Travel Days!

July 04, 2017

Travel Days!

July 2nd & 3rd

Travel Days!

(Written morning on July 4th)

Before this trip I thought a 5 hour plane ride was a long one! We flew from Houston to Atlanta which was a smooth and quick flight. Then in Atlanta we had a one hour turn around to get on my first international flight! Atlanta to Amsterdam took about 9 hours, but they have so many new movies to watch! I didn't sleep on that flight but I was able to relax for most of it.

After we landed I was able to take my first steps on another continent! It was so crazy to me that when we got into the Amsterdam airport all of the directions were in English before they were in Dutch. All the airport employees that I heard and talked to spoke English, and it's just crazy that English is the 'business' language. I was expecting not to understand much of what was being said traveling and in Tanzania, but it's quite sobering to realize so many people are trying to accommodate me (not just me personally but you know what I mean). Who decided English speakers shouldn't have to try and adjust to a different culture too much?

Anywho! The flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro was about 8 hours and by this time I was pooped. I was ready for a nap before take off. A bit of turbulence, nausea and exhaustion allowed me to sleep for probably over half of the flight.

We arrived in Tanzania about 8pm local time.

Customs was one of the most flustering things I have ever experienced! The room was packed, the line was long, and I felt I didn't know what I was doing, but luckily my group helped me through it and we made it through with minimal questions asked.

We met our Urth Expedition guides Gabi and Shaffie outside. Before we left the airport we got to use our first squatty-potties and it was an experience! They drove us to Arusha to the Maisha cottage where we said last night. The driving is very different here; the rules are quite flexible as long as one isn't speeding but as a foreigner in the back seat it can be intimidating.

But the cottages are lovely and the weather is cool and I am so happy to be here. I haven't experienced much of Tanzania yet, and I believe the only pictures I have are silly ones from the airports, but there will be plenty more pictures to come! I'm so blessed and so excited!

Much love,

Kami