We Made It!

So 46 hours since I woke up Wednesday morning after two hours of sleep, plus 4 plane rides, a crazy 6 hour Paris journey, and one naked French man later, I have made it to ARUSHA! And I'm finally on a normal keyboard, so I can type again! Oh, and sorry for the tease about pictures...I thought they uploaded but I guess not so much. Anyway, they were supposed to show the first thing Deirdre and I thought was important to see in Paris: The French SunGod. So funny. There is this crazy statue/art piece at UCSD that we call Sun God (Erik actually knows about it) and that same artist has a bunch of work displayed in a fountain thing in Paris, so yeah. Pictures soon I hope.

Anyway, ARUSHA! So crazy. I really can't believe I am here, but they there are these loud and giant birds walking around, banana trees everywhere, and everyone speaks Swahili. Gotta work on learning that - so I far I know almost nothing.

In Paris, we ended up walking past the Louvre, the Obelisque, seeing the Eiffel Tower and Arc in the distance, and taking the metro back to the Opera and the bus back to the airport, only to eat a depressing dinner of Mickey D's as nothing else was open. Then we had a overnight flight to Ethiopia, during which I finally slept. Woot. Sleep is good. Then in Ethiopia we found 2 other girls in our group, which was very exciting and encouraging. The flight to Mt. Kilimanjaro was only 2.5 hours, and the rest of our group was waiting to pick us up. Then we drove in a big van to our hotel for the night. The drive in was amazing - the road was paved, which was a nice surprise, and there were just thousands of trees, lots of goats, cattle, and donkeys, and people everywhere. Everything seems to be pretty much outdoors, which is fun. We drove by a bunch of shops, which are just sort of rundown sheds with people outside.

Even typing it I can't believe I'm here. Our hotel is just amazing. Thatched roof buildings, a really cool lounge/bar with sand floor and rocks, tree stumps stools with cusions...I can't even explain it. We had the longest lunch I've ever had - I think we are the only people here and there are 19 of us, so we overwhelmed them or something. So funny. Totally didn't get what I ordered, but no biggie. Now I'm just updating then either resting or going into town. Can't decide.

The good news is, that despite the panics and tears the whole way here, now that we actually made it, I'm so happy. Already I love it. I have no idea what tomorrow will be like, finally going to our home base in Tengeru, but I like things so far. Thanks for all of the support, yet again, and I certainly do miss home. Hopefully posting pictures soon. Love you!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALI! So exciting - have a fabulous day! (it is the 7th here already...) Thinking of you!