Success!

I made it! I got in last night just before 9:00 pm (around 3 EST). It was the longest flight known to man. I stayed on one plane for about 20 hours. We stopped to drop off and add some people in Dakar, which is on the west coast in Senegal. I've never been claustrophobic in my life, but I think I was getting insanely close. It also didn't help that I was stuck next to two (one before and one after Dakar) people who never got up to go to the bathroom or walk around. I don't know if they were accustomed to the journey or what, but it would have been nice if they would have left me so I could stand up more often than I did. I think I might actually have a bruise on my tailbone from sitting for sooooo long.

But I did eventually make it and so far it has been great. Well, not like 4-star hotel great, but great for the little expectations I had. I'm staying at a convent (I don't know if that's the best word) with Sandy and Sr. Jessie for the weekend. Jessie needed people to stay with her this weekend since the rest of the community left. Evidently it's a high crime area and they wanted more people to be around than just her and her two guard dogs. And yes, of course I already made friends with the two dogs, they're shepherd/lab mixes and they are kind of daunting until they know you. One of them flipped out and bit my bag - or his teeth got caught on it while he was barking, your choice - when I first go there, but soon warmed right up to me and begged like Misty does when Jessie gave me some food.
I went to bed last night after a delicious "grilled" cheese (it was actually microwaved) and found out some of the things I might be doing while I'm here. I had to break it to Sandy last night that I don't do well with kids. She was OK with it and said that I was supposed to be helping in a few weeks somewhere with kids, but she said I could help a nurse that administers medicine to the people of an area around here. But really, it's all up in the air. I did find out today, though, that I'll probably spend a week at the same friary Frs. Juniper and Jim Kent will be staying after they get here. I think it is there that I will also get to meet with Bro. (Fr.?) Tony. It will be nice to meet up with some familiar faces. I know, I've only been here a few hours and I'm already anticipating familiar people - it's how I roll.

Speaking of meeting up, I met the two guys from Vanderbilt. I'm not such a fan that they are leaving in two days, but I'll deal. It was just nice to finally speak with people my own, or close to my own, age. They've been sweet so far and filling me in on little tid-bits about the area. And let me tell you, the area is gorgeous. The area is gorgeous, but from what I have seen (very little) of the city, it's very dusty and filled with car and truck emissions. It's so weird to see the polar opposites so close to one another. I don't really know what to think of it fully right now, only time will tell.

I feel like there is so much more to write, but I can't really get my head around it - let's blame jet-lag. I'll write more when I can. I should have access to internet pretty regularly unless I'm traveling about, which I will write in here so there are no worries. Sorry again for the delay, we only had access to internet for about two minutes before leaving for the other compound. I hope all is well at home and I will write again soon. Love and miss you all! ; )

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