tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025054971845498512024-02-07T00:18:16.573-08:00The adventures continue...For those wanting to follow my adventures around the worldEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-62357897419339656932013-08-29T03:14:00.000-07:002013-08-29T03:18:14.774-07:00This job is the shit! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, been WAY too long. Many updates to come soon. But for
now, a bit on the really cool work stuff we are up to here, and then LOTS of
adventure stories to come. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCBxYWJCbFZxKtTR-qrSuV0iguGgW5IMbrjrLy147dxseRjvI5-6XXOW0ABHEUBm32TUZCcU32s6yYohP8cPL1JqylZYmhlSyJCHzVq-lZBJeRBs8KDG6kHIkKZyd3UD0El8flHLEMZg/s1600/PB150371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCBxYWJCbFZxKtTR-qrSuV0iguGgW5IMbrjrLy147dxseRjvI5-6XXOW0ABHEUBm32TUZCcU32s6yYohP8cPL1JqylZYmhlSyJCHzVq-lZBJeRBs8KDG6kHIkKZyd3UD0El8flHLEMZg/s200/PB150371.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbZcOdQ2l43b1xy_xx1XNTugJrQI-0V6eHRyNJy5Lr_MyhdCwR8X8iZZdz_g3qo9-Ii2_Wy1ukhyphenhyphenpd5B8vCwxzhmnuwIw4qOqW6SPYheQklk031QvVvu09qY_MkxZ98ykP_XVR3g64a0/s1600/PB180585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbZcOdQ2l43b1xy_xx1XNTugJrQI-0V6eHRyNJy5Lr_MyhdCwR8X8iZZdz_g3qo9-Ii2_Wy1ukhyphenhyphenpd5B8vCwxzhmnuwIw4qOqW6SPYheQklk031QvVvu09qY_MkxZ98ykP_XVR3g64a0/s200/PB180585.JPG" width="200" /></a>As you know I have been working in Naivasha, Kenya since
November of last year. I love this area. It’s beautiful, right by the lake,
peaceful, and people here are so keen on changing things here for the better.
The lake is surrounded by villages of people living in a wide range of
circumstances. Most people here make about $2-$5 a day- that is if they can
find work. They live in mud 1-2 room houses, or rent a room in a large
dormitory like block of housing. Water is brought via donkey cart, trash is
thrown everywhere and sanitation is horrendous. If households have access to a
latrine, it’s an outdoor pit one, probably shared by 20-60 people. There is no
way to empty these latrines, so as they fill up, they over flow until someone
closes it up and digs a new one near by. </div>
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A pit latrine currently
in use in Kamere Village</div>
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What we have been doing is testing our solar treatment with
CDC-Kenya. Treating buckets of collected shit on a solar concentrator and then
taking samples to a lab in Nairobi to test that we are officially killing off
all harmful pathogens. So I am actually reaching my gloved hand into buckets of
heated shit and grabbing samples into a bag… yummy right? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV-91XYBzwpjDBdmACKBpR1dJ9nQeT5F48YP_PIuv38iWOBjW-zxYn57ukkctLk96fgTuaFnhASZ9QegH-E1zwoffpGQeig08oFVz7wUi57hYJaAiG2F9t5FbqzZHsxpqbERkeqqZ7kw/s1600/DSC_4070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV-91XYBzwpjDBdmACKBpR1dJ9nQeT5F48YP_PIuv38iWOBjW-zxYn57ukkctLk96fgTuaFnhASZ9QegH-E1zwoffpGQeig08oFVz7wUi57hYJaAiG2F9t5FbqzZHsxpqbERkeqqZ7kw/s320/DSC_4070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes that is me
reaching my hand into a barrel of hot shit</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg545NkC6P3lay9ctulJjzK6mi1J78_XMYyzBBDqyTmqyivltKmLs6bbJCjIJ-0EI-YoJRNaPr7HnDi5XygDgAbYYItxw2fKG8RYy2DE-1fB7qOMh6_AUy05shWq61XwSMEKyXwlWqj2fQ/s1600/DSC_4083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg545NkC6P3lay9ctulJjzK6mi1J78_XMYyzBBDqyTmqyivltKmLs6bbJCjIJ-0EI-YoJRNaPr7HnDi5XygDgAbYYItxw2fKG8RYy2DE-1fB7qOMh6_AUy05shWq61XwSMEKyXwlWqj2fQ/s320/DSC_4083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="text-align: center;">
One of our new
concentrators heating and treating a bucket of fresh shit</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile we are working on the toilet situation here. We
are testing various models of in-home toilets, where we rent to households a
small toilet that they can have as their own. With the rental fee we are
employing a collector to come twice a week to collect the full buckets of shit,
and replace with empty clean buckets. This gives families the dignity of being
able to use a toilet in their own home, allowing them to keep it clean and
sanitary, and having a constant way of removing the waste properly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50Ixrxcmg6d4dalW1dozpF6tqlzjrImomsdaF2BdP3FK3DUroLkc_GF7N59vj4YGvnPvGjPcOoREzVJBFbXP0jeQpmvkxtVZdJ-zVni92oaltggBlDQYjXPUX_cOzECogCKHS-zbXCiQ/s1600/DSC_4283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50Ixrxcmg6d4dalW1dozpF6tqlzjrImomsdaF2BdP3FK3DUroLkc_GF7N59vj4YGvnPvGjPcOoREzVJBFbXP0jeQpmvkxtVZdJ-zVni92oaltggBlDQYjXPUX_cOzECogCKHS-zbXCiQ/s320/DSC_4283.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyYF4L2CfB6DuWWR-KmS_LiXlDF8odaZBjExQVTxswCsKdad_poMSXKeiFtmw0ChrRvqANYu3V1aE_cJJ2cnwy_4i59gQIU0hQM6D8qAm7GOJPidzynIhHmoyl7hGQfi4FmjPRvmQRPI/s1600/DSC_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyYF4L2CfB6DuWWR-KmS_LiXlDF8odaZBjExQVTxswCsKdad_poMSXKeiFtmw0ChrRvqANYu3V1aE_cJJ2cnwy_4i59gQIU0hQM6D8qAm7GOJPidzynIhHmoyl7hGQfi4FmjPRvmQRPI/s320/DSC_4324.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span>Two of the families
using our toilets
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we are working on reuse methods of what to do with the
shit now that it is treated. Human feces has a lot of cool properties to it,
high calorific value, it is naturally sticky do to the fibers in it, and it’s
all organic. It’s hard to use these properties because it can also be really
smelly, and just plain gross when you think about what you are doing. We are
currently working with this incredible group in one of the villages. It is a
volunteer group of handicapped persons that do various things around the
villages to help out. Everything from trash collection and sorting, to HIV
education and support, to making more environmentally friendly briquettes from
trash and organic waste, and really anything else they can learn about and help
with. So we came to them with the idea of our shit collection and treatment
process and they were pumped. Even more so when I started explaining my ideas
for creating briquettes and charcoal out of treated human waste that could be
then burned as fuel right there in the village. We are starting testing on that
as well as new ideas for steam powered engines run off of burning treated shit
and these guys are incredible. they are so excited to help out and are really taking
ownership of this knowing that I, with Sanivation, are not able to be here for
forever. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXRjHyTiwQ-GzCeKMm3TdAgsFgyNZiTPB8b79qGiauEbKJ4GD9PRu1CjfGk2_YaMtKZHZ5pc6DGQo8aEU8FMhjN8H0G19dvQVrXuyDlXq6NQjjMy9s2Vm-EURTyFtsc4PrjW9uY7XuSo/s1600/DSC_4439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXRjHyTiwQ-GzCeKMm3TdAgsFgyNZiTPB8b79qGiauEbKJ4GD9PRu1CjfGk2_YaMtKZHZ5pc6DGQo8aEU8FMhjN8H0G19dvQVrXuyDlXq6NQjjMy9s2Vm-EURTyFtsc4PrjW9uY7XuSo/s320/DSC_4439.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJNQxkcS8Bac_UgvJwqIf1wNjLBI6fns3MmwKZ5OThkD-jMsnDSvm1jgL-J522QUWglnTNZakEdE1DL8JMEMTFWomYgtCynh6XiaROJlZGEkj491a2qhHah_Qgwed4I_eKVpj_xAQ8vA/s1600/DSC_4401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJNQxkcS8Bac_UgvJwqIf1wNjLBI6fns3MmwKZ5OThkD-jMsnDSvm1jgL-J522QUWglnTNZakEdE1DL8JMEMTFWomYgtCynh6XiaROJlZGEkj491a2qhHah_Qgwed4I_eKVpj_xAQ8vA/s320/DSC_4401.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoSubtitle" style="text-align: center;">
Briquette making
with Handicap group in Village</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So basically things are exciting. Really starting to take
off and move in ways I never expected. Really it is too much for just Hana and
I to handle, so thankfully we are getting more and more of the villagers
involved and they are so excited about these new ideas. Next we will be running
a pilot in the refugee camp – Kakuma, up on the South Sudan boarder. Our
website is also getting a make over, so pay attention to Savniation.com for
more specific updates on everything. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem. Because there are always problems in life and
this is just another one. Due to some very disappointing and uncontrollable
circumstances our funding is, well, non existent right now. Some of the funding
we were counting on has been denied due to legal issues and bureaucratic
nonsense, and some of it has just been delayed and delayed some more. We now
find ourselves in a place were incredible work is going on here, but we are
running low on funds, specifically just living expenses for Hana (my co-worker)
and I to be here. We have been working for the past 5 months here without any
form of income and have been using lots of our savings to pay for various
projects here outside of sanitation such as solar showers, solar cookers,
proper trash disposal and its starting to catch up with us. Grants should be
coming in… in government time, but until then, money is tight. We are applying
for 501 3c status, to become officially a non-profit to start taking some much
needed temporary donations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the positive note, I am starting to apply for
grad-schools and they are very impressed with everything I have been up to
since I graduated from Tech and all this work should help to get me funded for
my PHD which I plan to start, back in the states, fall 2014. So in the next
year I will be back in America… crazy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-12335712550161711992013-05-19T09:42:00.001-07:002013-05-19T09:42:09.997-07:00Home in a nut shell.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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So what have I been up to while in the States these past 2
months… the best way to answer that is well… a lot. I flew back from Kenya end of Feb, then I happened to get stuck in Johannesburg S. Africa for about 10 days (but thats a whole story of its own) and then finally made it back to Atlanta in early March. </div>
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First I had Sarah and Luke’s
wedding in Atlanta. Amazingly beautiful. Sarah has been one of my best friends since freshman year at tech, i dont know where I would be with out her in my life. And her and Luke, they are so perfect for each
other, I was so happy to be able to be part of that union. It was a blast of a
reception and basically like a reunion of seeing so many good college friends
that I hadn’t seen in years. </div>
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The next day I went early Sunday morning to Savannah to play a bit
of St. Patty’s rugby tourney. Again, great times, great reunion. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUz8dszhdcwOYoR8zLERSl6TMvz_kS0oiVarHLbUqL34Z4wZyM3y_GiPwhljMEAZQZ-blXNCZ-jketQcf8QLB1t9oC3Ftp6xBCnsIkRwqsRl2FJohZxy55afXbPY0tJJCfNUS41Qx10w/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUz8dszhdcwOYoR8zLERSl6TMvz_kS0oiVarHLbUqL34Z4wZyM3y_GiPwhljMEAZQZ-blXNCZ-jketQcf8QLB1t9oC3Ftp6xBCnsIkRwqsRl2FJohZxy55afXbPY0tJJCfNUS41Qx10w/s320/IMG_2006.JPG" width="320" /></a>Then Monday I flew off to New Mexico. Where I rented a car
in Albuquerque and drove to Taos, New Mexico where I had a month long internship
with Earthships. Earthships is a company that builds completely self sustaining
houses from recycled or reused materials. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXc7OPw2M8ozdRZVdkMOuzLYk5pqYQxmBUzAtwlRys-wq38QXFLaBR7PIPz7_cBP1SzqkiITBlctbWYHNZnM4qNNkWR47Opk5d757xmXwnYi17I3H-T0R5sfNB_r21CONKaQEY7TlSayg/s1600/DSCI0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXc7OPw2M8ozdRZVdkMOuzLYk5pqYQxmBUzAtwlRys-wq38QXFLaBR7PIPz7_cBP1SzqkiITBlctbWYHNZnM4qNNkWR47Opk5d757xmXwnYi17I3H-T0R5sfNB_r21CONKaQEY7TlSayg/s320/DSCI0310.JPG" width="320" /></a>There houses are completely off grid,
catching there own rain water, filter water for multiple reuses, solar and wind
power, passive heat and air-conditioning, green houses for food, temperature,
and water re-use, even septic tanks with effluent to tress to deal with sewage.
Plus all the houses are designed in there own special way so they look like
hobbit holes meet fairy land and everyone of them is special and unique. So my
internship was basically free construction labor. I went and did construction
all day, every day for about 4 weeks learning some practical masonry skills as
well as understanding how these earthships are designed and built. Fascinating
stuff. As a bonus all the people I worked with were absolutely incredible.
Specifically the other interns, we had a blast together. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndkknI__p79zI5HUJsOPatszvx0WLPhWuURBrewfvmsrN5W2ayRIkeIzwQfH95cjoPZ9C_FmxOoUp-aGxTCOTiz-STUzXw0ob9qKyArX1hrQL6iOh6Pdlq6PKRJnfxuE4TugKCKVvTfU/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndkknI__p79zI5HUJsOPatszvx0WLPhWuURBrewfvmsrN5W2ayRIkeIzwQfH95cjoPZ9C_FmxOoUp-aGxTCOTiz-STUzXw0ob9qKyArX1hrQL6iOh6Pdlq6PKRJnfxuE4TugKCKVvTfU/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Then SUPER bonus was
blown away with how cool Taos and the area surrounding the town are. Taos is a
small town, but pack full of art, local breweries, music, and outdoor
adventures. We were minutes away from rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking,
natural hot springs, skiing, camping, mountains, the Rio Grand Gorge, dessert
and so much of it completely undeveloped. Let’s just say I was in haven. So
much so I decided to buy land there and in a few years build my own adventure
hostel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv2cUDrXyxd-St3v1pwu1Sauc9EuapFvq3lHFhD2TwJsECtb30kzjcFFDybCLgnB89qhPLHHa3p0RijeZuOMNgzbowGPr4anAdxm4MPQVJTj3r_QyFa3LWNvBC4E3Le_HP0pOGlNCjkk/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv2cUDrXyxd-St3v1pwu1Sauc9EuapFvq3lHFhD2TwJsECtb30kzjcFFDybCLgnB89qhPLHHa3p0RijeZuOMNgzbowGPr4anAdxm4MPQVJTj3r_QyFa3LWNvBC4E3Le_HP0pOGlNCjkk/s320/IMG_2066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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From New Mexico I actually went home to Houston. Got to be
home for Easter (2 years in a row now!) and I loved dyeing eggs with my Nephew
Philip, hanging out with my family and friends drinking daiquiris eating
fajitas. Being home in Houston is always great, but the time meant just to
relax gets packed pretty quickly between catching up with friends and playing
rugby. Got to play in a rugby tourney in Houston and actually won MVP of the
tournament before playing a fairly good round of pub golf. </div>
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The following weekend I flew to Atlanta for one of my best friend’s
bachelorette party. It was a weekend affair with going out on the town one
night, then out camping the next. I also got to speak at the Southwestern
Production meeting for GA. Meaning I got to give an encouraging talk to a bunch
of people about to head out to sell books this summer. I got to do that again
in Waco Texas the following weekend before heading up to Dallas for a rugby
round robin. I had a lovely time remembering just how beautiful Texas is in the
Spring. We even pulled over on the side of the highway for some wild flower
pictures with some of the rugby girls. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvIGViiJywBzeM3yhIzQBYsX_VDo5Fl4SvOhlL8odpUQxdGW3FjpA-xfuDwJAfJU1kbzWSt4P_tqS6RX_E51LkuP_VMaQXxx-JuFkXdix7r60RhX_s3GuAZ-94a_Gqv657XIV6ISvNkk/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvIGViiJywBzeM3yhIzQBYsX_VDo5Fl4SvOhlL8odpUQxdGW3FjpA-xfuDwJAfJU1kbzWSt4P_tqS6RX_E51LkuP_VMaQXxx-JuFkXdix7r60RhX_s3GuAZ-94a_Gqv657XIV6ISvNkk/s320/flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That following week was all about my brother Doug and my new
sister in-lawMichelle’s wedding. There was much prep work to do, lots of
excitement in the air, and had to get everything and everyone to Louisiana. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHEi0KCx-Wq-1SGBeE0UjX33rO5MgYQHvVf57xiPSp9ozbdx6e2k3DvhDcWieH92pME5eSYBQ_xQwQ5kZKKjadXrkpllYBp-czNum3ubcDlv7eEd7Rlq4etbnNYydMHxfg8vWjsnuxu0/s1600/SAM_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHEi0KCx-Wq-1SGBeE0UjX33rO5MgYQHvVf57xiPSp9ozbdx6e2k3DvhDcWieH92pME5eSYBQ_xQwQ5kZKKjadXrkpllYBp-czNum3ubcDlv7eEd7Rlq4etbnNYydMHxfg8vWjsnuxu0/s320/SAM_0526.JPG" width="320" /></a>It was so good to see the extended family and friends. So
much crawfish. A great party. My standard plus one and best friend of many
years Gabe drove to LA to celebrate with us. I actually got ordained a couple
months ago so that I could officiate over the wedding. I have to tell you how
much fun it was to chug Jim Bean out of the bottle with my brother- the groom,
the bride, my other brother – the best man, and me – the minister of the
wedding.</div>
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It was a blast of a wedding, the rain or the flower girl couldn’t stop
us. And the reception was a bunch of dancing, eating and drinking, basically
what my family does best. Then for the after party we took off to the casinos
in Lake Charles. So much fun playing craps with everyone, meeting strangers and
then being given beautiful suits and large amounts of playing chips and cigars for free.
(ya that’s a fun story, ask if you want the full story) </div>
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Then it was back to Atlanta for some meetings at the CDC and
hang out time with friends there. Got to go camping in the rain and cold up at
Tallulah Gorge, got to play some rugby and say goodbye to some really
incredible ppl. </div>
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Then it was a simple 2 day trip before I found myself back
in Kenya! </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-70099377374301720072013-03-01T11:19:00.000-08:002013-03-01T11:19:03.081-08:00Trip to the coast<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I am not the biggest planner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that surprises you. But I love to
travel with only a vague idea of what to do/ where to go/ how to go about doing
it, it leaves space for the random adventures that come your way. I feel Hana
has gotten a crash course in my way of living care free and sadly, sometimes it
comes back to bite you in the rear. </div>
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I think it was Thursday night before we decided early Friday
morning (yes the next day) we were going to take off to Nairobi and find a bus to
the coast and explore Mombasa and some beach for a quick 3 day weekend trip. We
did a quick pack up, and left for Nairobi at 6am on a matatu. When we got to
Nairobi we had a small idea of where or how to catch a bus to Mombasa but the
great thing about Africa is, if you just walk down a main road people are literally
going to walk up to you and offer you anything you could want. And that is precisely
what happened. Not 5 min of walking down a main road in down town Nairobi a man
walked up and asked if we were looking for a bus to Mombasa ( I kid you not,
this is how they do things here).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
bus was REALLY low end, tickets cost about $5 to take us 8 hours to the coast.
The bus was rather empty so we asked when it was leaving “very soon” was the answer
(oh how I have come to hate the word soon in Africa) I also wanted to make sure
it was a direct bus so I asked about number of stops. They said “2 stops only”
(never believe this answer either in Africa). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So hana and I satisfied with the answers paid
our tickets and hoped on the empty bus around 9am with his assurance that we
should be there before 4pm leaving Hana and I enough time to figure out where
we were going once we got to Mombasa. Well 2 hours later we had not moved yet.
Shortly after that the bus moved…. to a gas station, where we waited about
another hour to finish filling up most the seats on the bus. Once were pretty
packed in with people, cargo, live chickens ( I can not make this stuff up, the
lady in front of us had about 3 live chickens under her seat), we were finally
on our way, I think it was about 15 min after that that the boy across the aisle
threw up, nice. Hana and I had packed PB&J supplies for bus ride snacks so
we munched, and read and slept, keeping most our valuables on our laps and the
rest of our things on the shelf above our heads. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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You can already assume that our “direct bus” that would get
us there before 4pm was not all it was promised to be. We made TONS of stops,
for anyone on the side of the road who wanted on or anyone on the bus who
wanted off – any where. We finally got into Mombasa well past dark, maybe
around 8pm. We were kind of caught off guard when it was finally the last stop,
there had been so many stops, we both had just passed out into a deep sleep, and
we were just on the side of the road somewhere in Mombasa. But a fellow
passenger woke us up and we gathered out things and that’s when we realized
that Hana’s Mac laptop was missing. Someone had stolen it from us while we were
sleeping. Ya, it really sucked. Losing a computer is so much more than just the
cost of replacing it. Its all the documents, the photos, the videos, that are
gone forever. Then its trying to figure out how to live without a computer. The
magnitude of having that laptop stolen would only grow more and more. We were
pretty upset, but found a taxi and headed to a hostel right in old town. There
are few people in this world who have such a great attitude and perspective on
life as Hana. While it was really crappy that her computer was stolen, she
realized there was nothing we could do about it and she said she would rather
not worry about it and just enjoy our weekend get away. So we dropped our bags
at the hostel and went out to find one of the main reasons we decided to come
to the coast – good Indian food. </div>
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Mobasa is an incredible town with a very rich history, it
was owned by first tribes of the Swahilli who pretty much ran the African slave
trade, then some sultans, then the Portuguese took over it, then the Muslim Arabs,
then the English who populated the area with many Indians, then in the mid 1900’s
it was given back to the Kenyan people. Because of the many conquers, and
religions and it being the prime stop on the east coast of Africa on the trade routes
plus a beautiful coast line the town has a culture unlike anything I have ever experienced.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hana and I spent Saturday wandering
through old town, a mix of alleyways, winding cart paths, and people living
basically on top of each other they are so packed in. We went to the spice
market, and to Fort Jesus a huge fort built on the shore that is made completely
from coral, we even wandered into a hindu temple and followed an adorable
little barefoot girl to pet the cow and feed the birds by the pounds. It was a sensory
overload, the sites, smells, constant commotion everywhere, the Muslim prayers
at full volume, everything from tuk-tuks to donkeys to bikes to camels on the
roads. It was incredible to see how many different cultures and religions for the
most part live very peacefully together. It was hot too. Hana and I have become
so used to Naivasha perfect weather everyday, that we forgot what heat felt
like. It was SO hot. By the afternoon we were ready to hit the beach.</div>
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We caught the ferry to the south of Mombasa wanting to go
camp on one of the most famous beaches on the Kenyan coast, Diani. It is hard
sometimes to be a white person during the low season here in Kenya. When we got
off the ferry there was an almost full out brawl over who would be our taxi to
Diani beach. We quickly hoped in the tuk tuk offering the best price and
promising that he knew exactly were we could camp (another thing Kenyans say
but never mean). We were dropped off at some expensive hotel, not sure where the
beach even was. Being the low season there were not many taxis or matatus
around so Hana and I decided to just start walking in the direction of the good
looking curry place we had passed. While on our walk, our very very hot walk,
we met a local and asked him about places to camp on the beach. He got really
excited and told us to follow him, he knew a couple places. He took us off the
main road back into a very poor village/slum area, through the houses and then
just stopped at one point and said here, we had 2 American guys camp here once
before. And pointed to an alleyway between the houses where a pile of trash
was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(again I am not making this up).
The villagers had gathered around anxious to find out what 2 mazungus were
doing back there. We tried as politely as we could to refuse his offer no
matter how good of a price he tried to bargain with us. We told him we were
looking for something on the beach, and he said his uncle lived on the beach,
and there was some land next to him that we cold camp on and he excitedly
started leading the other direction. By this time Hana and I were very hungry,
very hot, and not too excited to see this guys next recommendation. We decided
to not follow him to his 2<sup>nd</sup> “campsite”. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ok side note we finally made it to this curry place, and it
was pretty good, but the garlic nan was one of the best things I have ever
tried in my life. And there we found out about an actual campsite right by the
beach called, you will never believe it “Diani Beach campsite”. When we finally
got there it was already 5pm but the campsite was prefect and safe, and real
close to the beach and the beach was VERY beautiful. White sand, palm trees,
crystal clear water, it was very nice. That night we had dessert in Ali Babbas
cave. It’s a natural cave made in the coral that is now this incredible restaurant
lit by candles all over the coral cave wall. At this point I should probably
mention the lack of pictures- my camera was stolen, and Hana’s camera charger
was stolen, so this whole trip we were camera-less, so use your imagination.
The walk back to the campsite along the beach was beautiful there was plenty of
light from the moon and you could watch the thousands of crabs chasing the
tide. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We got up VERY early the next morning to watch sunrise on
the beach and ended up playing soccer with a bunch of locals on the beach. Not to
shabby way to start the day. Then we loaded up in a tour van as we were headed
to the last island of Kenya for some sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and
real sea food. We took a old wooden dowel sail boat out to the last island in
Kenay before you hit Tanzania. I got to go scuba diving while Hana snorkled
along the reaf. As always, scuba diving is incredible. The colors, the variety,
the feeling of being 60 ft underwater, its something else. As we started our
dive there were a couple dolphins not 10 ft from us, it was really neat to see
them swim around from under the water. Huge sea turtles are found in that area,
sadly, we didn’t see any. For lunch they brought us this island where we were
served fresh fish, crab and lobster right on the beach. It was very nice. We
even got a quick tour of the village that lives on that island and told that
next time we can come camp on their island. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Back in Diani we spent a bit more time just laying on the
beach before we needed to go to Mombasa to catch a night bus back to Nairobi.
On the way we met a guy who is a full time professional acrobat. His crew has
traveled the world performing amazing stunts. He was kind enough to help us not
only get to the Mombasa bus station, but helped us find a much safer, better
bus to get us back to Nairobi. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ah the ups and downs of Africa. It is a never stop adventure
here. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-42908057460449100392013-02-21T22:18:00.001-08:002013-02-21T22:20:44.833-08:00Adventures with Hana<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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So most of yall know my good friend Hana Lokey from Tech. I was
basically her PL her freshman year, and looked to her as a little stooge. We
just had passions for the same things: sports, Africa, people, underprivileged
people, traveling, Jesus, outdoors, tackling people- you know, the normal
things. In fact Hana got a kick out of telling people she was little me during
her time at tech. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gqmQIo8rXtefOdHVIILw-XnRpM9oI0SGGLDo0EELLmmoA-lMNBfHzmIiRnrxUW5Oi8M54PK20Tte9KrKuiFTTQvPUfHxvBvX2Q0Efq5CScla3CHidRRs-zwIXFhWZafrHWf991rto-I/s1600/PIC_3701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gqmQIo8rXtefOdHVIILw-XnRpM9oI0SGGLDo0EELLmmoA-lMNBfHzmIiRnrxUW5Oi8M54PK20Tte9KrKuiFTTQvPUfHxvBvX2Q0Efq5CScla3CHidRRs-zwIXFhWZafrHWf991rto-I/s320/PIC_3701.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hana and I at tug her freshman year</td></tr>
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We have always kept in good contact, never spending that
much time together, but when I was back in Atlanta we made sure to grab a meal
and talk about life and dreams. This past summer we were trying to plan an epic
road trip/camping trip to celebrate her graduation from tech, sadly it never
happened. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, about a month ago I got
to fly Hana out to Kenya to live and come work for me on these projects that got
to be too much for me to handle alone. </div>
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One would think that once you spend every waking and
sleeping moment with the same person for a month you would get tired of them,
praise the Lord that is just not how it has been for us. This is the first time
that we have spent a lot of time together and it has been incredible. From the
first day she arrived the adventures started. It was so nice to share the ridiculousness
and the awesomeness of my life here with someone. Since she arrived we have been
licked all over by giraffes, been on numerous motor bike spills, cooked up a
storm in my little outdoor kitchen, been attacked by chickens & baboons,
had a cat adopt us, build an incredible solar latrine in a village, mountain
biked, kayaked, hiked, camped and seen some of the most incredible sun rises
and sun sets. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X-wF4KOz0b5WYOg_ltFRL12EshufEibR0xWHJU_6n3Zawb-uiQujlCFU_isWwB67Yqd0b53260ercyf6kn3fi-E6IiO3VPWvFzVMl89JNWMy-J7eWQaXDX1rZbQR4Fso4TIUkNqS2VI/s1600/P1070745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X-wF4KOz0b5WYOg_ltFRL12EshufEibR0xWHJU_6n3Zawb-uiQujlCFU_isWwB67Yqd0b53260ercyf6kn3fi-E6IiO3VPWvFzVMl89JNWMy-J7eWQaXDX1rZbQR4Fso4TIUkNqS2VI/s320/P1070745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the elephant orphanage in Nairobi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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But this past weekend was so ridiculous, so African, it
topped them all. Hana and I decided to go on a safari, by ourselves, in the 2<sup>nd</sup>
most visited national park in Kenya. We rented a cheap little car, we named him
Kobi due to him being an all-star and due to the upside down Lakers sticker on
his window and decided to pack up and drive up to Nakuru National Park, camp
and see some REAL African animals.</div>
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It has been so long since I have been on a good ol’ fashion
car road trip (being that no one really has cars in Kenya) so we made a great
play list, bought so many nom-noms, and hit the road Friday afternoon with huge
grins on our faces. As if driving on very precarious roads, with ridiculous Kenyan
drivers, and on the left side of the road wasn’t enough to handle, FYI Nakuru
National Park- 2<sup>nd</sup> most popular in all of Kenya, attracting Millions
of visitors a year from all over the world- doesn’t have ANY signs leading the
way to the park. Hana and I kept stopping to ask for directions and ended up in
a random slum on the outskirts of town. When we stopped to ask directions our
response was filled with plenty of “I love you”s and “let me hop in and show
you”s till we finally got this, our best answer “follow this road, then in a
bit turn right, then you will want to turn left, but don’t stay straight, pass
the tarmac road, then later turn right, follow that road and you are there.” I
kid you not. That was the BEST directions we could get. Don’t believe me? Watch this
video of later when we asked a guy and he confessed his love for Hana. Note the
“road” we are driving on. </div>
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Somehow we finally make it to the park. We got there 10 min
before the gate closes! And apparently only moments pass when a lion was right
by the gate just hanging out. But we did make it in, and we had passes to camp
on the furthest point of the park by a huge waterfall. Because it was already
so late most of our drive to our campsite started at twilight and we saw hippos
in the lake, lots of buffalo, weird giant reindeer looking things and just jammed
to our music loving the fact of being in nature. It got REAL dark really fast.
At one point in our headlights on the side of the road was a hyena! I don’t
think I have ever seen one in real life and boy are they ugly- and BIG. Surprisingly
big. We kept driving, chatting, singing, seeing random animals ever now and
then and then on our play list that super epic song from Lion king – you know
when Simba finds out who he really is and decides to go back to face Scar came
on. We got really excited because we were in the perfect setting for such a
song and then, I kid you not, we came over a hill and BAM! An entire pride of
lions just strolling down the road. It was about 13 female and 1 full grown
male. They were the most majestic thing I have ever seen, slowly sauntering
down the road. We got to follow them for about half a mile, they were not more
than 10 ft from our car, huge, beautiful, shinning in our headlights. Wow. And with
that Lion King song playing, it was nothing short of magical. </div>
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Our campsite ended up being only a mile or so away from that,
with slight hesitation we headed to the only campfire in the camp site field
and decided to stay near other people. The couple we met at the campfire where
Mazungu Kenyans (white Kenyans who generations ago colonized this area) who
owned and operated Crescent Island, a small island and animal preserve out on
Lake Naivasha. They were delightful company and told us about growing up in
Kenya while we made our dinner and sipped on good ol’ Safari Whiskey (cheap
Kenyan whiskey). After dinner we were just sitting around the camp fire when
the couple across form us said “oh my, look at that cat!” Hana and I thinking
some super large wild cat had snuck up behind us started looking off in the
distance kind of scared of the possibility, and then we finally looked right in
front of us- inches from Hana’s foot, licking our leftover pasta off the plate
was a Gente Cat! This weird looking creatures is a small cat, with both cheetah
print and stripes. It was so weird, I have never send something like it before.
Hana and I spent a large chunk of the night chatting, looking at the incredible
stars, and gazing at the waterfall in the moonlight. </div>
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The next morning we got up well before sunrise to make it up
to Baboon Cliffs for an incredible panorama view of the park during sunrise. It’s
hard driving around such wilderness because not only are there very few signs,
if any, but random roads are blocked by fallen tress, flooded plains, dead buffalo,
so you have to find your way around and we spent most of the day on washed out dirt
trails where we pushed Kobi to his limits and had us very worried at times.
Sunrise was spent at “out of Africa’ lookout point and was incredible. We
lunched in the middle of a savannah plane on top of our car. With giraffes, zebra,
gazelles, warthogs, and so many other amazing animals all around us. We saw
flocks of flamingos down by the lake, a couple more lions throughout the day, 1
rhino, and some of the most incredible scenery you can imajine. It was quite
the safari. </div>
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We had been given the name and number of an ex-pat in Nakuru
doing water and sanitation development work. When we left the park we had scheduled
to meet up with him. He took us up to Menigi Crater, the largest crater in East
Africa. Formed only about 400 years ago the cliff down into the crater is about
500m drop, and the area of the blow crater stretches for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>miles. Menigi is Massi for grave, apparently
when the volcano blew thousands of Massi were killed and barred in the volcano
flow and rocks in the explosion. Sad story, but incredible view. And we got to
learn a lot about Massi history in the area. We also got to see a public school
near by that our new friend and his non-profit FAB: Food, Aid, and Building had
put in a rain water collection and huge water tank for. We got invited to have
dinner with him and his Kenyan fiancé and then found a random campsite on the
high way to pass out early. </div>
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Early the next morning Hana and I donned our cutest picnic attire
(sun dresses & flip flops) and headed into Nairboi for Blankets and Wine. This
monthly outdoor concert has become one of my favorite events in Kenya. Every
time I go I meet more and more incredible people, so being my 4<sup>th</sup>
time I already knew so many people there from so many different times here in
Kenya. Its like a reunion every month. So I just jump around from group to
group, catching up, drinking plenty of wine and non stop picnic food. The music
is always great, and there is always a bunch of dancing (this is Africa), and
so many laughs your belly hurts by the end. We only got lost in Nairobi a
couple of times before we found our way back to Naivasha late Sunday night
after 1 amazing weekend. </div>
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I love my life here!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-32010634659606490162013-02-09T01:41:00.000-08:002013-02-09T01:41:57.799-08:00Coolest Couple ever and Shamless Pitch<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My apologies for the ubber long delay with out updating.
Life, mainly work, kinda took off here in Naivasha. It’s always hard deciding
what to update on and in what order. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So for once, I am actually going to start with all the work
I have been doing here in Kenya (yes I do work). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So you know how my dream has always been to live in a
village in Africa and learn from people and then work with people to just try
out new ideas to help right? Because there is no “silver bullet” no 1 answer to
solve a problem in every situation around the world, but if you live with people
and work with them to make solutions you can try and try again till you get what
fits that problem in that situation. Well that is exactly what I am doing right
now here in Kenya. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meet Nancy and Francis. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR3zHYn-97uipUqh2li87o0OIOPAqsQFGXcHER5t5-o3qS5yiEg8EYZiLgdiBG0XInBqYFaNOmLukoJ327s1jIt39v4P6oRTYX-fSwZ6Q9YIEDpxxiW5MYZtvfT8HiCCFzRqARoKjNcU/s1600/P1210600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR3zHYn-97uipUqh2li87o0OIOPAqsQFGXcHER5t5-o3qS5yiEg8EYZiLgdiBG0XInBqYFaNOmLukoJ327s1jIt39v4P6oRTYX-fSwZ6Q9YIEDpxxiW5MYZtvfT8HiCCFzRqARoKjNcU/s320/P1210600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coolest couple I have ever met. Both are over 60 and both
have been working endlessly to make a change in their village of Mirera for
ages. Nancy is a community health worker, as in works for the DPHO voluntarily
to help push anything from people’s right, to sanitation, to women’s groups.
Francis is a Fundi (or carpenter/mason) and an elder in the village. They have
a small “shamba” where they take care of their mentally disabled daughter, 1
young son and about 6 grand children. Also on there plot is a small garden
where they try and grow vegetables for there home and a church. The church
building was built by Francis and meets every night of the week in a small mud
building near their house. This couple is all about progress, about helping the
whole village, about making a lasting difference. When I barley mentioned the
idea of Solar Toilets in a community meeting Nancy immediately jumped on saying
that she loves experiments and we can use her plot and any way she can help should
would love to. I went to visit her at her Shamba and found that the entire
church (50 people every night) uses Nancy’s 1 latrine (that her and Francis
built themselves) and that she would love more than anything to have a toilet just
for the church. She loved the idea of our solar toilets so she could use the
treated waste in her garden where the soil is basically sand. She got very
excited, and thanks to GIZ- Hana and I working here as Sanivation had funds to
be able to build and test our solar toilet for this church. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Designs began, of how to build a shared toilet and urinal
that the church could use that would allow the waste to be treated on a solar concentrator,
then composted, and re-used in the garden. We also wanted this toilet to be
used long after we are gone weather solar treatment catches on or not. So we
designed a solar shared latrine that also has a pit below it as an out strategy
if all else fails. We found Chris, another Mason, to help finalize our designs
and begin the material purchase. We told Nancy and Francis the dimensions of
the pit (4ft diameter, 20 ft deep) and by 9am the next day this older couple,
just the 2 of them were almost done digging the pit!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovLzhyIt08xxp1PVXJpyYh26G8UhgjaPdByKkR86wOWay1wZuiolMAJVQKNicF2AQNAY_VIJRrl5E-r21bZRPTM6_jwaIDDZx-bVy1DooaIRLsaF1r7E8Khm6KbFZ0nJECTmGNJZeLn8/s1600/P1240618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovLzhyIt08xxp1PVXJpyYh26G8UhgjaPdByKkR86wOWay1wZuiolMAJVQKNicF2AQNAY_VIJRrl5E-r21bZRPTM6_jwaIDDZx-bVy1DooaIRLsaF1r7E8Khm6KbFZ0nJECTmGNJZeLn8/s320/P1240618.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We told them the tree in
their garden might be a problem for the solar concentrator and their immediate
response was – “we will cut it down if it stands in the way of progress!” We
told them we needed to collect some human feces in which to test and they
opened up their old pit and started loading waste into the steel drum. We told
them we wanted some kitchen scraps (organic waste) to begin compost and the
NEXT day she had I giant drum full! Apparently she went around to all the vegetable
stalls in the village to collect organic waste. I showed Nancy a picture of a cheap
hand washing station called a Tippy Tap and the next day she had one 5 times
better built and running next to her toilet!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpO3wcqABz8x6N4e5pFLOLImXz0dmrXmTQV4hPNj5_jUyd-d7fg9K_BgugB2TIz831KudVG4vNdHYMFNqr7mYKACLG_vDFLqV5V_p1mKbpYQwlYzLGWp8Q7u1HN7PA7e7HvajU3vJnz2c/s1600/P2040840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpO3wcqABz8x6N4e5pFLOLImXz0dmrXmTQV4hPNj5_jUyd-d7fg9K_BgugB2TIz831KudVG4vNdHYMFNqr7mYKACLG_vDFLqV5V_p1mKbpYQwlYzLGWp8Q7u1HN7PA7e7HvajU3vJnz2c/s320/P2040840.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Any time I mention any idea, both
of them are ready and willing to do anything to help try it. We have since then
sent up an incinerator for testing on their plot, we are now setting up a solar
shower, and solar cookers- all ideas that they are helping me make and test
into reality. And it is so much fun! I barley mentioned the idea of Eco-Bricks-
these use trashed plastic bottles stuffed with other trash as building blocks
and the 2 of them were ready to have 100 Eco-Blocks ready by the weekend for
testing. And because of who they are, all the villagers listen to them. We are
constantly having locals come by to see what all is going on, and they sit
there and explain to people all these new ideas and about the experiments we
are doing. It is the best testing site EVER. Both Hana and I LOVE when we get
to go to their plot because we know it is going to be so productive and be a
total blast. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here is our solar toilet, still being finished. And here is our solar concentrator used to heat the waste over 70°C
in just a couple hours. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeK1PUDeo8o1vL34y50Kr2MuC_caP_2_5c92iLVX8YUcKjOJgiAfvKEXp2eIEDwwzLGvIuGM_AVaiDARFYt2t-1CUERwGxeJQNklk_jOFG4uLxo5v_iBnljOUzI7k_t0SdcDmDVV474Y/s1600/DSC_3390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeK1PUDeo8o1vL34y50Kr2MuC_caP_2_5c92iLVX8YUcKjOJgiAfvKEXp2eIEDwwzLGvIuGM_AVaiDARFYt2t-1CUERwGxeJQNklk_jOFG4uLxo5v_iBnljOUzI7k_t0SdcDmDVV474Y/s320/DSC_3390.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW9iPWdS-f_66D6BtWaNowpJTYK982fATcnTFoLmHzs_JK2dx4xuQsSJ43AuoBKPB7jEQdZVgLsc6pMojYkSBQp-shg21kXYPpss7cFitgC5w4PXsgODN2r7v6N3HP8lkKCj_9rJWC90/s1600/P2070896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW9iPWdS-f_66D6BtWaNowpJTYK982fATcnTFoLmHzs_JK2dx4xuQsSJ43AuoBKPB7jEQdZVgLsc6pMojYkSBQp-shg21kXYPpss7cFitgC5w4PXsgODN2r7v6N3HP8lkKCj_9rJWC90/s320/P2070896.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of that has been paid for by GIZ. Then other prototypes
such as the solar shower, incinerators, solar cookers, are just coming out of
our pockets and I love giving that to these people, but if we want to scale, if
we want to do multiple iterations and then teach others how to make these so
that it can become a business of its own here, we do need more capital. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlznZ7G-nMwiAQABZJpi98MD9ILaZCSZX-e8ITIHXbVp2P8KG2M9R7tPytJzGAa8BcP-bSI0gedWXymf_2qz3FbDxmfMaYiwUID-NkEcHy6cMWJWg45Xl5dcrl5r1DRsCrhHzjofHyReQ/s1600/DSC_3386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlznZ7G-nMwiAQABZJpi98MD9ILaZCSZX-e8ITIHXbVp2P8KG2M9R7tPytJzGAa8BcP-bSI0gedWXymf_2qz3FbDxmfMaYiwUID-NkEcHy6cMWJWg45Xl5dcrl5r1DRsCrhHzjofHyReQ/s320/DSC_3386.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now here is my shameless pitch: if you would like to donate
to such an incredible cause here is your chance. Incinerators cost about $50
and can help so much with the trash problems here. Solar showers cost about the
same about and so do private solar cookers. All need to be developed till we
get it just right and at the right price, then it needs to be taught, then some
initial capital to help start a business. We will have locals, currently
unemployed, trained in making these and selling them at prices people can
afford and work toward new sustainable technologies made by people here in
Naivasha for the people of Naivasha. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me know if you need/want more details, I am currently
working on a way that donations could be made directly to an official non-profit
company for tax purposes. </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-32076659510597687722013-01-07T02:40:00.004-08:002013-01-07T02:41:13.962-08:00End of 2012<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2lAqDdf8MSJA_F7oKuNriVQn6eQ95DYDQrse-oaZoE8tce4jiavwug4OfXs44DfSzKM5Odi0lyiCSNXC1DNQR7rWRnJi1yWp0PrUw8iZ0_vJhWysf4PMcYGnvYqTWD-IzxDHLjcBnCo/s1600/PC280671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Happy New Years
everyone!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuEo3EqNixHSsXZPzzrL3pOJQor4GCByBhwkZmGBxI75jZRTtjbJ1FbzbR3At4m85olwyPjlR6h6ws9ajZ8v81MKieOlYSRdBw9of1t2O5lMia9UUSLc5YoO5QG1PujHBUVhncrkqtJs/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuEo3EqNixHSsXZPzzrL3pOJQor4GCByBhwkZmGBxI75jZRTtjbJ1FbzbR3At4m85olwyPjlR6h6ws9ajZ8v81MKieOlYSRdBw9of1t2O5lMia9UUSLc5YoO5QG1PujHBUVhncrkqtJs/s320/IMG_0207.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Years morning at 5,895m above sea level</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn0NPbAjjGW20vCKrkvCcw73pnmCMqXuDT10buaGYLxrQ51HygCjxJZU8LP_YUVRZkDVAhI-k1_xl2V7vfdLRV-DPUhpjJ-3EbfmBYL6LK9l6qMynl4o9RjoWB55mm5DZ8ReR-gBMcDM/s1600/PC140459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have had one of the most incredible years in 2012. I had a
lot of time this past week while hiking up the tallest mountain in Africa to
reflect and the conclusion is, how can 1 person be so blessed? I honestly can
not thank God enough for all the incredible adventures I have had and people I
have meet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I must say, the end of the year couldn’t have been more
awesome. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
hang in there, this is rather long, but its got some good descriptions of my recent adventures in Africa </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mt. Kenya</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmqHoiDQAB87jdIcYwppTIgFhnJVDTZ3ru4OlWhnpM8vJjujZTUtwdX1lZBajfxKUX1BwGp_RzT1UwVAQ7jKuxr0_nhaRTZxds92vgiDoTMYxRS7EEwziqq7K6bEAEBBYJ9c4xbYUdmE/s1600/PC140443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmqHoiDQAB87jdIcYwppTIgFhnJVDTZ3ru4OlWhnpM8vJjujZTUtwdX1lZBajfxKUX1BwGp_RzT1UwVAQ7jKuxr0_nhaRTZxds92vgiDoTMYxRS7EEwziqq7K6bEAEBBYJ9c4xbYUdmE/s200/PC140443.JPG" width="150" /></a>The week before Christmas we did a hike up the tallest
mountain in Kenya, Mt. Kenya, with an altitude of 4,800m above sea level. I was
doing the hike with my hiking group that I found here in Kenya. They are a
great group of people, almost all Kenyans based in Nairobi and a ton of fun
with a constant desire to get outside and do things. </div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACo0BJAUoxPTJor_a_Jv9ZE4MFf8LwXoUbmSfrqRD8IzerG4NkzutmgoDVbXHN4HMyKqGqmmFClxUZw4uf6FEbqNN3exjZCZdMg3VdCHxOVpb6sbpChYMajhXdA0tjD4EFn-lkwVoHTU/s1600/PC140466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACo0BJAUoxPTJor_a_Jv9ZE4MFf8LwXoUbmSfrqRD8IzerG4NkzutmgoDVbXHN4HMyKqGqmmFClxUZw4uf6FEbqNN3exjZCZdMg3VdCHxOVpb6sbpChYMajhXdA0tjD4EFn-lkwVoHTU/s200/PC140466.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UTy8K1RW8uAt3QbyUrD2Y-RiEzcYIlS7bqF2LxHTUT1daHKjvFgLRV0mgiQgvGujMS_zA7YET_qnv6UAkKh0YCrHN5yWlHWXDmUX1LoUuxsZ21FlDZtEjPvHBjtsvYnCFs7MBLL6Fc8/s1600/PC150476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UTy8K1RW8uAt3QbyUrD2Y-RiEzcYIlS7bqF2LxHTUT1daHKjvFgLRV0mgiQgvGujMS_zA7YET_qnv6UAkKh0YCrHN5yWlHWXDmUX1LoUuxsZ21FlDZtEjPvHBjtsvYnCFs7MBLL6Fc8/s200/PC150476.JPG" width="200" /></a> Mt. Kenya was beautiful. It is located right on the equator,
one of the only places on earth that you can be on the equator and in snow! It
was great to hang out with these new friends around the fire teaching them all
kinds of games from America.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fB1W-fnAK_rSInvVwP_KPCKdkRommZrhTEarjqwqf35HNNtTJLU-n-c-rX-g0nYVuGFu1wfGYIvzTg9MTQBZrHo38ixxAGxp_fB52pUXdogHiz5J_puMWMdIR6BEFQj_YgYfm6NC7_U/s1600/PC150544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fB1W-fnAK_rSInvVwP_KPCKdkRommZrhTEarjqwqf35HNNtTJLU-n-c-rX-g0nYVuGFu1wfGYIvzTg9MTQBZrHo38ixxAGxp_fB52pUXdogHiz5J_puMWMdIR6BEFQj_YgYfm6NC7_U/s200/PC150544.JPG" width="200" /></a>We did a lot of hiking in a short amount of time
and coming down the group got really spread out and then a THICK fog came in
and we all got separated from each other. Most people got lost trying to find
the camp for lunch and we had to send out a few different search parties. It was
interesting to be hiking by myself in a fog where I couldn’t see 3 ft in front
of me, but could hear someone in the distance calling my name.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqji1TNL4aWrJ3ye2lynxetMmyQVdyXIjCxDHHIFvfqdkFsrud3m6ZHizIYbKg82yWESL_-GPWNkWdlIFG1vWnE-x-xptXv7U4krE8qbA-chJg09yoyaW2umHmZSWzKxZ-RRC16zwpBc/s1600/PC150535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqji1TNL4aWrJ3ye2lynxetMmyQVdyXIjCxDHHIFvfqdkFsrud3m6ZHizIYbKg82yWESL_-GPWNkWdlIFG1vWnE-x-xptXv7U4krE8qbA-chJg09yoyaW2umHmZSWzKxZ-RRC16zwpBc/s320/PC150535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the summit, with the clouds quickly rolling in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn0NPbAjjGW20vCKrkvCcw73pnmCMqXuDT10buaGYLxrQ51HygCjxJZU8LP_YUVRZkDVAhI-k1_xl2V7vfdLRV-DPUhpjJ-3EbfmBYL6LK9l6qMynl4o9RjoWB55mm5DZ8ReR-gBMcDM/s1600/PC140459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn0NPbAjjGW20vCKrkvCcw73pnmCMqXuDT10buaGYLxrQ51HygCjxJZU8LP_YUVRZkDVAhI-k1_xl2V7vfdLRV-DPUhpjJ-3EbfmBYL6LK9l6qMynl4o9RjoWB55mm5DZ8ReR-gBMcDM/s320/PC140459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would find the most beautiful latrine and take a million pics with it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christmas</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvPTgkEMnMm3ZPo7Tvrsly7foTUEZ9cOTuK3y3pBpjZZZ-he1rntnspFYIev5OdgQ3F0yd4p724xU-Q2GgF3yMzkbmEcHjXE1_Lqp-Q9QQEtGFWmr-uFVjAaVU8VgL2z_gqOFEcJzTqY/s1600/PC240525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvPTgkEMnMm3ZPo7Tvrsly7foTUEZ9cOTuK3y3pBpjZZZ-he1rntnspFYIev5OdgQ3F0yd4p724xU-Q2GgF3yMzkbmEcHjXE1_Lqp-Q9QQEtGFWmr-uFVjAaVU8VgL2z_gqOFEcJzTqY/s320/PC240525.JPG" width="320" /></a>Then the following week for Christmas I was supposed to go
camping in Aberdars National Park, but plans kind of fell through last min. So
I wasn’t sure what to do for Christmas so I came back to Naivasha and was
staying with my friend Amelia. On Christmas morning she got a call from a
co-worker ( a white/British/Kenyan) inviting us to his Aunt’s house in the
mountains for Christmas Lunch. This family originally from Britain has lived in
Kenya for generations but still hold so many British traditions but in a very
colonial way. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WW4K5We-xisapCv7ACchcM6NuOIj8rye8CAdeQo4UesAmVy-HAv1CjSKApVyt5mI5q3zuuV2WSm-XPzF1gKSv4jevOYHJlyhmHniO4lJk2PBca9tgy4mg8vhvKHO4dEJU5NMRZD-15I/s1600/PC240520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WW4K5We-xisapCv7ACchcM6NuOIj8rye8CAdeQo4UesAmVy-HAv1CjSKApVyt5mI5q3zuuV2WSm-XPzF1gKSv4jevOYHJlyhmHniO4lJk2PBca9tgy4mg8vhvKHO4dEJU5NMRZD-15I/s320/PC240520.JPG" width="320" /></a>They were the most welcoming family, in the most beautiful house
up in the mountains over looking the valley and even Nairobi in the distance.
There was a beautiful table set for a giant meal with plenty of family and
friends. We were welcomed with hugs and mimosas and it only got better from
there. We learned such British Christmas traditions as Christmas Crackers
(complete with paper hats to wear during lunch and silly jokes), bread sauce,
Christmas pudding, and so much more. They were such a welcoming family, if I
had to miss being with my family, they were a wonderful substitute. We drank,
and visited and even ended up dancing the night away with them. I can not be
more thankful for such a lovely Christmas in Kenya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mt. Kilimanjaro: the
roof of Africa</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFayGE5T4KbBTjS_LcFbfjLUK4gLVFZajaOUH2sInt6cBxCAF6OkNgVPj_83HuatR4_igb3jlZYuPsWh4FPqORR50UAOEK2zbU2gfjcae0Yxz5KY2xcwk05M7r9pOO1yZhSXcx7LfNV4/s1600/PC270538+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFayGE5T4KbBTjS_LcFbfjLUK4gLVFZajaOUH2sInt6cBxCAF6OkNgVPj_83HuatR4_igb3jlZYuPsWh4FPqORR50UAOEK2zbU2gfjcae0Yxz5KY2xcwk05M7r9pOO1yZhSXcx7LfNV4/s320/PC270538+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After Christmas it was time to set out on the most exciting
adventure of 2012- to climb 5,896m above sea level, to summit the tallest
mountain in Africa, to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro. We left on Dec 27<sup>th</sup>
early in the morning from down town Naivasha. 25 of us loaded onto a bus and
headed to Tanzania. On the 7 hour bus ride there the rain poured the entire
way, little did we know that was to be the standard for the next 8 days. </div>
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We stayed that night in the little town of Moshi at the base
of Kilimanjaro. Even though this town is packed with tourists year around, it
somehow has kept its small town Tanzanian charm to it. It was lovely, and
sunrise from my hotel window gave one of the most beautiful views of Kili I
have ever seen. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 1 on the mountain</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-i3SYIebHGueb54S36aRWXRuVGgUWJOooBJIltKLLqIU5_OtRso8BF3K66RwLin5jPonGI4R2B-rfVDr6bzYCpWTVWvRfgSDh2FkJtqOeYoVvYuDyA9zKbQglLJISi_ssCrCnbYZrwQ/s1600/PC270571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-i3SYIebHGueb54S36aRWXRuVGgUWJOooBJIltKLLqIU5_OtRso8BF3K66RwLin5jPonGI4R2B-rfVDr6bzYCpWTVWvRfgSDh2FkJtqOeYoVvYuDyA9zKbQglLJISi_ssCrCnbYZrwQ/s320/PC270571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The first day took us through a rain forest jungle habitat. It
was beautiful. The colors were unreal, waterfalls every half a km, crazy
animals, trees that looked like Ents from Lord of the Ring, and of course-
rain. Lots and lots of rain. It was an incredible 10 km hike to the first
campsite. But by the end it was late, and cold and we all were soaking wet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpQOwCBzVRPSQ63lW61U6VyYEo-GNxDsMHEukdjNWDLQJ6Kh7FrTrKFA7l0aaVd4LtoDE8kD0BHETgpdaBhX-kk8BEaKQt01CdGto_450RXq-9ItMptEDF9oTjyKIJmiLTeFes7AOcXo/s1600/PC270614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpQOwCBzVRPSQ63lW61U6VyYEo-GNxDsMHEukdjNWDLQJ6Kh7FrTrKFA7l0aaVd4LtoDE8kD0BHETgpdaBhX-kk8BEaKQt01CdGto_450RXq-9ItMptEDF9oTjyKIJmiLTeFes7AOcXo/s320/PC270614.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Because of the late start on the mountain we got to the first
campsite pretty late and therefore were given the only places left to stay- the
Porter’s Quarters. All 16 girls on our trip were given 1 itty bitty room with 2
large bunk-beds for all of us to sleep and keep all of our stuff. It was a, um…
cozy night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Meals were prepared every day by the porters/cooks, and usually
consisted of a hot soup, bread and some kind of pasta with a stew. The food
wasn’t bad, it was hot, and carb loaded but I sure was glad I brought some
spices with me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE6liiLTH_wTK9tjefX5pyc90tXzkFVVfaiL2xLi9oueqFwMkd0eaUriYe6S0auxKQGBPOCNF4qKMM4jY8w_kJqTMqHXRaRq7SWmLeLBtAiy-wuspCdS1k9pIxcWhXHJysLmVKc6J5Bw/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE6liiLTH_wTK9tjefX5pyc90tXzkFVVfaiL2xLi9oueqFwMkd0eaUriYe6S0auxKQGBPOCNF4qKMM4jY8w_kJqTMqHXRaRq7SWmLeLBtAiy-wuspCdS1k9pIxcWhXHJysLmVKc6J5Bw/s320/IMG_0249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 2 on the mountain</b></div>
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The second day had us hiking 12 km up out of the jungle into
an alpine forest. Then as we hiked higher we left the forest and got to the
Moreland area with small shrubs and great views of the surrounding valley (when
the rain wasn’t pouring and we got glimpses of the great views). Yet again, the
rain poured on us, it did stop at times to give us some sunshine but by the
time we reached the 2<sup>nd</sup> camp at 3,790m in elevation we all were so
happy to have some shelter and get into some warm dry clothes. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rkUBebv0cdGKzTeLbCVGAsGb73JTUM8c0WeddZvpLAkJuk3vsswgio5UPRlCgM-Yg1sClb5YisP7qJYZ5tD7WUPaQhn1gPRnAmT423Gf5nlaBIeM6zK07ggQeyNykCd6yjMWUSg6dyo/s1600/PC280645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rkUBebv0cdGKzTeLbCVGAsGb73JTUM8c0WeddZvpLAkJuk3vsswgio5UPRlCgM-Yg1sClb5YisP7qJYZ5tD7WUPaQhn1gPRnAmT423Gf5nlaBIeM6zK07ggQeyNykCd6yjMWUSg6dyo/s320/PC280645.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guide is Thomas, 61 years old, he has climb Mt.Kili over 500 times!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2lAqDdf8MSJA_F7oKuNriVQn6eQ95DYDQrse-oaZoE8tce4jiavwug4OfXs44DfSzKM5Odi0lyiCSNXC1DNQR7rWRnJi1yWp0PrUw8iZ0_vJhWysf4PMcYGnvYqTWD-IzxDHLjcBnCo/s1600/PC280671.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2lAqDdf8MSJA_F7oKuNriVQn6eQ95DYDQrse-oaZoE8tce4jiavwug4OfXs44DfSzKM5Odi0lyiCSNXC1DNQR7rWRnJi1yWp0PrUw8iZ0_vJhWysf4PMcYGnvYqTWD-IzxDHLjcBnCo/s320/PC280671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Throughout the trip we each only carried a small day pack.
Our big packs with sleeping bags, clothes and other equipment as well as food,
and gas, and such were all carried by porters. This was my first experience
using porters and it was defiantly weird to give someone else your bag to have
them carry it, while they were also carrying huge bags of provisions, and they
were in various quality of hiking gear themselves. They really made it possible
for us to reach the top. And I am not only incredible thankful for them but
also amazed by their strength. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 3</b></div>
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At almost 4,000m in elevation we needed to take some time to
acclimate before we headed to higher elevations. So the third was our rest day.
We slept in a bit (breakfast at 8am instead of 6am like other days), and went
on a small hike taking us a few hundred meters higher in elevation to Zebra
Rock. Here the volcanic rock has been weathered to give it white stripes over
black rocks with waterfalls falling down over it. As we climbed to the top of
the ridge you would never believe what happened… it started pouring down rain
again. (Ok maybe you did guess it rain kind of defined our trip). The hike back
on our “rest day” was very cold, wet and exhausting. Once again, we were all
glad to get back to shelter and we spent the rest of the day learning to play
Kenyan poker. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00oiOOPWengvCIK9dqEUKpKJMYmB95XDmZ4UJEmh7wXP7MMhuhNNoTYURdF_J64ukV8BToMKS8TPR13fU7SmFoVRLh0yvBZMWnYCQ5_8Qo3c79STv1kJG2OvSDRQxrAjTxYjSQ8n4vVw/s1600/PC290683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00oiOOPWengvCIK9dqEUKpKJMYmB95XDmZ4UJEmh7wXP7MMhuhNNoTYURdF_J64ukV8BToMKS8TPR13fU7SmFoVRLh0yvBZMWnYCQ5_8Qo3c79STv1kJG2OvSDRQxrAjTxYjSQ8n4vVw/s320/PC290683.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Staying in Horombo Huts for 2 nights they put us up in the
large room over the mess hall. It was just a large room with 12 bunk-beds so we
all got our own bed and had space to keep our stuff. It was nice. And the views
from this campsite were unreal. When it wasn’t raining or snowing we were up
above the clouds and the sunrise and sunsets were gorgeous. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFShefCeatTIuQxvb_3g0DlmXCjsRdxBF9HDWxJZe6b6XRtUtRKYmXANI2zYLvG4ZbMo6FXq9vktyjr56HzspSusAG6xS2Ig03Pg352o6AEnYO2SWqXffsGtsJR0Tk6P6rjf78Na2qEq0/s1600/PC300685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFShefCeatTIuQxvb_3g0DlmXCjsRdxBF9HDWxJZe6b6XRtUtRKYmXANI2zYLvG4ZbMo6FXq9vktyjr56HzspSusAG6xS2Ig03Pg352o6AEnYO2SWqXffsGtsJR0Tk6P6rjf78Na2qEq0/s320/PC300685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQraDlempTqzVzRXEHcwfz1A7MqZYEEzS-iX_2I1xF_c_2VBzKqkFymyX1Vom_OCa_gTmpT_uOxKUp1hwboBFBwJtAUvTxvwKNghmdyxX2e_xkJif_Q1UcloNwXbPCKN2Rgqyd2W5cUbU/s1600/PC300691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQraDlempTqzVzRXEHcwfz1A7MqZYEEzS-iX_2I1xF_c_2VBzKqkFymyX1Vom_OCa_gTmpT_uOxKUp1hwboBFBwJtAUvTxvwKNghmdyxX2e_xkJif_Q1UcloNwXbPCKN2Rgqyd2W5cUbU/s320/PC300691.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuK54dppo6c0bMasqGGgR11deH4Bw-VKOOj9nwMRmVOHUigpilDC0iqaJI6TE3Zv-OIyUO4jZIDkBkxNNbScSe14xeLLUeNkEcMWVodBDNDhHVkjvLnp30IS2A_FNmRqkoerqkzcfssY/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuK54dppo6c0bMasqGGgR11deH4Bw-VKOOj9nwMRmVOHUigpilDC0iqaJI6TE3Zv-OIyUO4jZIDkBkxNNbScSe14xeLLUeNkEcMWVodBDNDhHVkjvLnp30IS2A_FNmRqkoerqkzcfssY/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4psxDSCGWKBYOYa1noLoDQx-sbZRvU8rCXuOML3MiBpMiXFpvER290aJCmUmYgQlC0Bctkvj0B9Wyv7STX9m3axBOaK8UMdd2iN3jpRZbf05nMrKYg1go4PHsWdKPOKkibjDCmcgAVE/s1600/PC300686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 4</b></div>
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The fourth day got us up very early to begin the long hike
up to the next and final camp Kibo. On this hike we left the Moreland area and
got to the alpine desert. Water sources were left behind us as large open
crater areas allowed wind gusts and hail to pelt us non-stop. At one point you
could see the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, but it was quickly lost in the clouds
again. It was on this hike that you could really start feeling the lack of
oxygen. At one point I almost fainted trying to sing while hiking, I now know
that the Emily can’t sing and hike zone is at altitudes around 4,500m. </div>
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Kibo hut is located at about 5,000m in elevation an about
8Km from the summit of Mt. Kili. You can see the campsite about .5 Km before
you get there but that last little bit is a steep hill that was ridiculously difficult
to climb, it felt as if the campsite kept getting further and further away. My
good friend Amelia and I were hiking next to each other and having a great
time, but it hurt to laugh because the oxygen levels were so low. We stayed in
good spirits but were so happy to finally reach Kibo and have warm tea waiting
for us and dry clothes. We arrived to Kibo at about 1pm on December 31<sup>st</sup>
2012 and had 10 hours to rest up before the summit push. Resting at that
altitude is really interesting. Because your body is exhausted, all you want to
do is lay down and sleep, but once you lay down you can not sleep. The lack of
oxygen makes you out of breath even when you are lying down. And it’s REALLY
cold, so you just lay there, quietly, but you can tell everyone else in the
room is also wide awake. But you lay there for 10 hours with a break for dinner
around 7. And your appetite is suppressed too, at dinner even though you are
starving your stomach can only handle maybe 1 bowl of soup. Then there is the headache,
it is constant worse for some people, mine was just a sharp pain in the back of
the head that lasted the whole time I was above 4,800m. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 5</b></div>
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They woke us up a bit before new years to get ready and have
a bit of snacks before we began the main journey. We left camp right at the turn
of the year and it was freezing cold but also crystal clear. The stars were
incredible, and the milky was way completely clear. An almost full moon lit the
path so that you did not need a flash light. As we hiked up the steep incline
heading to the crater ridge you could see the light of the small town of Moshi
5000m below us, if you looked closely you could even see small flashes of
colored lights which our guide explained to us were fire works going off in
celebration of the New Year. It was only then that I realized just how high we
were. </div>
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We started off as a compact group, it felt like penguins,
all waddling in a single file line up the mountain. We quickly caught up to a
large group of older Asians and were going so slow that my body started
dropping temperature. So 2 others in our group who hike rather fast and I took
a guide with us and started passing everyone. We soon found ourselves way ahead
of everyone else climbing up the mountain. It was really cool to look back and
see the line of head lamps heading up the winding path. It was hard. It was
cold, windy, and the lack of oxygen prevented you fro ever catching your
breath. And it only got harder the higher we went. I felt like my lung was
going to pop. I lost all feeling in my toes and fingers. All I could focus on
was one foot at a time. I had to bring back everything I have ever learned
about positive thinking, about goal periods, about focus and believing in
yourself. It was hard. As we got close to the summit we were moving so slow,
and needing to stop and breath every 10 steps or so, it was one of the hardest
things I have ever done. I was pushing my body well pass what I thought was
possible. Right, left, right left, that’s all you could let your mind think of
in order to keep going. It was so cold- both my bottles of water froze and
there was nothing I could do about that. Toward the end of the push to the
summit it became a scramble climb up rocks, the ice I had for feet and hands
suddenly where needed to finish, it hurt, it was hard. </div>
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But somehow we did it. As we were coming up the final bit
you could see into the crater at the top of Kilimajaro. It was coated in snow
and reflected in the moon light. Very beautiful. Then as you finished to the
top peak it all was snow, and you could see glaciers! And it was so clear you could
see the lights from the city way below. The milky way was so bright, and the
stars, just unreal. It was amazing to see how the moon light reflected off the
snow and glaciers but it was SO COLD. Colder by far than I have ever been
before. We had summated at about 4:30am, actually ended up being the first
group to summit that morning, making me one of the first people to summit
Kilimanjaro in 2013. But the problem with summiting so fast is that it was so
cold, and such a long time till sunrise, that we had a quick summit snickers
and headed back down. The rest of our hiking group was well behind us and they
ended up summiting right at sunrise and their pictures are amazing. I am sad
that we missed that but, it was so cold there is no way we could have waited,
and I was so glad to be heading back down because my body was so exhausted I am
not sure how much longer I could have handled that environment. The biggest
bummer was that my camera battery had froze and didn’t work. So I myself do not
have any pictures of the summit, but here are my friends. </div>
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Because our little fast group summited so fast and headed
back down so fast we got to pass all of our friends who were still on their
fight up while we were on our way down. It was great to encourage them, but I really
was excited to be heading back to camp and shelter. Even the way down was ridiculously
exhausting. It blew my mind how long it took us going down the mountain to get
back to top camp. My whole body was ready to give out. As we got close to camp
was when the sun rise began and it was quite a site to see. But as soon as we
got to camp I was more than happy to go inside our hut and get into my warm
sleeping bag and pass out. </div>
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A few hour latter our fast group woke up, had a small bowl
of soup, packed our stuff and headed down to the next camp where the whole
group was to stay that night. The hike down was another 12 Km after an already exhausting
24 hours. Then the rain, wind and even hail decided to grace us on our way down
to Horombo camp. I was so glad to get back to camp early afternoon and have
half a day to relax. Many of our group who took a very long time to summit didn’t
make it back to Horombo until well pass dark. One girl in our group had even
required help to get down from the summit and needed to be carried a chunk of
the time back to camp. We on the other hand got into warm, dry clothes, and
played cards for the afternoon. So while I am bummed I missed sunrise at the
peak, I am also really glad for the time I got to rest; it was needed for the
next day. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 6</b></div>
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We had to travel 20km and about 3000m in elevation back down
the mountain all in 1 day. This one day being immediately after the extremely strenuous
day had had just had. It was long, but it was nice to be back at an altitude
that we could talk and laugh comfortably again. Of course it rained. And a
couple people from our group needed help due to exhaustion or messed up knees.
But I had a blast taking it slow and really enjoying the views. The group had
gotten so use to my singing and dancing that they started demanding
entertainment; they would yell out a song or a style and I was to perform for
them, it was fine by me and they even taught me a few African songs and dances. </div>
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Near the very end, when we were back in the jungle area the
rain stopped and the sun came out. It was so nice that Amelia and I decided to
dive into one of the pools and play in the water fall. It was very cold snow
melt but the water was crystal clear and it felt great on the sore muscles. </div>
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Around 3pm we finished. We reached the entrance gate feeling
like champions. Luckily the gift shop at the bottom sold cold Kilimanjaro beers
and champagne- and we started celebrating immediately. We all received
certificates of our accomplishments, tipped our porters and guides and loaded
back onto the bus with much laughter, and lots of high 5s. </div>
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We headed back to Moshi where even the cold shower in the
hotel rooms felt awesome. Everyone got clean, we had a HUGE dinner and then we
all headed out to truly celebrate our accomplishment. It’s amazing how quickly exhaustion
can disappear, all you need is a couple beers and the loud music of a hole in
the wall African club. We danced the night away in some small Moshi club and
went crazy when they played “its time to celebrate, 1 more time” about 15 times
for us. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Back to Kenya</b></div>
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Early the next day saw us back on a bus, crossing Tanzania and
back into Kenya. Amazingly this was the first day since we left that it didn’t
rain, don’t you love the irony of life? The next couple days were still
holidays here in Kenya, so Amelia and I did nothing but vedged out. We watched
dumb movies, stayed in our PJs most of the day, ate tons of food including 3
tubs of ice cream. I took long rides on my motor cycle just soaking in the sun
and the warm weather. I really love my home in Naivasha and although it was one
incredible adventure, I am glad to be back. Work is going to be packed coming up,
as I only have about 7 weeks left in Kenya. </div>
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Bring it on. </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-88050250640198817202012-12-07T21:26:00.001-08:002012-12-07T21:26:10.343-08:00Blessing the Rains in Africa<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So you know that 80’s song “Rains down in Africa”? well it
has been stuck in my head since my brother Jeremy posted a comment about it on
my FB wall before I left for Africa, and well a few weekends ago I actually got
to Bless the Rains in Africa.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact every weekend I have been privileged enough to go on
some incredible adventures. Doing a rain dance with a Massi Tribe almost seems
normal these days. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I met a hiking group and have signed up to climb Mont
Kilimanjaro this new years. I am pumped, and so for training a few weekends
back we went on a 28 Km hike of Mont Suswa. Mont Suswa is a HUGE reserve, protecting
animals, traditional Massi tribes and the natural geological exibits. We first
hiked out to the caves, and anyone who knows me, knows how much I love caves. They
were huge, formed by lava flows from when the Suswa volcano was active. Our
Massi guide took us through the “shit Shower” a small tunnel through extremely dense
bat populations and you can guess what happened. It was beautiful and we had a
blast.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGKvIkKd8Sy_StpVAwl2iBLjcJPF-xqT1x1NDNhLhhtgK9eHTvurgyjD2j8l0V7u_ocUhOXLpItXsUsEoxArpVaEtK3UQ04L5dv2pGnmfhTV3VP7LajMfDRUrVQ51aQN7mn5J41188Zw/s1600/PB160448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGKvIkKd8Sy_StpVAwl2iBLjcJPF-xqT1x1NDNhLhhtgK9eHTvurgyjD2j8l0V7u_ocUhOXLpItXsUsEoxArpVaEtK3UQ04L5dv2pGnmfhTV3VP7LajMfDRUrVQ51aQN7mn5J41188Zw/s320/PB160448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then we also past a couple traditional Massi villages. We
got to learn how they harvest steam produced by the geothermal activity in the area
and use it for their water. We got to see their small huts made only from dung
and sticks. And they were doing this dance (lots of jumping) in their traditional
attire apparently calling the rains down to finish the short rains so they
could start their migrating the following week without rain. And we got to join
them, so I kinda got to bless the rains in Africa. How cool is that?</div>
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Then we walked to the cone of the old Suswa volcano, it is a
double caldera, meaning that it erupted once and blew a big crater in the cone,
then in the crater another volcano cone formed and when that one exploded
another crater was created. Basically it was beautiful. We walked through a
HUGE jungle forest in the crater. Surrounded by monkeys, snakes and had to keep
an eye out for leopards in the trees. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gfBmbgCP_nsg1dania000ul929Za0E0pJvNF1wzZqBunqjGAMjH53OYRQ-_Ml1Dhtn71UPqlGowEK8onhsHqAt_aO-NakGqSDpbddDqS9MLlA5yeW8vYQsDyBe7qnuI5HIMUKI59iVk/s1600/PB160470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gfBmbgCP_nsg1dania000ul929Za0E0pJvNF1wzZqBunqjGAMjH53OYRQ-_Ml1Dhtn71UPqlGowEK8onhsHqAt_aO-NakGqSDpbddDqS9MLlA5yeW8vYQsDyBe7qnuI5HIMUKI59iVk/s320/PB160470.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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The following weekend I went on a camping trip with a group of
couch surfers. We camped at Boyor Subuk National park. Couch surfers are fun
because it was such a mix of people from around the world. We went on a great
hike up one of the peaks on Saturday. Watching monkeys of all varieties,
actually buffalos (not to be confused with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bison</i> found in the states). For many of the Kenyans it was their first
camping experience, so I got to teach so many how to put up a simple tent. The
evening was filled with many silly group games, lots of food and just a great
time. At one point a baboon somehow got into the car with the food and made off
with 2 loafs of bread, and then sat eating it not 20 ft away from us in the forest
taunting us with his steal. </div>
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Sunday we walked from the national park to 14 Falls. It was
an incredible walk that took us down a dirt path through many small villages.
Most of these places never see a white person, so the crowd of children following
me grew bigger and bigger but they showed us the back way to the river, it was
pretty cool.</div>
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I had no idea what to expect with 14 falls, and let me tell
you, my mind was BLOWN. It is a HUGE river that drops down about 50 ft in some
places to create an entire crescent shaped waterfall range, you can kinda tell
the 14 separate falls, but really they all combine to form one HUGE waterfall. Now
sadly this weekend was one that I forgot my camera, my waterproof shock proof
camera… so pics are sadly limited. But we climbed down the side of the water
falls to try and get to the rocks at the bottom, to do that we had to cross extremely
fast powerful rapids on the most questionable falling apart wooden “bridge” (it
was more like a ladder on its side). We were already slightly questioning this
as we were crossing when they pointed out a giant African Crocodile swimming
below us. My stomach definitely dropped- but we made it safe. And a local
Kenyan tribesman informed us that for $3 he would show us a safe lagoon to swim
in and even take us up to one of the waterfalls you can jump in. Now you should
know a couple things about Kenya. 1<sup>st</sup> is most Kenyans do not swim. They
might get in water, but only up to there waist. So people swimming is odd to
them. 2<sup>nd</sup> white people are rare, so a swimming white person is a spectacle
to them. Needless to say, I jumping off the water fall into rapids drew a
crowd. 3<sup>rd</sup> is that trash and waste of any kind is a big problem in
most rivers here. So that water was some of the most polluted, dirty water I
have ever been it. And yet the falls were amazingly beautiful, and jumping off
30ft falls is always exhilarating. It made for quite an experience. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWhZUYiV_6n8ddDN2cI8x8uW0DkhvCQn-Gob78RTmL1D1hAFJT5rVgXBuUt1gcaqsWJkKSEFNSB8iyYuii9wDfoewsQVdgwtjP2TqXxcYBsQEaGZYfnn7QUhuQQts1zN1eNa0ucqrt6A/s1600/14+falls+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWhZUYiV_6n8ddDN2cI8x8uW0DkhvCQn-Gob78RTmL1D1hAFJT5rVgXBuUt1gcaqsWJkKSEFNSB8iyYuii9wDfoewsQVdgwtjP2TqXxcYBsQEaGZYfnn7QUhuQQts1zN1eNa0ucqrt6A/s320/14+falls+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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We spent the rest of the afternoon just climbing over the
rocks, climbing up natural roots of trees up on top of huge boulders and diving
into the water. It was a paradise for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then this past weekend I FINALLY got to go explore my own
backyard – Hell’s Gate National Park. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mCe4Ij3tFtK5HLY9gLbrvVjt2-mjwzKohYIAkmqMfWWZc3TJ4AXBt3V4WBn5v5jDmOAAVriQLBVTheFBogBJu_UyOF68brD46zreCncTjTEz7MEa_6lbjMH7JqK8VblIpKIJZsSvg0w/s1600/PB300267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mCe4Ij3tFtK5HLY9gLbrvVjt2-mjwzKohYIAkmqMfWWZc3TJ4AXBt3V4WBn5v5jDmOAAVriQLBVTheFBogBJu_UyOF68brD46zreCncTjTEz7MEa_6lbjMH7JqK8VblIpKIJZsSvg0w/s320/PB300267.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
(This is the ONLY map for Hell's Gate, it is posted on the entrance to the park)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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YES, this is the place that inspired the drawers for one of
my all time favorite movies – The Lion King. Fisher’s Tower, inspired Pride
Rock, and the gorge looks exactly like where Mufassa was killed by wildebeest. Its
one of the few National Parks that lets you bike in and around the park. So we
mountain biked through the park, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>zebras,
wildebeest, warthogs, giraffes, buffalo all around us. Gorgeous mountains and
cliff faces everywhere (rock climbing is really popular in the park). Then that
lead us to the gorge. The gorge is one of the main attractions in the park, you
are required to pay for a guide if you want to go down into it and explore the
devil’s bed room, devil’s shower, hot and cold springs, climbing, swimming,
waterfalls and every other kind of natural playground equipment you could
imagine. </div>
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(biking in Hell's Gate, that is "Pide Rock" in the background) </div>
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(Playing in the Canyon, rock climbing, waterfalls, hot springs, my 2 German friends came with me shown above)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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All of this, literally in my backyard of where I am living
in Kenya! SO MUCH FUN! By the time we got back to my shack we were exhausted
from a full day of hard core fun in the sun. Good thing my Kewi friend who lives
down the path from me was grilling for us an entire leg of lamb. I have many
plans for continued exploration of the gorge complete with rock climbing and
mountain biking. Like I said, it’s a rough life here. </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-15370842401479762442012-11-26T09:47:00.002-08:002012-11-26T09:47:51.356-08:00Thanksgiving, Kenyan Style<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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So I didn’t even realize when thanksgiving was until friends
were talking about leaving for sizzler this past weekend. It kind of hit me by surprise,
I had no plans, not many close friends here in Naivasha, heck I don’t even have
a kitchen. So a couple days before thanksgiving I made some plans with friends
in Nairobi for me to travel into the big city on Thursday afternoon get there
around 2pm and start cooking and we were going to have some of our closest
friends over for a good ol’ Thanksgiving meal cooked by yours truley. </div>
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I still had a lot of work to do here in Naivasha before I could
take off for the city. We were scheduled to do some surveys in a village I had
yet to explore and then we were to have a meeting with representatives from the
village. My co-worker and I started real early so we could get our survey work
done before the meeting lead by our boss that was to start at 10 am. So by 7am
I am in the village walking between plots, meeting people, asking about their latrines,
taking pictures, trying to move as fast as possible because I had thanksgiving
to get to once I was done with this. My head wasn’t really present, I was
thinking about all the shopping for groceries I had to do, how I was going to
find all the right ingredients, I kept texting everyone who was coming for
dinner later that night to give them details as to what to bring, when to be
there, and where to go. As we headed to the village meeting our
boss informs us that she is running very late and the meeting will have to be
pushed back in hour. This starts to worry me, as this would push back my
arrival to Nairobi an hour, then how would the turkey (which had yet to be
bought) have time to thaw. But Sylvia (my co-worker) and I just kept going with
our surveys. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As most things in Africa, an hour delay became 2 hour delay,
which became a 4 hour delay. If any of you know me, you know how much I was freaking
out at this point. At 1:30pm (when I was supposed to be close to arriving in
Nairobi) I was still in the village doing surveys waiting for my boss so
we could START the meeting, I just kept thinking how thanksgiving was going to
be ruined. At this schedule I was not going to be able to get into Nairobi till
we were supposed to start dinner (at 8pm), I had no idea how the turkey was
going to be cooked, how I was supposed to get the rest of dinner cooked for
everyone, and well yes- everything was ruined. I kept looking at my watch every
few minutes as if that would speed things up. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Then, something happened that changed everything.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I was at a very, very poor plot. The buildings were made
only from mud and sticks and were falling apart. There was a lot of space on
the plot were apparently years ago the buildings had fallen down but there was
never any money to build them again. There “toilet” was a hole in the ground
with some sticks stuck in the ground for “privacy.” There were about 6 kids
around (the family couldn’t pay for school for them), all barefoot, staring at
me like most children do here (white people are really rare out in the
villages).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb4-NRbKHz-2Er_oiQoFpGB1sJWwRLgQz_oHXxfR770tYOF5hf7M1OkGp113krTTKBpiPFQ_yvnuXMwAqardWd02UVmI2JW_6H3_Sc2up1B71z3F1TZpRV54pXcucGM47Fq2n8g6CKWE/s1600/PB190209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb4-NRbKHz-2Er_oiQoFpGB1sJWwRLgQz_oHXxfR770tYOF5hf7M1OkGp113krTTKBpiPFQ_yvnuXMwAqardWd02UVmI2JW_6H3_Sc2up1B71z3F1TZpRV54pXcucGM47Fq2n8g6CKWE/s320/PB190209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this precious little girl came and grabbed my hand as we walked
around her plot and talked to her grandmother who ran it. At one point she
looked at me with huge beautiful eyes and in the most serious voice you can
imagine said “Mazungo” and then something in Swahili that I didn’t understand. Mazungo
means white person, so I know she was addressing me. It was translated it for
me, the little girl had asked “Mazungo, buy me shoes?” Apparently she hadn’t
had any kind of shoe for years. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanksgiving, a day to say thanks for what you have. A day about
contentment, peace and gratitude. And I was freaking out about “ruining it” because
I couldn’t cook dinner on time, and this little girl just wanted some shoes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I stopped. I stopped worrying. Stopped checking my phone
or my watch, stopped worrying. I went and bought this girl and the other 5
children some shoes. (It cost me all of about $11 US dollars). We had the
meeting. I didn’t get into Nairobi until about 7pm. My Kenyan friends ended up
buying the turkey for me earlier and cooking it themselves. I went shopping for
ingredients for a few sides. I got to start cooking at 8pm as everyone was
arriving. And we just drank wine, and everyone helped me cook, and we had to
wait for the turkey to be done anyway. So we didn’t get to eat thanksgiving
dinner until about 11:30pm BUT the meal was amazing, the turkey that my Kenyan friend
cooked ended up being one of the best turkeys I have EVER had (and she had just
goggled “how to cook a thanksgiving turkey”) AND for some reason ESPN here was showing
American Football so because it was so late here I got to watch the Texans V. Lions
game live!!! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Lessons learned this thanksgiving:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Once again God gave me a tall cool glass of perspective
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Everything ended up working out anyway (as it always
does)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Worrying never does anything productive</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Keep your head & heart where your body is </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-81812317150314253412012-11-13T21:53:00.001-08:002012-11-26T09:48:26.824-08:00First 2 weeks in Kenya<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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So, as I sit outside of my new “house” watching the sun set
over the lake and the mountains reflect that amazing orangey/pinkish color while
typing up the information we gathered today in the near by village the song
“dreams” by Yonder Mountain Band comes on. The song, in a fantastic chill, folk
twangy sound that fits the mood perfectly, states in its chorus over and over
again “all your dreams come true” and I can not agree more. </div>
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<br /></div>
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WOW. Can life get any more perfect? </div>
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<br /></div>
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I tell you the past couple weeks here in Kenya have been a
roller coaster of emotions. I first was in the big capital city of Nairobi for
about a week and that was super high. Nairobi is really comfortable, reminded
me a lot of Houston. Always things to do, good food, even got to watch some rugby
last Saturday. There are plenty of white people around (mazungos they call them
here) so while I still stand out, it’s not that big of deal. I met my work
team, got to know the WSUP office, stayed with a co-worker from the states
(strangely also from Houston) at his house in Nairobi which is a Start- Up
house. Meaning a couple of American guys about my age are running a start-up
company out of the house and they rented a couple of the rooms to other ex-pats
all about my age. It felt just like Chile. People from all over the world,
working on various projects, always cooking together, always things going on,
always invites to go and do something. There is also a HUGE couch surfing group
in Nairobi that took me on some great tours, even took me to this huge concert
call “blankets and wine” where just that, everyone brings their blankets and
drinks of choice and sit out on a huge hill and listens to live music. There is
also a huge Hashing group that I went running with, and a huge ex-pat community
that were so very welcoming to any new people. Nairobi was fun, comfortable,
and I felt right at home. </div>
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New Friends at the Blankets and wine concert in Nairobi</div>
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This was walking back to our car after Blankets and Wine, this guy </div>
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litterally just came right over the fence at me. </div>
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Then I came to Naivasha. Naivasha is a town about 1.5 hours
north of Nairobi. It is based near to Lake Naivasha where the biggest industry
are the huge flower farms surrounding the lake. Naivasha is so different than
Nairobi. Small, not very developed, still crowded and dirty, it has grown to
fast to really accommodate, so power goes out all the time, most places do not
have running water but it is still apartment complexes and huge compound/slum
areas. I was shocked by the poverty, I forgot what it was to see people
starving on the street, I forgot what it was to be stared at where ever I go
because they rarely ever see Mazungos (white people). I don’t think I have ever
spent time in places that were unsafe for me to go out by myself at night. So
with work during the day, and it gets dark shortly after 6pm here, I really
couldn’t meet anyone or explore where I was. And I was just stuck in the hotel
until I found a place to live. It was a hard week. Then I got really sick, I am
sure it is the food and my stomach adjusting. And I was alone, and nothing I
could do and just in a really hard adjustment period. </div>
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But our God is good. And with prayer, and a positive spirit
I firmly believe we can see the beauty in any situation. So Saturday I got out
and really got to see the south part of Lake Naivasha. And WOW- it’s beautiful.
Mountains, which are really old volcanoes, the lake, zebras, giraffes and even
hippos out on the lake. I saw 3 types of monkeys the coolest are Columbus
Monkeys . I went Kayaking out on the lake by myself and decided that I am going
to embrace a bit of solitude for the next few months. I will still have great
adventures on the weekends with great friends, and still love my job working in
the villages but most my evenings should be spent out here, in nature, just
enjoying some alone time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvjZchMWhk9H6XP3jZkm_8Z4_xxua501aAM6rSNayPZ0vAcosrbKvNrXEwTns6zSXKPaiDaCMFW1LafoErEV70Z4GGKOGnqOwy6xFtoyRZsz8pyADl22EVGNinMfy-5LtdaUB8OR1Qvo/s1600/PB090248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvjZchMWhk9H6XP3jZkm_8Z4_xxua501aAM6rSNayPZ0vAcosrbKvNrXEwTns6zSXKPaiDaCMFW1LafoErEV70Z4GGKOGnqOwy6xFtoyRZsz8pyADl22EVGNinMfy-5LtdaUB8OR1Qvo/s320/PB090248.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div>
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(right) Colombus Monkey one of the types of monkeys around here. crazy, i know.</div>
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(left) is me on my kayak trip around the lake</div>
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So I found a place to live, and PRAISE GOD for that, because
it is out here in nature. And I couldn’t be happier with my “house.” It’s not
really a house, more of a 1 room cottage in the mountains with a bathroom about
20 ft walk. But the view can not be beat. And I have a lovely front “porch”
with tables and a fire pit and I am going to hang my hammock. And my backyard
is Hell’s Gate National Park. Complete with all your standard African Animals,
mountain biking paths, rock climbing, roaming groups of the Massi Tribe, it is
also THE place that Lion King was inspired from! In fact Pride Rock the
formation is mirrored after a natural rock tower in the park that you can rock
climb up- how cool is that?!?! I went running this morning along the lake it
was so perfect, I think I will go kayak out with the hippos tomorrow morning…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4Y4_EAnnlYP0teUCLSD8kgN3DDZgfV6tWwWjOjL9rJUlnQ0e0D4N_av2sa7wDS_T6YnBZU5mD1ZGDtKH_WRsFUBZ85PAnXLNjC0MqG1-VWdGH6ZcDa3Yu_9gpW3deFh-PcmIySTVflU/s1600/PB110276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4Y4_EAnnlYP0teUCLSD8kgN3DDZgfV6tWwWjOjL9rJUlnQ0e0D4N_av2sa7wDS_T6YnBZU5mD1ZGDtKH_WRsFUBZ85PAnXLNjC0MqG1-VWdGH6ZcDa3Yu_9gpW3deFh-PcmIySTVflU/s320/PB110276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My front "porch" - what a view! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNsHySY_7pHIiSQDDHYDhvXKyKToQGu507Y5CUlsXoD7EzmdwVL-yahyLqFrNf_qMfm9G2M43ftwP7qdv6nYqS4em7GLUXXp4WmJwyMbZbySWUZijjbp8ZdSqrqEvb6CLet6U185KWwg/s1600/PB110283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNsHySY_7pHIiSQDDHYDhvXKyKToQGu507Y5CUlsXoD7EzmdwVL-yahyLqFrNf_qMfm9G2M43ftwP7qdv6nYqS4em7GLUXXp4WmJwyMbZbySWUZijjbp8ZdSqrqEvb6CLet6U185KWwg/s320/PB110283.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inside my 1 bed room cottage</div>
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I call my place "cozy", and I LOVE IT!</div>
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Next update I will tell you a bit about my job and working
in the villages.</div>
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And what you have all been waiting for: the winner of the
free Fecal Sludge Management<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>t-shirt
goes to…. Drum roll please….</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
PATRICK LINTON </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While it wasn’t really a poo pun, and wasn’t really your
story, and actually wasn’t about shit but about pee… it still made me laugh
really hard. So congrats buddy. Send me your address and I will pop ya a
present in the mail. </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-54101750836485856442012-11-01T07:02:00.000-07:002012-11-01T07:02:05.670-07:00South Africa<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Well it took a while, but I am here. I made it, and the ups
and downs of being back in Africa are hitting already.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I left last Wednesday morning from my parent’s home in
Houston, TX. Then a quick flight to Atlanta, Georgia where I had a few hour
layover. I went to campus and had a lovely afternoon swimming in the campus
fountain, laying in the sun and having an incredible dinner all in company of
some of the most amazing people I know in the world. I was supposed to fly out
at 7:45pm, but new lesson learned: don’t leave midtown at 6:30pm to try and
catch an international flight at 7:45pm especially when the Vice President is
in town and roads are closed and traffic is awful. Needless to say, I missed my
flight and got an extra 24 hours in Atlanta. God works in mysterious ways
right? Because I was sure glad to have an extra day visiting good friends and
preparing for Africa. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was in the last row of a huge 747 delta plane for my
flight over but had the privilege of sitting next to one of the most
interesting man I have ever met. Good ol’ Oklahoma boy, no college education,
entrepreneur, family man, firm believer in Jesus Christ, newly elected
representative for OK,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also created his
own NGO working with agriculture and veterinary practices around the world. He
told me stories of helicoptering in Ethiopia to find nomadic tribes and teach
them new practices to help their survival, of years of extended work in
Nicaragua, to working in the villages of Tanzania drilling water wells. As one
can assume, we had a great flight sitting next to each other for those 18 hours
of air time. And wouldn’t ya know it, God showed me yet again not to worry
because while I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have been worrying about
making my money stretch for a while this random stranger decided to give me a
small money donation because he believed in my cause and in me. Awesome huh? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t worry it get better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I landed Thursday evening in Johannesburg, South Africa to
the sounds of “I’m too sexy” playing on the airport laud speaker and the smells
of KFC overpowering the terminal and my only thought about South Africa was
that it sure felt a lot like the US. I needed to get to Durban and found that
an overnight bus would be the cheapest way. So I made my way to the bus
terminal, bought a ticket and sat down to wait the 3 hours till the bus came.
And guess what? It took me less than an hour after landing in South Africa
before I met a professional rugby player. This beautiful man was heading back
to Durban on my same bus and he began to tell me all about life in South
Africa. We bonded over talks of rugby and world travels and that 9 hour bus
ride went by just as fast as the plane trip had. And even if I did happen to
leave my blow up travel pillow at Lara’s apt in Atlanta, this rugby player was
a pretty good replacement. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We arrived in Durban at 4:30am Saturday morning, and I had
the address of the couch surfer’s house who I would be staying with for the
week. The rugby friend helped me get in the right taxi and get the right price
figured out and promised me a motorbike tour of the city for the next day. I
woke my Couch Surfer up at a horribly early hour for him to let me in and we
stayed up for the next hour just chatting. He invited me to join him and a
bunch of friends as they were headed up to the midlands, to a farm in the
middle of the hills for a friend’s birthday party later that day. So that
afternoon I packed up in a car full of locals and drove through some of the
most gorgeous South African country side to the middle of no-where for a birthday
party. This “farm” was more like a plantation with a huge farm-house-mansion
where about 30 people around my age were gathering for a night just away from
the city. I met a lot of interesting people, had a great time, and yet again
was blown away with how much it reminded me of home and exactly what me and my
friends love to do. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: the entire time I had been in south Africa it had been
raining, and quite cold. This sad pattern would continue my entire time while
here. So sad to say the motorbike tour of Durban on Sunday was cut short and we
instead ended at a pub with a group of people watching a football match
(football being soccer). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday morning began the World Fecal Sludge Conference #2
(FSM2) at the International Convention Center in Durban South Africa. It lasted
for 3 days and was extremely interesting and jam packed. I got to meet so many
of the sanitation greats from around the world, finally got to put faces to so
many people of whom I have been in email contact with for 2 years now. I learned
a ton, have a bunch more articles to be read in the next few weeks. I got to
present to a group of about 100 people about what Sanivation did down in Chile.
I had many people interested in our work. And I made a whole bunch of
connections and possible projects all over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most people are extremely curious about how we did our
pathogen testing- apparently everyone knows that it should be done, but very
few people in the world know how, and I am somehow one of those few people.
Ergo many, many Africans are interested in us teaching how we did our testing
and it looks like we are going to need to set up a pathogen testing lab in
Naivasha where I can do testing and train others. The entire lab set up would
cost us about $3,500 usd and donators will have the privilege of naming the lab
and the various components of it. More to come on that later. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I forgot how inefficient so many things are in developing
areas, so many processes are completely unnecessary. As I was trying to make
the connection to my flight to Kenya tonight, that took 2 ½ hours just to get
checked in, a fellow traveler reminded me you can either get frustrated and
upset or relax and remember where you are. I am in Africa. And I am so happy to
be here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many people expressed interest in receiving some shwag from
the World Fecal Sludge Conference and have I got a deal for you. As reward for
you reading my blog (and making it this far into my ramblings) you have a
chance to win a FREE fecal sludge T-shirt or hat! All you have to do is give me
your best poo joke/ pun/ or a creative new name for shit – right here below in
the comments section and the best will receive their choice of a fecal sludge
hat or t-shirt! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not joking, this is serious shit guys. Write your best
poo pun right now! </div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-41181713011608051362012-10-23T15:43:00.001-07:002012-10-23T15:43:39.409-07:00The Adventures DO continue <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is incredible how you can pray for something so long, and
all along you know its going to happen, but it still blows your mind when it finally
dose. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As of tomorrow, October 24<sup>th</sup> I am off for my next
big adventure- Africa. Finally. I have been trying to get myself to Africa for
as long as I can remember. Every short little visit I have had there has only
broken my heart when I had to leave. But this time- I am going to stay. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first location will actually be Durban, South Africa
where I will be presenting at the World Fecal Sludge Management Conference on
solar inactivation of helminth eggs in fecal sludge (what I did down in Chile).
As pumped as I am to go to South Africa, I will only be there 1 week and will
be in the conference the whole time- so there will not be much time for
exploring, yet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
November 1<sup>st</sup> I begin work with Water and
Sanitation for Urban Poor (WaSUP) where I am hired as a consultant sanitation
engineer and will be running a latrine design and implementation project in
Naivasha, Kenya. I am pumped about this opportunity because Andy Narracott, my
boss, knows EVERYONE and EVERYTHING in the sanitation world. I am going to
learn so much from him, and be able to meet people doing the same things I am
from around the world. I will be working in a lot of various slums in the south
part of Kenya, but will be based in Naivasha, a small town a few hours outside
of the capital Nairobi. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then on top of consultant work for WaSUP, my company received
funding from a German sanitation company called GIZ to do pre-pilot work there
in Kenya. The idea is that we will have funding to be able to implement a large
solar sanitation system this coming year, so currently we have funding to try
and get everything possible ready for when that funding is approved. So I will
be designing, testing, calculating and talking to a lot of locals in hopes of
Sanivation receiving funding in 2013 for a large pilot system. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So to sum all of this up: basically I am going to live my
dreams. I am going to be living in Africa, in slums, using my engineering to truly
make a difference in people’s lives. I will be just a handful of miles from the
most incredible landscapes, animals and adventures. I am about to embark on the
next journey of my life to see things I have never dreamed of before, to meet
people I have never met before, to try things I have only ever read about. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I leave in about 12 hours and keeping with my true identity,
I have not started to pack yet, I don’t have visas yet, I don’t know exactly
where I am going when I get there, don’t really know what exactly I will be
doing, but I am positive it will all work out – because it always dose. So
shoot a prayer out for me, and send me your final farewell texts because as
Shakira so wisely wrote “it’s time for Africa!”</div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-13175756327599869742012-09-14T11:05:00.002-07:002012-09-14T11:16:35.105-07:00Adventures in the Americas<br />
So, due to constant nagging of lots of people to write book or at least keep my blog updated, I've decided the latter is a much easier compromise. Ergo, I am going to attempt a quick update of what i have been up to since my last update (january, oh goodness, this is going to be hard) and then prob, well maybe, go back and write longer versions of my fav stories.<br />
<br />
January:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Started off the New Years watching the worlds LONGEST fire works display in old chilean beach town Valparaiso. Absolutely incredible street party that lasted until 10am when the riot police cleared us out. </li>
<li>was working hard to prove our solar toilet could kill off all harmful pathogens in only an afternoon. Lots of time in the lab</li>
<li>Got to live in a slum outside of Santiago and build a complete solar bathroom along side the community member there and NGO: Un Techo Para Chile. </li>
</ul>
<div>
February</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Participated in my last Chilean rugby tournament: it was on the beach. a beautiful white sand beach, i won MVP of the tournament and had a blast with my team.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc1u0kbyQFYi17ENatkZs52MiEYHTyAhiaPCOR1fFGms5FLitAse0t4ngTXHUlfzQRxrO-V3kaHHW8QlbteSkl8igGR9DQMwRFNEA3f5z_T-7Y38RVtZyHJ3FEgnvROZqvnMVsaCt18w/s1600/429230_369185476443507_755751383_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc1u0kbyQFYi17ENatkZs52MiEYHTyAhiaPCOR1fFGms5FLitAse0t4ngTXHUlfzQRxrO-V3kaHHW8QlbteSkl8igGR9DQMwRFNEA3f5z_T-7Y38RVtZyHJ3FEgnvROZqvnMVsaCt18w/s320/429230_369185476443507_755751383_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>I attempted to go and tour the Asyen Region of Chile (just north of Patagonia) with Book selling friend Michelle Miller. We got caught in a city wide protests and were barricaded in the city for a week. Its ok, we met some people from a mountain guide training school and still had a blast of a week. </li>
</ul>
<div>
March</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZOHF4NxHy9Rv_8HTkezkRbsmj_LK6BmkrJZHSH8Y1oCI8wF7fkAu2fMNResKIXAHmVHJE2YMrQVnT9ps2jaX-lRuE96Ize7pMw9Vnmo_JzE0gdznIa9Rxy6NE5TNT8ehIorFIwRoxns/s1600/527808_3623788476913_735128360_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZOHF4NxHy9Rv_8HTkezkRbsmj_LK6BmkrJZHSH8Y1oCI8wF7fkAu2fMNResKIXAHmVHJE2YMrQVnT9ps2jaX-lRuE96Ize7pMw9Vnmo_JzE0gdznIa9Rxy6NE5TNT8ehIorFIwRoxns/s200/527808_3623788476913_735128360_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<li>Spent most of my March in Colombia where my good friend Hope and my brother Doug got to come adventure with me. There was dancing, canyoneering, para gliding, camping on beaches, mountain biking, caving, scuba diving, and meeting incredible people from around the world.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBf93_Nv90gTxoCDSwl6LLMvYaibudwj3OWzBulZvCHl-IbPcktTOyruSALHGuUl7srM-ko5vL8LVn1_jIJwSD13f5QxQSSJwRgIuEax0sBbrSDntiowffYCbDv3wlMEh4VoAu5BMcNk/s1600/534835_10100172922214419_1304719818_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBf93_Nv90gTxoCDSwl6LLMvYaibudwj3OWzBulZvCHl-IbPcktTOyruSALHGuUl7srM-ko5vL8LVn1_jIJwSD13f5QxQSSJwRgIuEax0sBbrSDntiowffYCbDv3wlMEh4VoAu5BMcNk/s200/534835_10100172922214419_1304719818_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6hZknwy53TxwlLbXB7qL69M7oh8oZ5Z_16kHE6-Em2VeofEOAngCu1cx1nz3egoi5qyQqS5Ju4Sg81pOEXKbq_XG3BDICxRB66FjmqOGeV0LlnNohcHkcwysfSWO3xl0C04es2ha3p8/s1600/428613_858814152401_1535600441_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6hZknwy53TxwlLbXB7qL69M7oh8oZ5Z_16kHE6-Em2VeofEOAngCu1cx1nz3egoi5qyQqS5Ju4Sg81pOEXKbq_XG3BDICxRB66FjmqOGeV0LlnNohcHkcwysfSWO3xl0C04es2ha3p8/s200/428613_858814152401_1535600441_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Oh ya, and I got really sick and had to go to the Bogota Emergency room. I have to send out MAD MAJOR props to Diego and Maria Vivas. I met Diego while traveling in Chile and he invited me to stay with him and his sister in Colombia. They took such good care of us, and when I got sick I have no idea what i would do with out them.</li>
</ul>
<div>
April</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>April had me back in Chile finishing up work stuff, moving out of our apt and saying my last goodbyes. </li>
<li>My very last night was a full moom and me and 10 of my good friends form all over the world hitch hiked up into the Andes Mountains for a rock climbing by moonlight event. It was incredible. Huge fires, dance parties, rock climbing all with my fav people down in Chile. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidBLlMiSyAwx0RB7eIsSSFXTfQPUZl-S9J_0HSC0sFURPuV-Ic0XAJ_mT2DLzOCEeT76R7_aDB-5fdxkqoPmQj13Oae7irzJT2amaS4AA6MfFuCpaIOOO1fn5Gs1Pb6cpM-P2qmlwPHU/s1600/456191_10101077798988989_60623614_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidBLlMiSyAwx0RB7eIsSSFXTfQPUZl-S9J_0HSC0sFURPuV-Ic0XAJ_mT2DLzOCEeT76R7_aDB-5fdxkqoPmQj13Oae7irzJT2amaS4AA6MfFuCpaIOOO1fn5Gs1Pb6cpM-P2qmlwPHU/s320/456191_10101077798988989_60623614_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbq5KgH6-cNjUix9vmZ7umKRgyXOXiZnyePIKraB9gBXxg96oAFyDgdIeOoUxums109mbPeHipol6Pc6aov4sgMCUzrOUGofyNI-WIHiAFuasdr0KPvkV7Df_DTaHif6pvtW2911tTHyE/s1600/554277_10100206823001969_28697923_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbq5KgH6-cNjUix9vmZ7umKRgyXOXiZnyePIKraB9gBXxg96oAFyDgdIeOoUxums109mbPeHipol6Pc6aov4sgMCUzrOUGofyNI-WIHiAFuasdr0KPvkV7Df_DTaHif6pvtW2911tTHyE/s200/554277_10100206823001969_28697923_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><ul>
<li>Then I went home. I visited Texas and my family for a bit. So good to see them. Doug was randomly home from med-school so the whole family got to hang out for a week in Houston. So rare with my fam. </li>
<li>I got to go out to LA, california where my old roommates decided to have a roomie reunion. LOVED LA. went surfing, caught up with an old rugby friend KP, toured Hollywood, played in a beer-lympics (won a gold medal), and cooked with my old roommates. it was lovely. </li>
</ul>
<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fR0UnVzI8hyrbl1n-HvFHnm6VgMOiph5DYkBzMAunoPSRFjsOZrJZU3AqxyR0DtDpm7yTG9icXBphPvJvlBRonKYijCaxkyXzIUG-lTT0pFvTFpS-69GkJU5HKMLm3sAaI98PoYq8yE/s1600/577554_10100206821944089_1812952981_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fR0UnVzI8hyrbl1n-HvFHnm6VgMOiph5DYkBzMAunoPSRFjsOZrJZU3AqxyR0DtDpm7yTG9icXBphPvJvlBRonKYijCaxkyXzIUG-lTT0pFvTFpS-69GkJU5HKMLm3sAaI98PoYq8yE/s200/577554_10100206821944089_1812952981_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MpSjVobqML8TKZPQuwMEyJkgPcXDbBs9TrKGH5xtIucSR88HRZvbKanO8XQmk0jPdunWer1_N1NgTgov6o_opgZGQhryUr3MR4JLMvrXtzd370dXeYMsFkzIt7lRUdVRUYHfCQfjYOI/s1600/536480_10100206827008939_850950710_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MpSjVobqML8TKZPQuwMEyJkgPcXDbBs9TrKGH5xtIucSR88HRZvbKanO8XQmk0jPdunWer1_N1NgTgov6o_opgZGQhryUr3MR4JLMvrXtzd370dXeYMsFkzIt7lRUdVRUYHfCQfjYOI/s200/536480_10100206827008939_850950710_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
May:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Saw me back in atlanta catching up with all my old friend there. Some great friends (Mercedes and Lara) through me a great welcome back party and so many people that I love got to come. it was great.</li>
<li>Then I hopped a bus up to knoxville, visited my fav UT gals there. Hope gave me a ride over to Jacksonville where I got to visit with my old best friend from High School days Peter Boedeker.</li>
<li>Then I was in Nashville for sales school with my old summer intership of selling books. Yes i was off to sell books in Mich-again for 4 weeks. </li>
</ul>
<div>
June</div>
<ul>
<li>Things turned interesting up there when I found out my 3rd day on the bookfield that my company's proposal to the gates foundation had been accepted to the final round, and therefore a FULL length proposal had to be submitted 2 weeks later. </li>
<li>Literally the day we turned that in, we found out our USAID grant had also made it to the final round and had a bunch of followup questions for them too. </li>
<li>needless to say book selling was broken up by proposal writting, but as God tends to do, things worked out. I got some great proposals written, sold some books, meet a bunch of incredible people, and learned some very important life lessons on plans and commitments. so thats cool.</li>
</ul>
<div>
July</div>
<ul>
<li>Since i was in a holding period of waiting to hear back form these grants, I decided to go travel the states. There were things that needed to be done with Sanivation, but all could be done via computer and therefore <i>where</i> i was wasn't a problem.</li>
<li>I went to Las Vegas with my brother Doug. We decided we HAD to go to the Amazing Race additions out there, so we did. Had a blast together doing vegas the cheap way (you know pretending to be married to get good deals on show tickets, talking our way into fancy casino pools, ya know -the norm)</li>
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<li>I visited Ohio: old friend who graduated from GT with me Michael Lennard in Cleveland. Visted a rugby buddy from Chile who goes to school at Denison University outside of Colombus. Funny story there; they day i arrived was the day a HUGE storm came through and knocked out all power. So we were without power on her campus for the 5 days i was there. It felt like camp, by day we filled up the baby pool, drove around golf cartst, by night we had big fires and ran through the forrest in complete darkness. </li>
<li>I even got to go to Cedar Point, finally!</li>
<li>Then off to Erie, Pennsylvania for Emily Pinto and Josh Taylor's wedding. Can not begin to say how great that week was. So many amazing old friends from WAY back, it was refreshing to my soul. The wedding was so beautiful, and loved getting to know all their families. Wonderful people.</li>
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<li style="text-align: left;">From Erie I hopped a bus to Bringhampton, NY. There i got the lovely privileged of staying with 2 old friends that I knew from my time on board my ship, Logos Hope. Bryan and Nikki met on the ship, fell in love, got married, had twins 18 months ago and have another on the way now. I got to go to church with them at this lovely country small church, with a pot luck lunch afterwards, and then went blue berry picking with the whole family. So much fun.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Then I headed to Hartfield, Connecticut to visit my old roommate Caroline Rhode. With a quick stop over in NYC i got a week of just hanging out with Caroline. It was lovely. She had just moved there and was kinda sick, so I got to cook for her, take her to work, and just hang out. I played some rugby while I was up there and, like always, adventures with ruggers ensued (feel free to ask me for that great story: involving loss keys, new friends, and making a tub into a shower). We even made it down to New Haven to visit a old friend who was in school with me back at Tech- Drew Hess. New haven was beautiful, we went long boarding, went to a beach, a farmers market and of course had pizza. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Then off to DC to visit another girl I met on the ship, Jen Robertson. Jen is one of those people who I initially met for only a week, but we just clicked. Since meeting in Croatia we have had reunions in Germany, Scotland, Houston and now DC - what a great friend ship!</li>
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<li>From D.C. i caught good old mega bus down to Knoxville. Met a girl from Denmark on the bus, invited her to hang out with me and my friends in Knoxville and we tried our best to show her what REAL America is like: Crispy cream donuts, walmart, goodwill, then a front parch bbq complete with fireworks and a few ppl playing the fiddle and the banjo. It was great.</li>
<li>Then I took off the Knoville rugby girls to Pitch-A-Tent, a famous rugby tournament during the end of July where ruggers from all over come to the middle of no where TN and camp during the rugby tournament. I have always heard about it, but have never been able to go before because of work but let me tell you - it was more awesome than any thing i could have dreamed about. So many of my fav ppl from all over together, out in nature, add in rugby, then a 18-wheeler of beer, a slip-in-slide, costumes, a swimming hole, a dance floor, and bunch a rain just to turn everything to mud, and BAM that was pitch-a-tent. </li>
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August:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Then it was down to ATL for a bit. Had to do some work stuff with my co-founder and visit everyone in atlanta. It was lots of pool time and random sports every night. </li>
<li>Then, for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary they rented a beach house down on surfside beach and the WHOLE family got to go for a week and just spend time with each other. Fishing, surfing, drinking on the beach, playing card games, didn't matter what we were doing it was so great to just be with my whole family for a week. </li>
<li>Houston for a week after that. Catching up with old friends, country dancing, and lots of time at the pool playing beach volleyball - just like old times</li>
<li>Then I hopped a plane to San Fransisco because we got the opportunity to build our solar toilets at BURNING MAN! For those of you who don't know Burning man is a week long out-door art and music festival in the middle of the desert in Nevada. It is based on 10 principles which basically entail leaving no trace (EVERYTHING you bring into the desert your take out), no transfer of payment for anything only gift giving (buying, selling, trading are ILLEGAL in the "city"), art, self expression, and inclusion for anyone and everyone into the community. For those of you who dont know- ITS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! I had such an awesome time. I went up a week early to build so i got to be around incredible people, doing incredible things, in the middle of the desert for 2 weeks. It was like being in the rabbit hole at times, almost always sensory overload, and ALWAYS incredible people to talk to. i can not wait to go back again. longer post about BM to come soon. </li>
</ul>
September<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>i found a free ride from Burning Man up to Salem, Oregon with an older couple I met. So with their invitation I decided to come explore the NW coast, part of the country I had never seen before. Nancy (my new friend who gave me the ride) let me barrow her convertible mini-coop while i went and explored BEAUTIFUL mountains, waterfalls, and kayaking down rivers. Together we did wine tasting and listened to live jazz, cooked a lot, and worked in her garden. i fell in love with oregon.</li>
<li>Portland. a few days full of more incredible hiking, mountain biking and sampling local made beer and wines. fell in love with Portland, could really see living there for an extended period of time. </li>
<li>Seattle. hopped a bus to come see Seattle and surrounding areas while visiting an old rugby buddy of mine, Tia. And that is where i am now. I toured Pikes Market, climbed a mountain in the cascades and plan on sailing later today. The weather up here is perfect this time of year and I am loving it. </li>
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Future <strike>plans </strike>ideas</div>
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<ul>
<li>Im going to fly back to Texas later this week. Be home in Houston for a couple weeks; visiting, playing rugby and packing for africa.</li>
<li>In October I am presenting at the World Fecal Sludge Management conference in Durban, South Africa.</li>
<li>Then I will be living in Kenya working for Water and Sanitation for Urban Poor (WSUP) as a latrine design and implementation consultant. Its a 3 month job that will open me up to so many opportunities, I am very excited about this, finally taking off to Africa to do what I always wanted. Can not thank God enough for every thing he puts in front of me. </li>
</ul>
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so this is really long, sorry. If you made this far, even just skimming, i give you mad props. I am going to TRY to keep this more updated. Especially as I head over to Africa and am farther out of contact than ever before. Let the adventures continue~!</div>
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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1030"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Despite popular belief, I am working down here in Chile. We are working very hard actually, and making a lot of progress recently. So here is a long discription of the work I am doing down here in Chile<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Step 1: Background</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You may or may not know but the world is in a serious sanitation crisis. It’s hard to believe that 2.6 BILLION people (half of the developing world) lack access to even the most basic latrines, and are left only to the great out doors to handle their personal business.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This use to not be a problem, our world is amazing at being able to break down people’s leftovers, and what came from the earth can be naturally be returned to the earth BUT thanks to urbanization in the last 200 years more of the world’s population are living in closer and closer proximity. Our earth can not naturally break down that much waste so condensed together. Beside this being a problem due to smell, eye sores and just a hassle to deal with that much crap, the real problem is due to the bacteria and parasites that are found in human fecal matter that are killing thousands DAILY around the world. 3.5 million people die from diarrheal disease every year attributed to poor sanitation and drinking water. This is also the #1 killer for children under 5 years old. Specifically in fecal matter intestinal worms such as Ascaris are extremely resilient and hard to break down, and therefore over 1 billion people are affected by these Ascasris worms right NOW. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ4b2Zx6M6QWfDlcHv4nobr2ORv386hQeACyykpJB3q5YCpVhp3ox1LTLTvqvFtgr7rwsn2dtN4118ntwzMYWEKs7-iedeR4WHjp3P37ELGkUi4XrAOdnQP2CGHSIN1NHAOYQwN22Tfw/s1600/cameroon_ar+453.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ4b2Zx6M6QWfDlcHv4nobr2ORv386hQeACyykpJB3q5YCpVhp3ox1LTLTvqvFtgr7rwsn2dtN4118ntwzMYWEKs7-iedeR4WHjp3P37ELGkUi4XrAOdnQP2CGHSIN1NHAOYQwN22Tfw/s200/cameroon_ar+453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703488938093993202" border="0" /></a>These numbers are hard for us to process, but after visiting Mungoa-goa, a village in Cameron Africa and meeting people who spend their whole lives drinking water from the stream that other people poop in and seeing their pain and suffering, after seeing so many little beautiful children constantly coughing, throwing up and seeing the de-hydration from so much diarrhea, I became deeply connected to this sanitation crisis. This past year while working in Atlanta for Georgia Tech Research Institute I got to work on a Solar Latrine project. Basically, and idea was given us to use the heat from the sun to heat human fecal matter hot enough to kill off everything in, even these extremely resistant intestinal worm eggs called Ascaris. We developed some prototypes and got to present in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian where we took home first place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Step 2: Start up Chile</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Chilean Government is looking for more and more ways to make Chile a 1<sup>st</sup> world country, to develop every part of the country, to connect it to the world and show everyone that they are different from other countries in South American. And they are doing some incredible programs to reach that goal. The Start-Up Chile program is designed to increase business, specifically international business, and foster an entrepreneurship culture here in Chile (the Silicon Valley idea). So they have invited the world community to come start business here in Chile, offering a $40,000 grant to get the business started as well as plenty of resources, mentorship and community to start a business. 4 friends and I, all recent grads, applied for the program back in February with the solar latrine idea. We knew that for the Solar Latrine idea to go anywhere, we needed to break apart from the university and try some real field testing, and, we got in. We started a company called Sanivation (check us at Sanivation.com), Sanivation is “innovation in sanitation” (get it? ha), our goal is to provide novel solutions for the world’s sanitation crisis. Awesome.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknURIm-qBsyNw_nr909gPDVoBgqIyOBGJwWxMDsONjhAxJgdFRcfmVxChSmA2b7GHBULrIJeYLwhMCMCCQdfmkiHPKV2LfH82FxF-aoR7hdpl01gv-bzveS4vcW1M6DFpvLSE680HUWo/s1600/logo.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 62px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknURIm-qBsyNw_nr909gPDVoBgqIyOBGJwWxMDsONjhAxJgdFRcfmVxChSmA2b7GHBULrIJeYLwhMCMCCQdfmkiHPKV2LfH82FxF-aoR7hdpl01gv-bzveS4vcW1M6DFpvLSE680HUWo/s200/logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703489971436163506" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd5hbVxViYc0JQ9JZfXJ_udb1CxFZjFRYFABHTJVJNnmwMezJdX6de1eCoUIhuV9l8qeeDyLCrKvFsSyhzn5y5TixlFknUXC8A02pVcH8tVQ0yQoPhbQyx5aMUz13Sc8R-aQk_RPWi_s/s1600/startup-chile-highres.jpeg.scaled1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 44px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd5hbVxViYc0JQ9JZfXJ_udb1CxFZjFRYFABHTJVJNnmwMezJdX6de1eCoUIhuV9l8qeeDyLCrKvFsSyhzn5y5TixlFknUXC8A02pVcH8tVQ0yQoPhbQyx5aMUz13Sc8R-aQk_RPWi_s/s200/startup-chile-highres.jpeg.scaled1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703490429485704802" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknURIm-qBsyNw_nr909gPDVoBgqIyOBGJwWxMDsONjhAxJgdFRcfmVxChSmA2b7GHBULrIJeYLwhMCMCCQdfmkiHPKV2LfH82FxF-aoR7hdpl01gv-bzveS4vcW1M6DFpvLSE680HUWo/s1600/logo.gif"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Step 3: Moving to Chile</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XPj8G5fHX-QO2uugSuD3ABt2G2VICO2SwEaOozw-zmkCnAQA9pSeASNN95dwDOwSbsiNYxtPzbTxXkawVuY9ByyevBSzxTQdOelHyv07RvVS0eJzMM-Kj7gb5irIQ2cCBq-MfW7lcLY/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XPj8G5fHX-QO2uugSuD3ABt2G2VICO2SwEaOozw-zmkCnAQA9pSeASNN95dwDOwSbsiNYxtPzbTxXkawVuY9ByyevBSzxTQdOelHyv07RvVS0eJzMM-Kj7gb5irIQ2cCBq-MfW7lcLY/s200/IMG_0087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703490918177545090" border="0" /></a>July 12<sup>th </sup><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>all 5 of us said goodbye to the US, not sure of when we would be back, and headed down to Santiago Chile. We quickly found an apt. to live in and were amazing how fast Chile became home. The first couple months were spent really figuring out the world sanitation needs. We spent a lot of time reaching out to people around the world learning from them, we read a million papers, traveled to many places in Chile to see and understand the range of sanitation here. We needed to become sanitation experts. At this time we were comparing technology possibilities and possible business models. For me this was the first time that I had to think about how sanitation could be a business, that providing toilets for the poorest of poor could actually make money. Apparently money doesn’t grow on trees, and grants run out- so for anything in this world to be lasting, there has to be lasting money exchange. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">That time learning was frustrating because I am a “doing” person, but it was important. I learned a ton about sanitation, what is currently being done, learned a lot about business, and got my mind thinking bigger and more outside of the box. It was end of October when we realized that a personal solar toilet may not work, it’s to expensive, spends too much time just sitting instead of making money. So we turned instead to community sanitation centers. Currently around the world developed cities’ waste is shipped in pipes via water and pumps to some kind of giant treatment center. In the US, our government pays billions of dollars a year to keep the infrastructure and daily operation needed to keep our system running. Most places can not do this. Way to expensive, way too much expertise required, far too much infrastructure needed. So what do they do? Well most slums in the world have low income workers come and manually remove fecal matter from a holding tank with shovels and carry the family’s shit away and dump it where ever it is convenient for them. Out of site out of mind. Gross, I know. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">To battle this many NGOs are creating better toilets, better ways to store the waste so it is better contained and helping to set up easy ways to collect and transport the fecal matter. But then where do they put it? Most don’t know what to do with it. The idea of biogas is getting more and more popular but it has tons of problems and requires high expertise with minimal return on investment. That’s where our community solar treatment center comes in. We would provide a local, safe, cheap place for fecal matter to be transported to. Then in only a day, the fecal matter is safe to put anywhere, and best to be placed on local farms and used as a safe, organic soil amendment. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Step 4: Proving our design</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, a great idea right?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Well we are now proving that it is not an idea, but a working product. So we have designed a parabolic solar collector, lets call it a Shit Cooker, and have been testing it to be sure that it hits high enough temperatures. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDCBP2sH-tAKdSiQMAXGE3zxG3q1Kxs4P0xfiVzMyOFPllFNJkN8rpot1D3e0dYgTDpzAPoIWEeWu1RqfyFzqGgeUYWoggLw17Xc6OX-BIa0B6iqUxK3PNrRHeyjqFiG79XbGJqwSEiY/s1600/P1000582.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDCBP2sH-tAKdSiQMAXGE3zxG3q1Kxs4P0xfiVzMyOFPllFNJkN8rpot1D3e0dYgTDpzAPoIWEeWu1RqfyFzqGgeUYWoggLw17Xc6OX-BIa0B6iqUxK3PNrRHeyjqFiG79XbGJqwSEiY/s200/P1000582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703491628912555554" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">Our Current Shit Cooker</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Basically how it works is the black cylinder is placed in a toilet and you poop into it. It will have a ventilation pipe for smell, and designed right so it is easy and comfortable for people to use. When full, it is capped and then moved to the sanitation center, placed on one of these parabolic mirrors and in one afternoon, it heats up over 60C and kills off all pathogens, then can be sold as fertilizer. The Diagram below will show the system idea for ya.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS4R8aCKQVHCkWXrl3abYf_t6s5dnKXcxyTsZYXXy34Xx71BqC81ikxgZJZsUQbw8pZzoOrmASqJTzmwa2Iv70vb_G6VcdzOGWNkGDCRUPkMhxxhZ56PAjT7bTtG7bp3pKXqrXjx0d20/s1600/system+cycle.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS4R8aCKQVHCkWXrl3abYf_t6s5dnKXcxyTsZYXXy34Xx71BqC81ikxgZJZsUQbw8pZzoOrmASqJTzmwa2Iv70vb_G6VcdzOGWNkGDCRUPkMhxxhZ56PAjT7bTtG7bp3pKXqrXjx0d20/s320/system+cycle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703493851682791090" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wxWPLoj8W9BYtXi7Ke4V3xv9fF19VxL97dq2h5gnnMY84AZNierDRpBVFJ-QyL4Yf3L37aDPBTWwc5VbIigRsxXIX4plyshryCFPymE7275rKd8e1OHHcnlNR4WLkLyojU2klyL7QPE/s1600/P1000574.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wxWPLoj8W9BYtXi7Ke4V3xv9fF19VxL97dq2h5gnnMY84AZNierDRpBVFJ-QyL4Yf3L37aDPBTWwc5VbIigRsxXIX4plyshryCFPymE7275rKd8e1OHHcnlNR4WLkLyojU2klyL7QPE/s200/P1000574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703494332247263010" border="0" /></a>So, in order to prove this guy works we have been doing MANY temperature tests using fecal matter from all kinds of animals (easier to collect than humans). We are working with a veterinarian university, and so we go to their zoo, and shovel whatever poop we want, and bring it back to our prototype to load it. So, yes, I have collected everything from dog, to cow to emu poop over the past couple weeks. Yummy. (no that is not dirt in our prototype here to the left)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We also need to prove biologically that this will kill off all the parasites and bacteria. So we have been trying long and hard to somehow get some Ascaris eggs. It is harder that you would think. We found that a cousin of the Ascaris egg <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(found in humans) is Toxocara, found in dogs, specially is very common in puppy poop. So, Andrew and I got to chase down stray puppies for a while in Santiago collecting their shit. Luckily the dog kennel here on the vet campus got a batch of puppies just when we needed it most and their poop was full of Toxocara eggs! YIPPY! Then we took plenty of other studies in how to isolate these eggs, and developed our own procedure where we now have over 40,000 eggs in our stock solution. This is what our precious eggs look like under our microscope after they have incubated.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-fDC3GO2vkBIA5U0s2NhM3J9xBn3M7nTR1bzliAv_lIF3h25JrJeD256h8pIxmOg6QK-NzWdOrLlc391ROwnxhGjDLncxJz-DI8gANNPhjl4wzWkdU9F0dG2SfXEMvYUtPpEtky0e3c/s1600/P1010262.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-fDC3GO2vkBIA5U0s2NhM3J9xBn3M7nTR1bzliAv_lIF3h25JrJeD256h8pIxmOg6QK-NzWdOrLlc391ROwnxhGjDLncxJz-DI8gANNPhjl4wzWkdU9F0dG2SfXEMvYUtPpEtky0e3c/s200/P1010262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703494745491791890" border="0" /></a>Yes, this worm hatches in people's intestines </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now comes the fun part. We are putting these isolated eggs into our own “tea bags”. Basically using a porous latex material that has holes small enough to keep eggs in, but large enough to let most of the environment (air and liquids, and mainly heat) in and out we glue them into little baggies holding our eggs! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ES_U90TcsMP49mK-WkYaP8P5c0BMCzh_Tv6urGNVGnz8LlZ5ofUMOHC0KSEZwI4jOCZYr3NPCup1zcTLwgxZtPS2P6pCv3xMOop3VCZGWBj4Tb9GngYzXLpBLi_3GV6CIk57XuS-1mU/s1600/P1000677.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ES_U90TcsMP49mK-WkYaP8P5c0BMCzh_Tv6urGNVGnz8LlZ5ofUMOHC0KSEZwI4jOCZYr3NPCup1zcTLwgxZtPS2P6pCv3xMOop3VCZGWBj4Tb9GngYzXLpBLi_3GV6CIk57XuS-1mU/s200/P1000677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703495266484643458" border="0" /></a>These tea bags are then placed in a lot of animal crap and into our prototype. We then “bake” it all. Let the solar concentrated do it work, at the end of the day remove the tea bags, open them up, grab a sample from the inside, make a slide and examine it with the microscope and see if the eggs have all been destroyed. Crazy hun? But kinda fun. And very busy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, while all the lab work is going on, we are re-designing our prototype, making is better to work with, fixing little details. We are also working with a huge NGO down here, called Techo Para Chile who has been vital for us getting to know slums here in Chile. We have visited many of them around Santiago, and will be working with Techo to design a field prototype and hopefully implement in a slum soon so we can get user feed-back. And not to mention, will get to help out a community badly in need of sanitation reform! So I will update on that soon. There is also a couple other possibilities for installation around chile- but to be honest, we don’t want to stay in Chile. I love it here, but 98% of this country has working sanitation. This isn’t where this project belongs. So we are totally making use of our time down here: working with people in the field, visiting slums, lab work, designing, building AND we also are looking for other opportunities to figure out what is next after Chile. We are talking to many huge sanitation groups around the world, as well as other possible implementation or business grants. The plan is to figure out where we can get money to be, and a real place we can implement and work with and go there in August/ September for field testing. Our biggest opportunities right now are south east Asia and Sub Sahara Africa. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So things are well. I am working hard, despite popular opinion, and we are making great progress. </p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-58728896490611753792012-01-30T09:46:00.000-08:002012-01-30T10:04:02.674-08:00Christmas in Chile<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNimgoMKFHJg9ztPaMtO7jicfKqR6aaw8yelARH9px0Xrxf81EHLUebzvt2swGYojJscyfWmVVC4CnUGooFGCKzeWKmR31ltu5j9Pmu_8BxJo-92bvnloy7LYNPMIu4ckql2YgFTl7Ifo/s1600/P1000721.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNimgoMKFHJg9ztPaMtO7jicfKqR6aaw8yelARH9px0Xrxf81EHLUebzvt2swGYojJscyfWmVVC4CnUGooFGCKzeWKmR31ltu5j9Pmu_8BxJo-92bvnloy7LYNPMIu4ckql2YgFTl7Ifo/s200/P1000721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703484278074174690" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> 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<w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Christmas was something else down here in Chile. Besides it being summer and super hot, and being away from all my family, there is just not a whole lot of Christmas vibe in Chile. It’s just not that big of deal. Like Christmas fell on a weekend this year, and most the country only got Friday before off, including students. But my little family I have here in Chile decided we would hav<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchIzJrARYQBXG417hIjZRxhOqzXdpQHIrFuBTbt6GHBCUX3tDq7mnstEQ603_-h03RgEgEvDQKgQTJOQgSOzsJEb0Nu2J6u6s1FsYwmgIP4GNzUb4c98DEFU-IO-xp00qbgyMVBvyiIo/s1600/P1000724.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchIzJrARYQBXG417hIjZRxhOqzXdpQHIrFuBTbt6GHBCUX3tDq7mnstEQ603_-h03RgEgEvDQKgQTJOQgSOzsJEb0Nu2J6u6s1FsYwmgIP4GNzUb4c98DEFU-IO-xp00qbgyMVBvyiIo/s200/P1000724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703485773133135826" border="0" /></a>e a great Christmas together. So first was the decorating- Nick and I went down to the largest street market in Santiago and in the heat of summer, drinking smoothies, we pushed through the crowds to purchase the most cheesy Christmas décor you can imagine, including out blue tree and lights that played music and lit up with the music. My mother sent stocking wit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi507a8oByUMPFddzVJRLYPFhHnMjPesceBAodMZUk3meUJ0b6yG4O3LBGRPQuz84LBphX5KLpBDYtQb4Mp5qWNHhzFYh5GOQ21JgRxgtVa6eKW_vEuHdhabbeIdkb0zFcG6po1WAptQ0k/s1600/P1000726.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi507a8oByUMPFddzVJRLYPFhHnMjPesceBAodMZUk3meUJ0b6yG4O3LBGRPQuz84LBphX5KLpBDYtQb4Mp5qWNHhzFYh5GOQ21JgRxgtVa6eKW_vEuHdhabbeIdkb0zFcG6po1WAptQ0k/s200/P1000726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703485981793709042" border="0" /></a>h our names on them, and we purchased a few others for our friends who were joining us on Christmas morning. We all bought silly gifts and filled all the stocking and had a blast creatively wrapping them just like I always did with my family back home. On Christmas morning we had us, plus a few friends from various countries, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVp5pOoupHO3ZZL1IqCMkbPQqId_c-vt3Mn934czVDbxE_NOLisOnma9LnjPw-oN7MBR9KkpUQSSpNVTGa2UIw43gDgH5i-zEq6juWnJzhcGZhWsj3gj3r5qKdgnQ9vRguQ1oEd26hlY/s1600/P1000759.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVp5pOoupHO3ZZL1IqCMkbPQqId_c-vt3Mn934czVDbxE_NOLisOnma9LnjPw-oN7MBR9KkpUQSSpNVTGa2UIw43gDgH5i-zEq6juWnJzhcGZhWsj3gj3r5qKdgnQ9vRguQ1oEd26hlY/s200/P1000759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703486751118975362" border="0" /></a>and a couch surfer from Brazil who landed at 7am on Christmas morning in Santiago. We made our own egg knog (because they don’t have it in Chile) as well as our own home made whiskey hot apple cider (spice thanks to my mother) and of course mimosas. So it was a delicious morning to wake up to. We had everyone come to our house for HUGE brunch and also keeping up with recent family tradition- we had French toast casserole. Presents and stockings were next. Everyone got pool toys and water guns (because it was our first Christmas in the summer), lots of alcohol related gifts, and the traditional socks, underwear and office supplies for everyone. After that we headed to a Ch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9EkSYKDMl-xDp0rc3wuW6dUfr2u3mfn8Lgz6eiApgCSzjuYSXgT9Kmjb9A7bUIY06NBFPpz68LPaSvoJJKxAS64Ra1PxAIFu2JzquKsxxzq7g7214dOyDg1TNlAOW8Zbcht2ZuW0n-E/s1600/P1000807.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9EkSYKDMl-xDp0rc3wuW6dUfr2u3mfn8Lgz6eiApgCSzjuYSXgT9Kmjb9A7bUIY06NBFPpz68LPaSvoJJKxAS64Ra1PxAIFu2JzquKsxxzq7g7214dOyDg1TNlAOW8Zbcht2ZuW0n-E/s200/P1000807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703487173349002578" border="0" /></a>ristmas pool party/BBQ on a friends apartment roof top. So up 20 floors in the center of<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6mY3PAlO4G4uUCMsVFwz_cPHklGZN_pbo0HQUoKBxh3MocGnmCoJQ8lD7OqWHQMbzQ8LYoKnGN0qjz-gvd86bPRST7PVGz6YnKOqs4RpoVsS029UQnoBj2ZcG6dCZ-vDgbDElG-CahY/s1600/P1000766.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6mY3PAlO4G4uUCMsVFwz_cPHklGZN_pbo0HQUoKBxh3MocGnmCoJQ8lD7OqWHQMbzQ8LYoKnGN0qjz-gvd86bPRST7PVGz6YnKOqs4RpoVsS029UQnoBj2ZcG6dCZ-vDgbDElG-CahY/s200/P1000766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703486246065774946" border="0" /></a> Santiago we gathered with about 50 people from all different countries to swim, eat, and hear about Christmases around the world. It was something else working on my tan on Christmas, and the sunset was perfect. And then I went and packed because the next day Katelyn was flying in and we were going adventuring together. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-68182871828510509052012-01-30T08:50:00.000-08:002012-01-30T09:45:44.708-08:00The lost city of Machu Picchu<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> 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Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjeLM8H_C9AeaLBPWPb3x4iXEXeuVUwvF5-yT6e2SiN_V425y4ph4c_YarLCkSBou_F2c8pbzHcyCIyaYs4d0tQtdPBxofhQOXQr1rNn62YuIK_jGmVJfCaeFvlxxBXqE9NonLkO5pV0/s1600/IMGP0358.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjeLM8H_C9AeaLBPWPb3x4iXEXeuVUwvF5-yT6e2SiN_V425y4ph4c_YarLCkSBou_F2c8pbzHcyCIyaYs4d0tQtdPBxofhQOXQr1rNn62YuIK_jGmVJfCaeFvlxxBXqE9NonLkO5pV0/s200/IMGP0358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703469915644626402" border="0" /></a>Oh peru. How to begin to describe one of the best vacations of my life? It was incredible. My best friend from the States got to fly to Peru on her fall break and meet me in Peru as we hiked through the Inka Jungle with some of the most incredible people I have ever met from around the world on our way to the lost city of Machu Picchu. If I had to describe it in one world, I would say unreal. Never had such a perfect combination of adventure, sites, new friends, and soul refreshment combined together… ah, can never thank God enough for that one. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am late to update, and for that I am sorry. Thank you Anna Barrs for staying on my case about it. It was a few months ago now that Caroline Rhode, one of the best surprises of my life, who I met last year when I moved into live with her and Sarah at Miller’s place in Atlanta last year, took a few extra days off of Fall Break and met me in Lima Peru. She was the first <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU17gUBXnA8XGTGU-tY5W5qmLcGSHivyVfepoFSAk0TK_KEh8qTkanfndq6VR1ZgcVVCBc3TPWykQKXLiTpvR4M8HLx0BqMM28T2aQbq-IKbnQY-diw6HMnqCM5uXx18hPCkBqVJ_ahg/s1600/IMGP0223.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU17gUBXnA8XGTGU-tY5W5qmLcGSHivyVfepoFSAk0TK_KEh8qTkanfndq6VR1ZgcVVCBc3TPWykQKXLiTpvR4M8HLx0BqMM28T2aQbq-IKbnQY-diw6HMnqCM5uXx18hPCkBqVJ_ahg/s200/IMGP0223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703470667235482770" border="0" /></a>person from home I have seen since I came in July, needles to say we had a lot to catch up on. After living with 4 boys here in Chile and being surrounded by other male entrepreneurs I hadn’t realized how much I missed real girl talk. I flew to Peru a couple days earlier and just hung out with some couch surfers and saw the sites of Lima and met lots of fun people. We picked Caroling up from the airport and it was so sweet to see her again. We took off to find a place to chat and found a ridiculous bar with zebra fur seats but had plenty of pisco sours as we caught up on each others life. By the time we got to where we were staying that night we had already been asked if we were “parajas, ” “partners” in Spanish, 3 times and we gave up trying to explain our relationship and just started answering yes, yes we are a couple. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next day Caro and I flew to Cusco- and what a flight. Peru is filled with incredible landscapes. This flight was filled with jagged mountains that were <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsyR82q1Iph7gRRBBCVt_QhghkKM11o3NmorGLOjpeieb978OX5-2nUwPWAyzuqqV6zt4l6WwwELfGv-EWsBPh5Sxqf53XETmP_okloX1yhm9W72BNn5cozFsJvhi7ut8drtYqOXaCjk/s1600/IMGP0134.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsyR82q1Iph7gRRBBCVt_QhghkKM11o3NmorGLOjpeieb978OX5-2nUwPWAyzuqqV6zt4l6WwwELfGv-EWsBPh5Sxqf53XETmP_okloX1yhm9W72BNn5cozFsJvhi7ut8drtYqOXaCjk/s200/IMGP0134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703471539382612178" border="0" /></a>such vivid shades of green, a beautiful blue sky and incredible rivers that ran along the valleys… wow! So many colors. I feel like I was drooling most of the trip as I stared out the plane window. When we landed our tour guide and soon to be great friend Jimmy Jhon was waiting for us. Poor Jimmy didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Jimmy is a local there in Cusco, (he is actually Cetchua- the local native people’s real name NOT Inca) and he was just about the throw himself into the lions den, Caro and I spent the entire week messing with Jimmy and laughing mainly at him. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We met up with the couch surfer, Erin, who’s house we would be staying at that night, she took us lunch with her boy friend. And they were great, so welcoming and very sarcastically funny, just the way we like them. Cusco is a beautiful city. All the building and roads are cobblestone, very old with so much character and history built into them. We had a great day touring around and fighting the airlines who had decided to loose Caro’s bag for a few hours. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then next day Caro and I were starting a 4 day Inca Jungle Trail to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM7jTznM7YfPExOf6G21UdLfY3O0DGiVKjf-j_uJrbETyKeLjlQGOjW58uQJdsFZo4_oTsqAiAdVXjwkk3H2Ybme6p_n8A7LfwuynqABxEpYeJ-3aMaPOFIDGPO1XExpuqpfgfl11Rr8/s1600/IMGP0353.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYM7jTznM7YfPExOf6G21UdLfY3O0DGiVKjf-j_uJrbETyKeLjlQGOjW58uQJdsFZo4_oTsqAiAdVXjwkk3H2Ybme6p_n8A7LfwuynqABxEpYeJ-3aMaPOFIDGPO1XExpuqpfgfl11Rr8/s200/IMGP0353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703472939180050674" border="0" /></a>Machu Picchu.<span style=""> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A lot of people have heard about the Inca Trail, rated one of the best trekking in the WORLD. Well there are actually many “Inca Trails” they are all these trails that the Cechtuas (not Inca, Inca were only the rulers, the emperors of the Cetchuas) people had created leading to their main religious city hidden high in the mountains. The one Inca Trail that people are trying to refer to is the Royal Trail, the one specific trail that only the royal family or priests were aloud to use on their journey to Mach Picchu. So the Inca Jungle Trail follows a few different Inca Trails and parts of the Royal one as it follows rivers and jungles as well as over mountains on the way to the hidden city. The best part about this trip, is that is wasn’t just hiking, every day offered new adventures.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Day 1: We left way supper early and joined a van with a group about 10 people.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These 10 people were from all over the world and combined created one of the most incredible group of people to have on an adventure: an Irish couple, Canadian couple, 2 Colombian sisters, an Argentina guy, 2 Brits, a Frenchmen, 3 Eastern Europeans, Caro, myself and our guide Jimmy. The van was laded with mountain bikes for everyone and took us up to about 5,000 meters elevation at the top of many mountains in the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GkYbbHpMU5kjPwZvruoRpL8BCJWJSX66j8ZV0RisPuxgJSDe9fT_FpFAHC7gXTZPpwFQKWdo7p0nnJb_x7Q1PlBIWliuelO40Xi00Bd-K9vJ7qegx0KaIxSoIveJVlDIvuR_g4C8sIU/s1600/IMGP0056.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GkYbbHpMU5kjPwZvruoRpL8BCJWJSX66j8ZV0RisPuxgJSDe9fT_FpFAHC7gXTZPpwFQKWdo7p0nnJb_x7Q1PlBIWliuelO40Xi00Bd-K9vJ7qegx0KaIxSoIveJVlDIvuR_g4C8sIU/s200/IMGP0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703473444161394930" border="0" /></a>area. It was beautiful, rolling hills and valleys everywhere. A lot of people got altitude sickness, and everyone was chewing cocoa leaves to fight off the symptoms. Mountain bikes and helmets were given to everyone ad off we got to go: to bike down through the Peruvian mountains, through amazing scenery, down to 1,800 meters. It was such a great way to soak in the majesty of the views. Faster than walking, but more IN the moment than in a car. And no peddling necessary, just going as fast you wanted down curvy mountain roads. I LOVED it. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That evening we stayed in this really small town in the mountains at THE town hostel. We got to play volleyball with all the ladies in village- so much fun. Evening was filled with drinking and hanging out with locals and our group.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Day 2: We woke up real early again and started the day off by white water rafting through the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyUAGFtPVcoepEGnaL-OZoHlpJ2efPv657w1wK6TbJCfZjrtm-5_V4gNZ3mpPDQpF81jC6akKLIrJ7iZ_2IY9zGlNpsWiAlckIsoxOSglgnjrTe-_6YmpQJB37fn95sHs4sSvhdjmc_o/s1600/IMGP0077.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyUAGFtPVcoepEGnaL-OZoHlpJ2efPv657w1wK6TbJCfZjrtm-5_V4gNZ3mpPDQpF81jC6akKLIrJ7iZ_2IY9zGlNpsWiAlckIsoxOSglgnjrTe-_6YmpQJB37fn95sHs4sSvhdjmc_o/s200/IMGP0077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703474203562579538" border="0" /></a> mountains of Peru. Ya, I meant what I wrote. I have white water rafted in many places, but none as beautiful a scenery as this. It was gorgeous. Then we spent the rest of the day hiking an inca trail. Throughout the hike Jimmy would stop and teach us all about Inca History and life. We even got dress up in native clothes, eat tradition food and put on <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0feTIJgwfOlGh68Pq9exU8U9h7AVK3MquHShufLGhgpyCYu3yndDduTdfOcGQipSmDSeZtfbnB17bE-qReLkj-GslFTlKSoqsNFZ6TjyJ96X0A0JC75rK9Um8288wsi11Kh2uAB2cY4/s1600/IMGP0149.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0feTIJgwfOlGh68Pq9exU8U9h7AVK3MquHShufLGhgpyCYu3yndDduTdfOcGQipSmDSeZtfbnB17bE-qReLkj-GslFTlKSoqsNFZ6TjyJ96X0A0JC75rK9Um8288wsi11Kh2uAB2cY4/s200/IMGP0149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703475725843777554" border="0" /></a>traditional face paint. We hiked through the jungle, over volcanoes and by a huge river. We even got to play with a monkey. It was honetly some of the most incredible views I have ever seen. All along we spent laughing and hanging out with our tour group, they really were such incredible people. We ended the hiking at natural hot spring where you got to relax off the day and hang out, letting the naturally hot spring fed water soak our muscles as we swam around. That night we stayed in a slightly larger town, it even has 1 disco-tech. apparently this is one of the few disco-techs in the world were normal dress is dirty, sweaty hiking apparel. Our whole group went out and spent the night dancing with all the locals having a ball. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Day 3: The next morning was again another early start because well, we <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJDOsIAOF9h5MBht5Rs5z6xRtraYk3lO5mLVG6xpj_Xo23y647KwJd4FqrsIIf5e5RSTDKUwBjbQwx2RQ8QX02nV8v5tR0yp3gAe7F0EtrU6xWy6kgxXTuCIGru41TkXK8UX_Rt20B2k/s1600/IMGP0357.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJDOsIAOF9h5MBht5Rs5z6xRtraYk3lO5mLVG6xpj_Xo23y647KwJd4FqrsIIf5e5RSTDKUwBjbQwx2RQ8QX02nV8v5tR0yp3gAe7F0EtrU6xWy6kgxXTuCIGru41TkXK8UX_Rt20B2k/s200/IMGP0357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703476623905324674" border="0" /></a>had to go zip lining through the Inca Moutains… duh. It was pretty darn cool. The view is incredible. Mountains everywhere, river below, perfect sky. Then we trekked down one of the Inca trails going around the back side of machu pichu mountain. You could see parts of the runes as we hiked, it really helped to peak our excitement for how close we were. That night we stayed in Aguas Calihente. The fairly modern, but beautiful city, that exists only to house tourists who are headed to and from Machu Piccu. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Of course we bought plenty of bottles of whine to celebrate our arrival.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdUakn3fqw6Q9pFszVgstY95eTEvVhWLKl2i-3mhIS8ITH046iV51qKzWrUV4Wa8Bff5fenI74Gswd_4sQ73m_5HACp6bMoOK68d_u_TDb_D85QuTrFw-tMwBB05vi1KThhi8j82-lQ8/s1600/IMGP0205.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdUakn3fqw6Q9pFszVgstY95eTEvVhWLKl2i-3mhIS8ITH046iV51qKzWrUV4Wa8Bff5fenI74Gswd_4sQ73m_5HACp6bMoOK68d_u_TDb_D85QuTrFw-tMwBB05vi1KThhi8j82-lQ8/s200/IMGP0205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703477853667932194" border="0" /></a>Day 4: Day 4 started before 4am. Because to get to Machu Piccu you have to hike up 2000 ancient stairs, and you want to be there before sun rise to get the full effect of the mysteriousness, when it’s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLJ8qOLakiHcWRFnVI6wdJPFy5WhMJueu7Q6G8rouqi0U-ruWCYiNdZxuS3gV_PR_Cuf2sav-Jay3NmnFHznBKAc9YM69DVyWEtKlenvOY5ukKPrfrN3fXcMpl_t97rSit2UOLSwSjOw/s1600/IMGP0208.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLJ8qOLakiHcWRFnVI6wdJPFy5WhMJueu7Q6G8rouqi0U-ruWCYiNdZxuS3gV_PR_Cuf2sav-Jay3NmnFHznBKAc9YM69DVyWEtKlenvOY5ukKPrfrN3fXcMpl_t97rSit2UOLSwSjOw/s200/IMGP0208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703478107654387746" border="0" /></a> void of people, when the mist is just starting to raise and the sun begins to peak over the surrounding mountains, when everything is silent and beautiful. We started hiking up when it was still dark, there was a chill to the air that was quickly forgotten due to the 2,000 stairs, but it was incredible. As we hiked up the sun came out and the clouds disappeared and it was amazing. We got to the top before the gates officially opened, so when they did, we were about the 10<sup>th</sup> people in. When one steps into Machu Piccu at sunrise for the first time, it is unreal. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRiJ7bFur_WTUTpzOR-cIeOmEw-rpcQzHQpzu69o1RUDwBYA1plaTp4ltJzNkp619JlOWSRyr3E8GG6cLRuePM4i6ya9mFCzgDO1-llCyZUnqEvxi-mfsVPFXHTIRtX4E1ghtpf25dos/s1600/IMGP0218.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRiJ7bFur_WTUTpzOR-cIeOmEw-rpcQzHQpzu69o1RUDwBYA1plaTp4ltJzNkp619JlOWSRyr3E8GG6cLRuePM4i6ya9mFCzgDO1-llCyZUnqEvxi-mfsVPFXHTIRtX4E1ghtpf25dos/s200/IMGP0218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703479349434426050" border="0" /></a>You feel your body jump 1,000 years back in time. The ruins are huge, and mostly intact, as the clouds begin to lift you understand for the first time the reason why the Cechuas decided this location for their hidden city. </p><p class="MsoNormal">As cool as Machu Piccu is, the reason for all the hype, the reason thousands daily come here, the reason Machu Piccu is incredible as it is, is really everything around Machu Piccu. How do I begin to describe the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4-nObZqmzobZl0GLzYmhWUgA-8yWsPjUK5TbsXEc1No7KhpaM3Wiu7FlZtmcAo0HUuDf4pwScHZSWt0CO6I4BT1g7RYPYHKY749VKZ_-lBAIyTBvc4R5rcTPY6uvjJN1BJn1vL7yQ-0/s1600/IMGP0269.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4-nObZqmzobZl0GLzYmhWUgA-8yWsPjUK5TbsXEc1No7KhpaM3Wiu7FlZtmcAo0HUuDf4pwScHZSWt0CO6I4BT1g7RYPYHKY749VKZ_-lBAIyTBvc4R5rcTPY6uvjJN1BJn1vL7yQ-0/s200/IMGP0269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703480033150164034" border="0" /></a> landscape. The ruins are placed on a saddle in between 2 tall, very skinny mountains that go straight up from the sides of the ruins. Surrounding the saddle is it an almost straight down drop to the valley where the river has carved its way through all the rock. And around are other, straight up, tall mountains, like pillars, all very green with huge rocks exposed. Some with large tress covered in v<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrQEplEMseNB1iemnDaS6JjB4hSvAMmrMcXIlBnH2ii1ofV8IHNjpPRPn0HWWx-QEV8aE6eGB6GUvi17NzH5JRGgqro0MwU3GsQDJQRlmzUA97yzjC6bIIKZqeE7KNotTkbARiwmgNXk/s1600/IMGP0321.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrQEplEMseNB1iemnDaS6JjB4hSvAMmrMcXIlBnH2ii1ofV8IHNjpPRPn0HWWx-QEV8aE6eGB6GUvi17NzH5JRGgqro0MwU3GsQDJQRlmzUA97yzjC6bIIKZqeE7KNotTkbARiwmgNXk/s200/IMGP0321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703480448724155570" border="0" /></a>ines as if hiding other ruins- very Indiana Joes style. Then off in the distance every where you look are giant mountains that go on for forever. Wow. Our guide gave us a tour, explained a lot. And then some of us hiked up the other mountain, Wnapichu- another 2,000 stairs up but TOTALLY worth it, the view from up there was even more incredible to be able to look down on Machu Piccu and see the real size of it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then we also hacked over to the sun gate where if you take the Inca Royal trail you actually enter Machu Piccu from there right at sunrise and see Machu Piccu from above- which would be pretty cool. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoIuvTbLbZL4wP_Su0AAR1A_4M9FIzif3pF4SENiucjpFxanEw-o0ccI_IGZRDegBz_FOzZyzWEEJsTefIJLwim0-n06dGEq3ZPOk0vtvB3-kd-FKiAA3s96NdRw8A2hSUDAdhrEYkac/s1600/IMGP0352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoIuvTbLbZL4wP_Su0AAR1A_4M9FIzif3pF4SENiucjpFxanEw-o0ccI_IGZRDegBz_FOzZyzWEEJsTefIJLwim0-n06dGEq3ZPOk0vtvB3-kd-FKiAA3s96NdRw8A2hSUDAdhrEYkac/s200/IMGP0352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703481377654703138" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The evening ended with Mexican food and margaritas and we caught a train back to Cusco and we flew back to Lima the next day. Being with Caroline was by far the best part of the trip. Just <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXXm4kj2ojwaAElJqO_aM_uOh2Y-vxlZeaaUzp27_QV_RBhRSrAuQSfQf8W35yfA5VGVqiwUtOvByEAVjx_0bG1HWh5Y_zsITgDZIPQ6dMdZIHbPct4keJXfd-nX6XdgwneSMFJzGiLE/s1600/IMGP0364.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXXm4kj2ojwaAElJqO_aM_uOh2Y-vxlZeaaUzp27_QV_RBhRSrAuQSfQf8W35yfA5VGVqiwUtOvByEAVjx_0bG1HWh5Y_zsITgDZIPQ6dMdZIHbPct4keJXfd-nX6XdgwneSMFJzGiLE/s200/IMGP0364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703481703485288386" border="0" /></a>soaking it in of how good it was to be with someone who really knew me, and who spoke English. We ended our trip together with Caroline taking me out to the fanciest, most delicious restaurant in Lima. It was a fresh sea food restaurant built out over the water. It was beautiful. And some of the BEST food I have had in my life. What a meal. It was hard to say goodbye to Peru and to Caroline. But defiantly in my top favs vacations ever. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-61834732762936058442011-10-24T09:31:00.000-07:002011-11-03T20:07:00.559-07:00San pedro de Atacama<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCcWhZHSY3ZNQ6KdoO7df0iHNSgZNfsdhC1NC121wg9zaW0K612Poui_2Y_qBqpq4bhTlqIuYvTdajkoECioJn3VHB6ze1B4BK0ki6lqzo0grr1Z4fk__KGfGIPsIL52qTLAu6SOPh84/s1600/IMG_5678.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCcWhZHSY3ZNQ6KdoO7df0iHNSgZNfsdhC1NC121wg9zaW0K612Poui_2Y_qBqpq4bhTlqIuYvTdajkoECioJn3VHB6ze1B4BK0ki6lqzo0grr1Z4fk__KGfGIPsIL52qTLAu6SOPh84/s320/IMG_5678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670958473161950386" 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Some places in this huge desert have no signs of EVER having rain. And while that makes is sound barren and awful, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3cr2Cca1Q1g1fGIH-kF5FGeTT7BbI09JCwkCpheV4Yrk4R43Ni351Qjz67DaufQPcyz_q4PXoSsktptc0U9w4eqftSbnhT_5nBpZMVGInc_gGpx5IdcWhUafGref-T0RQEkj87arAbk/s1600/IMG_5947.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3cr2Cca1Q1g1fGIH-kF5FGeTT7BbI09JCwkCpheV4Yrk4R43Ni351Qjz67DaufQPcyz_q4PXoSsktptc0U9w4eqftSbnhT_5nBpZMVGInc_gGpx5IdcWhUafGref-T0RQEkj87arAbk/s200/IMG_5947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670960425292180626" border="0" /></a>You fly into Calama to get there. Calama is nothing but a mining tow; A mining town where literally billions of dollars a DAY are made from the rich copper and other precious metals in the area. Once in Calama, you take a bus to San Pedro. San Pedro started as a most villages in the area have, a small group of people settling in an oasis. Then in the 1500’s, catholic missionaries built a church there. Being so close to many incredible natural features it <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNYPh9gPrNivfiDIpY6uFCWao4mjBJNtYcvmyK7xxB-MBB-6Ds_bzjHrEUEnYCg5hKRQcMepoxwjLCgCcNVN0jdm0rzIMZEXueDRrJg95W7q9h4MFfh2OHN96Y9s5J6M_qNmkhyphenhyphenU7JFc/s1600/IMG_5734.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNYPh9gPrNivfiDIpY6uFCWao4mjBJNtYcvmyK7xxB-MBB-6Ds_bzjHrEUEnYCg5hKRQcMepoxwjLCgCcNVN0jdm0rzIMZEXueDRrJg95W7q9h4MFfh2OHN96Y9s5J6M_qNmkhyphenhyphenU7JFc/s200/IMG_5734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670960622833702434" border="0" /></a>recently has developed into a tourist get-away. Honestly, the 4 x 4 block “city” has no permanent residents. It is only made of travelers and people catering to them. The village is almost completely adobe buildings built long ago, and dirt roads connecting them. There is a main plaza/ square build around this 500 year old church and it is all so calm and beautiful. But all you will see and hear are foreigners, from all over the world. Different languages spoken everywhere, its kinda neat. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKG0YKwQ8jdd8I-a7pceZCPQa8t3q5GnD7jXpMkstunH4saz57mdOAKPJ4L6E2w0Ga7hkJAb-qhBhEk6xhboJ2WFfTU8Okxr_n9XKVubvGt7m_-NWr2hvlKmU2tbJ5NZmupcmaN5OMDvE/s1600/IMG_5776.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKG0YKwQ8jdd8I-a7pceZCPQa8t3q5GnD7jXpMkstunH4saz57mdOAKPJ4L6E2w0Ga7hkJAb-qhBhEk6xhboJ2WFfTU8Okxr_n9XKVubvGt7m_-NWr2hvlKmU2tbJ5NZmupcmaN5OMDvE/s200/IMG_5776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670960892254934594" border="0" /></a>We did a handful of pretty incredible tours. From going to see sun-set over Moon Valley, to seeing geysers at sunrise and swimming in natural hot springs, to going on a “star tour” where we got to hear all about the night sky here in the southern hemisphere while starting up at the BEST place on earth to view the sky. Then on a bunch of the days we just rented<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8w9e33cGIhnVlCsf372239bukFNnPbGSi7amUmEmyF-tIcMNTH7BJU3D_3__nzo5lH_c0VWLrhHuV1bxlRuTqbxReX7I613aFNrl3C1k18gr4SAzuFobf_zEDhqU8jIWZN05_7KosVs/s1600/IMG_5937.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8w9e33cGIhnVlCsf372239bukFNnPbGSi7amUmEmyF-tIcMNTH7BJU3D_3__nzo5lH_c0VWLrhHuV1bxlRuTqbxReX7I613aFNrl3C1k18gr4SAzuFobf_zEDhqU8jIWZN05_7KosVs/s200/IMG_5937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670961426682105426" border="0" /></a> mountain bikes (a full day for a whopping $6) and road out through the desert to have our own adventures. We went and saw ruins from a village constructed over 2,000 years ago, we went up the river through the canyon looking for alleged <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQWVxfwhrp5pgYGA6xXf7w3dJrYpg2GBjtZhvwPnSBYj4K1Dkb1g8RL7l_Oxlhlfk0fwnmugn5h3UGKQsihmvoX0yZUSlyo7GfFH7L002PUycCC-ctEiBhxChy1BvBqHu9TxQjCXjAWs/s1600/IMG_5847.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQWVxfwhrp5pgYGA6xXf7w3dJrYpg2GBjtZhvwPnSBYj4K1Dkb1g8RL7l_Oxlhlfk0fwnmugn5h3UGKQsihmvoX0yZUSlyo7GfFH7L002PUycCC-ctEiBhxChy1BvBqHu9TxQjCXjAWs/s200/IMG_5847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670965543386056098" border="0" /></a>paragliphs. Didn’t find them, but did find some cool caves and lots of rocks to climb on. And it was a beautiful day ride. Another day Andrew and I rented bikes and went out to the salt flats, to the salt lakes were you more float than swim because of all the salt. It was REALLY hard to get there, going against the wind, through the sand, and a lot longer than expected, but the sensation of floating in the water made it so worth it. AND I just happened to run into a couple friends I know from my church in Santiago who<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEpRR0N0XBr144wZNIlSiSzH7-o6vkEwPb8N7awLqD8IV9MRl5u0xCACrcWBNmQFpSWmi9cBm67HQ0zH6_RQb39JshrTgEJNCwPz4DUm4_m_0SMBMzvAwcjmb0q6HoARbsOq13RSw3jI/s1600/IMG_6009.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEpRR0N0XBr144wZNIlSiSzH7-o6vkEwPb8N7awLqD8IV9MRl5u0xCACrcWBNmQFpSWmi9cBm67HQ0zH6_RQb39JshrTgEJNCwPz4DUm4_m_0SMBMzvAwcjmb0q6HoARbsOq13RSw3jI/s200/IMG_6009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670965986070940818" border="0" /></a> happened to be there at the same time. I can tell a country is becoming more like home when I start seeing people I know in very random places. <span style=""> </span>Then on the last day I rented a bike and a sand board and biked through the desert up to the volcanoes where there are some amazing sand duns and taught myself how to sand board. It was an incredible view, and sand boarding was a blast, and I only saw 2 other people in the 5 hour trip. Talk about an incredible feeling, surrounded by volcanoes and sand duns and being completely alone. A good life perspective check. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUyAiZ-MDPlnRHgMizngGmWntSrbqS7xNoVXrh4FNnNxzg557vuNAleQyDYsnnlrNMFFzCQqd-qqzhM66sOjaFSHhWLDYdTeZF1fdHrRo8VfW2LvdpNOmE7AYcEzM0-vygpN9LUTMoew/s1600/IMG_5822.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUyAiZ-MDPlnRHgMizngGmWntSrbqS7xNoVXrh4FNnNxzg557vuNAleQyDYsnnlrNMFFzCQqd-qqzhM66sOjaFSHhWLDYdTeZF1fdHrRo8VfW2LvdpNOmE7AYcEzM0-vygpN9LUTMoew/s200/IMG_5822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670964880322132706" border="0" /></a>Not to mention we had the privilege of touring the LARGEST open pit copper mine in the world. The scale of the production was incredible- moving literally thousands of tons of dirt every day, employing thousands of people every day, and making thousands of dollars per minute of operation. The pit alone was over 1 km wide and 1 km deep. Then the factory where they do the refining that is capable of producing tons of precious medals and natural sulfuric acid was its own town practically. It was really cool to be able to talk to someone to ask our millions of questions an<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKohI2RyOSlmrUyXnYIRzD-AXZEZ1Sw-ODpZLvfWJI3ce1ai5fAxWqy4-PP5vyWaP5PjnaNVbAASXfADsOGEMCL6XTdxFhKgL_zi5NuFPZqUR9Ae2mQsmv47F5LBefML3LqUmnzNikdp8/s1600/IMG_6028.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKohI2RyOSlmrUyXnYIRzD-AXZEZ1Sw-ODpZLvfWJI3ce1ai5fAxWqy4-PP5vyWaP5PjnaNVbAASXfADsOGEMCL6XTdxFhKgL_zi5NuFPZqUR9Ae2mQsmv47F5LBefML3LqUmnzNikdp8/s200/IMG_6028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670971638084615202" border="0" /></a>d actually understand how the process works. But my super environmentally conscious side couldn’t help but giving me a guilt trip the whole time just for being there…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Sadly I had to leave, but my flight to Santiago was right at sunset and I met 3 guys from Portugal and we had a grand time awing at the mountains and the ocean in one view under an incredible sunset. And… now I am Peru about to meet Caroline to hike the inca trail. So as hard as life is, I think I will make it. </p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-19595869618810119362011-10-18T23:36:00.001-07:002011-10-18T23:57:23.184-07:00Antafagasta: Rugby Nationals Circuit #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZXAZmMea_a4CmYQ6pJgLrA8OcGVSWsLVE0iebpnS4-rglX-yATCBrsRMsQhGkaGPf9bkEDY_ZA0Fh1G7hg3d5SwZtqlVlPdn95gHzNuTUCxLOYA3OawfkA7-eb5GLAsDg2Pr9M6EDWA/s1600/team+2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZXAZmMea_a4CmYQ6pJgLrA8OcGVSWsLVE0iebpnS4-rglX-yATCBrsRMsQhGkaGPf9bkEDY_ZA0Fh1G7hg3d5SwZtqlVlPdn95gHzNuTUCxLOYA3OawfkA7-eb5GLAsDg2Pr9M6EDWA/s200/team+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665092045659563154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Well here is yet another awesome adventure<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">to add to my ever growing gosh I am so blessed list: </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ozDNb8OGEIO1y3dEBIeBcL5g_ThuJvs4r2Djaau8vDZXdYsdz2mtAL1G_vp3d74YxcEeHyrVCRqjDZOWtI6PajbFKACd8ss6a0A8QlPWhPQ2N0u1ywukBzGoSX19HPcZWJkydVI0DhM/s1600/P9250092.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ozDNb8OGEIO1y3dEBIeBcL5g_ThuJvs4r2Djaau8vDZXdYsdz2mtAL1G_vp3d74YxcEeHyrVCRqjDZOWtI6PajbFKACd8ss6a0A8QlPWhPQ2N0u1ywukBzGoSX19HPcZWJkydVI0DhM/s200/P9250092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665090427892968034" border="0" /></a></p><br />I just got to help my rugby team here in Chile<br /><p class="MsoNormal">WIN a national rugby title…<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">ya, that’s pretty neat.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>It took me about 2 days in Chile before I found a rugby team. I was wearing a rugby shirt at our hostel and some guy ask me about it, turns out he’s a rugby coach for a local sports club Stade Frances. It wasn’t until my 4<sup>th</sup> day in Chile that I went to my first Chilean rugby practice. So one problem, a that point, I didn’t speak or understand any Spanish, as opposed to now where<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0ggGNu1FK4kX42JmtgTfEOTNRnAr0UrLkGIUaC6vO6CqajdAUmPnWRawI7aKOcOm70_bKY9Yvw9GSYInrKK8ED4RRwe_Wt_ThqMkOmbKoQyaV2avY9wj-0CPTgBtz5IEN1sVQB89yhs/s1600/P9250073.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0ggGNu1FK4kX42JmtgTfEOTNRnAr0UrLkGIUaC6vO6CqajdAUmPnWRawI7aKOcOm70_bKY9Yvw9GSYInrKK8ED4RRwe_Wt_ThqMkOmbKoQyaV2avY9wj-0CPTgBtz5IEN1sVQB89yhs/s200/P9250073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665091041702532850" border="0" /></a> I understand VERY little and can barely speak like a 3 year old. But the team is made of rugby gals and if you know anything about girls who play rugby, its that they are incredible. Welcoming, fun, loud, and always down for a good time- so I made my home fast. I have been training with them since July and all of it was in prep for this first National Tournament way up north in Antafagasta, Chile. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnStyCabfz9HBke0NRd3ZMe5G9C-cLyBdyYPTP3Q2MPdS3yEB2tsWu0E-mbNGD8KLBxcCMWXohU6_S2grnoxWQyrUkaMfsLokcJfvHhKHVZVTEAu5HhrEqNbBYCYPpD4Rnc27DB3JkIfc/s1600/P9230010.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnStyCabfz9HBke0NRd3ZMe5G9C-cLyBdyYPTP3Q2MPdS3yEB2tsWu0E-mbNGD8KLBxcCMWXohU6_S2grnoxWQyrUkaMfsLokcJfvHhKHVZVTEAu5HhrEqNbBYCYPpD4Rnc27DB3JkIfc/s200/P9230010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665088914278284002" border="0" /></a>We flew out bright and early on a Friday morning and arrived to Antafagasta about 9am. Antafagasta is a small city on the coast in Northern Chile. It started as a mining town, and that is still its major income. The city is in the desert and on the coast, which makes for a beautiful combo. The flight in was gorgeous, you can see the mountains and the pacific ocean in once view with giant sand duns separating the 2. We were bused to our hotel which was right on the beach an immediately went to test out the waters... still cold. I got lots of cool team gear and really felt like one of the team members as they decided to force me to speak Spanish all weekend instead of translating into English for me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Saturday we got to play about 4 games. They play 7’s here, so each game was short<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc5R_iYxeG9RuYCeTs_gfk7uXYO8L4k7qOXsQ6jkdhRKfho5S22-ec2kHADn8nKo8jNDMS23UnOzSFfmjqkvAnwf-TsMOcd2YEX1k3wimAX-tJGXASFZbBTSwEvUPkd82ZWkG0eZmTgA/s1600/playing.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc5R_iYxeG9RuYCeTs_gfk7uXYO8L4k7qOXsQ6jkdhRKfho5S22-ec2kHADn8nKo8jNDMS23UnOzSFfmjqkvAnwf-TsMOcd2YEX1k3wimAX-tJGXASFZbBTSwEvUPkd82ZWkG0eZmTgA/s200/playing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665091649266751314" border="0" /></a>, but intense. And there were many other games and many other teams to watch. The first half of the first game our coach had me watch because I had never played a real game with the team before. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WYKhZde5txLrjWJ5GR-5juQFXhf99HVXjqECApLzMcU88xzBsSxNO9eY6zBm0Sp2OJSxuSWE4dHz2d-8iO2yPCU7xpTloElDa2uSdQysW2-nwoDgfA3Y6QDqwPBXA7MHa31QfkEN9Z4/s1600/running.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WYKhZde5txLrjWJ5GR-5juQFXhf99HVXjqECApLzMcU88xzBsSxNO9eY6zBm0Sp2OJSxuSWE4dHz2d-8iO2yPCU7xpTloElDa2uSdQysW2-nwoDgfA3Y6QDqwPBXA7MHa31QfkEN9Z4/s200/running.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665092346032438882" border="0" /></a>Then starting at that half time and for the rest of the tournament Sabastian, our coach, put me in to play. I played a wing/prop, ya, weird I know. I lifted, and sometimes scrummed, but also played wing in the back line. It was a blast. You really become close to someone after you play rugby with them. So I REALLY got to know my team. We won all our games on Saturday which put us in 1<sup>st</sup> place going into Sunday’s finals. We got to go swimming at the hotel pool Saturday after the games, and stretched a lot and were up early on Sunday to do it again.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWwMReOg1RbcJT6pwTkRiTe-D41MRdRAljrw_W5S8Z-VKoMkjL_T1ikeEEdpMApT7S4Z9GxjfQecPqPZgSLUwodoYsWbPgOYMhZkYAS5KNGoTzxgERWbf2QSLVu31Vwu3lqw1QKdkJqI/s1600/P9250102.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWwMReOg1RbcJT6pwTkRiTe-D41MRdRAljrw_W5S8Z-VKoMkjL_T1ikeEEdpMApT7S4Z9GxjfQecPqPZgSLUwodoYsWbPgOYMhZkYAS5KNGoTzxgERWbf2QSLVu31Vwu3lqw1QKdkJqI/s200/P9250102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665092889637396802" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had 3 games on Sunday, all of which were very tuff and very close games. We faught hard and in the championship game late Sunday evening we went into sudden death overtime before winning the national title. We got a HUGE trophy, and we all got medals. So I now have an awesome Chilean Women’s rugby National medallion to show off. So cool. What a weekend!</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-10212659818035874662011-10-12T19:29:00.000-07:002011-10-12T20:05:57.694-07:00Valdivia and the park of magicI can not apologize enough for the lack of keeping up this blog. As Santiago became more of a home, it became awkward to blog about “normal” life here (mind you normal has been building toilets in slums, hiking volcanoes, sailing, rock climbing up the Andes and other such “normal” things). I have much to share and REALLY do need to be better at keeping this up. So I am going to jump around a bit. 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style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6cIrxmH6RXJ9cB3Of2G7E6PkPutTamyC-apUf2Duxowmle9cwj0eY69VbagcxMHES-hI_qIb4VYYSGBNSYSbrxbVNp8tYi4fcFL0ibwX1QhPfbJUleTngxE-s90SxNS4XCA4JU89Rhw/s1600/IMG_5490.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6cIrxmH6RXJ9cB3Of2G7E6PkPutTamyC-apUf2Duxowmle9cwj0eY69VbagcxMHES-hI_qIb4VYYSGBNSYSbrxbVNp8tYi4fcFL0ibwX1QhPfbJUleTngxE-s90SxNS4XCA4JU89Rhw/s200/IMG_5490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662802350584802706" border="0" /></a>So Chris and I got the chance to head south with a couple people from CODEF to go view a small natural park on the coast. CODEF is the oldest environmental NGO in Chile. For a decades now they have been protecting various plants & animals through out Chile. We knocked on their main office door a couple months back and they were vary interested in the possibility of solar toilets in their parks. Specifically one park, 12 hours south of Santiago on the coast. This park was created about 20 years ago to preserve an Olivian Forrest, an endangered tree species native to Chile. Nothing was really done to make the park easy for people to visit because money ran out. Now they want to re-build the information center, and get the park ready to be an educational experience for visitors from around the world. And they want to make everything as self sustaining as possible, and as such are interested in us trying a solar toilet there, and they need a toilet quick as they start building down there. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">So Patty, a Chilean girl about my age and heading up the project<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3UlQlQIdxzqO0T3qMtYbPPEGoJcJo7TmPPcZDkm9v_p17aiiE1QhCW1t5Zr2PswTCzX-Y7mDYaoGcYxqq07oDf-pRrwaYLrTS79Y5WXpsVJE9bvXbEG7UnJAySjtxeFadghP1sI84nc/s1600/IMG_5479.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3UlQlQIdxzqO0T3qMtYbPPEGoJcJo7TmPPcZDkm9v_p17aiiE1QhCW1t5Zr2PswTCzX-Y7mDYaoGcYxqq07oDf-pRrwaYLrTS79Y5WXpsVJE9bvXbEG7UnJAySjtxeFadghP1sI84nc/s200/IMG_5479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662802701722221186" border="0" /></a>, invited us down to have a look. So Chris and I caught a night bus to Valdivia and met Patty and her friend Cristobel to go “check out the park”. AND WOW!!! What an area. The drive there alone was worth the trip down. We drove right along the coast line going north from Validivia. This <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP9ypXNHYlVHiRs-du6Gou2XAVXllOCoR5FpcusJZtVMs9xjsaWA3bYQ-MMduqB2FsCECdIvG0uHyN9v4AQ6VLaZLVPGixzUD0kUYrTOy5AqPrebGNmRlut4zFOYcp9pI8BgZNo7LUDw/s1600/IMG_5519.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP9ypXNHYlVHiRs-du6Gou2XAVXllOCoR5FpcusJZtVMs9xjsaWA3bYQ-MMduqB2FsCECdIvG0uHyN9v4AQ6VLaZLVPGixzUD0kUYrTOy5AqPrebGNmRlut4zFOYcp9pI8BgZNo7LUDw/s200/IMG_5519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662803207500999074" border="0" /></a>area of the country is known for all of its rivers and channels that intersect and enter the ocean there. Between the bridges and islands, wild life and the coast itself, Chris and I were drop jaw the whole way. The park is situated right on the coast with beaches and cliffs combine together and then quickly become a deep forest so dense you can hardy see sunlight in many places. First Chris and I went to go play on the beach. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iKmithK-JhnEp4zivoArTJnCnbFuR712IkCPxCrhu67K46atOiHeHznHmDt9WLKdx_PN1MnY8MmF3oMPM5_JNFMYVNRSDhPiW5KVkHvTr-l9NHPDgxwqR_8qFNHMWeMxvH87Af4QJyE/s1600/IMG_5514.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iKmithK-JhnEp4zivoArTJnCnbFuR712IkCPxCrhu67K46atOiHeHznHmDt9WLKdx_PN1MnY8MmF3oMPM5_JNFMYVNRSDhPiW5KVkHvTr-l9NHPDgxwqR_8qFNHMWeMxvH87Af4QJyE/s200/IMG_5514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662803534766929346" border="0" /></a>The rocks were so much fun to climb over and the sand was so fine and felt so good on bear feet. The ocean was a vibrant blue color and fit amazing with the perfect blue sky and bright shining sun above. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJt85YXxuFrGh70kSTfTrNgHdUOtDq_lY2M1f-DoROHOTW5LwUOyZRHoRwtTgwFM0WCoYGF9MgFhyphenhyphendr37IEdU3RT5AaJaCHQ3sCOVtCBzJJKvipwRUiW2kG75IHlo5lBSm8lLdErZ0Po/s1600/IMG_5527.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJt85YXxuFrGh70kSTfTrNgHdUOtDq_lY2M1f-DoROHOTW5LwUOyZRHoRwtTgwFM0WCoYGF9MgFhyphenhyphendr37IEdU3RT5AaJaCHQ3sCOVtCBzJJKvipwRUiW2kG75IHlo5lBSm8lLdErZ0Po/s200/IMG_5527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662803996852703794" border="0" /></a>We had a great nap up on one of the cliffs next to where the old attempt at a visitors center stood, now an old abandoned building falling to pieces. Then we hiked up the cliff line to some amazing overviews of islands and cliffs reaching into the Pacific Ocean. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The other had to leave at this point and Chris and I opted <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhBJOBbGzPQcG4MdCUsX8Kj4NVjKMvT5eozMZxiAIu58u-FwjK3JH10pifmljHrnyohAajTCmnfRvjMPjsLxhsnZQAv6FGv5EVHVQsjwbqIeAGS1fW047S_B0DGI_kgK4WxO4oFVktvs/s1600/IMG_5541.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhBJOBbGzPQcG4MdCUsX8Kj4NVjKMvT5eozMZxiAIu58u-FwjK3JH10pifmljHrnyohAajTCmnfRvjMPjsLxhsnZQAv6FGv5EVHVQsjwbqIeAGS1fW047S_B0DGI_kgK4WxO4oFVktvs/s200/IMG_5541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662804471607768242" border="0" /></a>to stay and camp out in the old abandoned building for the night. So we said goodbye and then Chris and I took off by ourselves into the thick <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDnov54cFZN1xAq0ruJEM_QW9-wtGlzn_sqcTEls96YKjDAUyU71-XytKOJ5TrN0TCqer_l1aG88sm4zEORHTH4XH7b6vuvlenRLRkMpd8c8piiWezHd7VXiTT3ZvZ63nGl_gvfqhdDE/s1600/IMG_5567.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDnov54cFZN1xAq0ruJEM_QW9-wtGlzn_sqcTEls96YKjDAUyU71-XytKOJ5TrN0TCqer_l1aG88sm4zEORHTH4XH7b6vuvlenRLRkMpd8c8piiWezHd7VXiTT3ZvZ63nGl_gvfqhdDE/s200/IMG_5567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662804927869831730" border="0" /></a>forest/jungle to see what we could find. We were following random trails through amazing plant and animal life and suddenly we stumbled on it… the natural Olivian Forest and WOW-WIE! These trees are like red woods in their size wide as the size of a car and so high you can’t see the tops, except that these are so much more vibrant with colors. Greens of all colors where every where and blinded you as they reflected the rays of sunlight passing through tree tops. Then not to mention this whole forest was growing right on the ocean so you <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IQMPtUc8N80Z5Bd94YiFtF1dQWpjyMKUOG8TFRwNBmCcPcxfWFUG17SAEv1ttiMBAFKqUD7NmcNiT7o1-Wvn0jp43IFoqbzgaieHLDbrGzD3RSwUIyj3JS7bGlFFUNlsWciiaSAY-uI/s1600/IMG_5574.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IQMPtUc8N80Z5Bd94YiFtF1dQWpjyMKUOG8TFRwNBmCcPcxfWFUG17SAEv1ttiMBAFKqUD7NmcNiT7o1-Wvn0jp43IFoqbzgaieHLDbrGzD3RSwUIyj3JS7bGlFFUNlsWciiaSAY-uI/s200/IMG_5574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662805431377066002" border="0" /></a>had the blue blue of the ocean and the constant sound of the waves to add to the effect. We felt as if we were walking through a dream. It was incredibl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LN2zggVPNL45XLQMWzE9HntFyZGhObAubb20UklFiUL2b1N8h2ILF3lRhvVBms2h23YRKpMAF_3I-aSBQO6gGgoChVX62zhGP_D_7ytgzyylN4dP0KabKTyg4jB9K2OWo_bLn8yA928/s1600/IMG_5539.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LN2zggVPNL45XLQMWzE9HntFyZGhObAubb20UklFiUL2b1N8h2ILF3lRhvVBms2h23YRKpMAF_3I-aSBQO6gGgoChVX62zhGP_D_7ytgzyylN4dP0KabKTyg4jB9K2OWo_bLn8yA928/s200/IMG_5539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662805744144954482" border="0" /></a>e.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">That night a huge storm came in off the coast. Wind and rain pummeled the old building we had pitched our tent in. It was awesome to read by flash light while listening to rain hit the tin roof. While the roof leaked, and the building didn’t have any windows I was still really happy that it wasn’t just us and the tent out in that storm.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4Vb8uoNtJvLtth8vgDE4B0oA0Tnv7rINYHOksaoKeOk9ixoo9ZJ8keTjHzMd9fOdah29PWwDmjDsbhKgcazr5ngfTfrsJlp2bG64i6UlqKSpew9XcfbvN5VIZutYOOrzxr9uol4fqvM/s1600/IMG_5576.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4Vb8uoNtJvLtth8vgDE4B0oA0Tnv7rINYHOksaoKeOk9ixoo9ZJ8keTjHzMd9fOdah29PWwDmjDsbhKgcazr5ngfTfrsJlp2bG64i6UlqKSpew9XcfbvN5VIZutYOOrzxr9uol4fqvM/s200/IMG_5576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662806134899341266" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFJtKqu8zEa44CzmEGhtUwkNN81gKNBSYFbuTN2lgt2NxKEeEhuGXvS9jX_qnUFsp7no_DDbEsI0lskJBieDE1YrHxvGRfgotI5AMFAm3LaNJGJURtOF5vlTlZ0JYnH0nH7r1aakdpAQ/s1600/IMG_5602.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFJtKqu8zEa44CzmEGhtUwkNN81gKNBSYFbuTN2lgt2NxKEeEhuGXvS9jX_qnUFsp7no_DDbEsI0lskJBieDE1YrHxvGRfgotI5AMFAm3LaNJGJURtOF5vlTlZ0JYnH0nH7r1aakdpAQ/s200/IMG_5602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662806563722680114" border="0" /></a>The next day we caught a bus back into Valdivia to explore the city a bit. A day of watching sea lions, eating fresh sea food caught only moments before and going on a boat tour up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydACUK6NayfiAiL2siRHoLpKc0Dy5dnc4P6BrNUmQ_fQIQ__Ac8oSzabVbopqVWiojUX3_JaqOHPrJ6IwQRLjB7XX69IHf0qaHzHgmYHdSrBC1YwZz-Z0-HOzUFLPSA4YDsVBlHNo-yw/s1600/IMG_5636.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydACUK6NayfiAiL2siRHoLpKc0Dy5dnc4P6BrNUmQ_fQIQ__Ac8oSzabVbopqVWiojUX3_JaqOHPrJ6IwQRLjB7XX69IHf0qaHzHgmYHdSrBC1YwZz-Z0-HOzUFLPSA4YDsVBlHNo-yw/s200/IMG_5636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662807199068990082" border="0" /></a> the channels was pretty nice- specifically when the boat tour became a kind of pub-craw as they took us to local houses that make their own local drinks. Everything from home made beers to Chicha, it was delicious. </p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-42827635701438636462011-08-09T11:14:00.000-07:002011-08-09T14:43:34.595-07:00Valparaiso: Chilean Coast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAPOH3uyLT5TWcKi7ahtSqqwxejPEWsUHWP8vEby5TY3iOEjTC7uLBgf66FVqbqhH0G7FHMQUPNxBsG9RxZFWV-REEv7SxwMkS_BeILBsGx5GenJR9NpOsiCOpniGhvWVghyw4BJSGv0/s1600/IMG_4972.JPG">
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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNa6c8bSa577hPqlXIHf2K_qEQvpLxDnQcJWsiKP3UxPqytRyB9De4UvaYalRXIoqGarhpPZYDUMJ_-_pZkuk_u5gNjBZ_GS-R4lBq-cxsYoLOIr_NjiVn6RP30hyphenhyphenrVTq5sUf67RJkGM/s1600/IMG_4940.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNa6c8bSa577hPqlXIHf2K_qEQvpLxDnQcJWsiKP3UxPqytRyB9De4UvaYalRXIoqGarhpPZYDUMJ_-_pZkuk_u5gNjBZ_GS-R4lBq-cxsYoLOIr_NjiVn6RP30hyphenhyphenrVTq5sUf67RJkGM/s200/IMG_4940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638921669790928386" border="0" /></a>So the mountains are beautiful here, honestly, the Andes are something to behold. But one of the most incredible things about Chile is how close the mountains are to the beach. The day after we went skiing we headed to the coast. To an old port town called Valparaiso. Before the panama canal was made it was an extremely important port, known by foreigners as “the Jewel of the Pacific” or “little San Francisco” This city is packe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SOVMxOtbM3ZPeTX1RHXqrAegXkZzTIDtzTaGalnA-eCE3DV2xTAsxR6ojR2sBPhDw6ZIcsJPDVR76-bXMaP1MSICJLwNqg61lXI4avpHozx-C4xRgaMd29TjUS6SsEOz_wsbJBcxULE/s1600/IMG_4953.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SOVMxOtbM3ZPeTX1RHXqrAegXkZzTIDtzTaGalnA-eCE3DV2xTAsxR6ojR2sBPhDw6ZIcsJPDVR76-bXMaP1MSICJLwNqg61lXI4avpHozx-C4xRgaMd29TjUS6SsEOz_wsbJBcxULE/s200/IMG_4953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638922132171518210" border="0" /></a>d with steep hills over looking the pacific, and plenty of windy small cobble stone roads in which to get lost in. Every road is packed with skinny tall old buildings painted in bright colors and the most creative, beautiful murals every where. Most people get around in “colectivos” group taxis that have simi-routes and fixed rates, but still drop you off right at your destination. There is no way anyone can figure out that entire city, the streets are too windy and make no since. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkujIlBJoQbZDLCqMNHWeTuMy2b7B2Lfbjb4DC0313_tfDo3RirKlG0QXfq_wR15SLve7wM7gcVq7zLCALXMXOVQ8-7ocimpRlOzT0R3dqJEAAW-bPwy0CXarQy_vIRJW8lS2g02Fc0A/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkujIlBJoQbZDLCqMNHWeTuMy2b7B2Lfbjb4DC0313_tfDo3RirKlG0QXfq_wR15SLve7wM7gcVq7zLCALXMXOVQ8-7ocimpRlOzT0R3dqJEAAW-bPwy0CXarQy_vIRJW8lS2g02Fc0A/s200/IMG_0094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638946177841768690" border="0" /></a>We went out there to meet some grad-students who have been building ecological toilets in Chile since the earthquak<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9pfSlQoT-1dXAr7L5dFO14WLAhfYJ_Fe8adyscS-fmnukeMGUdDP-OaAWDDGDEocV9ClSkqnd3zGgUrQc_cTelXx6F3yP6vwoU3Fo_z8ZeLmMoz4tkQ0VgGek2GBmfRBnv-5xG_G6l0/s1600/P7290227.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9pfSlQoT-1dXAr7L5dFO14WLAhfYJ_Fe8adyscS-fmnukeMGUdDP-OaAWDDGDEocV9ClSkqnd3zGgUrQc_cTelXx6F3yP6vwoU3Fo_z8ZeLmMoz4tkQ0VgGek2GBmfRBnv-5xG_G6l0/s200/P7290227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638946859837949826" border="0" /></a>e last year. We met Diego at his university, a gorgous old campus built directly on the ocean. Almost every window looked out over the coast line and the Pacific – WOW! And there toilet design was pretty cool, they added a hand pump leading to pipes on the roof that would be heated by the sun and then could be used for hot water for the shower or sink also included in the bathroom.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From there we went to t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjx7rf3-EwjjY5fdpK4C_P2iXTTYPi-nemBwIMpKf7km7ir5xMAtr6Qr4eXbSHtJgaMB-0fB6jWq8o6xTbnF_9zJSdMBfUHBq9k9cK4njGiRR81QutK7g3eAFUS15fXW8R2JWCIcgVJ0/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjx7rf3-EwjjY5fdpK4C_P2iXTTYPi-nemBwIMpKf7km7ir5xMAtr6Qr4eXbSHtJgaMB-0fB6jWq8o6xTbnF_9zJSdMBfUHBq9k9cK4njGiRR81QutK7g3eAFUS15fXW8R2JWCIcgVJ0/s200/IMG_0105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638948327652955618" border="0" /></a>he most famous hot dog stand and had the LARGEST hotdogs I have ever seen (trust me, Coney Island has nothing on these guys) and we sat on the rocks b<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvLzHOkgL989GdSN0zy0hBvByMJDimAo0Bgxh2_mToxvgbMvKVc93VbjcWr5BAZoeFPIlsuE-tNnvD7tka-yOwSS5sLztDn_5V9z0d14BEYOhK1yQRNNgfq-gWFndozUC7DxneKA8MEY/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvLzHOkgL989GdSN0zy0hBvByMJDimAo0Bgxh2_mToxvgbMvKVc93VbjcWr5BAZoeFPIlsuE-tNnvD7tka-yOwSS5sLztDn_5V9z0d14BEYOhK1yQRNNgfq-gWFndozUC7DxneKA8MEY/s200/IMG_0114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638971961309918930" border="0" /></a>y the water and watched the sun set. It was absolutely beautiful.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the other Start Up Chile people, Kunal from Dubai, has and apartment in Valpo, its on the 8<sup>th</sup> floor on top of one of the hills and has the most incredible view. His balcony is basically the size <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EJHARR_OQH3uJl0gVOdlmW5Ed2FmklrsvGA7a4IJgBStbHKTZ5kbqQknudwwT_RMpgyVLBoF7f62jTg6zOjtf_Vq2emIi0RgGvHRrSGo_NtacrOknD6deFdVHuv1vb39olCddSN5Go8/s1600/IMG_4930.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EJHARR_OQH3uJl0gVOdlmW5Ed2FmklrsvGA7a4IJgBStbHKTZ5kbqQknudwwT_RMpgyVLBoF7f62jTg6zOjtf_Vq2emIi0RgGvHRrSGo_NtacrOknD6deFdVHuv1vb39olCddSN5Go8/s200/IMG_4930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638972708323852114" border="0" /></a>of his entire apartment, and overlooks the entire port and huge chunk of the coast line. <span style=""> </span>Such a great place to hang out. And that is pretty much what we did all weekend. We went out dancing, for the entire night because that is what Chileans do, at some incredibly interesting clubs, met some friends at a restaurant someone owned and had empanadas in the wee hours overlooking the ocean, and then went dancing some more. The next day, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9yfiuPyIK7VHF6o6XyVof6WXaAOjqXXkpYPLdaKWmvvHyS5Ikl4c0Wfi8FmfC5c73ANJdS_WWO8kBy8cc5WjXMVcbSFVvbEaM2VPj9fmSqz86Y4q_2DQP6r0yEtzkC2lIeDOhXUXWwk/s1600/P7300270.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9yfiuPyIK7VHF6o6XyVof6WXaAOjqXXkpYPLdaKWmvvHyS5Ikl4c0Wfi8FmfC5c73ANJdS_WWO8kBy8cc5WjXMVcbSFVvbEaM2VPj9fmSqz86Y4q_2DQP6r0yEtzkC2lIeDOhXUXWwk/s200/P7300270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638973138566818498" border="0" /></a>we woke up and decided to have a HUGE brunch. Someone bought groceries and we cooked up a feast while drinking mimosas and enjoying people’s company from all over the world. About 15 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBI9AzcdbRTW-jSJ1-JHmVQibGY9Q7Zw4gLdlAiUQpkFgs41b3klkSQiqcarTpCZAGM256jF0KmaWm68dxRGm0MgChQt0BEyjCaOlmhlyp8j0Aw0YVAhOu0BR2OadEJ0NanNFOEI2Ygk/s1600/IMG_4956.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBI9AzcdbRTW-jSJ1-JHmVQibGY9Q7Zw4gLdlAiUQpkFgs41b3klkSQiqcarTpCZAGM256jF0KmaWm68dxRGm0MgChQt0BEyjCaOlmhlyp8j0Aw0YVAhOu0BR2OadEJ0NanNFOEI2Ygk/s200/IMG_4956.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638974744101572210" border="0" /></a>people were hanging out at Kunal’s with us, and probably 10 different countries represented. We sat out on the balcony for hours chatting up a storm. So lovely. More dancing, more meeting amazing people, more great food, and even some Spanish lessons and it was a fabulous weekend. It’s a rough life, but someone’s gota step up and take one for the team.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAPOH3uyLT5TWcKi7ahtSqqwxejPEWsUHWP8vEby5TY3iOEjTC7uLBgf66FVqbqhH0G7FHMQUPNxBsG9RxZFWV-REEv7SxwMkS_BeILBsGx5GenJR9NpOsiCOpniGhvWVghyw4BJSGv0/s1600/IMG_4972.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAPOH3uyLT5TWcKi7ahtSqqwxejPEWsUHWP8vEby5TY3iOEjTC7uLBgf66FVqbqhH0G7FHMQUPNxBsG9RxZFWV-REEv7SxwMkS_BeILBsGx5GenJR9NpOsiCOpniGhvWVghyw4BJSGv0/s200/IMG_4972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638975083998505970" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-3222851441362944092011-08-06T16:32:00.000-07:002011-08-07T12:13:45.238-07:00Riots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFxlZ0-Us5DSaDjP4veXGLrOmU37xnAySwKZ3OJJJikR80VGI8d3-uUwR-1JpIc0qMbSXITBDO123bb86y22ZO4PaV-j4ogFzdFcTo-klptQn7KbvxSI7nQydzaZo-hh-hH2Wb1wRdpM/s1600/P7130085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFxlZ0-Us5DSaDjP4veXGLrOmU37xnAySwKZ3OJJJikR80VGI8d3-uUwR-1JpIc0qMbSXITBDO123bb86y22ZO4PaV-j4ogFzdFcTo-klptQn7KbvxSI7nQydzaZo-hh-hH2Wb1wRdpM/s320/P7130085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637890574946762770" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 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Almost every University in Chile is currently occupied by students who 2 weeks before the past semester ended (in late May) began to protest the educational system here in Chile. The main concern of students and teachers had been the lack of funds distributed to Chilean schools. Chile only spends 4.4% of GDP on education, compared to the 7% of GDP recommended by the UN for developed nations. Therefore students pay around $7,000-10,000 (USD) for public universities per semester- very comparable to US university prices. But many locals have told me this is much more than families can support, scholarships are rare, loans have high interests rates and that the public schools are extremely far behind the private ones anyway. This initiative apparently began and is being organized by the Present of the Student Body for all of Chile. This girl is now famous, and is somehow organizing thousands from all over the country in some incredible protesting. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6-xSboENiFc-TYDSZm1IW0v3rqGz0TqZly8uUdVQDt4fZD4nYkpRcbc7-dJJpwPl_lzfJ73fN8TOuWI1xfguP9SbguwIIHQUcajF-zbgFHYkNfDSVR1hl7_IBtYBpWgv_2sfN10dz3A/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6-xSboENiFc-TYDSZm1IW0v3rqGz0TqZly8uUdVQDt4fZD4nYkpRcbc7-dJJpwPl_lzfJ73fN8TOuWI1xfguP9SbguwIIHQUcajF-zbgFHYkNfDSVR1hl7_IBtYBpWgv_2sfN10dz3A/s200/IMG_0136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637890993702215314" border="0" /></a>Teachers, professors, parents, and students from university all the way to middle schoolers have come together to protest the current education system. Some of there other demands are these: a constitutional guarantee to a quality education, allowing student participation in university governance, the end of local control over public secondary education, and increase university scholarships and provide help for people with unplayable student debt. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">All over Santiago are HUGE signs constantly calling out their demands. Every day there are students putting up displays, running around with banners and just making noise voicing their purpose. Almost all schools are closed, with banners an<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXBF1R36oErpT4YD5VQqZ8GQ2t5ujpBX-tvX4HUF0Pvukj6E7zBsMSJe14GGPH_ul1HTgWtiS-TiyO2PFSGKzVzKVyMigSSVP09pSflkLfLM3gfgOqS6vs_ceKCpsGC281nxMRTIeUQs/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXBF1R36oErpT4YD5VQqZ8GQ2t5ujpBX-tvX4HUF0Pvukj6E7zBsMSJe14GGPH_ul1HTgWtiS-TiyO2PFSGKzVzKVyMigSSVP09pSflkLfLM3gfgOqS6vs_ceKCpsGC281nxMRTIeUQs/s200/IMG_0138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638182006731463650" border="0" /></a>d signs covering their walls, and chairs shoved into their gates. The schools are overtaken by students who camp out in each of them, planning their next protest like a rebel base. Every Thursday during the past month has been official protest day. Usually legally registered, thousands gather in main areas around the city and march with signs, yelling and banging of pots. Most of these riots turn to violence before the day is over with giant street fires and riot police releasing tear gas. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yesterday the students apparently did not officially register. And it was an all day plan. The Middle Schoolers were to start at 10am, then the High Schoolers later, and then the University Students into <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcG7DVYsUjzFoqdD_ET-OeuX37TusDODOebUEFFDKdK2zd2cnrJ04vNsg9UD73BmROQB9FWRDG-b0db4gUDoCbEF4qRd7KE9kptqACMs4kyE0PxeEpcDGVIQ7pFoPdX8AiSEsaqN6OsUA/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcG7DVYsUjzFoqdD_ET-OeuX37TusDODOebUEFFDKdK2zd2cnrJ04vNsg9UD73BmROQB9FWRDG-b0db4gUDoCbEF4qRd7KE9kptqACMs4kyE0PxeEpcDGVIQ7pFoPdX8AiSEsaqN6OsUA/s200/IMG_0143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638182748269917586" border="0" /></a>late in the night. So at 10 am, the riot police started their job of stopping an illegal protest- right outside of our window. We tried to leave our house right around then to get to the Thursday market in Bellavista. After being stopped 3 times by different police on 3 different corners and then seeing a large street fire being constructed down the street, we gave up and headed back to our apartment to watch and wait. It was a good thing we got back safe to our place when we did because not 5 minutes after we returned, the riot police made their move complete with water cannons and tear gas. It was unreal to watch middle schoolers running full speed from police and tear gas. Some were captured and thrown into the police truc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_i3SPzL32zVoIOgd3hvFGbnRSL_9gmbAKLBjLGJdh-LZULcb-Oi4oJpnnvaEhh8dVIkQEXSLKVgJB1uGFYQdUCM7eKMG4dlsW6z-aIjwQgEsalka0LhmvXJ1w62sKa7QVT15lMsAlYwM/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_i3SPzL32zVoIOgd3hvFGbnRSL_9gmbAKLBjLGJdh-LZULcb-Oi4oJpnnvaEhh8dVIkQEXSLKVgJB1uGFYQdUCM7eKMG4dlsW6z-aIjwQgEsalka0LhmvXJ1w62sKa7QVT15lMsAlYwM/s200/IMG_0145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638183183735035106" border="0" /></a>ks. The pictures are taken from our 22<sup>nd</sup> floor balcony, the video shows the water cannon spraying the running middle schoolers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The tear gas could be seen rising all over the city, and it penetrated into our apt and affected me pretty bad. The others in our apt just got stinging eyes or itchy throats, but I got an awful headache and had to lay down for most of the day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Later that evening I was scheduled to sing at El Oasis (the Christian Community House here in Santiago started by Globalscope, in junction with CCF back at Tech). Nick and I were the cover band of the night, so I played guitar and the 2 of us sang the duet “Picture” by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crowe. It was a blast. I really enjoyed my time there. All the boys came to support us, as well as my Chilean buddy Nadia from my rugby team. El Oasis lives up to all the great stories I have heard my by friends who have come down here to intern at different times through out university. I am so glad I can now experience it. Here’s a video of us singing and some pics.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Coming home from El Oasis was quite an adventure. The riots were in full swing, students were out everywhere, banging on pots, yelling, starting huge fires, police, tear gas, water canons- it was insane. The metro was closed. The buses had stopped. It was Chris, myself and my Chilean friend Nadia just trying to get back to the Pint-house (what we now call our apt.) There were riot police on every corner, in full armor and shields. At one point a police tank drove by and threw out 3 cans of tear gas, Chris and I stood there and stared at them and the people running for a moment meanwhile Nadia was yelling “RUN” and we took off down the street and around the corner. We were right in a mass of people running as Nadia told us “If they catch us, they will take us straight to jail no questions asked.” So we ran. As we got to an area where the police hadn’t marched yet, we tried asking police how best to get to our apt. They responded with a stern laugh and a good luck to us. We passes LOTS of tear gas. My contacts seemed to help me bypass the blinding that it can cause, and I guided the other 2 through a couple blocks as they couldn’t stop crying and all of our noses running and bad head aches. We got home eventually. Naddia had no way to get to her home due to busses and the metro all being stopped. There wasn’t a car on the road outside of police armed vehicles. So she stayed with us. We all got home safe, with minimal tear gas exposure but it was definitely an event to remember.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Apparently the protests are going to only get worse this coming week, I think I have learned to just stay where you are when they are bad. It’s definitely an interesting movement to be around. Unlike any thing I have ever seen before. </p> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dysocMZHMFB7aMrbKNW6LT1DcpnYh9bKw1_UdbHQ7o5h-l8iWedW8hheqma8za3KS5B9C-eIs9ndv-BK5bdtg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-36118612350812289812011-08-01T05:28:00.001-07:002011-08-01T05:37:48.332-07:00Snow Skiing in the Andes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUqvaKMKbai0uZ1CmjE0sow0m4smxbXNgp90-DTCZU21h6O3JAagRWXgnHqih5XmNxeA2XqqgV6vlMeoqurDFkoPcmyCYrLqrcavHTGBvaZOHP-vjjKcXNI1tJweHV8uXAMVX7tTDzc4/s1600/IMG_4889.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LAmO1QznJAYsXwMllFuuTFl1dFyi5O5KS88sAC98lIG7sxZthWqkH9RU0RnUGjuAEqPG4LbuIGcoYhRdEHnU9gj-nX1o-IXl8YCyAFDpBfUg_EgEct3EYefly2qGK8omEN0LF_Jldjk/s1600/IMG_4887.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LAmO1QznJAYsXwMllFuuTFl1dFyi5O5KS88sAC98lIG7sxZthWqkH9RU0RnUGjuAEqPG4LbuIGcoYhRdEHnU9gj-nX1o-IXl8YCyAFDpBfUg_EgEct3EYefly2qGK8omEN0LF_Jldjk/s320/IMG_4887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635864467359329266" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> Thursday we got to go snow skiing in the Andes. I can not begin to tell you how incredible it was. The Andes stretch on forever, there is no end to these mountains and when you combine that with no trees you get the most unreal views that blow you mind. Everything is exposed for miles <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg7KojMUkMh9Yv9XdPCT5eSWJr83rC4wMN1LKu4d72-Nhrx96GAKw97wmLSjcsyz5BG8e82sFiZpHQB_2Ayhqj4r-2LvSCi4GjVxl9Np1MZP1SUKQHLMx041ACbPUpdzgiK-wsILUf1M/s1600/IMG_4878.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg7KojMUkMh9Yv9XdPCT5eSWJr83rC4wMN1LKu4d72-Nhrx96GAKw97wmLSjcsyz5BG8e82sFiZpHQB_2Ayhqj4r-2LvSCi4GjVxl9Np1MZP1SUKQHLMx041ACbPUpdzgiK-wsILUf1M/s320/IMG_4878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635864969611261858" border="0" /></a>in every direction. Me and the boys used a really cool deal from our phone carrier where we got 2 for one deal, rented some equipment, hopped a bus and went up to Valie Navada. Its still early in the season, so there wasn’t too much fresh snow, and a few of the lifts were still closed but it was AMAZING! Skiing a the end of July, wow. Andrew, the one form Colorado, immediately started showing us how it was done, his form was perfect and he knew where to go to<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yqrF0EM3MP1rcT5zAfn5DJUgLvgJAXOQtGDQ2uwvPiCUvlBGWVYFhb-VHH4SBZf7GOQEEq4ySprFFvRwgTmQFq4I0jSCNk8V8AiNKmbYbgv6DGdb5Vnx-ZKXsx8CCH2BFzns4QU0s1c/s1600/IMG_4895.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yqrF0EM3MP1rcT5zAfn5DJUgLvgJAXOQtGDQ2uwvPiCUvlBGWVYFhb-VHH4SBZf7GOQEEq4ySprFFvRwgTmQFq4I0jSCNk8V8AiNKmbYbgv6DGdb5Vnx-ZKXsx8CCH2BFzns4QU0s1c/s320/IMG_4895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635865421958605874" border="0" /></a> get the best snow. We skied mostly down in valleys where there was still fresh powder snow. The interesting thing about the Ski resorts here is that you can ski into other resorts, and if you are dumb gringos like us to try and go up other companies ski lifts, and they look at you like you crazy. <span style=""> </span>So you have to keep your map out and stay in the one resort you paid for. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We all got pretty wiped out from a full day of skiing and crashed on the bus home. When we got back to our place we had one thought on our mind – FOOD and bed. So we took turns showering and cooking a big meal of stakes and mashed potatoes and such. We had 2 Georgia Tech buddies, Brittany Mays and Corrigan Nolan staying at our place last week while they searched out an apt so they were there with Sean playing board games. We also apparently had 2 coach surfers staying at our place that night too. So it was already a packed house so we ate outside on the balcony. Then out of no where about 8 Start Up Chile buddies of ours walk into the apt with a pizza and 4 bottles of whine. Apparently our apt has become the hang out spot… and as tired as we were we loved it. We all love having people over, just relaxing and hanging out. We had over 10 countries represented, just chilling, telling stories and drinking some whine. Later upon realizing how many people hadn’t seen Gladiator, we pulled out the air mattress and the couch and put it on the TV and all curled up and watch a movie together. It’s the simple things that are so lovely. What a day.</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-13847749596735022742011-07-22T08:42:00.000-07:002011-07-22T09:26:27.639-07:00Living with 4 boys, working with these 4 boys, and being in a country where all I know are these same 4 boys<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzq549GkNEpapDaCrphGFt0Xk7Wqxq9l2BBsTE7r_o3MuX1THpwuumEfFx9HhK5V8BqFdYBTOUrTQoG3q-1k3BLrAvnNsgU4Q_DS5OD9uXF6b8vlLexVUqTqsoUpjGZBCCi8EOkLFACM/s1600/IMG_4779.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzq549GkNEpapDaCrphGFt0Xk7Wqxq9l2BBsTE7r_o3MuX1THpwuumEfFx9HhK5V8BqFdYBTOUrTQoG3q-1k3BLrAvnNsgU4Q_DS5OD9uXF6b8vlLexVUqTqsoUpjGZBCCi8EOkLFACM/s320/IMG_4779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632203316266265554" border="0" /></a><br />(The team + Travis, another tech grad and our Chilean guide and fairy godmother)<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> 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<![endif]--> </div><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzZGTcWTJ4EGNtkzgOG3KLOkogmuBiYxhj9UrBBuVDalsbrb7-6s_Z-gMfFcexYvX8DDX39bogOVVjqnaVEVB_rihSLXydaRscboiRXTNvwEF08JFsqOkV2o5LHMIU3kBr2xPKGqA7WU/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzZGTcWTJ4EGNtkzgOG3KLOkogmuBiYxhj9UrBBuVDalsbrb7-6s_Z-gMfFcexYvX8DDX39bogOVVjqnaVEVB_rihSLXydaRscboiRXTNvwEF08JFsqOkV2o5LHMIU3kBr2xPKGqA7WU/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632206142732777106" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">So we have an apartment now. PRAISE JESUS! As fun as the hostal was, to actually have a place to unpack our bags, to cook, to have our own place really start to make Chile feel like our new home. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E0fYYGIGX1LHgwjUaUnm6rPRq1Rlmh0M9B4K9bqjSVyppDH0lsTYALb5xWjGKa0XADlic5piFcQKNCirNNfeF55s_C2ACi-JYrIejFbpy8mZELpOpFFfCZE6Xfww2KOR8Iiv3nnbzJU/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E0fYYGIGX1LHgwjUaUnm6rPRq1Rlmh0M9B4K9bqjSVyppDH0lsTYALb5xWjGKa0XADlic5piFcQKNCirNNfeF55s_C2ACi-JYrIejFbpy8mZELpOpFFfCZE6Xfww2KOR8Iiv3nnbzJU/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632204620752679282" border="0" /></a>After much searching, and much help from random strangers (Santiago is really one big family) we found someone willing to sublet us a good apt for a good price for 6 months. Its on the 22<sup>nd</sup> floor! And has the MOST INCREDIBLE view of the Andes Mountains from our balcony- yes we have a balcony complete with table and chairs. The mountains are SO big (the view from our balchoney) and so beautiful. There are 3 rooms, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzIv29lNgU7vgJif8Js4V2J7DETyf54mKtH92b1JGmAzEGlg8xJCanzWv6b3Enmn1ip6RzWOIJ7h727d0S2VWsgxNr1U12-5Uvr-r4A1Ox0XTggfmob4Y1vFMaCscrT89YQsI40g9U9E/s1600/P7180114.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzIv29lNgU7vgJif8Js4V2J7DETyf54mKtH92b1JGmAzEGlg8xJCanzWv6b3Enmn1ip6RzWOIJ7h727d0S2VWsgxNr1U12-5Uvr-r4A1Ox0XTggfmob4Y1vFMaCscrT89YQsI40g9U9E/s320/P7180114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632205016768858706" border="0" /></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal">after much debate and yelling and a couple bottles of wine it was decided that I would get the small room to myself and the boys would share the other 2 rooms. There is a great kitchen and large <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAbAKhfkxfZVv6gRr1Er7fe6LvF36Nd_zOsh0sjfcmjbkjYfWwcbq3aARSYkWpnVv2gWvYopCxtUx79w0OwxmnsdRi4JiwEWvhCEWYri4W9w42rF3RLv1BhC54yPQhzMUuWReVDNF-zI/s1600/IMG_4814.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAbAKhfkxfZVv6gRr1Er7fe6LvF36Nd_zOsh0sjfcmjbkjYfWwcbq3aARSYkWpnVv2gWvYopCxtUx79w0OwxmnsdRi4JiwEWvhCEWYri4W9w42rF3RLv1BhC54yPQhzMUuWReVDNF-zI/s320/IMG_4814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632206521597331954" border="0" /></a>living room great to house traveling souls to Santiago- so if you haven’t gotten a direct invite from me to come visit me in Chile this is it! We even bought and air mattress for guest to stay! And the best part of our place is its location, we are one block from the largest metro station and 3 blocks from the best night life in the city – Bellavista area. Here you find the most bars, clubs, concert halls, restaurants, all in a beautiful ecliptic part of town.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">(My room, small, but mine)<br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWPYRJBi7rcCZYzrKuA5VDROi2_tMBNTIk3prBQUMVIJpGJPSCVOzGPEnrK07JYkIXG-dQiuzD19mvFik59fZFWJpfgAjN-By6myR4nVg6M99S-u0E6650Ttf6JZmMN5Se9hL9GZwsXA/s1600/P7120060.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWPYRJBi7rcCZYzrKuA5VDROi2_tMBNTIk3prBQUMVIJpGJPSCVOzGPEnrK07JYkIXG-dQiuzD19mvFik59fZFWJpfgAjN-By6myR4nVg6M99S-u0E6650Ttf6JZmMN5Se9hL9GZwsXA/s320/P7120060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632210071632423442" border="0" /></a>Living with these boys creates so many flashbacks of growing up with my 2 brothers. Sometimes they are so sweet and really take good care of me, sometimes they are so flippin’ annoying and won’t stop poking me or<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVm0YgqBhmX-VYCR8PzyBxOZuTRP9M0V8TsBd7KJsxuXBx4XwgsKkrG9GVMLaa781ggoIDS7SxM8G7Wv-ojtVpQRaE-p2WJix8KlcvBXmI5bApkP80etKZervwgX8mdXxvYsl66CYxzQ/s1600/P7130082.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVm0YgqBhmX-VYCR8PzyBxOZuTRP9M0V8TsBd7KJsxuXBx4XwgsKkrG9GVMLaa781ggoIDS7SxM8G7Wv-ojtVpQRaE-p2WJix8KlcvBXmI5bApkP80etKZervwgX8mdXxvYsl66CYxzQ/s320/P7130082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632210709513890850" border="0" /></a> pulling my hair ( I’m not exaggerating, just ask Nick about that one), sometimes they are too protective of me, sometimes they are cuddly,<span style=""> </span>and sometimes smelly and messy. But I do love them all so much, they are quickly becoming family to me.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Nick)<br /></p><p style="text-align: right;" class="MsoNormal">(Sean and I at a Student Protest)<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzsHD6Z9-HCEq6kqkV5b_kBYeXm6BmtqkY7u1nl5a2G8bcp3ygit9Ims2F88mfaegmvlXrMsh4W4pM9sEmdVK7f7LC0LW3fpJ67rnJxdkCGIRZURE6e5h8ChpazqsVO0bf_ivsd-F0gI/s1600/P7130080.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzsHD6Z9-HCEq6kqkV5b_kBYeXm6BmtqkY7u1nl5a2G8bcp3ygit9Ims2F88mfaegmvlXrMsh4W4pM9sEmdVK7f7LC0LW3fpJ67rnJxdkCGIRZURE6e5h8ChpazqsVO0bf_ivsd-F0gI/s320/P7130080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632211724722903330" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Our apt is never boring, random Michael Jackson dance breaks, or random cooking fests, lots of laughs and lots of yelling (that’s our fav form of communication between each other). We work mostly out of our living room, the internet is fairly good, and then leave to go meet people and see the city. We all love people, all love music and singing and dancing, having people over and all love wine- what more could you want in roommates? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Chis and I at La Monela with official guards)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rXRFz4lk8hEPXjwooFJIB9SoWsiJgjzDi9JrqkrHd40uTmBWcbjzg4jusks3mS2Uy15ST8Xj0yJ410G2Egr4CoXgOxQLUrYvuxcwD2x0LwcbfWAGB3kE0Mb4X2B4UIiB8CupZoOb_vA/s1600/P7160097.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rXRFz4lk8hEPXjwooFJIB9SoWsiJgjzDi9JrqkrHd40uTmBWcbjzg4jusks3mS2Uy15ST8Xj0yJ410G2Egr4CoXgOxQLUrYvuxcwD2x0LwcbfWAGB3kE0Mb4X2B4UIiB8CupZoOb_vA/s320/P7160097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632212776454300738" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">This morning I was woken up by Chris jumping on my bed and crawling under the covers (everyone is jealous of the heated blanket I bought) and then Nick coming and jumping on top of us and then Sean coming in and serenading us while we laid in bed. It was such a great way to wake up. Its going to be an interesting time here in Chile<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;" class="MsoNormal">(Andrew at Santa Lucia)<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-56311359738359131542011-07-17T19:45:00.000-07:002011-07-17T19:46:04.049-07:00Futbol<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"> Futbol, what Americans call Soccer is a way of life here. It defines your schedule, your mood, who you can be friend with and when, your wardrobe, and what your home TV and cable is. I would say it goes far beyond American Football in fan loyalty, mainly its because its really the only sport countries in South America care about. In the states some people prefer baseball or basketball, but here- EVERYONE cares about futbol. Not to<span style=""> </span>mention these countries also have a single national team that the entire country can ralley around as they often play other countries through-out the world. Team pride combined with patriotism and alcohol is an exciting mix.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Today was a futbol day, multiple world wide matches were lined up and I was pumped. It all started at about 2:30 with the Women’s WORLD CUP where USA was playing Japan. I had my snacks ready here at the hostal, the couch all set up, TV on the right channel, remote in hand, and me and couple other gringos were ready to cheer. Well it was right about 2 min into the game when a couple of the Brazilian guys here at the hostal walked up and without saying anything began changing the channel looking for the Brazil V. Paraguay match. I told them I was watching the world cup game and they (mind you this whole conversation is in broken English/Spanish/<span class="st">Portuguese) responded that the Brazil game was about to start. I told them that was only a qualifying game for the South American Cup while this was the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. They responded that it didn’t count because it was a women’s game. I was rather upset, but 10 other Brazilians walked up ready to watch there game so that was where the argument ended. I wouldn’t have minded that much if they had just asked, I mean I was interested in that game as well…but instead I ended up only watching part of the game and then was invited to go PLAY some futbol. So I grabbed my new cleats and jumped on the Metro with Andrew. We headed out to the far east of the city, closer to the mountains than we had yet been. When we got off the metro we had the most incredible view of the Andes Mountains. It was a crystal clear day and it was the first time we could see all the way to the top. They were by far the largest mountains I have ever seen. Even Andrew, who is form Denver, was in awe at the magnitude of the mountains. And we got to play futbol right there in the mountain’s shadows. It was incredible. One of the start-up chile guys had reserved a field and we had a great social game of futbol with people from all over the world, way cool. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="st"> After our game it was about time to get ready for the real match of the day- Chile V. Venezuela simi-finals for the South American Cup. We were to meet up with a bunch of Couch Surfers at an Irish Pub. Every bar/restaurant during Chile futbol away games are PACKED. Everyone flocks to get out and watch the game with all the other fans- through out the entire country. Its crazy. We crammed about 15 foreigners and about 6 Chileans into a small booth and had a grand time cheering on Chile. The place was so loud with cheers and signs and insults at every part of the game. When Chile scored with only 30 min left in the game you should have heard that place explode in cheers and songs. It was so great, until Venezuela scored again near the end of the game to win it. Suddenly everything got quite. People switch from drinking beer to drinking straight liquor. As we walked home we saw so many riot police just hanging out on the street, they have to be ready during every game just in case. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="st"> Tonight at the hostal, same story. Liquor and people kinda somber, no one is going out tonight. Tonight is morning night. I was warned to expect sour moods from everyone in the city for at least a week until the South American Cup is over.</span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-87838326389593452702011-07-16T10:01:00.000-07:002011-07-16T10:02:11.331-07:00EARTHQUAKE<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">So last night, July 15<sup>th</sup> around 9:30pm I got to experience my first earthquake. Travis and I were up in the hostal doing some work on the computers and due to the wobbly table and chairs I didn’t recognize what was going on at first. The table was shacking for about 10 seconds before Travis said “earthquake!”. We were up on the 6<sup>th</sup> floor of our building so the tremor had just started little and was growing. When I looked around everything was shaking, the water in my glass was violently stirring around, my bag on the floor was moving, and the pictures on the wall were swaying back in forth. We rushed into the living room of the hostal and were excited and rather anxious about the entire building shaking, to our surprise Maricel, the girl who works the front desk, only responded to our excitement with “nah, it is only a tremor, no big deal.” Apparently a 4.8 earthquake is “no big deal” to Chileans. Weird. But at least it was exciting for us. </p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202505497184549851.post-27629909318071196502011-07-16T09:41:00.001-07:002011-07-16T09:48:02.931-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh buddy am I exhausted. I was right in my assumption we wouldn’t be resting much with our time in Chile. Every moment is jam-packed with awesomeness. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Yesterday morning we got up early to meet everyone who is part of Start-Up Chile for a picture with the Chilean Minister of Economy. I guess I should take this moment to explain a little of what I am doing down here. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The Chilean Government decided to enhance innovation, the economy and global network that they would sponsor people from around the world to move to Chile to start companies. So a friend of mine I know from Tech, Chris Quintero, followed the whole process last year during their first year of doing this, he fell in love and invited another friend of ours Andrew Foote to join him in starting a business in Chile. The 3 of us know each other best through Engineers without Boarders and have all worked in Cameroon together. We have the same passions to change the world and love for traveling. We were discussing the possibility of applying for this program at Rocky Mountain Pizza over a couple pitchers of beer when a friend of mine, Sean Kolk, walked up and started drinking with us. I know Sean via a road trip a couple years ago to Mexico. Sean was just about to graduate in International Affairs and Marketing from GT and was looking for the next great adventure in his life. The 4 of us decided that we should totes go for it and Andrew invited a friend, Nick Van Vilet, he knew from Emory to join us on this crazy adventure. The 5 of us began brainstorming on what we could possibly do for a business in Chile, after much talking and debating it was decided that our best idea with the skill we had was to go with the project that I have been working on with GTRI for the past year- a solar latrine. The sanitation crisis world wide was something already near and dear to the 5 of our hearts and we decided we should make a business that seeks to do something about it. Sanivation is what we call ourselves- innovation for sanitation (get it?) check us out at Sanivation.com. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpHiX8UPUpCJHyejubo13-kE-TuPAx0BLHvLIIkgJMI_oNQvMinp-wam03SJ-DL3Nd5x9H2ZJIsgty5XJMvgmeVvzrtg0f5NfJfaDiKPnX8h0_hiAUi9QAqC1yGZ_rCxxsr0RdY7GODo/s1600/start+up+chile.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpHiX8UPUpCJHyejubo13-kE-TuPAx0BLHvLIIkgJMI_oNQvMinp-wam03SJ-DL3Nd5x9H2ZJIsgty5XJMvgmeVvzrtg0f5NfJfaDiKPnX8h0_hiAUi9QAqC1yGZ_rCxxsr0RdY7GODo/s320/start+up+chile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629991322326744738" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ergo, me and 4 boys are here in Santiago Chile under an initial grant from the Government program Start-Up Chile. We aren’t exactly sure what all we will be doing, where we will be living for what will happen, but we do know we are going to learn a lot, make a lot of awesome memories and meet a ton of great people. So we are pumped to be here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So yesterday was our first time meeting any other Start-Up Chile people. We met at the largest newspaper headquarters of Chile and got a really cool tour. I spent most of the time just getting to know the other people here in the program. There are about 200 of us from everywhere in the world. Everyone speaks English, about half speak good Spanish. It was interesting hearing everyone’s background and what company they were going to start here in Chile. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From there we headed back to the hostal to start doing some work and discussion time with the team. Then we decided since we were hungry, we would make a <i style="">quick</i> stop at a fast food café right next to our hostal… this proved to be an interesting adventure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So in Chile, a lot of things that we would have just done ourselves or by machine in the Sates are instead done by other people for their full time job. Like gas, there is a station attendant who pumps it for you. Or in a fast food case, you order your food at the desk<span style=""> </span>and she gives you a ticket depending on where you are you take that ticket somewhere else to show someone to order your food,<span style=""> </span>and then take that ticket to someone else who verifies the tickets and passes you your food. Interesting huh? Well at this café we got our little tickets and had NO IDEA what to do next. We wandered around like idiots for a while and tried to ask people, but no one knew what we were trying to ask. There was an escalator upstairs which looked like it had extra seating, so we went up and got stuck in a cafeteria line- with no exit! Only the escalator going up behind us. So we had to push our way through the line, and follow the really confusing exit signs which lead way to the back of the building and exited to a random ally a block away form where the café was. We were so confused. We got back to the restaurant and kept asking people to no avail. Finally we just sat down at a table and next thing we knew a waiter came to our table and took our tickets and our drink orders and then shortly delivered our food to the table. We felt extremely Gringo (Chilean slang for American).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After that adventure we met up with the Hong Kong kids and the Chilean couch surfers again at the largest market in the area- Market Vega. It was so interesting to walk through the market, it had almost anything you could want all sold at little booths under this covered area. All kinds of produce, meat, drinks, house supplies, dog food,<span style=""> </span>clothes – everything. In the very middle was an eating area where we were served amazing home made 4 course meal for WAY cheep. So good. The fried fish might have been the best I ever had, and got to try my first local beer, also delicious. From there we went on another walking tour. Claudia, a native Santiago girl studying anthropology and archeology did an amazing job explaining the history of the place. We went to 500 year old cathedrals, some old museums, congress, the Mondia (equivalent of the white house) she showed us damages still from specific bombings or riots or the earthquakes, she explained past governments and movements and how they affected current day Chile. And every where we looked riot police were preparing for the next days excitement.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">All of the university students and teachers in Santiago have been on a “Paro”, Strike, for the past couple months. They are speaking out against having to pay for university when all public universities were originally established as completely free and are so in most neighboring countries. I was amazing when I found out that Chilean students pay about $7,000 USD a year for their education, as compared with myself who paid about $30,000 USD a year. Was this really worth such a large protest? They seemed to think so. All the universities have been “taken over” by the students. Each like a headquarters’ of a rebellion where tons of students camp out day and night and plan their protest. The buildings are covered in hand made signs and many have desks and chairs jammed in the gates in a visual representation of what was going on. How incredible that students could rally like that by the thousands around the city for a cause. I don’t know if Georgia Tech could have ever rallied like that, but as I was told, protesting here is a way of life. Its how all members of society get their point across. Well today, July 14<sup>th</sup> was the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt-0wKm43Wv3N6CktLcKgVpoqmph15UlnfPiXVNCGWNs2zTiX-ThOF4aFSngkBhqifI2UlPOmu1rZWzZxQ9nWkKDCnReOfmsxhIINQfDbvXmRCwzONxJsLvQexVRLxTaBG8Aq7QkEz8M/s1600/protest.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt-0wKm43Wv3N6CktLcKgVpoqmph15UlnfPiXVNCGWNs2zTiX-ThOF4aFSngkBhqifI2UlPOmu1rZWzZxQ9nWkKDCnReOfmsxhIINQfDbvXmRCwzONxJsLvQexVRLxTaBG8Aq7QkEz8M/s320/protest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629992184269354066" border="0" /></a>big day, a large protest had been scheduled right at the Mondia and police were preparing for it. Fences were up, riot gear was on and tanks holding ammunition of tear gas and water canyons were out and in the ready. Through out the day we could hear the protest out on the plaza and could watch on TV as police retaliated when protest turned violent. We decided to stay far from any of the protest. Tear gas was launched and water canyons used when students started fires int he streets.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We left that group about 7pm to meet Travis and some other El Oasis kids for a free symphony concert. Then it was off to an awesome coffee shop to just sit and chat for a couple hours. It was very nice. After that Travis took us to Universidad de Chile, one of the main spots of the student protest. After showing our student IDs they let us in. It was just like a rebel base, or a barricade feeling. Planning going on everywhere, big white boards about what was planed for the upcoming day, signs being made, and even chant rehearsal. Again we commented about how hard it would be to ever get tech students to attempt such an adventure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">For there we headed back to the Hostal with every intention of going to bed to get some sleep in preparation for the early morning we had today. But alas, upon arrival to the Hostal there was a large group outside on the balcony drinking whine, dancing, and thoroughly enjoying themselves. I and Sean, in our unstoppable social nature, could not pass up that opportunity and went outside to join the group. We again met people from all over and practiced our Spanish some more. And the most unexpected fantastic surprise happened- I met the local women’s rugby club coach! Honestly! His name is Sebastian and his club practices on Mondays and Wednesdays not too far from here and I was invited to join them right away, guess what I am going to do Monday night? So pumped. I had been planning on going to bed soon at that point, but was convinced instead to join the group out dancing, and I can not say no to that. And oh what a night. 1<sup>st</sup> off no one gets to the clubs before 1am, 2<sup>nd</sup> club plays the most wonderful assortment of music from reggaton to classic rock to rap to hard core metal to local Chilean, 3<sup>rd</sup> Latino boys are incredible dancers, 4<sup>th</sup> Latino boys love blond haired Americans. Basically saying I didn’t stop dancing all night and had the time of my life. So much fun just dancing and singing the night away. So many times I just cracked up laughing when I started thinking about this was my new home. Wow. </p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05797454220317480405noreply@blogger.com0