Summer 09... Getting Home

I promise I will update the rest of the summer and do a picture over load in the next few days but here is a recap of my LONG journey home! 

I flew a lot of these (and a lot this summer)

Got upgraded to Business for the 13 hour flight from Dubai to JFK

It took over 20 hours to get from South Africa to Dubai to New York then a day and a half in New York then 4 plus hours and I am HOME to AZ! 

7 weeks, 7 countries, 2 states, one summer, chance of a life time, 1 birthday, many game drives, lots of the same clothes, eating way to much good food, changed forever... Summer 2009 

All the countries I went to in Africa (They have a little blue star on them!)

A quick update!

We are back in Rwanda the Masai Mara was amazing I saw lots of LIONS and many other animals! We are off to the Gorilla's Nest today! Lots of updates to come on Wednesday! And then I will be 20!!!!

Where will I be!

I will be here for the next few days!

And hopefully seeing lots of these! Pictures will be here soon and lots of stories to share I sure hope!

Day 25 (August 4, 2009)

7 DAYS or 1 WEEK TILL MY BIRTHDAY!

This morning was rainy which was good/bad. It meant we could not be outside which sucks but it was good because we leave for safari tomorrow morning so there was lots to be done for that.  When it stopped rainy we went outside for a bit, had lunch, more playing inside and out, dinner, and lots of packing. We brought with us 3 carry-on suitcases, 1 big one, 2 backpacks, & 1 dvd/toy bag that attaches onto a carry-on (we have a lot of bags) But I got all that we will need for the next few days (clothes, snacks, bathroom things, first aid kit, etc) into 2 carry-on suitcases! (Mom you would be proud BUT I still need you to help me when I am home) We still have our backpacks and the toy bag tho :) So it was a busy day just doing that alone! 

We leave early tomorrow (Wednesday) morning but I have scheduled post while I am gone so check back :)

Have a great week! 

And Happy Half Birthday MEGAN! I am going to find me some LIONS for you!

Day 24 (August 3, 2009)

8 DAYS TILL MY BIRTHDAY

I'm thinking i will sleep when I get home or at least I hope I will. At breakfast we ran into some of the people from the next delegation, they are a family who came to Africa last summer with them and the mom came to Nepal with us in November. So after breakfast they invited Ethan to play in their room for a little bit (the youngest in going to be a senior in High School). Then after a little playing outside we went with them to the National Museum of Kenya (which was really cool and I now really want to go to the here!) Then we had a little lunch, inside playing time, swimming or rather drive Sam crazy and splash her time... Bath, dinner, movie, books and bed for both of us!

Day 23 (August 2, 2009)

9 Day's till my BIRTHDAY!

Today I slept till about 5:30 it was a very big deal! When Ethan got up we went down to breakfast, played with Niko (Dax's brother) then went back to our room where Ethan watched a movie and played and I talked to some of my most favorite people on Facebook chat and showered! Then we went outside and Ethan spent some time playing in the grass and running. Then we had a nice lunch Ethan is going to turn into a crabby patty (a hamburger but that is what Spongebob calls them)! Then back outside when the sun came out Ethan went swimming (its far to cold even with the sun for me to be in there with him) But today there were 4 kids swimming who he played with and they were all American which surprised me! Then bath, dinner, books, and bed! 

Day 22 (August 1, 2009)

10 DAYS TILL I AM 20! 

I was up early today... I now wake up everyday at like 4ish and can normally go back to sleep but today I never really could... But Ethan slept till like 8 which was nice. We went down to breakfast met the whole new group, then we got all ready to see the baby elephants

. Oh some of them were so little and sick looking it was very sad :(. We also saw warthogs, and baby rhinos. It is amazing how little these animals are and they grow so big! Then we went to the cute outside restaurant had lunch then did a little shopping (I am almost done yey!) and played outside for a while. Then back to the hotel for swimming, bath, dinner, movie, bed! It was a very busy but fun day!

Day 21 (July 31, 2009)

Today we slept in and had a lazy morning, had a nice breakfast, played outside, watched movies, (Ethan wanted to swim but I said no because the pool and air were cold and we are not getting sick on this trip!), dinner and bed. It was just Ethan and I most of the day which was nice we needed a chill day of nothing. It was just a very nice lazy day. I got us unpacked so for a few days we don't have to have toys and clothes in suit cases and bags everything is in drawers and the closet so nice!

Day 20 (July 30, 2009)

Guess what? Another early day... BUt we had to get the car's all loaded so we could leave the Gorilla's Nest and head back to Kigali. It was back down the mountain and it was a very slow drive. When we got down we went to the Genocide Memorial. It was so sad word's can't even describe it, but it was also very well done, between the pictures, writings, and movies. Then lunch in the car as on the way to the airport. After standing in a long hot line to check in and, passport control we got to the gate and they had internet there it was kinda amazing. Then it was time to board the plane and at this airport you have to go outside and then walk up stairs to the plane so I ran ahead with one bag and J'lein and Ethan followed behind and I made sure we had enough over head space LOL. After a hour long flight we were back in Kenya. We said goodbye to the first group had our passport checked (We already had our visa's check day 5), got our bags and to the hotel. After Ethan went swimming, had a shower, and dinner it was bed time and even tho I was so tired I had internet again so I stayed up late on that! 

Some of My Favorites

Day 19 (July 29, 2009)

Another early day but so worth it except it was so hard getting out of my warm bed with the hot water bottle at my feet (when I go back to MN in the cold that is how I am sleeping at night Katherine I will need to borrow your hot water bottle!) But J'lein and I got up and all ready and went to breakfast (Dax stayed with Ethan he is to little to go trekking so they had a very fun boys day) then we headed to the lodge they got us all checked in and gave us out guides and we headed on a very bumpy road I was surprised the car made it and there were points we didn't think it would. But we made it, met our porters, got out walking sticks and started on the trek. We started on flat farm land and walked to the stone wall that is the start of the Jungle, it is there to keep the buffalo, elephants, and gorillas in. So we climbed the wall and started the journey. We saw fresh elephant tracks right away so the guides had to make sure they were not near or we didn't go where they were. We also saw fresh buffalo tracks. We had only been trekking about 20 minuets when we got to the place or rather right by it to the gorillas. So we left our sticks, bags, and water with the porters and headed up to where they were located. We came across the Sliver back which is the only older male and the leader of the group. We spent some time with him and we were very close to him! Then we moved on and saw little ones playing they were so cute just wrestling and swinging in the trees then the mom came and they all followed her so we did also and we also saw a little baby who must have been about 3 months old (or that is what they think). The hour went really fast and it was time to head down, we climbed back over the wall, through the farm, and to the cars. Then we went on a still bumpy road but not as bad and went back to the lodge where we ate lunch and got our papers saying we we saw the gorilla's and headed back to the hotel where a hot shower felt so good and then after some soup and a walk and I finished "The Kite Runner" which is so good and the best part was I got to sit outside in the cool fresh air and read while Ethan played with his toys! We were very sad to hear that the dancing would not be back tonight but we are going back in 2 weeks over my birthday actually! and then early to bed again because tomorrow is another early day!

Day 18 (July 28, 2009)

HANNAH'S BIRTHDAY 2 WEEKS TILL MINE!

We started today early again! It will be so exciting to sleep when I get home. But we finished packing, had breakfast, played outside, then the 25 and up group of people left for a sight visit and Ethan, Dax, Alexa, Greg, my self and Moses (our driver) went to find a FedEx or DHL to ship drums back for Greg and Alexa and after at least 3 hours we were finally on the road to to the Gorilla's Nest! The whole drive was up and then down a mountain but for the most part it was all paved which made it so nice. Plus it was nice to hang out with people my age! We got to the hotel and raced to the bathroom (I don't pee in bushes and there were people or villages the whole way up anyways) we saw our rooms and finally ate lunch at like 4 pm breakfast was hours ago... Then we all put on warmer clothes because it was much cooler here! And we went for a walk and we saw a lot of kids playing soccer so we went and talked to them and got a lot of emails address from the boys (they kept asking me to email them pictures of me...) And Ethan and the kids found frogs, and ran around it was very cute. We met some really nice and smart boys who I hope can reach their dreams. We then walked back to the hotel to get drinks and wait for the African Dancers to come! It was so cool to watch them dance and we even got to dance with them. Then it was dinner and bed time ready for another early day tomorrow!

Day 17 (July 27, 2009) In Rwanda

Today started early but not early like what the last few days had been. It started a little after 7 Rwanda time which was 8 Uganda time. After breakfast and getting the laundry sent to be done Ethan put on his suit and we headed down to the pool. Which I was told was very cold... I didn't swim :) then Ethan and a little girl who speaks French ran around for a long time trying to catch a crane. After a wonderful lunch of toasted cheese sandwhich and fries (Rwanda is a French country) We were back outside running, and swimming! We had a low key night of packing basically is a new everyday thing, showers, spongebob, toys, books, and bed! It was nice to have a relaxing day.

Side Note: Got a weird sun burn today. My tan lines are going to be funky... And not in a good way.

Day 16 (July 26, 2009)

Another early morning (I am so not a morning person either...) But we had to get up, finish packing, have breakfast and be in the car before 7 AM. We had a long busy day ahead of us. We had to take the boat across the Nile, and then we were back on our way to Kampala it was a very long drive that turned longer when we had to stop at a little outside resturant for the breaks to be fixed in the van, then back on the road again. When we finally made it to Kampala we stopped at a really good Indian resturant and I ate so much good food full of great flavor oh it was good! Then we went to this little outside shopping place with lots of fun little shops and most people shopped and Ethan and I sat and played in the grass, but first we looked for presents for his "brothers" Jackjack and Spencer and for Ms. Kate it was very cute. Then off to the airport again in had been all of 12 days since we were last on a plane LOL. We finally boarded the small plane and 50 mins later we landed in Rwanda country number 4 or 7 this summer. We got to the hotel and have a great room because there is a bedroom which is big and a living room which is big so its great! After Ethan's Mac and Cheese and J'lein and I had Bolognaise and the best french fries ever it was bedtime and it must have been after midnight at that point. It was a ling day but lots of fun and I have never been so excited for sleep in my life!

Day 14 (July 24, 2009)

After a VERY long night we got all ready to go back into the car to go to the Parra Safari Lodge and Murchison Fall's. When we finally got to the park they popped the top of the cars and we got to stand up and see all the animals on the drive in! We saw elephants, giraffes, birds of all kinds, warthogs, monkeys, buffalo's then when we got to the lodge we got all checked in, had lunch, Ethan chased lizards then it was time for the first game drive of the summer! We had two request we wanted to see lions and leopards. Well we got half of what we wanted and we saw a leopard and it was so cool. We saw lots of other animals that we had seen earlier and they were up super close to the car it was really cool! After dinner and showers it was bed time so we could be ip at 5:45 AM...

Day 13 (July 23, 2009)

Ethan and I spent the day at the hotel playing by the pond with the fish and frogs, running in the grass, scaring birds, eating lunch. Just our normal day for us, which is nice to have. We went to bed early because we had an early start to the day on Friday getting ready and going on Game drives! But at about 1AM J'lein and Ethan are knocking on my door because their room had been taken over by flying ants... So we all "slept" in my bed. Then at about 5 AM Ethan got sick. So at about 5:30 J'lein and I were wide awake so I offered to go pack everything up once more because I was so not sleeping any more...

Day 12 (July 22, 2009)

Today we spent the morning getting ready and playing before it was time to load into the cars to take the "3" hour drive to Gulu... Well 3 hours really means 5 and one hour of that was spent going over miles and miles of speed bumps... All in all it was a good day of driving I saw lots of little villages with all the people it was really cool to see that. I am also amazed at how women can carry a baby on their backs with just a cloth and then carry gallons of water on their heads. But it is strange to see them on the backs of motorcycles with the baby on their backs... We finally made it to the hotel had some dinner and then sat in bed with nets around us. It was an early night to bed after a long day of driving over bumps!

Day 11 (July 21, 2009)

It was our last full day in this Hotel! Six day's in one place you can really unpack and make a mess... So Ethan and I spent some time in the morning picking up, packing, and organizing things for the next few days. Then we had our normal day, playing outside, letters, lunch, back outside. Then we finished packing and early to bed because the next few days where going to be busy ones.

Day 10 (July 20, 2009)

So I am a little behind lets see if I can get all caught up today...

We had the same first part of the day as always, Breakfast, movie, outside time, lunch (while we waited Ethan worked on his letters and he is getting really good except he likes to watch my reactions to how he is doing instead of the paper) Then he had a nice hot bath to warm up it was the craziest thing in Kampala it would be nice in the morning then from about 12-2 when we ate lunch the sun went away and it got cold and windy so not fun then it would get hot again. Then some more time at the park!

We then went inside to get all ready we were going to a bbq at Jean and Brian's house (the family we went to the zoo with the day before) I have learned it takes forever to get anywhere here because traffic is so bad all the time it seems then when we got close to the house we pulled over and waited for Brian to come and direct us they have no address here you just know where to go (also map quest and GPS they don't really work here I would so not make it) But we finally made it to the house and there were people everywhere getting food ready, kids running around (it was a lot like the cabin) But let me just say the food was out of this world good! And baby J'lein (my baby from yesterday) came right to me and was asleep not long after and stayed in my arms the whole night! Oh boy was I in HEAVEN. We met some of their family and they were all so nice and it was fun to go somewhere! Plus the food was SO good and Ethan got to run around with other kids!

Ethan slept well Monday night and I did till about 5 which is my new wake up time oh I sure hope that changes or I'm not sure what I will do... (as of July 31 I am still waking up early but now it is at about 4 AM...)

Day 9 Uganda The ZOO

We have been out of the states for ONE whole week now. That means the 6 more weeks left on this crazy summer adventure! In one week I have been to 3 countries!

We started with breakfast and outside time and some inside playing and then we went to visit Dax and they wrestled (its nice having him here to do that for me!). We had a nice lunch then we went to the ZOO with some friends of J'leins from here and their 3 kids! They have 2 boys about Ethan's age and a little girl Spencer's age.

And she LOVED me (and I'm not just saying that its true!) She came right to Auntie Sam and sat on my lap and slept the whole way to the zoo then she let me carry her the whole time and wouldn't go to anyone else (and I was not sharing her either!) Her parents were so surprised she doesn't usually go ti strangers! And let me just add I was in HEAVEN!

Now back to the zoo! It was a very nice zoo a lot like the ones in the states except not so man made looking. They had Lions (which are my favorite), snakes, rhinos, crocs, monkeys, otters, lizards, birds, some cat but we can't remember the name of it, and tons of butterflies Ethan was in Heaven over that and he caught lots of them. The zoo was right next to Lake Victoria so we went and looked at that for a while then after donkey rides it was time to go home!

It was a great day and we are finally over the jet leg I think or at least hope! and it was nice for Ethan to play with boys his age and I got my baby fix! (I might even bring her home with me Spencer could use a little girlfriend!)