hi, is that you?

Well, my internet wouldn't let me access my account and I still haven't figured out why that is. So here I am, 13 days after my last post!

Some interesting things that have happened over my 13 days:
1. The Best Job in the World stopped taking applications with about 34,000 applicants from around 200 countries! Absolutely remarkable!
"For a $1.8million campaign we have received nearly $80million in publicity."
Tourism Queensland=marketing geniuses!
What does this mean for the applicants? Well it means we wait another 8 days to see who is shortlisted. Potential Shortlist Applicants will be contacted by TQ during this week for "online testing" and then, 8 days from now, the Top 50 Applicants are posted via their website.
So that is something exciting. On to the next.

2. The Oscars were last night. Heath Ledger won for best supporting actor in "The Dark Night". His family accepted the award on behalf of his daughter, Matilda.

3. The Amazing Race started last Sunday. The first episode started in California and they traveled to Locarno, Switzerland to bungee the 2nd highest bungee jump in the world! Last night, the second episode, took them to the German Alps! The Amazing Race is by far my favorite reality TV show and I hope to be on it one day ;)

4. Obama's 787-billion economic stimulus was passed.
He states, "we got this passed through Congress in record time. And because of what we did together, this plan will save or create at least 3.5 million jobs in every state across the country.''

5. On a more personal note, Carolyn lost around 8 pounds by doing my "KatieKamp" with me :) Of course her change in diet has helped as well but I'm like her own Richard Simmons!

Alright, well I guess that's enough news for now. I'll be getting back on track with this now that it miraculously decided to work again! WOO!

live life to the fullest:

25 Things You Should Experience in Your Lifetime:

1. Live like a local for a month--You can read in books about the the culture of an area, from the traditional meal, the local produce, and the language. But you will never get the full experience. You will never smell what they smell, taste what they taste, suffer like they suffer, and laugh at what they laugh at. My 6 months in Africa was one of my favorite times abroad and I would recommend immersing yourself in a culture for an extended amount of time.
2. Watch Whales Migrate--it's on my list. I actually plan on going while I'm here in California. I hope to see some splashes and skyhopping! Don't you want to see a 120 ton animal right before your eyes??
3. Go White Water Rafting--There is nothing like rafting on a clean, swift, and scenic river. It is an ultimate rush. I had the privilege of going when I visited my boyfriend in Ecuador. We had a brief training course and then found ourselves in a raft, cruising over rocks and waterfalls, with two other foreigners.
4. See Wild Game in an African Safari--Grab a safari tour out of Arusha, Tanzania and head out to Lake Manyara and Tarangire, The Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti. Experience nature to its fullest. Sit and watch a Lion on the prowl, watch monkeys fight over a mango, and Giraffes (Twigas) walk awkwardly on their stilt-like-legs. You really have to remind yourself that this isn't a Disneyland Attraction, and it is "The Circle of Life" right in front of your eyes.


5. Fly a Plane--I plan on working my way up to that one. But it would definitely be an accomplishment.
6. Learn another Language--Although I am a firm believer that you can get by with some words and phrases and of course a little bit of charades.. Learning another language really lets you connect with another culture on a completely new level. With a little bit of determination and a lot of studying, you could be fluent in no time.
7. Dive in the Great Barrier Reef--Why wouldn't you want to dive into one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, though it is more accurately the world's largest structure built by organisms. With 2,800 species of fish and just about 400 species of coral you are bound to be in awe by the kaleidoscope of colors and sights beneath the water.
8. Visit all 7 Continents--and yes, that includes Antarctica! I have yet to get to Australia, Asia, and Antarctica. Hopefully next year I will finally get my Around the World Ticket and hit them all :)
9. Skydive--Everyone I have met who has gone skydiving can't fully explain the adrenaline rush they get. At first, I had told myself I was never going to do it but I have changed my mind and would love to do it in either New Zealand or Australia.
10. Travel the Nile in Egypt--Witness ancient history while floating along the longest river in the world. It actually touches Ethiopia, Zaire, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan but is most famous for running through Egypt.
11. Buy and Around the World Ticket--Why not create your own itinerary with an Around the World Ticket? It is your opportunity to pick the destination cities of your choice for a better price than buying individual tickets.
12. Swim with Dolphins--I've had the privilege of snorkeling in the middle of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Zanzibar with a pod of dolphins. A mama dolphin and a baby dolphin swam right above me as I was looking up toward the surface. That serene image will always play in my mind.
13. Travel India by Train--India is on the top of my list of destinations. India is an incredibly intricate culture which has formed over the past five millennia. For some laughs see the movie The Darjeeling Limited which is about 3 brothers who reunite while traveling aboard a train through India.
14. Float in a Hot Air Balloon--I have never experienced it but through the pictures I have seen and the stories I have heard, it seems to be extremely relaxing and peaceful as you float gently through the clouds.
15. See the Taj Mahal at Sunrise-- The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India and is a renowned architectural structure which supposedly is a breathtaking sight at sunrise.
17. 16. Visit Machu Picchu--It is believed that the initial residents of Machu Picchu died within 100 years of its establishment, due to small pox. As it is a significant place culturally and spiritually, Machu Picchu was included by the World Monuments Fund on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites.



18. Find your own Paradise--My personal favorite paradise was found in Zanzibar. I took a ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar and found a taxi after getting my passport stamped. I told the taxi driver I wanted to stay somewhere remote but on the beach and he took me to Jambo Brother's in Nungwi. It was simply an exotic, sunkissed destination that will always come to mind when I think of paradise.
19. Swim with Sharks--(insert Jaws music here) Probably the most terrifying on the list for me, but you only live once. I just hope I am living after the experience so I can continue with the rest of the list.
20. Climb an Active Volcano--While volunteering in Nicaragua, the local transportation was on strike so we were unable to make it to the village to continue building the house, so we took a day trip to Cerro Negro, the most active volcano in Nicaragua. We climbed into the center of it as well as walked up to the peak. Really cool experience. There was no stereotypical hot molten lava flowing out of it so I still would love to experience that, possibly in Hawaii.
21. 21. Cross a Country using only Public Transportation--I know some people vacation to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but honestly, one of the ways I was able to get a real taste of a culture was by traveling on their local transportation. Whether it was a truck, where you hold on for your life on the back, in Nicaragua--or a hot, smelly, packed, 14 hour bus ride across the country of Tanzania, you are bound to meet some pretty amazing people along the way. As well as be able to talk to the heart and soul of the country.


22. Scale a Famous Peak--Learning a language is the hardest to achieve on the list, mentally. But to be able to scale a famous peak would definetly be the hardest on the list, physically. Just think of how rewarding it would be to be standing on the top of the world!
23. Explore a Rainforest--I had the honor of being able to explore and sleep in the Amazon Rainforest. Did you know tropical rainforests account for only 7% of the world’s total land mass! Even though it may only take up such a small percentage of the world, it has over half of the varieties of plants that are found around the world (some of which, I was told, have the ability to cure cancer!!). Check out a rainforest and learn about all the healing plants tucked away in the dense, thick, tropical forest.
24. Learn how to Make a National Dish--There is always something in the world you can relate to others with, and that is food. So why not befriend some locals and have them teach you a yummy dish!
25. Run with the Bulls in Pamplona--So I don't know if I would actually RUN with the bulls, but I would love to watch from the gated off sidelines :) All the Power to you if this is something you could see yourself doing!
26. Volunteer Overseas--mmm, my favorite! As you can tell, from some of my little blurbs throughout the list, I have volunteered in some of the poorest countries around the world. It has changed me as a person in ways I could never explain. It has made me more humble, more giving, and more understanding. I no longer complain about my life because I know, somewhere in the world, there is someone else who is worse off than I am. I am determined to share my photos and my inspiration with others to help promote volunteering. I believe it is the secret to bettering human-kind.

Thanks for reading along, I hope you find yourself thinking about this list and some of its items, and maybe checking one or two from the list!

Images:

The Taj Mahal

oh, the month of love.

So, here we are. February. The month of love. There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D.

Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. Today, the date is marked by "Sweetheart Candies", Boxed Chocolates, expensive dinners out, or lonely nights in.

Many traditions have formed over the years. Here are some examples:

--In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"

--You would think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, as you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.

--Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.

--Or the traditional, "he loves me, he loves me not" from picking off flower pedals, one by one.

Although it is a really fun tradition, I think it has its down sides as well. I couldn't tell you the last time I had a "real" Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. We have been dating for 6 years, and still have not been able to celebrate it. I guess it goes to show that we don't need a date to prove our love for each other, we have Valentine's Day, everyday :).

Well, Happy February!

Images:

Love Spoon from www.woodbuddies.com/GalleryHtml/0026.html

Dandelion

Flower: Flickr Image: northern star- "he loves me/he loves me not. "

as a matter of olFACTory.

Today I was riding my bike to a job interview at Lou E Lueys, (my new temporary job for the winter here in Cali), and during my bike ride, I caught a whiff of something familiar. It was from a man who was running in the opposite direction as I was riding my bike. All of a sudden, a flood of memories from my trip to Wales had rushed into my mind. Although, I already knew that smell and memory goes hand in hand. The olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system, an area so closely associated with memory and feeling and it's sometimes called the "emotional brain".(Thank you Dr. Kingsley, Physiological Psychology Class). Wow, I mean don't get me wrong, I found the class extremely interesting, absolutely challenging, and most of the information I learned, I thought was just going to help me with Grad. School entrance exams and nothing more! But here I am. Blogging on my own time. Talking about the good 'ole Olfactory system and how it relates to memories... I digress.

So. I get a whiff of this cologne/perfume/aftershave... whatever it was, and BAM! I'm taken back to being in my Aunt's house in Wales and sitting around the living room eating a nice greasy bag of fish 'n' chips! It was absolutely amazing. Too bad I couldn't bottle up all the familiar smells from around the world. I'd have a so many bottles and when I was wishing I was back at that particular place, I'd just spritz a little into the air and let the memories begin--the smell of DEET to bring me back to Africa and remembering lathering up with bug repellent during the evenings of cooking by candlelight in our camp and taking turns reading aloud "The Life of Pi" and playing drafts off our homemade wood carved board--or the smell of homemade tortillas after walking in from a long, exhausting morning in Nicaragua from digging the foundation to house... the list could go on and on.

But after all is said and done. It is nice knowing that the smells are unique and that they don't come around often. So when you least expect it you are hit with a smell that brings you thousands and thousands of miles away. And for that one brief moment, something you forgot about while you are catering to the "real world", comes back to you and satisfies your soul. Even if for just one second, you are reminded of the fantastic memories you have made.

Images:

Cartoon "Memory Book" from http://deniscalnan.ca/art/cartoons/

DEET from www.westnile.ca.gov

Tortilla: www.gonomad.com

what do me & Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttatas have in common?

Would you like to take a guess? No, my favorite food is not Eucalyptus leaves. No, I do not resemble a chewed up leaf. NO, I do not dress to match my dinner (although it happens sometimes and is a little bit embarrassing. I mean how was I supposed to know that we were eating lobsters for dinner and I just HAPPENED to be wearing my lobster suit). And NO, it's not because they hang out on treetops during the summer and yell out for the world to hear. Alright, alright, I'll tell you! It was my nickname growing up! No, no, no, not Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttata! My nickname was Katydid, as in the common name for the Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttata. Well to be exact. The common name is really The Spotted Katydid. And they happen to have 22 spots on their wings--and I happen to be 22 years old--I know, what a coincidence!

So you're wondering why I randomly decided to talk about Katydids. Well, I decided to do some research on Queensland and some of their wildlife and I happened to come across an insect with my childhood nickname and was a little bit curious. Is that a good enough answer for you? Well along the way I found animals that are far more exciting than the Katydid. For example, the very well known, Koala. Who also happens to have Eucalyptus as his favorite food...All this talk about Eucalyptus made me want to try it out. Until I came across the fact that an essential oil extracted from eucalyptus leaves contains compounds that are powerful natural disinfectants and which can be toxic in large quantities. Several marsupial herbivores, notably koalas and some possums, are relatively tolerant of it. Well aren't they special!! And Koalas spend about three of their five active hours eating!!

Did you know that The Koala is one of the few mammals (other than primates) that has fingerprints. Koala fingerprints are similar to human fingerprints; even with an electron microscope, it can be quite difficult to distinguish between the two.

Do you remember this song?

"Kookaburra sits in the old Gum Tree

Merry, merry king of the bush is he.

Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!

How gay your life must be!"

Well that totally brought back some good 'ole memories of childhood. It's funny how being a kid, that was just a fun song to sing while swinging on a swing. I mean, I don't know about you, but I was completely oblivious to what a Kookaburra was. And if I recall, I was calling it a Kookoburro. But anyway. A Kookaburra is the largest Kingfisher in the WORLD! It is also known as the "Laughing Jackass" because of its distinct laugh it makes. The laugh actually was hated by early settlers because they thought that the Kookaburra was actually laughing at them!

alright. I guess I'm done being a wildlife nerd. Next time on "Kate ny the Wildlife Guy", the exciting adventures of the three-toed-sloth! haha, just kidding. . See you soon!

Images:

Katydid

Koala

Kookaburra

References:

Queensland Government

Australian Koala Foundation. "Interesting facts about koalas"

animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/laughing-kookaburra.html

not all those who wander are lost.

wanderlust: a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

There is nothing like taking a walk or a little hike to a place you have never been before. Whether it is to a new cafe around the block or, better yet, someplace in the middle of nowhere. The best is when the only thing in sight is nature and purely nature. It's a chance to take a step away from the "real world" and surround yourself with solace.

I went on a little 3 hour hike with Carolyn and Brendan today to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. We walked along the beach until the sand ended and rocks began. We passed a couple of surfers trying to find the perfect wave along the rocks but other than that, it was just the three of us with no specific destination in mind. We would chat for a little while but most of the time we were all in our own little worlds; where it was your time to think about whatever you wanted to, or even just walk along the rocks and think about nothing and clear your mind.

All in all, I had an awesome day getting away from the norm of Redondo Beach. Here are some pictures from the day! enjoy :)

I absolutely love taking the time to stop hiking and just actually look at all the little creatures, shells, rocks, and beach glass that is right under your feet. Below: my friend the hermit crab and a rare species, the tennis ball, which is very hard to come by although can be found all around the world!

BELOW (TOP): Some minerals we came across while climbing up a cliff. I'm going find out what type of mineral it is exactly and I'll let you know. BELOW (BOTTOM): the seaweed here in California is so different than the seaweed I am used to in NY. It is extremely strong and thick compared to our paper thin seaweed which sort of looks like wilted lettuce or spinach.

BELOW (TOP): some snails in a little tide pool. BELOW (BOTTOM): just a pretty little shell I came across. There weren't too many shells during the walk. Mostly rocks. So it was a nice little find.

View from the top of the cliff!




FIN.

just trying to keep Aussie time in mind!
because I'M GOING TO WIN THE WORLDS BEST JOB!

What is The Best Job in the World?

I'm sure if you asked each individual person what their "ideal job" would be, you would get a variety of answers. But of course, when the "Best Job in the World" is advertised as "get paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle" wouldn't anybody apply? Probably.

Responsibilities Include:

• Exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef - Explore the 600 islands off the coast of Queensland and enjoy any and every activity that is available. Then simply, report back to Tourism Queensland and people from around the world via blog, video, and photographs.
• Feed the fish - There are 2,800 species of fish and just about 400 species of coral, but don't worry, some of the coral feed off of themselves so you won't have to worry about them :).
• Clean the pool - Although the state of the art pool has an automatic filter what better reason do you need to take a dip if you happen to see a stray leaf that ACCIDENTALLY fell in.
• Collect the mail – During your explorations, why not join the aerial postal service for a day? It’s a great opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the reef and islands.

Wouldn't YOU claim that to be THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD?! Oh, and to top if off, you will receive a whopping six digit salary for the trouble of 6 months.

The fact of the matter is, is that if someone had asked me what my "ideal job" would be, (before Tourism Queensland came up with this fantastic marketing strategy) I would have said traveling around the world and blogging, filming and photographing my journey to inspire others. Kind of like Samantha Brown, but more rugged, edgy, and independent. Although she is great, I think that a more naturalistic approach and maybe staying in some hostels instead of 5 star resorts at some point, would be to her advantage. Although, what I went to school for (Psychology and eventually Graduate School in School Psychology) is another passion of mine, I still would say that traveling the world is top on my list for my ULTIMATE dream job.

I know I sound a little arrogant with my first comment up at the top and maybe a little bit overly confident. I mean, over 12,000 applications have been received. But when you are as passionate about traveling as I am, you are determined to stay optimistic and hope that someone sees that glimmer in your eye.. you know. The passion just shines through and I hope that people will see that in my application! I found a little glimpse of hope when TQ had stated in their News Section of their website, "to date we've had over 8,000 applications, some great - and some not so great" and also "Unfortunately we're rejecting more than we're approving." So I guess we will see if I made TQ laugh a little :).

Good luck to Everyone who Applied, and good luck to those who really have traveling, blogging, filming and photographing as their ACTUAL dream jobs.

See ya soon!

something i've been missing: vitamin D.

Weather: sunny and in the 80s.
Transportation: a beach cruiser. (ding ding).

Job Outlook: um. Lets just say I've put that on the back burner and gave myself a little vaycay!
So. I've been here a week and two days and although high on my priority list is to find a job (so I don't delve into my savings account) ..I kinda sorta just decided to hide my list and have been enjoying life here in sunny LA.
It's really invigorating to leave a cold, desolate, place and to step foot into a warm, energetic, active, environment. There is nothing like it. And that is why, I believe, people travel during their winter breaks to warm tropical locations. Our body yearns for the vitamin D from the sun (well at least that is one of my reasons for laying out in the sun)... and instead driving through snow to hit the gym, I walk out of my apartment and onto the beach to play some volleyball, ride my beach cruiser down the coast to the different beaches, go for amazing sunset runs, or just soak up some sun. I have to say I can't complain right now. I guess eventually I'm going to have to start my search for a job.. and I'll stress the word EVENTUALLY. ah. it's so wrong but feels so right!!! lol.
Okay. Well I'll post some of my pictures I have taken so far on this post.
enjoy!

cute old man fishing off the pier

& a typical seagull:

a boat dock area near the Redondo Beach Pier:

Manhattan Beach Pier:

Manhattan Beach-where Misty May &

Kerry Walsh played and trained

Redondo Beach Pier @ sunset :0)

Carolyn & Bren kept taking cute "couple pics"

and i felt left out, so this is me and my boyfriend:

Impressions...

Here I am. Redondo Beach, California. Who would of thought that little 'ole Katie Haas would be living in LA! Don't get me wrong, I love to travel and see new places, but this move is a first of many things. First and foremost, it is the first time I will be living on my own all the way across the country. I know 4 people that live here. So I am looking forward to getting a job and networking and meeting some new friends!

So my first impressions:

1. I AM GOING TO GET IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE BEING HERE! There are so many things to do outside its great! The road my house is located on is located right on the water. From my living room window I can see the beach. And along the beach is this really awesome trail that runs for 22 miles up and down the coast where people are running, walking, biking..etc. So I am excited to be in a place that doesn't get too cold, and be able to be active outside even though it is winter.

2. The location of Redondo is pretty ideal. Like I said there is the beach right there, but also there is a beautiful, quaint town with nice little cafes, restaurants and shops. Carolyn and I started our day off early and walked along the beach and then went to town and ended up getting lunch @ a cute little crepe place called, Creme De la Crepe. It was absolutely delicious and run by extremely nice French people. Our waitress was this petite girl who had an awesome french accent and she was very friendly. Carolyn got a smoked salmon crepe which I tried and it was absolutely flavorful and delicious, and I got this brie, ham and tomato crepe. We paired our crepes with 2 glasses of refreshing Saugvignon Blanc and enjoyed our afternoon.

3. So far I have been having a great time with the people I know. Timmy, Joel, Alex, and Kyle all stopped here on their way heading north to go surfing, so that was really fantastic to be able to see them for a night. But overall I know I will have an amazing time with Carolyn, Brendan, Pat, and Martin, and I'm looking forward to meeting some more people from the area.

So I guess those are my first impressions. Which seem to all be pretty positive. . . I still have 5 days before I move into my place, and I still have yet to job search. I just edited my resume so I'll keep ya posted on how that turns out. MORE PICTURES TO COME! Yesterday was hazy out (hazy, foggy, smoggy, call it what you want), so I didn't take many pictures. But more to come, for sure!

smog-ville USA

okay okay okay, so maybe I'm being a little bit too judgmental at this point. So maybe I shouldn't say "smog-ville". Well, I mean, when you arrive in the dark and come straight to the apartment and wake up the next morning, open the shades, and ONLY SEE SMOG!... you're going to support the statement that L.A. is a polluted, smoggy, city. But as time goes on and I embark on my exploration of L.A., I will let you know how I really feel about my new home for the winter.


***note: I'll prob. be on here tonight, after I have woken up fully, showered, ate breakfast, and spent the day galavanting around.

So until then....

Image: LA Smog

crossing fingers. crossing toes.

here is my 2009 World Traveler Intern Link!
Watch it and vote!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0uuD26KZSo

I'll be counting down the days til March 16th!

“If we are to teach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children.” Mahatma Gandhi

(on our way to DAR-Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil... hey it was a long plane ride and we were excited!)

(to see all my "artistic" pictures of africa go to:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010835&l=3cb95&id=79401115 and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010838&l=55210&id=79401115)

Remembering Africa <3 Africa, for me, was an incredible place. It all started in the diverse capital city of Dar es Salaam. Now, that was a very amazing melting pot of different cultures. This was the city where we landed, obtained our visas, and had Swahili and culture training. Although I was traveling with 2 of my friends, this was the time when 2 different groups of volunteers came together for one cause: to educate ourselves for the benefit of the mission. I met amazing lifelong friends from Australia, the UK, Ireland, and Canada.

After our "big city" educational adventure we moved on. We took one of the craziest busrides of my life. It was a 14 hour bus ride on mostly dirt roads with the scariest cliffs, turns and speeds involved.

Singida was a notch down from DAR. It is the town where we finished our language and culture training and also the town where we would come once a week for our weekly food shopping trips.

"WHEN IN ROME..."
So.. after our training program, we were enroute to the village of Mvae. The drive there was extremely emotional for all of us. We all sat in the jeep quiet as can be as the roads got smaller and smaller and civilization got further and further away. I'm not sure what was running through their minds but I was definitely thinking about the danger we were in. We were 45 minutes away from a hospital, so if anything happened to us, it could of been serious. So to add to the anxiety, we arrive to our destination and it is an enclosed area, with only a couple of shelves and tables in the middle of it. Our perimeter were dead sunflower stems. We all had to take a breather before we stepped out of the jeep to greet the villagers. We greeted everyone "habari za leo?" ..."nzuri sana"... "jambo".. "mambo".."poa"... etc, and then we realized we needed to set everything up before the sunset. Here is what our camp looked like:

and then when we made it our home:
The kitchen, how we cooked, the "chu" aka bathroom, our bedroom, the oven we built, the "shower", and "mill banking" --the water purification system.

Here are some pictures of amazing times, amazing people, and an amazing culture:

Kim, Brownie, and I

Our weekend beer delivery :)

TANZANIAN IPOD!!!! AHAHAHA and our homemade "drafts" table.

Beautiful Children:

Building the Health Dispensary

(I have a new respect for bricks now)


THE FINISHED PROJECT!!!!

The Villagers had a little celebration for us..

(it was our last day)

SAMUEL! our awesome night guard!

TUNAPENDA SAMUEL!

Africa will be a country that will have a special place in my heart. I hope someday I can return to visit the village and see if the health dispensary is running smoothly and also be able to see the beautiful people of the village of Mvae.