In Transit

Exhausted after 10 hours....but another 10 or so to go..

Well, thank God my plane didn’t crash, although there were a few times I thought it might. Let’s just say, it was an eventful flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam and at one point there were a few yelps (none coming from me), flight attendants running down the isle into their seats, me in tears, and my new Russian friend (who didn’t speak very good English, but we had a great time talking still) and I holding on to the front of our seats. At one point, the entire plane felt like it just dropped, that feeling that you get on a rollercoaster when your stomach sinks-not the best feeling to have on an air bus while over the ocean. One of the flight attendants described it as turbulence like she’d never been through before, but luckily it only lasted about an hour and we eventually landed safely. (Don’t worry Mom, I’m safe I promise, and the tears only lasted for about 5 minutes…)

Now I’m sitting in the Amsterdam airport drinking a skinny vanilla latte and eating a blueberry muffin. For the record, this is the most expensive Starbucks I’ve ever had…$12.00…damn Euro exchange rate. BUT, I figured since I’ll be without my person sidekick Starbucks for a while, it was ok to splurge. After my near-death flight, I deserve it.

I love airports, I really do. I typically enjoy flying but my favorite part is the people watching. Airports are the best for that and everyone is in transit, one way or the other. I like to sit and watch people, and make up stories in my head of who I think they are, or where they might have been, or where they are headed off to next. You have the business-men in their suits, the families and crying babies, the Jamaican go-ers or heading to Hawaii, the European backpackers…the list goes on. Then, you have just the ordinary Joe who you can’t tell just by looking at them, exactly what they are doing in the airport or at what point in their journey they’re on.

I wish that everyone entering into the airport had to wear a tag around their neck with a short bio of themselves. Given this may violate personal space for some but I would appreciate it! Watching all of these people, I’m just so curious as to who they are, where they are going, where they came from, what they’re passionate about and what their reason is for being in transit today.

It’s been nice to sit here for a while, in a comfortable decent sized chair and watch people, but I just finished my latte and it’s time to go through security. I’m praying that my next flight is less eventful than the first. Exciting times ahead. First a layover in Sudan, and then to Ethiopia. I will update as soon as I’m safe and sound. 

<3

Go Do.

I woke up this morning and thought, "Hey! Let's go to Africa today!?" Actually, I woke up and began to sing Shakira's Waka Waka, which main verse is, "It's time for Africa!!" :) haha...

PS- if you havn't yet, click PLAY on the song above..

Pretty surreal the way it's all worked out, but I am off for an adventure of a lifetime today. I have lots of last minute errands to run this morning, and then I'm off to the airport around noon with my sister and parents for them to send me off and hug them one last time before I see them again this summer.

If you're a person of prayer and faith, I have a favor to ask, and it's that you keep me in you prayers today and the next few days. If you are a person of good thoughts, send them my way. It's going to be 26 hours or so of transit (through Amsterdam, layover in Khartoum, Sudan, and then finally to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and I'm sure many emotions over the full day of traveling will arise. My bags are all packed- 2 items to be checked...both of which we weighed a million times to get under 50lbs each! Then I have my carry on, plus my backpack so needless to say, it's going to be interesting trying to manage it all myself once I get into Addis. Let's hope there are carts available!

I truly am feeling good about it and the sense of excitment has finally hit me instead of nerves (or maybe just in addition to nerves...) Last night, I had my closest girlfriends over for dinner and to hug them goodbye. It was hard to watch them go, not because I won't see them again or because I'm afraid I'll lose touch with them, but because it's hard knowing I can't be a part of their lives in the same medium I have been for the next 10 months. Whether it's Alex and Annie who tell me their daily happenings down to what they ate for breakfast, or if it's Chloe and Bekah when we get together and have quality time, or if it's my sister whose just irreplaceable in my life. It's going to be hard for me to not hold that same place that I have, but I'll be back in July. I'm just so thankful to have such amazing people in my life, that's for dang sure.

The song above (which I hope you clicked before you read this) is called "Go Do" by Jonsi. It just may be my new favorite song and my mantra for this trip. I plan to listen to it on repeat today...

I keep reminding myself that God calls us to live life in abundance, and I have every intention of living mine out to the fullest. Pretty sure this 10 month venture to Africa is a step in the right direction.

Well, my sister just woke up and got me some coffee so I'm going to drink my last cup of coffee in the Rath house for a while (In a mug that read "I LOVE MY DAD") and spend some quality time with the sister. Then it's off for a busy next day or 2 :)

I'll be using this blog again as I live, work, learn, teach and serve in Ethiopia so please follow me on here. I'll most likely post another blog as I sit in Amsterdam 12 or so hours from now :)

God Bless!

<3

You've Got to Come in Right...

In one week from today I'll be probably half way to Ethiopia, sitting in the Amsterdam airport, drinking my last Starbucks for a while and getting ready to board my next plane for the last leg of my journey...

Crazy to think this is the journey I've chosen, or has been chosen for me. An adventure it will be. As I prepare myself to get ready to go this week, and as I board the plane and enter Ethiopia, I need to remember, "to come in right."

I'm reading a book called, Never Give Up:Vignettes from Sub-Sarahan Africa in the Age of Aids and author Kevin Wings talks about entering new countries, specifically ones he's visited in sub-sarahan Africa. I agreed with Wings as I read the words on the page, and it was so well explained. It was thought provoking to read his advice and although I have pure intentions, I need to be clear and intentional as I step from American soil, into the unknown.

I need to set aside pre-conceived notions of what I think it may be like and enter with a clear head and open mind. This seems like a simple task, but when jumping into the unknown it's so much easier to assume what it will be like. You hear stories, read articles in the newspaper, watch a clip online about a country and they cloud my mind and lead me to assumptions. When I am there, and especially as I enter, my goals need to be clear. To observe. To listen. To see. To learn. And then, To serve. In order to do those things and in order to serve with my full ability, I need to "come in right."

I am not some white woman coming in to save the day. I am not there to give simple solutions for complex problems, or complex solutions for simple problems.  I am not there to take our standards of what works in America and assume it will work there. I am going to Ethiopia to serve, to serve teachers and educators in hopes to form a cohesive relationship where we learn from each other. Yes, teachers in Ethiopia have a lot to learn about teaching methods, how to teach English, classroom management etc which is why this organization is in place. BUT, it is NOT about me going to "help these people."

Some words of wisdom that I am going to keep in mind as I enter, (directly from Wings)

* Listen more than you speak

*Ask more than you tell

*Resist the temptation to fix things; you might not have the tools to do so, and the thing might not be broken in the first place

*Cast off your American lens

*Live with your experiences

*If moved to act, ask what is needed. Don't assume you know.

*Be willing to make a leap of faith..

What it boils down to, is that "You've got to come in right..."

<3

18 Days

18 Days before Ethiopia and a lot to do before the big day. The mental list of things to do is a little overwhelming...that's why I'm choosing to enjoy this labor day cuddled up on my couch with a blanket, coffee and a book. Later, quality time with my mom and sister. Sounds perfect to me.

Things on my mind right now...

-How great my friends are and how much I love quality time with them..especially my 2 best friends, Alex and Annie...this weekend was fantastic.
- How much I love Fall, and how I wish it could come early so I could enjoy it all. Pumpkin Spice Lattes, sweaters, scarves, leaves, blankets, baking...so wonderful.
- How much fun this week and weekend is going to be...dinner or coffee dates every night of the week, then a freshman year reunion this weekend with Lillie, Alison, MelKel and I...which is bound to be nothing but an amazing time.

I'm one thankful lady today. So many great things going on and 18 days to enjoy every minute of it before I put a hold on these wonderful things for the wonderful unknown  :)

A few pictures of a great weekend at the cabin with my 2 favorite people..