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Victoria Falls
They were beautiful! Well, hello hello!
It has been over a month since my last entry and so much has gone on that I will just simply rewind and try to keep it as short and sweet as possible...
School got out on April 27th and I was so excited for our break! At the time, my sister just had the babies on April 25th - Mason Jordan (5 lbs 1 ounce) and Sydney Blake (4 lbs 1 ounce) - so I was feeling very anxious to go home and see them. But I had made these travel plans to go to Zambia with another volunteer to see Victoria Falls... so I sucked it up and went (poor me, right?)
We took the Intercape to Livingstone, Zambia which was a 21 hour bus ride...phew...it was long and hot but worth it! Once we got there we stayed at this very fun backpackers place where we met a lot of other backpackers from all over Africa. So, Vic Falls is definitley a place for the adventurous souls out there and my friend Alison was definitley one of them. She was a true adrenaline junkie and wanted to do anything that involved
The bridge connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe
This is the bridge that crazy people go bungee jumping off of. We walked across and I was holding on for dear life because every time a car or truck went over the whole thing shaked! throwing herself over cliffs...so rather than doing their famous bungee jumping, I talked her into doing a Gorge swing which was basically falling or jumping over a cliff and rather than springing back up like a bungee, you go right into a smooth swing...needless to say...it was still throwing yourself over a cliff and my legs never shook so much in my life but I was happy I did it.
So, the falls were absolutely beautiful and we were there at the perfect time of the month because whenever there is a full moon, you can go at night and see what they call a "lunar rainbow" - which is basically a rainbow at night. We also snuck into this fancy shmancy five star hotel one day and had drinks on their deck overlooking the falls which was really nice. (I can also say that I was in Zimbabwe because Alison and I walked over the bridge to the other side but decided not to pay the Visa but it's still cool to say I was in Zimbabwe.)
So, then it was time for us to leave and after another 20 hour bus ride, I was back in
Alison and me
At the top of the falls there is this little walking bridge that Alison walked me across. I made her hold my hand because I was so nervous...we got soaked from all the spray! Windhoek. I went to the airport and after 20 hours I was back in the US....my time at home was wonderful!!! I didn't have any culture shock and I was amazed to see how easily I adjusted back to my old life.
I had a great time in Washington DC with Ilya, spent quality time with my adorable new niece and nephew and their new parents, caught up with many of my friends and family, my wonderful friend Jodi came all the way from San Diego to visit...so of course I had to take her to NYC and get her a philly cheesesteak...and then it was time for me to go...so you think this is where I would say I happily went back to Namibia...but no!
On the morning I was supposed to catch my flight, my bags were packed and ready to go so I decided to check my e-mail one last time. To my surprise there was an e-mail from my Director in Namibia saying that all schools in Namibia have been postponed and were going to start a week later! All I could say is "that's Namibia for you!" I got so excited because I
Homestead
A homestead outside Livingstone really wanted to stay for the bris and baby naming for the twins...so I called South African Air all ready to change my ticket, but no...they would not allow me to change a ticket that was bought with miles. So as my dad and I fought and screamed with the airline (ok, we didn't really scream) I relentlessly got into the car and was off to Namibia.
Now, I have to say that I had mentally prepared myself for leaving before all of this happened but once I found out that I was not going back to school but going back to another week of vacation I just wanted to stay home a little longer to spend more time with the twins. It was honestly really hard for me leaving this time, much harder than when I left in December.
Anyway, I get to the airport in DC and then found out my flight was cancelled due to weather...ugh...I guess that's the US for you!
When I finally got back to Windhoek 2 days later, I met up with all of the other volunteers for our Mid-Service meeting. It was really good to see everyone again and
absailing
This is me "absailing." I was so nervous...they started us out on this because it was the easiest but I thought I was going to die! share our stories. We really got to brainstorm and help one another with some of the problems we have been having at our sites and schools.
Now, remember when I said that we didn't have to return to school for another week? Well, most of the other volunteers had been travelling around Namibia for the past 3 weeks so they were exhausted and ready to head back to their sites...but I didn't feel like going back to my site yet especially because I was still bitter about coming back with a week of vacation left (I now I sound like a brat but that's how I was feeling!)
So one of my friends invited me to go with her and her "Aunt" to Etosha which is the big game park of Namibia. It was great! As we entered the park at night, 2 lions greeted us on the road. I told my friend who had never been on a Safari before how lucky we were because most people spend their whole time searching for lions! So we saw the big 5 - lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and buffalo.
Then, I decided to go volunteer hopping and just
Crazy??
Do I look like I belong in Mission Impossible? visit other volunteers at their sites in the North to see what they are like. It's very different from Southern Namibia. There are a lot of villages and animals everywhere and they speak Ovambo which is very different from Damara and Afrikaans (what they speak in my town). I did a day trip to Opuwo again (where the himbas lived) and went to this water park for the day. Very fun!
So, now I am back in Usakos and the second term starts tomorrow...so the journey continues...
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Judy Fern
non-member comment
Wow!
That was a goodie. But I feel your pain at having to leave before it was necessary, and then the added insult of your flight being canceled. Oh, well, it'll make great bedtime stories for your children. This really does sound like the adventure of a lifetime, so keep on keeping on and keep the good words coming. Love, Judy Fern