Back Home Again

Ok, so again I did not expect it to be a few more weeks until my next update...guess I'm not so good at blogging. As you can see I do have some pictures to share this time, and would love to share all of them with you sometime, so please call to set up your own personal viewing!

Does not feel like the trip should be over yet, and it's wierd to think about where you have been and how different it is from here. As I look back, there are a couple of things that stick out to me among the flury of memories. The people of Africa were so very welcoming to us during the whole trip. I felt a genuine sense like people were glad we were there. Not just the folks 'assigned' to us, but all the other Africans we met along the way. Sometimes we recieved some strange looks based mostly on the fact that we DO look strange compared to everybody else (especially in the areas without many regular visitors). I felt as if the locals were very proud of their countries and thrilled to have a chance to show it to us. Just being white elevates you to almost celebrity status in some of the small villages (so if you want to feel like a celebrity, you now know where to go!). Our team was able to experience spectacular views of fallls on the Blue and White Nile and visited the source of both Nile rivers (they converge in Sudan). We experienced some spectacular views at 11,000 plus feet while traveling in northern Ethiopia, and toured coutless 12 and 13th century churches carved into solid rock in Lalibela.

Folks in Africa don't look at stuggles and obstacles the same way we do. When the power goes out, you just grab the back up lights that have been charging for just such an occasion. When water is not available, you conserve, and share a bucket. When your not exactly on time, according to some pre-arranged schedule, you just go with the flow and don't worry about it. When traffic doesn't move, you accept it and relish in the time you have for extra conversation. When the taxi's go on strike, you walk (as far as you have to). You are alive and there will be another day and that is reason enough to be optimistic.

Africa really makes you wonder how much less we could get by on...and not just get by, but be happy. Does make you think twice next time your upset for your local Starbucks not having 1% milk avaiable.