Thursday, June 28, 2007
I stared death in the FACE!
Last Saturday I saw my life flash before my eyes not once but twice. It all began when an Irish, Californian, New Yorker, Canadian and three bible throwers decided to go rafting down the Nile. We were hooked up with an amazing tour group that gave us three meals and a full day of rafting for only 75 American Dollars. Now when rafting they grade the rapids by numbers, 1-6 with 6 being very dangerous and illegal to go down in America. We started our way down the Nile just minding our own business when we approached a grade 3 rapid. We were told before the trip that if we wanted to tip the raft we could but we had the option. We were 15 mins into our trip when we hit the grade 3 and FLIPPED over! First time I saw my life flash before my eyes. The rapids are much stronger than any ocean I had ever been in and you must kick your way to the surface again. Once I took the first gasp for air I was sucked under again. Again I made it to the top and saw some fellow passengers floating around. I grabbed Leigh to make sure she was ok and next I saw Dean(a very tall Canadian who simply said,"Please Help me I can't swim") I grab dean and we all head back into the raft. Again we paddled and paddled till we go to where we stopped for lunch. We had a nice filling lunch and after Dean decided to go into a different raft(with some Brits) because he thought it would be safer. We continued to paddle and than hit a grade 4 rapid and AGAIN flipped. This time it was much scarier than the first because I ended up under the boat but new that air gets trapped underneath(thank you girlscouts/Dad). Again we were not supposed to flip and were pulled back into the raft to face some more rapids. Once again we paddled and paddled and came to a point where we had to get out onto the shore. When we got to the shore we only saw 1 other boat instead of 2. Where is Deans boat? One of the Brits told us they did not get over in time and went down a grade 6 rapid and they don't know what happened. We ran up the hill to see if we could find Dean. We found Dean on a rock in the middle of the grade 6 rapids stranded! The others in the raft were on other surrounding rocks some a whole mile down. After much loud talking between the guides they decided a rescue mission had to take place. Two guides went down the rapids to grab dean and some of the rest. The rest of the trip was cancelled because many were scratched up a bit and pretty shaken but over all it was an awesome adventurous death defying time!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
i smell like salmon, but that's ok
so...
i finally got to go set-netting. (a quickie for the non-fisherpeople out there: you take a giant volleyball type net, stick it out in the mouth of a river, and let the salmon come to you)
Picture this...the sun is slowly sliding down behind the ocean, it sends sharp rays through clouds...three people sit around a fire drinking cuban mojitos.
Is it New Zealand? Mexico? Puerto Rico?
Nope, none of the above. Its Alaska! And how do we know this? As you look closer you can see...the sun isn't really setting, just drifts along the horizon creating a bizarre, ever-twilighty ambiance. The clouds aren't really clouds, but a giant column of grey and black beetle-kill spruce fire smoke reaching out across the sky. And those people, you notice they are sitting awfully close to that fire, and wearing wool hats and gloves, and if you could look really close you might see their long underwear and thermal socks peaking out under their rubber boots.
And if you were there, like really actually there, you would smell them...the unmistakeable odor of salmon. Not just ordinary salmon, mind you, but still warm and slimy - blood and guts in the water being eaten by sea gulls salmon. The smell of your 15 salmon mixed with the smell of the thousands of other salmons being simultaneously butchered by unwashed Alaskans who've been sleeping in the sand, getting their drinking water out of blue plastic, and shitting in a spackel bucket.
And I'm counting down the days until dipnetting starts...
lox, filets, and caviar for all!
amber
i finally got to go set-netting. (a quickie for the non-fisherpeople out there: you take a giant volleyball type net, stick it out in the mouth of a river, and let the salmon come to you)
Picture this...the sun is slowly sliding down behind the ocean, it sends sharp rays through clouds...three people sit around a fire drinking cuban mojitos.
Is it New Zealand? Mexico? Puerto Rico?
Nope, none of the above. Its Alaska! And how do we know this? As you look closer you can see...the sun isn't really setting, just drifts along the horizon creating a bizarre, ever-twilighty ambiance. The clouds aren't really clouds, but a giant column of grey and black beetle-kill spruce fire smoke reaching out across the sky. And those people, you notice they are sitting awfully close to that fire, and wearing wool hats and gloves, and if you could look really close you might see their long underwear and thermal socks peaking out under their rubber boots.
And if you were there, like really actually there, you would smell them...the unmistakeable odor of salmon. Not just ordinary salmon, mind you, but still warm and slimy - blood and guts in the water being eaten by sea gulls salmon. The smell of your 15 salmon mixed with the smell of the thousands of other salmons being simultaneously butchered by unwashed Alaskans who've been sleeping in the sand, getting their drinking water out of blue plastic, and shitting in a spackel bucket.
And I'm counting down the days until dipnetting starts...
lox, filets, and caviar for all!
amber
Friday, June 15, 2007
Day 2: Uganda
Hello Friends, Family and Foes,
I am currently sitting in an Internet cafe that is right down the road from our guest house. The past 3 days have been a blur. My flight went very well and have come to realize American airlines suck. I flew on KLM from Amsterdam to Uganda and had a very nice flight. Not only do you get a personal T.V. in the head rest infront of you(I got to watch Aladdin and Happy Feet) but they also feed you well and give you hot towelettes... After I arrived in Uganda I stayed at a hotel near by and got to know some cool South African students who had been traveling around Uganda for the past couple of months. We shared "phat beats" with eachother and exchanged e-mails. In the morning Leslie, the Uganda volunteering coordinator, picked me up and took me to my new home. I am living with 6 girls and one boy. Our house is very nice with a balcony onto the main road. I'm really happy I got placed in Mukono District because: a) Many volunteers are left out in the bush(villages) b) All village people(no not the group) come to the guest house to hang out and c) we are located in a town so there are alot of western things around... As for the things I was nervous for and excited for the list has changed a bit... so lets make another one...
Top Africa events I'm excited for:
1/ Rafting down the Nile
2/ Teaching(starting Monday)
3/ Rolex's(Not the watch but some egg wrap I have yet to try)
Top Africa events I'm scared for:
1/ The temp(its actually chilly here.. its about 70 today)
2/ Bugs in my feet(which do exist because I have them.. DON"T BE WORRIES Esther our house mum with be picking them our for me later)
4/ Boda Boda's(motercyle taxis, they come very close to the big taxis when riding on them
Well thats about it for now. A bunch of us are headed to Ginger to run some errands.
Peace and love to all!!
I am currently sitting in an Internet cafe that is right down the road from our guest house. The past 3 days have been a blur. My flight went very well and have come to realize American airlines suck. I flew on KLM from Amsterdam to Uganda and had a very nice flight. Not only do you get a personal T.V. in the head rest infront of you(I got to watch Aladdin and Happy Feet) but they also feed you well and give you hot towelettes... After I arrived in Uganda I stayed at a hotel near by and got to know some cool South African students who had been traveling around Uganda for the past couple of months. We shared "phat beats" with eachother and exchanged e-mails. In the morning Leslie, the Uganda volunteering coordinator, picked me up and took me to my new home. I am living with 6 girls and one boy. Our house is very nice with a balcony onto the main road. I'm really happy I got placed in Mukono District because: a) Many volunteers are left out in the bush(villages) b) All village people(no not the group) come to the guest house to hang out and c) we are located in a town so there are alot of western things around... As for the things I was nervous for and excited for the list has changed a bit... so lets make another one...
Top Africa events I'm excited for:
1/ Rafting down the Nile
2/ Teaching(starting Monday)
3/ Rolex's(Not the watch but some egg wrap I have yet to try)
Top Africa events I'm scared for:
1/ The temp(its actually chilly here.. its about 70 today)
2/ Bugs in my feet(which do exist because I have them.. DON"T BE WORRIES Esther our house mum with be picking them our for me later)
4/ Boda Boda's(motercyle taxis, they come very close to the big taxis when riding on them
Well thats about it for now. A bunch of us are headed to Ginger to run some errands.
Peace and love to all!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
amber's in ak
hello all,
so here i am in the big sunny northern state. and by sunny i mean that in a continuously literal sense. i've been having a blast here, recovering from the 10 day fiesta known as mom and dad's house.
Today I am sitting at the CampFire office, leading New Staff Orientation. It is sunny and 70' and I am sitting inside. My current job is at the Loussac Manor Community Center, at a local housing project. From 12-6 everyday approx 40 kids come to play and eat. It is a fascinating community; native alaskans, africans, hondurans and others, a little ghetto microcosm.
Enough of that, I'm going outside to enjoy my 24 hours of day light. I'm going to plant asparagus, walk through the woods, and drink mai tais. hope you're having fun.
amber
so here i am in the big sunny northern state. and by sunny i mean that in a continuously literal sense. i've been having a blast here, recovering from the 10 day fiesta known as mom and dad's house.
Today I am sitting at the CampFire office, leading New Staff Orientation. It is sunny and 70' and I am sitting inside. My current job is at the Loussac Manor Community Center, at a local housing project. From 12-6 everyday approx 40 kids come to play and eat. It is a fascinating community; native alaskans, africans, hondurans and others, a little ghetto microcosm.
Enough of that, I'm going outside to enjoy my 24 hours of day light. I'm going to plant asparagus, walk through the woods, and drink mai tais. hope you're having fun.
amber
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Pre Africa
One week till the big trip and the bags are half packed, the shots have been administered, the nerves are ticking, the excitement is building. I am currently sitting in Jess's HOT HOT Harlem Apt trying to enjoy my last weekend of something familiar. Soo in the spirit of familiarity I'm going to make some lists...
Top Africa events I'm excited for:
1/ Meeting the children in the Orphanage
2/ Getting to use my wind flashlight, neck pillow, and hiking boots
3/ Seeing the land/animals
4/ learning the language
Top Africa events I'm scared for:
1/ The food
2/ The heat
3/ The bugs
4/ The bugs in your feet
Well the last things to do now are to struggle through the last week of work, eat and drink as much as I can, celebrate the big 2-1 and jump on that big plan and scoot over to Uganda. Hope everything goes as simple as that.
Top Africa events I'm excited for:
1/ Meeting the children in the Orphanage
2/ Getting to use my wind flashlight, neck pillow, and hiking boots
3/ Seeing the land/animals
4/ learning the language
Top Africa events I'm scared for:
1/ The food
2/ The heat
3/ The bugs
4/ The bugs in your feet
Well the last things to do now are to struggle through the last week of work, eat and drink as much as I can, celebrate the big 2-1 and jump on that big plan and scoot over to Uganda. Hope everything goes as simple as that.
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