning others, me being one of them, had no idea it had even happened. I am definitely upset I missed them as I have never felt one before. Zik described it two ways. One being "It was like a train was running through nearby" and the other being "It was almost as elephants were running". But family and friends need not worry as even me in my light sleeping habits did not awake from my beautiful malaria pill affected dreams.
Hope everyone is keeping away from Swine back home. And all other sicknesses as well.
We Love You All,
Kaan Yarar
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Mmmirembe
So we're back in Jinja for the night after spending an AMAZING week working with the Mirembe (meaning peace) Kawomera Coffee Co-op in a small village just outside of Mbale. Mirembe in unique in the way that in combines the three major faiths, Islam, Judaism and Christianity, to promote a message of peace between faiths and throughout the world. We lived with the founder of the Co Op, JJ Keki, and his family. Which includes 25 children, 15 of whom he adopted. We spent the morning enjoying Mama's great breakfast before heading out to pick coffee berries, plant trees and learn of growing coffee, how the Co-Op benefits the community and fair trade. In the after noon JJ's sons, usually Joseph A and Joseph B would take us around the area and show us some of the sights, including a cave which the Jewish people in the area used as a synagogue during the reign of Idi Amin, who only allowed Islam and Christianity to exist while he ruled as well as a rain drenched soccer match and lots and lots of card games.. We spent our last day in the areas on a beautiful hike through sipi falls. It was tough but we all made it to the top and enjoyed pb&j at the base of amazing waterfalls with gorgeous views of the area. For our last night the family, most of who are musicians and/or dancers, to an AMAZING and moving farewell which included most of the family that stills lives in the house, singing, dancing and playing drums and guitar. It was a touching moment and a beautiful end to and an incredible week.
Tonight we're off to a concert in Jinja and then tomorrow we're headed to Fort Portal to work with the YES orphanage. We're all having a brilliant time.
- Zach.
Tonight we're off to a concert in Jinja and then tomorrow we're headed to Fort Portal to work with the YES orphanage. We're all having a brilliant time.
- Zach.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mzungu
Hey, this is Zach.
Alright so the last few days in Africa have been long, tiring and paintfilled but none the less a blast. We just finished up painting the classrooms with Soft Power in Bubugo and are now chilling at the NRE hostel just outside of Jinja. Working at Bubugo was challenging but incredibly rewarding and fun. In the mornings we split up into two crews. The first (Britt, Kaan, Lizzy, Kathryn, and myself) took our Kiswahili classes from Roy while the second crew (Zik, Dan, Ian, Kirsten and Devon) started the painting then we filp flopped around tea time. We usually finished up working around six while Peter, our ugandan chef, made us delicious Ugandan meals. As the sun started to go down we spent our time teaching the kids how to throw frisbees, American Footballs and some new tunes while getting schooled in games of soccer and falling in love with some of the local kids. It was a great and rewarding week and it was sad to leave the Village but it's exciting to move on to the next stage of our adventure. We spent yesterday finishing up last minute touch ups on the school and then drove back to the NRE hostel to relax and finally SHOWER, which improved group moral greatly. Then we went into Jinja for a few hours to look for cloths, snacks and get money from ATMs. Then, after night fall, we went our and had a pre-celebration from Britts birthday. We went out to this great restraunt just a short walk from the hostel. We had incredible food and conversations. Then after our bellies were full we went out dancing to work it off. It was a great night and a great way to celebrate finishing the school and Britt's big day. Next we're off to a coffee Co-Op in Mbale. We're all having an amazing time.
-Zach
Alright so the last few days in Africa have been long, tiring and paintfilled but none the less a blast. We just finished up painting the classrooms with Soft Power in Bubugo and are now chilling at the NRE hostel just outside of Jinja. Working at Bubugo was challenging but incredibly rewarding and fun. In the mornings we split up into two crews. The first (Britt, Kaan, Lizzy, Kathryn, and myself) took our Kiswahili classes from Roy while the second crew (Zik, Dan, Ian, Kirsten and Devon) started the painting then we filp flopped around tea time. We usually finished up working around six while Peter, our ugandan chef, made us delicious Ugandan meals. As the sun started to go down we spent our time teaching the kids how to throw frisbees, American Footballs and some new tunes while getting schooled in games of soccer and falling in love with some of the local kids. It was a great and rewarding week and it was sad to leave the Village but it's exciting to move on to the next stage of our adventure. We spent yesterday finishing up last minute touch ups on the school and then drove back to the NRE hostel to relax and finally SHOWER, which improved group moral greatly. Then we went into Jinja for a few hours to look for cloths, snacks and get money from ATMs. Then, after night fall, we went our and had a pre-celebration from Britts birthday. We went out to this great restraunt just a short walk from the hostel. We had incredible food and conversations. Then after our bellies were full we went out dancing to work it off. It was a great night and a great way to celebrate finishing the school and Britt's big day. Next we're off to a coffee Co-Op in Mbale. We're all having an amazing time.
-Zach
Thursday, September 17, 2009
FUN FUN FUN in East Africa!
Hello!...Kirsten here:
I can't believe we have been in East Africa for less than a week; we have done so many exciting things and our jamii is bonding better than ever! On Sunday, we had our first day of adventure; a scavenger hut into Kampala. To our surprise, Britt and Zik sent us off into the busy city ALONE! But with some helpful advice and tips from our worldly-experienced leaders, we managed to get there and back in one piece. The scavenger hunt enabled us to learn some history and mingle with the locals, which helped us get over the culture shock. We also experienced our first taste of local food while in the city, which consisted mainly of rice and a meat/vegetable sauce; it was delicious! Following our long day in Kampala we went to N'Dere; a traditional African show of dance and music. It was breath-taking! The highlight ofthe show for me was when the entire audience (over 100 people) were invited on stage to dance and sing - Zach, Dan and Britt started a 'cha-cha' line that EVERYONE joined! It was fantastic :) On Monday morning, we left the Backpackers Inn at 6:30am and headed to Jinja for Class 5 white water rafting on the Nile river. We were split into 2 groups - the boys in one raft, girls in another - and there was a safety raft and rescue kayakers just in case we fell out of our rafts (which was bound to happen on Class 5 rapids!) After 2-3 hours of rafting, there was a beautiful, calm stretch of the river where we had lunch - fresh pineapple and tea biscuits - and jumped off the rafts for a swim in the Nile. For e, the experience was almost surreal; I couldn't healp but imagine all my friends at home - busy at school writing papers and stressing over tests, whilst we laid in the African sun eating pineapple and swam down the Nile. After lunch we continued the last part of our rafting experience then headed back to a hostel in Jinja for a relaxing night, ending with a video of our white water rafting journey! On Tuesday morning, we met up with volunteers from Soft Power Education and took a walking tour of some of the projects they are currently working on. One of whihc was a preschool. We were welcomed to the preschool by tons of running, smiling children who were so friendly and beautiful. We stayed at the preschool for aout half an hour - playing games and taking pictures with the children before visiting the Soft Power Education education centre then leaving for our 6 day project in Bubugo. We arrived in Bubugo at 11am. We are staying at a school while we paint 2 of the classrooms and the outside of the building. Yesterda was our first day of work and our first day of Kiswahili lessons! We started the day at 9am and split into 2 gours - one did painting first, one did Kiswahili classes first. After lunch we all continued with painting and managed to finish the first base coat of the building. Today the group is continuing the work while Britt and I do some chores in the city of Jinja. We are all so excited to see the finished project and to learn tons of Kiswahili for Tanzania.
Talk to you soon!
-Kirsten
I can't believe we have been in East Africa for less than a week; we have done so many exciting things and our jamii is bonding better than ever! On Sunday, we had our first day of adventure; a scavenger hut into Kampala. To our surprise, Britt and Zik sent us off into the busy city ALONE! But with some helpful advice and tips from our worldly-experienced leaders, we managed to get there and back in one piece. The scavenger hunt enabled us to learn some history and mingle with the locals, which helped us get over the culture shock. We also experienced our first taste of local food while in the city, which consisted mainly of rice and a meat/vegetable sauce; it was delicious! Following our long day in Kampala we went to N'Dere; a traditional African show of dance and music. It was breath-taking! The highlight ofthe show for me was when the entire audience (over 100 people) were invited on stage to dance and sing - Zach, Dan and Britt started a 'cha-cha' line that EVERYONE joined! It was fantastic :) On Monday morning, we left the Backpackers Inn at 6:30am and headed to Jinja for Class 5 white water rafting on the Nile river. We were split into 2 groups - the boys in one raft, girls in another - and there was a safety raft and rescue kayakers just in case we fell out of our rafts (which was bound to happen on Class 5 rapids!) After 2-3 hours of rafting, there was a beautiful, calm stretch of the river where we had lunch - fresh pineapple and tea biscuits - and jumped off the rafts for a swim in the Nile. For e, the experience was almost surreal; I couldn't healp but imagine all my friends at home - busy at school writing papers and stressing over tests, whilst we laid in the African sun eating pineapple and swam down the Nile. After lunch we continued the last part of our rafting experience then headed back to a hostel in Jinja for a relaxing night, ending with a video of our white water rafting journey! On Tuesday morning, we met up with volunteers from Soft Power Education and took a walking tour of some of the projects they are currently working on. One of whihc was a preschool. We were welcomed to the preschool by tons of running, smiling children who were so friendly and beautiful. We stayed at the preschool for aout half an hour - playing games and taking pictures with the children before visiting the Soft Power Education education centre then leaving for our 6 day project in Bubugo. We arrived in Bubugo at 11am. We are staying at a school while we paint 2 of the classrooms and the outside of the building. Yesterda was our first day of work and our first day of Kiswahili lessons! We started the day at 9am and split into 2 gours - one did painting first, one did Kiswahili classes first. After lunch we all continued with painting and managed to finish the first base coat of the building. Today the group is continuing the work while Britt and I do some chores in the city of Jinja. We are all so excited to see the finished project and to learn tons of Kiswahili for Tanzania.
Talk to you soon!
-Kirsten
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Soft Power Education
Hello everyone!
We just wanted to let you know that we arrived to work with Soft Power Education, the first school we're working with. Tonight we'll be settling in, getting ready to start our Swahili classes in the morning and paint one of the new buildings for the school. We had an incredible day rafting the White Nile yesterday. We'll let the students fill you in on the details in a few days.
Have an incredible day (we will be)!
We just wanted to let you know that we arrived to work with Soft Power Education, the first school we're working with. Tonight we'll be settling in, getting ready to start our Swahili classes in the morning and paint one of the new buildings for the school. We had an incredible day rafting the White Nile yesterday. We'll let the students fill you in on the details in a few days.
Have an incredible day (we will be)!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Scavenger Hunt
Today we went into Kampala with a few partners to look for a few things that Britt and Zik thought would give us a good feel of the city. It was awesome and truly eye opening. I look forward to cool adventures such as this in the future.
-Kaan
-Kaan
9.13.09
Mambo!
All of us just returned from the most amazing dance experience! For 3 hours we watched and participated in traditional Ugandan dance and song! We ate a traditional Ugandan meal which watching men and women swirl in colors and dance to the beat of drums! It was such an incredible way to end our stay here in Kampala! We are so grateful for today and can't wait to continue the trip with our next adventure (White water rafting!!!)
peace and love
Devon
All of us just returned from the most amazing dance experience! For 3 hours we watched and participated in traditional Ugandan dance and song! We ate a traditional Ugandan meal which watching men and women swirl in colors and dance to the beat of drums! It was such an incredible way to end our stay here in Kampala! We are so grateful for today and can't wait to continue the trip with our next adventure (White water rafting!!!)
peace and love
Devon
IN THA CITAYYY
Right now my scavenger hunt team and I are sitting in an internet cafe, sweating, full of rice and maybe unfriendly chicken. Everyone here has been very helpful and smiling towards our strange questions and requests. "What is that fruit called?" - "One killogram."
We've been running and dodging flying motorcycles, while trying to keep our feet dry. We were surprised by the bustling locals in collared shirts and clean pants and skirts. We've gotta go, can't wait to get back out there!
MISS YOU ALL, Lizzie, Kathryn and Ian.
We've been running and dodging flying motorcycles, while trying to keep our feet dry. We were surprised by the bustling locals in collared shirts and clean pants and skirts. We've gotta go, can't wait to get back out there!
MISS YOU ALL, Lizzie, Kathryn and Ian.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Great first day in Africa. Spent most of the day safe and sound in the hostel. We got a chance to play pool, some card games and enjoy an African rain shower. Also we saw two monkeys who live outside the hostel! Can't wait to get into Kampala.
- Zach
Yesterday our plans to visit kampala were delayed because of unexpected rain fall. The rain here in Uganda is an intense. Kaan and myself were the first of our group to take a magical picture in the rain(not the smartess idea,but well worth it) will post soon. Anyway my team members are great I enjoy spenting time with all of them.Most of our day yesterday was spent bonding with each other and practicing team building excrises. Today is a big day for us we finally get a chance to explore the city(kampala) wish us luck. P.S Uganda is extremely beautiful,and so rich with culture and Life.
-Dan(Dantastic)Smith
Wow, what a great start to the trip! Yesterday the group relaxed in the Backpackers Inn having group discussions, playing games and setting goals for the trip; it was a lovely way to get over the jet lag of nearly 2 full days of traveling. I've made some great friends so far; there is no doubt this group of students and leaders will become a wonderful Jamii (family in Swahili), I am very excited for the days and months to come! Today we start our adventures into Kampala for a scavenger hunt and traveling through the city, can't wait!!!!
-Kirsten
- Zach
Yesterday our plans to visit kampala were delayed because of unexpected rain fall. The rain here in Uganda is an intense. Kaan and myself were the first of our group to take a magical picture in the rain(not the smartess idea,but well worth it) will post soon. Anyway my team members are great I enjoy spenting time with all of them.Most of our day yesterday was spent bonding with each other and practicing team building excrises. Today is a big day for us we finally get a chance to explore the city(kampala) wish us luck. P.S Uganda is extremely beautiful,and so rich with culture and Life.
-Dan(Dantastic)Smith
Wow, what a great start to the trip! Yesterday the group relaxed in the Backpackers Inn having group discussions, playing games and setting goals for the trip; it was a lovely way to get over the jet lag of nearly 2 full days of traveling. I've made some great friends so far; there is no doubt this group of students and leaders will become a wonderful Jamii (family in Swahili), I am very excited for the days and months to come! Today we start our adventures into Kampala for a scavenger hunt and traveling through the city, can't wait!!!!
-Kirsten
Apologies
Sorry folks,
Our AWESOME group of students did, in fact, update the blog today. Unfortunately, however, they didn't realize they needed to click "publish post" in order to allow you to be able to read what they wrote. Since they didn't know how to ensure the blog was published, you have yet to hear from them personally. Sorry about that.
Rest assured that we are all still safe and sound in Kampala, that the group is bonding well, and that we're all still in high spirits.
Britt and I are very impressed by the way they were all 100% engaged in today's team building meetings and exercises. We really do feel like we've been blessed with a fantastic group of young adults.
They're pretty wiped out from jet lag and the day's activities, so they're all in bed already. But I've told them what steps they need to take to ensure the blog is published tomorrow. So please take solace in the fact that you WILL hear from your loved one tomorrow. Just a little more patience please. =)
We hope you are happy, healthy and loving life. I think I can safely say, despite the fatigue, that we all are.
Peace,
Zik & Britt
Our AWESOME group of students did, in fact, update the blog today. Unfortunately, however, they didn't realize they needed to click "publish post" in order to allow you to be able to read what they wrote. Since they didn't know how to ensure the blog was published, you have yet to hear from them personally. Sorry about that.
Rest assured that we are all still safe and sound in Kampala, that the group is bonding well, and that we're all still in high spirits.
Britt and I are very impressed by the way they were all 100% engaged in today's team building meetings and exercises. We really do feel like we've been blessed with a fantastic group of young adults.
They're pretty wiped out from jet lag and the day's activities, so they're all in bed already. But I've told them what steps they need to take to ensure the blog is published tomorrow. So please take solace in the fact that you WILL hear from your loved one tomorrow. Just a little more patience please. =)
We hope you are happy, healthy and loving life. I think I can safely say, despite the fatigue, that we all are.
Peace,
Zik & Britt
Friday, September 11, 2009
Safe and Sound in Kampala!
The students will all be updating the blog tomorrow, but Britt and I just wanted to take a quick minute to let everyone know we've arrived safe and sound, and without incident, to our Backpackers hostel here in Kampala.
We are all in high spirits to be a part of such a great group, and psyched to have gotten the adventure underway.
We're also pretty tired after so many hours of traveling. So we're having dinner and hitting the sack.
Thanks to everyone who has made this possible for us!
More Tomorrow,
Zik & Britt
We are all in high spirits to be a part of such a great group, and psyched to have gotten the adventure underway.
We're also pretty tired after so many hours of traveling. So we're having dinner and hitting the sack.
Thanks to everyone who has made this possible for us!
More Tomorrow,
Zik & Britt
Leave none behind!
A middle-of-the-night text message has assured us that the whole team is now together and the Lizzie/Devon contingent successfully met up with the rest of the group. They are now en route to Entebbe to begin their adventure.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
....And They're OFF!
It's official: 8/10 of the group is about to board their flight to Amsterdam, and they'll meet up with Devon and Lizzie there. What a great, grounded, crew--if folks were nervous they hid it well!
Next time you hear from them they'll be in Kampala, Uganda.
Until then, this is Carpe HQ signing off....
-Nannette
Next time you hear from them they'll be in Kampala, Uganda.
Until then, this is Carpe HQ signing off....
-Nannette
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Habari!
Habari!
Welcome to our East Africa blog. This blog will be our way to share our adventure over the next few months with everyone back home - please pass on this link to everyone you want to keep updated. After this first entry, we pass it over to you, and at least once a week a different student will get to upload an entry (and hopefully some fabulous photos as well!)
We arrived in Portland a few days ago. After a few phenomenal days camping out with the Carpe Diem leadership team below Mount Hood, we're in the office putting the last details in place. Now that we're getting ready to leave, looking over our final itineraries, and dreaming up some fun details, we're getting even more excited for our trip and to finally meeting all of you in person!
We have an incredible semester ahead of us. Our itinerary is spectacular and we have a kick butt team of students: all of the right ingredients to dive into every experience,
and be challenged, inspired, and, together, have the adventure of a life time. Get ready!
Enjoy your last week at home and be in touch if you have any questions.
Tutaonana baadaye (we'll see you soon)!
Britt and Zik
Monday, May 18, 2009
Kwa Heri East Africa
The last three weeks of our program included a bit of adventure and a lot of relaxation. After we departed TAYODEA three members climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro while the rest of the group headed out to Zanzibar to swim with dolphins and enjoy the white sands and crayon blue water.
Climbing Kili was amazing for everyone – and we are so proud to report that all group members summated the 19336 feet peak, and though I hear it was quite rainy and cold, it sounded amazing.
I myself spent my time lounging on the beach and had one totally amazing day swimming with dolphins in the Indian Ocean (turns out those animals are QUITE large). Since I have gotten home everyone has asked me if I tried to touch the dolphins, and to be honest, I kind of got scared every time they came with-in touching distance. So, the answer is “no,” I didn’t touch them. But it was awesome.
A little later on in the week the group reconvened on the beach for some hang out days. We had a very chill time, but it rained all day every day – so there wasn’t a lot of tanning time, much to the dismay of the group. However, we were able to finish some final card tournaments that had been carrying on for the majority of the semester!
Our final days were spent in Stonetown learning how to SCUBA Dive and exploring the back streets of an ancient and beautiful old city. Almost everyone in the group completed their scuba and enjoyed it. I got to see a 7 ft. barracuda on my final dive! Totally cool! Our final night on the island consisted of a beautiful sunset sail on a traditional Zanzibari dhow – complete with a musical trio to serenade us out onto the serene waters.
Now that I am at home sitting in front of my iMac with my cell phone close by – it is hard to remember that just 10 days ago I was listening to “call to prayer” while eating tandoori chicken on the streets of Dar. Our trip was amazing – and so impossible to represent in a short cyber blog. But, we hope that you have enjoyed reading about our adventures. We certainly have enjoyed being them…. Peace.
Climbing Kili was amazing for everyone – and we are so proud to report that all group members summated the 19336 feet peak, and though I hear it was quite rainy and cold, it sounded amazing.
I myself spent my time lounging on the beach and had one totally amazing day swimming with dolphins in the Indian Ocean (turns out those animals are QUITE large). Since I have gotten home everyone has asked me if I tried to touch the dolphins, and to be honest, I kind of got scared every time they came with-in touching distance. So, the answer is “no,” I didn’t touch them. But it was awesome.
A little later on in the week the group reconvened on the beach for some hang out days. We had a very chill time, but it rained all day every day – so there wasn’t a lot of tanning time, much to the dismay of the group. However, we were able to finish some final card tournaments that had been carrying on for the majority of the semester!
Our final days were spent in Stonetown learning how to SCUBA Dive and exploring the back streets of an ancient and beautiful old city. Almost everyone in the group completed their scuba and enjoyed it. I got to see a 7 ft. barracuda on my final dive! Totally cool! Our final night on the island consisted of a beautiful sunset sail on a traditional Zanzibari dhow – complete with a musical trio to serenade us out onto the serene waters.
Now that I am at home sitting in front of my iMac with my cell phone close by – it is hard to remember that just 10 days ago I was listening to “call to prayer” while eating tandoori chicken on the streets of Dar. Our trip was amazing – and so impossible to represent in a short cyber blog. But, we hope that you have enjoyed reading about our adventures. We certainly have enjoyed being them…. Peace.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Swine Flu - Update from Carpe Diem HQ
The following is a post recently made to our FAQ page that we wanted to include to all of you who might be reading this blog.
Swine flu has recently been confirmed throughout Mexico and parts of the US. A few other countries have also reported possible infections. While we're in touch with the CDC and monitoring all of the international news we can put our hands on, we also feel we are uniquely placed to handle the situation given that all of our field staff are trained in Wilderness Medicine; two of our office staff are currently Emergency Room nurses; and the other is a Wilderness EMT. We also have contact with a variety of local doctors (including a few with advanced training in international and tropical medicines) that should needs require we can reach out to.
Our spring & fall 2009 programs will continue to run as scheduled although we plan on requiring flu shots for our fall programs as they have been proven (with Avian Flu for instance) to much reduce any severity of infection. We may also choose to outfit our medical kits with extra supplies such as extra hand sanitizer and the like.
Swine Flu is an offshoot of the 1918-19 flu: just as every flu since then has been. In that strain of flu as well as most that have followed including Swine, Pneumonia has been the actual concern and the one we're most on guard for. The good news is that once recognized there are very good treatments for Pneumonia and we are very familiar with good doctors in the areas our students travel. Of course we plan on continuing to take the proactive approach and deal with any medical potentialities quickly and professionally. Since that initial pandemic in 1918, the subsequent strains have historically been more and more benign. The Swine Flu is presenting thankfully as a low-mortality flu (currently, in the US as an example, there have been 50 suspected cases and only one took an overnight in the hospital before being discharged in good health). So, while this particular flu strain is stronger than the typical seasonal flu, we are hopeful that it will continue to be as easily treatable as it has been.
Swine flu has recently been confirmed throughout Mexico and parts of the US. A few other countries have also reported possible infections. While we're in touch with the CDC and monitoring all of the international news we can put our hands on, we also feel we are uniquely placed to handle the situation given that all of our field staff are trained in Wilderness Medicine; two of our office staff are currently Emergency Room nurses; and the other is a Wilderness EMT. We also have contact with a variety of local doctors (including a few with advanced training in international and tropical medicines) that should needs require we can reach out to.
Our spring & fall 2009 programs will continue to run as scheduled although we plan on requiring flu shots for our fall programs as they have been proven (with Avian Flu for instance) to much reduce any severity of infection. We may also choose to outfit our medical kits with extra supplies such as extra hand sanitizer and the like.
Swine Flu is an offshoot of the 1918-19 flu: just as every flu since then has been. In that strain of flu as well as most that have followed including Swine, Pneumonia has been the actual concern and the one we're most on guard for. The good news is that once recognized there are very good treatments for Pneumonia and we are very familiar with good doctors in the areas our students travel. Of course we plan on continuing to take the proactive approach and deal with any medical potentialities quickly and professionally. Since that initial pandemic in 1918, the subsequent strains have historically been more and more benign. The Swine Flu is presenting thankfully as a low-mortality flu (currently, in the US as an example, there have been 50 suspected cases and only one took an overnight in the hospital before being discharged in good health). So, while this particular flu strain is stronger than the typical seasonal flu, we are hopeful that it will continue to be as easily treatable as it has been.
Friday, April 17, 2009
What a day-a, TAYODEA.
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh....how to describe our last two weeks...?
Well, to start off, the leader of the organization introduced the conference as a scam (Not too promising). The first few days were pretty shaky. Our room had cracked walls and maybe a few ghosts and Carrye's bed was eternally wet, but it gradually started to become more comfortable. The town we were in is called Mlalo and is located in the mountains and dinosaurs live there. We (Emily and Lizzy) swear. We saw them.
We were supposed to do some tree planting, but it involved two trees and a couple plants. On the plus side, we got taken to a lot of schools and got a chance to really interact with kids. We had a discussion about corruption with some of the upper level students.
The best part of the summit was being able to help out in the kitchen with Mama Elisa and Dada Pia. Mama was a temporary grandmother to everyone and made fun of me (Emily) for farting in the kitchen all the time. We had three really awesome cultural nights. Kim, Carrye, Sally, Rosy, and Marshall did American night and made potatoes and eggs and banana bread. Miriam and the two of us cooked for Korean night with a Korean volunteer named Sasa. She taught us how to make two types of Korean pancakes and cold vegetable tea stuff and a spongey egg thingamabob quiche-y magiger. Vegans have sadness.
Mlalo was so amazingly beautiful and we all took a lot of epic walks. Some people went to pride rock and some climbed to the cross.
On Easter, the bells started going off at 4 in the morning and then suddenly a marching band started playing right outside our room and, seeing as I (Emily) wasn't going to be going to sleep anytime soon, I ran outside and followed some kids down the path to the cemetery. A huge crowd gathered around a cross and was listening to the preacher as she passionately preached about Easter. It was awesome. A bunch of us dressed up and went to church later that day.
Custard apples exist in the mountains and they are delicious. Like creamy mangoes with a bunch of seeds. Pear peeling is the greatest thing in the world. Sugar may or may not belong on pasta. We are addicted to rice. Donuts taste better when you sneak them. Ugali is fine with us. It means we can eat with our fingers.
Love you all!
Emily and Lizzy (Bob)
Well, to start off, the leader of the organization introduced the conference as a scam (Not too promising). The first few days were pretty shaky. Our room had cracked walls and maybe a few ghosts and Carrye's bed was eternally wet, but it gradually started to become more comfortable. The town we were in is called Mlalo and is located in the mountains and dinosaurs live there. We (Emily and Lizzy) swear. We saw them.
We were supposed to do some tree planting, but it involved two trees and a couple plants. On the plus side, we got taken to a lot of schools and got a chance to really interact with kids. We had a discussion about corruption with some of the upper level students.
The best part of the summit was being able to help out in the kitchen with Mama Elisa and Dada Pia. Mama was a temporary grandmother to everyone and made fun of me (Emily) for farting in the kitchen all the time. We had three really awesome cultural nights. Kim, Carrye, Sally, Rosy, and Marshall did American night and made potatoes and eggs and banana bread. Miriam and the two of us cooked for Korean night with a Korean volunteer named Sasa. She taught us how to make two types of Korean pancakes and cold vegetable tea stuff and a spongey egg thingamabob quiche-y magiger. Vegans have sadness.
Mlalo was so amazingly beautiful and we all took a lot of epic walks. Some people went to pride rock and some climbed to the cross.
On Easter, the bells started going off at 4 in the morning and then suddenly a marching band started playing right outside our room and, seeing as I (Emily) wasn't going to be going to sleep anytime soon, I ran outside and followed some kids down the path to the cemetery. A huge crowd gathered around a cross and was listening to the preacher as she passionately preached about Easter. It was awesome. A bunch of us dressed up and went to church later that day.
Custard apples exist in the mountains and they are delicious. Like creamy mangoes with a bunch of seeds. Pear peeling is the greatest thing in the world. Sugar may or may not belong on pasta. We are addicted to rice. Donuts taste better when you sneak them. Ugali is fine with us. It means we can eat with our fingers.
Love you all!
Emily and Lizzy (Bob)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pete O'niel's Crib
Jambo! Miriam here.
Well first of all, it was nicer than I can express to escape into what felt like the lap of luxury for a few days. We had hot showers (usually) Home-style cooking, and real beds! It might as well have been on a completely different planet from the maasai village.
Pete O'niel is an exiled black panther from Kansas City. He is quite a character. He was very prominent in the movement, but when was charged for weapons trafficing, he fled the country. If he were ever to return, he would go straight to "shaw sahnk's redemption." After a somewhat strenuous and very exciting journey, Pete and his Wife Charlotte arrived (for good) in Tanzania. There they have formed the United African Alliance Community Center. It is quite an operation. The UAACC provides classes in a wide range of subjects for the local community such as art, computers, english and even yago, as well as clean water for everyone. They recently opened a childrens home for local orphans. These children are given wonderful care at the UAACC. They are also adorable!
While we were there we also got to make a day trip into Arusha. This gave us an internet opportunity, as well as a chance to get a good meal including burgers and milkshakes! We are now in Moshi, where we will spend one night before heading off to the Youth Conferance in Lushoto. No one knows what lies ahead!
We miss you all, and can't wait to update you about our next great adnventures.
Kwa Heri!
Well first of all, it was nicer than I can express to escape into what felt like the lap of luxury for a few days. We had hot showers (usually) Home-style cooking, and real beds! It might as well have been on a completely different planet from the maasai village.
Pete O'niel is an exiled black panther from Kansas City. He is quite a character. He was very prominent in the movement, but when was charged for weapons trafficing, he fled the country. If he were ever to return, he would go straight to "shaw sahnk's redemption." After a somewhat strenuous and very exciting journey, Pete and his Wife Charlotte arrived (for good) in Tanzania. There they have formed the United African Alliance Community Center. It is quite an operation. The UAACC provides classes in a wide range of subjects for the local community such as art, computers, english and even yago, as well as clean water for everyone. They recently opened a childrens home for local orphans. These children are given wonderful care at the UAACC. They are also adorable!
While we were there we also got to make a day trip into Arusha. This gave us an internet opportunity, as well as a chance to get a good meal including burgers and milkshakes! We are now in Moshi, where we will spend one night before heading off to the Youth Conferance in Lushoto. No one knows what lies ahead!
We miss you all, and can't wait to update you about our next great adnventures.
Kwa Heri!
Monday, March 30, 2009
maasai tribe
The last week has been a trip. The Maasai live very differnet from us. Their weilth is determined by their herds. They have cows, sheep and goats, and everyday they walk their herd miles and miles to find water. Their diet doesnt require water, but because their animals need it, that is how they spend their day, walking. All they eat traditionally is meat, blood and milk. They live in bomas which are poop huts surrounded by a fence of thorny branches. The women spend their days making a necklace or two. Life is very slow here, and for a lot of us, that was one of the hardest parts. It was almost unbearably hot from 7:30 in the morning until 6:30 at night. We would wake up, eat some breakfast and then walk to the worksite to help with our most recent volunteer project which was helping to build a latrene for the school. Work was also a slow process, there was a lot of sitting around and back tracking on the work we had already done, inefficient isn't a strong enough word, but it's the first that comes to mind. After working, we would have our swahili lesson, taught by Aleta, and then we would return to the boma for lunch which was when the flies were at they're peak. This was probably the most uncomfortable part of the day. After lunch we posted up under a tree and counted down the hours until sundown when we could eat dinner. After sunset there were no more flies and it was completly peaceful. There were some amazing sunsets and the stars were brighter than I have ever seen them. On the last night, we had the honor of watching the slaughtering of a goat. It was really cool observe this part of this culture, it is something that is so foreign to me. Marshall ate the pancreas and some of the girls drank goats blood, including myself, and it was on of the most putrid things I've ever tasted but i'm really happy that i did it. In the past week I have learned more than I ever could from a tetxtbook, not only about the life of the Maasai, but also about my own culture and the many things that I take for granted.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
SAFARI!
hey sally here!
we just finished our african safari. it was definetly a dream of all of ours and it was so awesome. our safari was guided by Maasai Wanderings, a safari group that also works with the maasai tribe (but that comes later.) we had 2 awesome guides and safari trucks that had pop-off roofs so we could stand up and check out the animals.
we saw everything! elephants, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, antelope, impala, tons of monkeys, cheetahs, lions, warthogs, the list goes on and on. i was surprised by how close the animals got, we literally had to stop to wait or we would run over zebras. at one point, the car i was in got in a standoff with an elephant. they cant see very well but their hearing is super sensitive. so a bunch of elephatns were crossing in front of us and a big mama turns towards us and is literally starign at our car. keep in mind elephants are huge. so shes all protective of the herd and starts flapping her ears to hear us, since she cant see, and to make herself as big as possible to intimidate us. (it worked) we all stoood compleetely silent and luckily she didnt hear us or she might have stampeded our truck! so she just turned aroudn and walked away with the rest of the herd PHEWWWW
we also saw a skeleton of an antelope that a leopard caught and dragged up into a huge treee to eat. the guide said it was about a month ago, and the bones were still hanging there! it was crazy. we also saw a stand-off between a cheetah and a warthog, it was awesome, and im pretty sure the warthog won....
each night, we camped at a campsite and had our meals cooked for us as part of the safari package. each day, we went on safari for most of the day- the first day we went to Tarangerie (sp?) national park, and the other 2 days were spent in the Ngorongoro Crater. One of the days we woke up super early adn got into the Crater early in the AM to see different animals and were hoping to see a hunt, since they usually hunt at night/in the morning, but werent so lucky. but it was still really cool seeing the sunrise over the crater so totally worth it.
maasai wanderings dropped us off out in the maasai village that we're spending the next week. we turned off the main road and drove about 3 miles out into the middle of the desert where we found a Boma, or a big circle of thorns outlining the home of the Maasai family we're staying with. The thorns are to keep the animals out, since the desert is directly between the Tarangerie park and the Crater, so animals migrate right through the village. today was our first full day with them and we ahd the day free, so a bunch of us came into town. to give you an idea of where we're staying for the next week i will describe our getting-to-town process. First, we walked 3 miles to the main road. We then watied 20 minutes for a taxi, which was packed with maasai people, 5 goats and a sheep. we then got dropped off at the market, and 3 of us were to come further into town to use internet. we started walking for another 20 minutes or so with our guide and ended up hitchiking the rest of the way into town. all in all it took 2 and a half hours from our Boma.
T.I.A. (This is Africa!)
We miss you all and love you but we're having the times of our lives! <3
we just finished our african safari. it was definetly a dream of all of ours and it was so awesome. our safari was guided by Maasai Wanderings, a safari group that also works with the maasai tribe (but that comes later.) we had 2 awesome guides and safari trucks that had pop-off roofs so we could stand up and check out the animals.
we saw everything! elephants, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, antelope, impala, tons of monkeys, cheetahs, lions, warthogs, the list goes on and on. i was surprised by how close the animals got, we literally had to stop to wait or we would run over zebras. at one point, the car i was in got in a standoff with an elephant. they cant see very well but their hearing is super sensitive. so a bunch of elephatns were crossing in front of us and a big mama turns towards us and is literally starign at our car. keep in mind elephants are huge. so shes all protective of the herd and starts flapping her ears to hear us, since she cant see, and to make herself as big as possible to intimidate us. (it worked) we all stoood compleetely silent and luckily she didnt hear us or she might have stampeded our truck! so she just turned aroudn and walked away with the rest of the herd PHEWWWW
we also saw a skeleton of an antelope that a leopard caught and dragged up into a huge treee to eat. the guide said it was about a month ago, and the bones were still hanging there! it was crazy. we also saw a stand-off between a cheetah and a warthog, it was awesome, and im pretty sure the warthog won....
each night, we camped at a campsite and had our meals cooked for us as part of the safari package. each day, we went on safari for most of the day- the first day we went to Tarangerie (sp?) national park, and the other 2 days were spent in the Ngorongoro Crater. One of the days we woke up super early adn got into the Crater early in the AM to see different animals and were hoping to see a hunt, since they usually hunt at night/in the morning, but werent so lucky. but it was still really cool seeing the sunrise over the crater so totally worth it.
maasai wanderings dropped us off out in the maasai village that we're spending the next week. we turned off the main road and drove about 3 miles out into the middle of the desert where we found a Boma, or a big circle of thorns outlining the home of the Maasai family we're staying with. The thorns are to keep the animals out, since the desert is directly between the Tarangerie park and the Crater, so animals migrate right through the village. today was our first full day with them and we ahd the day free, so a bunch of us came into town. to give you an idea of where we're staying for the next week i will describe our getting-to-town process. First, we walked 3 miles to the main road. We then watied 20 minutes for a taxi, which was packed with maasai people, 5 goats and a sheep. we then got dropped off at the market, and 3 of us were to come further into town to use internet. we started walking for another 20 minutes or so with our guide and ended up hitchiking the rest of the way into town. all in all it took 2 and a half hours from our Boma.
T.I.A. (This is Africa!)
We miss you all and love you but we're having the times of our lives! <3
Saturday, March 14, 2009
rwanda adventure!!!
hey hey hey Kim here.
so after an amazing week at carols, we procceeded to go on our 2 day adventure to Rwanda. After about 10 hours ish of driving we finally made it to kibale the capital of rwanda.. accomodations were very luxurious to our standards..a hotel, with a queen sized bed, a nice balcony and even a TV!!
The first night, all of us ladies took a taxi to a resturaunt called gorrilla something...it was a pizaria ...so bomb. We were the only people there and the music was rather hilarous, very old school, it really just got better and better with each song. The next day we went to the Kibale Memorial Center to learn more about, and pay our respects to all of the innocent men, woman, and children who lost their lives in the Tutsi genocide which wiped out 1/3 of the nations population almost 15 years ago. The memorial consisted of beautiful rose gardens which symoized all of the differnt types of people who lost their lives durig the genocide, a garden for the children, for the woman, a garden of protection, and a fountain that in the middle had a tourch, that is lit on occasion, symbolizing death, water, symbolizing life, and four elephant statues which symolized that no one will ever forget, becuase elephants are the animals known never to forget. then there were the mass graves which have 250,000 bodies in them..it was almost hard to wrap your head aroud such a number.
Then there was the inside of the memorial which consisted of various photos, vidios and articles educating us all on the events of the genocide. The most disturbing thing to me about the entire thing was how people were killed, and who was killed. Woman were raped, often by men who had HIV, people were tortured, thrown in latrines, and even the children were not spared, they too faced death by a machete or beating...it was truley heartbreaking and eye opening. There was another part of the memorial which breifly educated us on some of the other genocides that have occured in the passt, that was also extremely hard.
It was so interersting to be in the place where such a thing occured though, much more intense, becuase almost everyone over the age of 15 played some role in the genocide. you would see a person with a scar on their face, and wonder, were you tutsi, or hutu? The day needless to say was a hard one to swallow, but really all in all made one realize how truley fortunate we all are.
On a lighter note, we got to ride on the back of bicycles, which had little seats on them, it was way fun! And now we are in Tanzania working with a medical clinic, which allows people who have little money to get medical assistaance.. sorting through containers full of medical supplies and organizing them. The place we are staying is super nice, our bedrooms even haev a bathroom with a sitdown toliet in them!! yoo!! and a shower!! Our nights here are spent playing spades, and newly poker, betting with match sticks. We are all having a grreat time, and next is our safari!!!!!!
peace!!!
so after an amazing week at carols, we procceeded to go on our 2 day adventure to Rwanda. After about 10 hours ish of driving we finally made it to kibale the capital of rwanda.. accomodations were very luxurious to our standards..a hotel, with a queen sized bed, a nice balcony and even a TV!!
The first night, all of us ladies took a taxi to a resturaunt called gorrilla something...it was a pizaria ...so bomb. We were the only people there and the music was rather hilarous, very old school, it really just got better and better with each song. The next day we went to the Kibale Memorial Center to learn more about, and pay our respects to all of the innocent men, woman, and children who lost their lives in the Tutsi genocide which wiped out 1/3 of the nations population almost 15 years ago. The memorial consisted of beautiful rose gardens which symoized all of the differnt types of people who lost their lives durig the genocide, a garden for the children, for the woman, a garden of protection, and a fountain that in the middle had a tourch, that is lit on occasion, symbolizing death, water, symbolizing life, and four elephant statues which symolized that no one will ever forget, becuase elephants are the animals known never to forget. then there were the mass graves which have 250,000 bodies in them..it was almost hard to wrap your head aroud such a number.
Then there was the inside of the memorial which consisted of various photos, vidios and articles educating us all on the events of the genocide. The most disturbing thing to me about the entire thing was how people were killed, and who was killed. Woman were raped, often by men who had HIV, people were tortured, thrown in latrines, and even the children were not spared, they too faced death by a machete or beating...it was truley heartbreaking and eye opening. There was another part of the memorial which breifly educated us on some of the other genocides that have occured in the passt, that was also extremely hard.
It was so interersting to be in the place where such a thing occured though, much more intense, becuase almost everyone over the age of 15 played some role in the genocide. you would see a person with a scar on their face, and wonder, were you tutsi, or hutu? The day needless to say was a hard one to swallow, but really all in all made one realize how truley fortunate we all are.
On a lighter note, we got to ride on the back of bicycles, which had little seats on them, it was way fun! And now we are in Tanzania working with a medical clinic, which allows people who have little money to get medical assistaance.. sorting through containers full of medical supplies and organizing them. The place we are staying is super nice, our bedrooms even haev a bathroom with a sitdown toliet in them!! yoo!! and a shower!! Our nights here are spent playing spades, and newly poker, betting with match sticks. We are all having a grreat time, and next is our safari!!!!!!
peace!!!
Greetings from Mwanza(rock city), Tanzania: Where it is socially exceptable to spit your food on the ground
We got quite the fill of kids during our week in Fort Portal. Our afternoons were spent at the rescue home with the kids: Playing basketball & soccer, Swinging on swings, and many many arts&crafts. The kids were precious, all clinging on to their new found friends.
Our evenings were spent back at the hostel, surrounderd by 47 9-10 year olds from kampala. lets just say it was never a dull moment around the hostel with them. They also made great alarm clocks, running and screaming down the hallway every morning at the crack of dawn.
Thursday morning the group went to Sts. Peter and Paul Primary School (where many of the kids go). It was nice being able to see the school, but a bit awkward as we were paraded through each classroom.
After our week in Fort Portal, we loaded up and headed to Rwanda for the weekend...
We got quite the fill of kids during our week in Fort Portal. Our afternoons were spent at the rescue home with the kids: Playing basketball & soccer, Swinging on swings, and many many arts&crafts. The kids were precious, all clinging on to their new found friends.
Our evenings were spent back at the hostel, surrounderd by 47 9-10 year olds from kampala. lets just say it was never a dull moment around the hostel with them. They also made great alarm clocks, running and screaming down the hallway every morning at the crack of dawn.
Thursday morning the group went to Sts. Peter and Paul Primary School (where many of the kids go). It was nice being able to see the school, but a bit awkward as we were paraded through each classroom.
After our week in Fort Portal, we loaded up and headed to Rwanda for the weekend...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Fort Portal!
We had a wonderful, and enlightening experience through JJ and his family. After hearing his influential words about three very mixed religions coming together and working together, we are ready for our next leg of the journey! We have learned that the African men can be very persistent, and traveling in an almost entire female group we get quite the laughs! With Muhammad hitting on Rose, and JB proposing to Emily. It was a nice trip to Sipi Falls, with JJ's oldest son Macabee, it felt like we were one group! The falls were beautiful, and we splashed and laughed, while looking onto the lush green landscape. Now we are staying a hostel in Fort Portal while going to Manna's Rescue Home. The children are very sweet. Carry made cool crowns, Rose made some sweet bling, and Lizzy made stupendous mustaches. We have the rest of the week to spend with these amazing kids!
gooooodddbbyyyeee
gooooodddbbyyyeee
Monday, February 23, 2009
Coffee makes me crazy, but I have to make an exception here..
Hello all! Emily here. We are now in Mbale, Uganda and are staying at an inter-faith coffee co-op called Mirembe Kawomera. We've been learning about how the coffee is grown and harvested and have gotten to take part in the entire process- picking the berries, pruning the trees, shelling the berries, etc. The farm is totally organic and the coffee is shade grown with many other plants, such as banana trees and vanilla. Yesterday we were taken to a town meeting and the townspeople gave all of us new names. Mine is Namaganda. Holla!
Last week at the school was amazing. We spent the mornings building the foundation for a new schoolhouse, and it was extremely difficult. We did a lot of shoveling, rock moving, and brick building. I think we are going to be in good shape by the time we get home. If not, we will at least have a lot of blisters and sunburns. We slept on cots in one of the classrooms at night and had a really amazing cook named Peter.
Adapting to life in Africa has been pretty difficult but really interesting. We are all learning the science of squatting over a hole and bathing with a bucket of water (though most of us have simply chosen not to bathe...)At the school, we had to walk about a half mile up big hills just to get water.
Despite some homesickness, all of us have been doing really well. The group is amazing and I think we all bring something awesome to the table. We have a lot to learn and a long way to go, but we are totally ready.
Last week at the school was amazing. We spent the mornings building the foundation for a new schoolhouse, and it was extremely difficult. We did a lot of shoveling, rock moving, and brick building. I think we are going to be in good shape by the time we get home. If not, we will at least have a lot of blisters and sunburns. We slept on cots in one of the classrooms at night and had a really amazing cook named Peter.
Adapting to life in Africa has been pretty difficult but really interesting. We are all learning the science of squatting over a hole and bathing with a bucket of water (though most of us have simply chosen not to bathe...)At the school, we had to walk about a half mile up big hills just to get water.
Despite some homesickness, all of us have been doing really well. The group is amazing and I think we all bring something awesome to the table. We have a lot to learn and a long way to go, but we are totally ready.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Queens of the Nile!
Today we went whitewater rafting on the Nile and let's just start by saying it was INTENSE. Jinja is famous for the grade 5 rapids pretty much all the way down the strip of river we rafted. The 7 of us girls were in one boat and Marshall went in another boat full of guys. We are VERY proud to say that the girls boat flipped only one time! We went down 2 waterfalls, including one with about a 15 foot drop, and everytime we made it through a rapid without flipping or losing someone from our boat, we would all look back and realize what we just did and freak out. it was awesome. at times we each got pretty terrified but we rocked it. it was totally worth it in the end- such an awesome experience and definetly a bonding trip.
tonight we are all tired, sore, but more than anything SUNBURNT! we are lobsters after a day on the water even with the 45 spf sunblock we all continuously reapplied. i guess us mzungu's cant deal with the hot equator sun!
tomorrow morning we head to the school we are working on with soft power. we'll be working on constructing a new classroom, laying the foundation and bricks, and sleeping on the floor of an existing classroom. in the afternoons, we'll start learning swahili- we're all really excited. there's no internet at the school (or showers) so we'll be out of touch for the week.
tonight we are all tired, sore, but more than anything SUNBURNT! we are lobsters after a day on the water even with the 45 spf sunblock we all continuously reapplied. i guess us mzungu's cant deal with the hot equator sun!
tomorrow morning we head to the school we are working on with soft power. we'll be working on constructing a new classroom, laying the foundation and bricks, and sleeping on the floor of an existing classroom. in the afternoons, we'll start learning swahili- we're all really excited. there's no internet at the school (or showers) so we'll be out of touch for the week.
Friday, February 13, 2009
OLYOTYA!
Greetings from Kampala!
Uganda is da bomb-- since everyone else explained today's scavenger hunt, we'll fill you in a little about what life's been like the past couple days.
Our hostel is sweet, one of the rooms is open-air with bunkbeds and moaquito nets. last night was our first african rainstorm, that was an experience. lets just say no one was kidding when they said it rains hard in Africa! it was awesome watching and hearing the rain in the middle of the night from our beds.
Ok so new experience with the bathroom situation, yesterday rosie and I (kim) payed 200 shillings (like 10 cents) to go to the bathroom and we walk in and really truley thought we where in the guys bathroom because all there was, was a toliet that was in the ground..then we realized that no it was indeed the ladies bathroom and so we just did it like you would in the woods, and squated..we all decided that we are going to have very nice thigh muscles after this trip :)
some of the other girls mentioned that everyone yells mzungu at us. people also stop us all the time to say hi and touch us and propose to us. but we also get a lot of "OBAMA!" which is kinda cool because everyone here is really happy that obama is our president now. and so are we!
As beautiful and amazing this city is, a little bit of sadness comes along with it..often we will see people on street corners who dont have limbs, have some serious physical deformations. Aleta told us that these people had polio, and that that is the outcome of the disease. It is very crazy to us beacuse it is not something we ever had to worry about at home growing up. Also there is not alot of help and support for these individuals.
Being here in this completley different culture opens our minds to the different types of beauties, as well as hardships the people here encounter on a daily basis..it truley makes us greatful for what we all had growing up, and have now.
welll were going to catch the mutatu back to the hostel.
Talk to ya'll soon!
PEACEPEACEYO
Sally, Kim & Carrye
Greetings from Kampala!
Uganda is da bomb-- since everyone else explained today's scavenger hunt, we'll fill you in a little about what life's been like the past couple days.
Our hostel is sweet, one of the rooms is open-air with bunkbeds and moaquito nets. last night was our first african rainstorm, that was an experience. lets just say no one was kidding when they said it rains hard in Africa! it was awesome watching and hearing the rain in the middle of the night from our beds.
Ok so new experience with the bathroom situation, yesterday rosie and I (kim) payed 200 shillings (like 10 cents) to go to the bathroom and we walk in and really truley thought we where in the guys bathroom because all there was, was a toliet that was in the ground..then we realized that no it was indeed the ladies bathroom and so we just did it like you would in the woods, and squated..we all decided that we are going to have very nice thigh muscles after this trip :)
some of the other girls mentioned that everyone yells mzungu at us. people also stop us all the time to say hi and touch us and propose to us. but we also get a lot of "OBAMA!" which is kinda cool because everyone here is really happy that obama is our president now. and so are we!
As beautiful and amazing this city is, a little bit of sadness comes along with it..often we will see people on street corners who dont have limbs, have some serious physical deformations. Aleta told us that these people had polio, and that that is the outcome of the disease. It is very crazy to us beacuse it is not something we ever had to worry about at home growing up. Also there is not alot of help and support for these individuals.
Being here in this completley different culture opens our minds to the different types of beauties, as well as hardships the people here encounter on a daily basis..it truley makes us greatful for what we all had growing up, and have now.
welll were going to catch the mutatu back to the hostel.
Talk to ya'll soon!
PEACEPEACEYO
Sally, Kim & Carrye
Kampala Scanvager Hunt!
Whats up?! Its Miriam and Emily and we are posting from Kool city internet cafe in Kampala, Uganda. Besides checking this off our list, we want to shout out to the carpe diem office as well as friends and family for all their help and support.
Kampala is nuts- in a good way. People are all over the place selling things, calling us mzungos, helping me (Emily) when I almost face plant over cinder blocks...We're pretty in love with the group so far and are super excited to get to know everyone better. There is a lot of fruit here...I'm in love. And Miriam rules. Holla. Love love love.
Emily's amazing, we all kind of want to be her...
peace out everyone! talk to you all soon.
Kampala is nuts- in a good way. People are all over the place selling things, calling us mzungos, helping me (Emily) when I almost face plant over cinder blocks...We're pretty in love with the group so far and are super excited to get to know everyone better. There is a lot of fruit here...I'm in love. And Miriam rules. Holla. Love love love.
Emily's amazing, we all kind of want to be her...
peace out everyone! talk to you all soon.
Scavenger Hunt
We arrived in Uganda two days ago..we think. It has been very warm and quite the cultural shock. The streets are bustling with thousands of people, jammed pack in cars and vendors lining the streets. Yesterday we got our first taste of Kampala, gathering our barrings. We are staying at Kampala's Backpackers, where the natives are much more patient with the many white guests. We have been able to enjoy the wildlife such as HUGE BIRDS nesting in equally large nests, and monkeys swinging about in trees. Now we are trying to accomplish our list of activities managing on our own for the first time. Now we are off to haggle ourselves some fruit at the marketplace!
Rosie and Lizzy
Rosie and Lizzy
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Eagle Has Landed.....
The Africa group has landed in Uganda, safe & sound!
The internet in the internet cafe where they are staying is down....again....(one of the many challenges of traveling in the developing world); but our leaders managed to borrow someone else's laptop connection long enough to touch base with HQ.
As I write this, they have been in Kampala approximately 10 hours, and no doubt hitting the wall of jetlag. They will begin their orientation in full swing after some well-needed rest.
More from the Africa group itself when the internet is again available to them-
-Nannette & Amy
The internet in the internet cafe where they are staying is down....again....(one of the many challenges of traveling in the developing world); but our leaders managed to borrow someone else's laptop connection long enough to touch base with HQ.
As I write this, they have been in Kampala approximately 10 hours, and no doubt hitting the wall of jetlag. They will begin their orientation in full swing after some well-needed rest.
More from the Africa group itself when the internet is again available to them-
-Nannette & Amy
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
All Accounted For
After an exasperating time not locating the final four Africa groupmates in Heathrow (until 15 minutes prior to boarding), it is with a collective and deep sigh of relief I can announce the completion of the group. All 7 students and both leaders (albeit with a few years shaved from their lives, no doubt) are boarding their fight to Entebbe as I type this. Whew!
You'll next hear from them [personally] from Uganda, so check back in about 24-36 hours.
From Portland, this is Carpe HQ signing off and passing the baton onto the Africa group!
You'll next hear from them [personally] from Uganda, so check back in about 24-36 hours.
From Portland, this is Carpe HQ signing off and passing the baton onto the Africa group!
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Spring "09 Adventure Begins!
It's official: the SFO contingent of the Africa team is all together, accounted for, and ready to board their flight to London in about an hour! They'll meet the rest of their group in Heathrow tomorrow morning our time back here-so stay tuned!
For now, this is Nannette at Carpe HQ wishing all a good night...
For now, this is Nannette at Carpe HQ wishing all a good night...
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