Just saying hi

I am having trouble uploading pictures from the internet places here so I will try to update as best as I can with pictures. I have to go now but will write more soon!

I Made it to Zanzibar!!!!!

Today was my first day in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It started with a 28 hour flight that began at 4am at Laguardia Airport for our 6am flight to DC. From there we hopped on a plane headed for Addis Adaba, Ethiopia with a stopover in Rome. This plane was the most ghetto plane I have ever seen. First class was cruddy and tight. And if first class is cramped, imagine economy. I am not a big girl and I could barely fit my legs in the space between my seat and the seat in front of me. I got leg cramps the whole trip.

Many of you know that I have been dealing with bad swelling in my right foot for no aparant reason.. To make matters worse, we were not allowed to deplane in Rome and because they were refueling, we were not even allowed out of our seats. It is not almost 12 hours since I have gotten off of my flight and my foot is still huge. I am so upset but I am not in any pain and for that I am grateful.

From Addis Ababa we hopped on another plane to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. I think the flight was about 3 1/2 to 4 hours but I am not sure because I completely conked out. Then after the plane landed was stayed on the plane while they refueled, sitting of course, and then took off again for Zanzibar which was only 20 minutes away.

I did not get to see too much of Zanzibar today. We went straight to our hotel which is simple but nice. Except that my bed is broken so I have to sleep with my roommate tonight and we don't have any running water so I can't take a shower. Blah. But I am in Africa (yay) and I have to roll with the punches.

Can't Sleep

I went to sleep at around midnight tonight hoping to get around 3 1/2 hours of sleep but no such luck. I got a restless hour and a half and have been up since watching the new TLC series "Mall Cop of America." Pathetic. But it is what it is.

Things to Do Before I Go

My first flight takes off in less than 21 hours. Unbelievable! Today I am spending the day at home taking care of last minute details. Here are the things I need to do. If I am forgetting something important please comment and let me know.

• Finish packing
• Go to Costco to get my Kashi bars
• Go to the gym, one last workout that will hopefully result in a 20 pound loss
• Try and learn a little more Swahili
• Clean a little bit so my husband isn't angry at me the whole time I am gone
• Pay my rent so my landlord isn't angry at me the whole time I am gone
• Stop at Allstate and insure my laptop and camera
• Drink lots and lots of water so that I am completely hydrated for the flight
• Have dinner with my husband
• Spend "quality time" with my husband
• Get about 4 hours of sleep, enough so that I can function but insufficient enough that I can sleep on the plane and get on Zanzibar time
• Start taking my Malarone, the malaria pill
• Set my alarm for 3:30 am
• Take one last shower before the trip
• Wave goodbye to Brooklyn
• Give my husband the biggest kiss ever before I leave him at the airport
• Cry
• Get on an airplane and try to keep busy for 28 hours
  

Day Out With the Hubby

Today my husband took off of work so that he could spend the day with me before I go. We usually get one full day together a week but we wanted to do something special. The day was packed with fun activities and we had the best time. I am so glad we did this. We have never been apart for this long before so it was important to get some quality time in.We started the day by going to Madison Square Park and getting lunch at Shake Shack, a special treat.

Then we walked around the park and looked for all of the statues on the buildings. See that little guy up there?
Then we walked across town and took a walk on the Highline. We have been wanting to check it out for a while and I am so glad we did. It is beautifully designed, with creative and fun art installations. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it.

After our walk we realized how thirsty we were so we went to the Biergarten at the Standard Hotel for a little refreshment.
We then ran a few small errands and then walked home over the Brooklyn Bridge. It was an amazing day. I am so glad Ken and I got to do this.

Is Zanzibar a Real Place?

This is what most people ask me when I tell them this is where I am going. Most people don't know where it is. A lot of people are just hearing about it for the first time. So I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you a little about the place I will be visiting.

Zanzibar is off the coast of Tanzania which is a country on the East Coast of Africa. To the North is Kenya and Uganda. To the West is Rwanda, Burundi, and D.R. Congo. To the South is Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. Here is a map to show you exactly where it is.

And here is a map of Zanzibar. I will be staying in Stonetown the whole time I am there and I will be teaching in a rural area of Stonetown. It has been described to me as "the Bronx of Stonetown."
Zanzibar itself lies in the Indian Ocean and is 6 degrees south of the Equator (HOT!!!) The main language spoken is Kiswahili with English being second. Zanzibar (or Unguja) is famous for its spice plantations, Arabian style alleys, palaces and snorkeling.

Zanzibar was the center of East Africa slave trade, over a million slaves were traded here with the permission of their own Sultan. Zanzibar was also the center of ivory trade for many years. But Zanzibar is most famous for its spices which brought people from all over the world to this remote place.

Because of Arabia's influence on this culture, Zanzibar is almost completely Muslim. Fishing and agriculture are are he main economic activities. A fun fact is that it was the main exporter of cloves. Who knew?

So, that is a very brief description of Zanzibar. Hopefully this helps give you a sense of where it is I am going.

One week to go!

I really can't believe it. It seems like yesterday when this trip was just and idea and a dream with no way of making it come true. But here it is and it is happening. In one week I will be on a 28 hour trip to the other side of the world.

I still feel like I have so much left to do. Like get more bug spray since I don't think I can have too much, get an adapter so I can charge my laptop, learn more Swahili because I only know, like, 2 words... So much to do and no time left.

Yesterday I met with the wonderful Ashley who will be my partner and co-teacher in Zanzibar. She is wonderful, has so many great ideas and is so open to trying new things and letting me do the same. We are both passionate about serving the students and making this an amazing experience for them. I think we will be a great team. We were so enthralled by the details that we only got through 3 of the 8 lessons but, we have a long plane ride to do the rest so we're not worried.

On Wednesday we all went to John and Jen's home (the organizers of the trip) and we collected all of the supplies we are bringing for the students. Pens, paper, chalk, folders, handouts, and more. We are totally prepared.

I really can't wait to leave and at the same time, I can wait a little longer. I am sad to leave Ken who I wish could experience this all with me. I know I will go back but it is still hard to leave him behind. He is a wonderful husband for letting me live out my dream and supporting me the way he does. I know that it is not fair for him to stay home when one of our dreams as a couple is to see the world together. But I will be hard at work (with a little play) and home before I know it.

It's really happening!