TINA! My greatest buddy and roommate, at our old stomping grounds, LCC. It is so good to see a familiar face!
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Home Sweet Home
I am back! We got into Quincy last night a little after 10. My mom ended up getting sick so I had to drive the 5+ hours home from Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was really strange to be driving again. Even though eight weeks without a car is not that big of a deal, it took me a little while to get aquainted with my parents' van.
Update on the rest of my flights: Not only did I sit next to a few drunk guys and a kicker, I also saw some maker-outers. No joke. This couple on the flight from London to Frankfurt starting making out moments after we took off. Guess who was sitting right across the aisle from them!? ME! I just closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on my CD player. The flight itself was really bumpy and I got stuck in the very last row. The flight to Chicago was okay. The worst part was that we didn't have our own personal TV screens. I know, I know. I am such a selfish American, but when you are short and sitting in the very last row of the cabin, it is difficult to see over the seats and the other people to see the postage stamp size screens. I ended up having the two window seats to myself, so I attempted to get comfortable. I failed, but it's okay. I am home now and I won't be on a plane again until December (if all goes according to my plans). My luggage finally showed itself in Chicago and it was a lovely sight to see. These Italian ladies cut me off though and I had to ask for help to get my stuff off the belt. My parents and Grandma were waiting for me just outside of customs and it was nice to see them again. We drove into downtown Chicago and ate at Ed Debevics. I have always heard stories about this place and I finally got to eat there myself. I wasn't hungry, but it was still cool to be there. We dropped my dad off on Michigan Ave. for a conference and we drove up to Kenosha, Wisconsin to stay the rest of the week with some family.
Thursday was absolutely miserable. I woke up at 6 am and could not sleep. I was beyond exhausted and felt like a truck hit me...twice. My mom and grandma and aunt wanted to go to Gurnee Mills to shop so I tagged along, but I was in such a daze. It was a really weird experience to go from living in Kenya for six weeks to going shopping in America. Culture shock at its best.
We ate at Cracker Barrel twice yesterday and I was able to eat the one thing I was craving all summer: macaroni and cheese. I still haven't had my mom's homemade macaroni with Velveeta, but they promised I could have it today. I am still on a terrible schedule and I can't sleep, but that should get better with time. I plan to relax for the weekend and unpack and such, but come Monday I have to crank out a bunch of papers and assignments for this lovely Internet class. I think I have two weeks to finish it, but my goal is to be done by this Friday.
All in all, the summer was amazing. If any of you ever get a chance to go to Kenya, take it. It is so much fun. Safari, amazing animals, great people, crazy driving experiences, and monkeys randomly coming in your yard...priceless!
I know that I promised pictures, and they will come, but some of them haven't made it here from Africa yet. The CD my friend burned for me didn't work and our computers here aren't reading it or something. However, I will share this one picture. This is my roommate, Christina, and she was the first person, outside of my family, who called me Wednesday night when I came home. It was so great to talk to her! We got to stop at good ole LCC to meet up with her last night and it was a very sweet reunion. I am really looking forward to moving back into the apartment to hang out with her this semester!
Okay, the end.
Update on the rest of my flights: Not only did I sit next to a few drunk guys and a kicker, I also saw some maker-outers. No joke. This couple on the flight from London to Frankfurt starting making out moments after we took off. Guess who was sitting right across the aisle from them!? ME! I just closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on my CD player. The flight itself was really bumpy and I got stuck in the very last row. The flight to Chicago was okay. The worst part was that we didn't have our own personal TV screens. I know, I know. I am such a selfish American, but when you are short and sitting in the very last row of the cabin, it is difficult to see over the seats and the other people to see the postage stamp size screens. I ended up having the two window seats to myself, so I attempted to get comfortable. I failed, but it's okay. I am home now and I won't be on a plane again until December (if all goes according to my plans). My luggage finally showed itself in Chicago and it was a lovely sight to see. These Italian ladies cut me off though and I had to ask for help to get my stuff off the belt. My parents and Grandma were waiting for me just outside of customs and it was nice to see them again. We drove into downtown Chicago and ate at Ed Debevics. I have always heard stories about this place and I finally got to eat there myself. I wasn't hungry, but it was still cool to be there. We dropped my dad off on Michigan Ave. for a conference and we drove up to Kenosha, Wisconsin to stay the rest of the week with some family.
Thursday was absolutely miserable. I woke up at 6 am and could not sleep. I was beyond exhausted and felt like a truck hit me...twice. My mom and grandma and aunt wanted to go to Gurnee Mills to shop so I tagged along, but I was in such a daze. It was a really weird experience to go from living in Kenya for six weeks to going shopping in America. Culture shock at its best.
We ate at Cracker Barrel twice yesterday and I was able to eat the one thing I was craving all summer: macaroni and cheese. I still haven't had my mom's homemade macaroni with Velveeta, but they promised I could have it today. I am still on a terrible schedule and I can't sleep, but that should get better with time. I plan to relax for the weekend and unpack and such, but come Monday I have to crank out a bunch of papers and assignments for this lovely Internet class. I think I have two weeks to finish it, but my goal is to be done by this Friday.
All in all, the summer was amazing. If any of you ever get a chance to go to Kenya, take it. It is so much fun. Safari, amazing animals, great people, crazy driving experiences, and monkeys randomly coming in your yard...priceless!
I know that I promised pictures, and they will come, but some of them haven't made it here from Africa yet. The CD my friend burned for me didn't work and our computers here aren't reading it or something. However, I will share this one picture. This is my roommate, Christina, and she was the first person, outside of my family, who called me Wednesday night when I came home. It was so great to talk to her! We got to stop at good ole LCC to meet up with her last night and it was a very sweet reunion. I am really looking forward to moving back into the apartment to hang out with her this semester!
Okay, the end.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Half Way There
I have made it to London! I am halfway through my 34+ hour trip home. I have to fly to Frankfurt, Germany and then back to Chicago, so I should be on home turf sometime after 8 pm tonight.
I tried to post a few weeks ago, but Blogger was dumb and deleted it. I was a little frustrated, but I guess I will just have to make a huge post when I actually get home.
The rest of my trip was incredible. I can't believe my time away from home is very nearly over. I needed these eight weeks so badly, and it was good. Really, really good. All I can say is that God knows what he is doing, even when we think he doesn't.
I sat next to two different fish on the flights to Dubai and London. By this, I mean that they drank like fish. It was out of control. This one guy ordered one Jack Daniels after another. I found it humorous, but after a while, he really started to stink. Plus I had captain kicker behind me. He would not stop kicking my seat. Oh well, I had the window seat, so that was a bonus.
My flight doesn't leave here for anohter two hours, so I am not quite sure what I am going to do to kill the time. I don't have any money, I don't have anyone to talk to, my cell phone doesn't work here, and it is too early in the States to call anyone via my phonecard. Perhaps I will go explore...
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Last week, I got to feed giraffes! I got to touch their faces! I have pictures, don't you worry. One of my friends in Kenya made fun of me the whole time because I took so many pictures. He kept calling me a tourist, which technically I was, but I did stay for over a month.
Anyway, talk to you soon, my friends!
I tried to post a few weeks ago, but Blogger was dumb and deleted it. I was a little frustrated, but I guess I will just have to make a huge post when I actually get home.
The rest of my trip was incredible. I can't believe my time away from home is very nearly over. I needed these eight weeks so badly, and it was good. Really, really good. All I can say is that God knows what he is doing, even when we think he doesn't.
I sat next to two different fish on the flights to Dubai and London. By this, I mean that they drank like fish. It was out of control. This one guy ordered one Jack Daniels after another. I found it humorous, but after a while, he really started to stink. Plus I had captain kicker behind me. He would not stop kicking my seat. Oh well, I had the window seat, so that was a bonus.
My flight doesn't leave here for anohter two hours, so I am not quite sure what I am going to do to kill the time. I don't have any money, I don't have anyone to talk to, my cell phone doesn't work here, and it is too early in the States to call anyone via my phonecard. Perhaps I will go explore...
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Last week, I got to feed giraffes! I got to touch their faces! I have pictures, don't you worry. One of my friends in Kenya made fun of me the whole time because I took so many pictures. He kept calling me a tourist, which technically I was, but I did stay for over a month.
Anyway, talk to you soon, my friends!
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