Sunday, Almost there!, July 20, 2013

8:30am Zurich time/2:30am Raleigh time

Long flight, uncomfortable seats but good movies!  I had no idea they had new movie selections so I never had to pull out my iPad once during the flight.  I’m up to date on Identity Theft (mediocre and I LOVE Jason Bateman, by the way) and Admission (just ehhhh…).  It was nice for a few hours the lights were turned off and I could pretend to take a nap but then right about midnight CST the lights were on and cheese-toast was served.  My blanket promptly went over my head and I zoned out for as long as I could.  When that didn’t work, The Host was the next movie on my list. 

While I was sitting at the airport in Toronto having sushi for dinner I chatted with a gal who had been to Tanzania and was on her way to Nairobi, Kenya and she knew about Operation Smile, which is NOT the same thing as Smile Train but still another wonderful charity working to eradicate and educate about cleft lips in these poor areas.

After deplaning in Zurich I had to go through security again and I think our TSA agents could take notes from the agents here. No taking off shoes, no pulling liquids out of bags, just laptops and iPads came out.  They couldn’t have been more pleasant. 

So I’m already realizing how much of an ‘American’ I am.  Only speaking one language and essentially never having left the continental US.  Everyone here speaks multiple languages including the kids.  I felt for the parents flying with little kids on our flight but wow – to be able to give your kids the opportunity to travel, or better yet LIVE overseas (Shillings burgs, Bentleys, way to go!!) is such a huge gift.  It may be inconvenient for a little while but the exposure can surely outweigh the tiresome flight.  And here I am only having experienced this from people watching in the airports J

My only big oops so far on my travel is walking into the men’s room in the Zurich airport.  The sign said toilets and I didn’t notice the picture of the guy/gal on the sign.  Sorry to the one guy – hopefully he didn’t see me.  I just made sure I stayed in the ladies room long enough to not pass him in the hallway. 

Swiss Air just made an announcement offering a cash card worth $750US if we offered to go to Dar via Istanbul.  Tempting but I’m ready to get to Africa and start the real adventure outside of the airports!

Toronto, Saturday, July 13, 2013

2:50pm

I’m already tired and it’s only the first day away… it could be from the 3 hours of non-stop walking around downtown Toronto.  I took a shuttle downtown (so easy!) and walked down to the water.  It was beautiful!  There was an outdoor art exhibit near the Harbor and they were setting up for a cool outdoor festival too.  

I did notice one thing… perhaps they don’t have Target here because the logo for the Harbour and Target are the same! 

Next sight to see was the CN tower and the sports arena.  I was surprised at how many residences there were in downtown Toronto – actually, Toronto reminded me quite a bit of NYC without the mess, homeless people, and crazy cab drivers!  I made my way to City Hall where there was a Taste of Thai going on – super neat but I didn’t want to eat any crazy food.  Right before I begin 17 hours of flying is not the time to experiment with new foods.   

While I was walking I noticed a big castle looking building, it was the Queen’s Park so I made my way up there.   A very small parade was going on – not sure what it was for but there were many marching bands, some bagpipe guys, an aging drum major twirling his drum major staff thingy, and lots of people wearing Orange.  The thing that stood out the most to me was how clean the downtown was.  I didn’t see one single person begging or panhandling – it was very nice!  The strangest thing I saw a full Italian restaurant in Toronto’s China-town.  It made me smile.

So by 2pm I was back at the Toronto Airport with hours to kill so it’s time for some quality American filmmaking.  The thing I already miss the most?  ICE!  Everyone around here drinks things without ice or sells bottled beverages – I just want some ice to crunch on.  Is that an American thing?

Toronto... first impressions... I want to live here!

8:50am eh!

Made it to Canada, eh, and the short flight from Raleigh to Toronto was another great start.   I sat next to a very interesting mand named Jeff Seymour who is a Financial Planner in Cary, has published a book (Greedomoter) and has been on CNBC and the Canadian version (BCC or something like that).  Anyway, we had a very enlightened discussion, using that term loosely as he did most of the talking, about the current state of our economic system and the markets.  Once again reconfirming my desire to go anywhere but here is not to far from a good idea.  I love America but I don’t love our economic policies that have led us to our current sad state from a monetary/budget/economy perspective.  But enough of that… this is not ‘that kind’ of post. 

Our flight attendant, Fredreich, was incredibly friendly and able to help us in English, French, German and Swiss German – I didn’t even know there was a langue called Swiss German!  Regardless, he gave me a list of places to go downtown, things to see, places to eat and how to get there.  He even gave me his email address so I could send him a message if I had any questions.  I can’t wait to explore downtown Toronto. 

As I get off the plane and go through customs they ask me how long I’m here – only about 10 hours for coffee and a book store, as I told the sweet customs agent, even though I don’t drink coffee.  Exit customs and my first impression of YYZ is how wll planned and organized it is.  The song playing over the sound system – nothing other than the Smiths/Morrissey – flash back to middle school with my friend Stacey Kayem and many weekends spent in Galveston with the Smiths and Violent Femmes. 

This is so out of my comfort zone and I love it.  I wish I had the nerve to take the bus and subway but I’m a bit of a fraidy cat when it comes to public transportation so I’m taking the shuttle downtown for a day of adventuring.  In an attempt to not look like a total tourist and to not look 2 years shy of 40, I have my iPod (from 2008) in my pocket, headphones in my ears, and my sunglasses on.  Here’s to never being too old to feel young and as my daughter has started saying… time to shine like the diamonds!

As a side note, and I’m sure there will be lots of them, this is going to be a stream of consiciousness so read at your own risk. It’s my blog and I don’t use it very much at all as you can tell from my last post years ago.  And apparently I forgot to clean off my playlists as I’m sitting typing listing to “Where are you Christmas” possibly from the kids Christmas playlist… so I’ll end with “Christmas is here, everywhere, if there is love in your heart and your mind you will feel like Christmas all the time”.  So true, I feel you Christmas today!  Today is a gift and I can’t wait to open it.

And I'm off! Africa here I come... via Toronto & Zurich

Preparing to go to Tanzania was easier than I thought!  The hardest part was figuring out what I was going to take for me that I could also give away when I got there.  So I am allowed to bring along 2 checked bags and 2 carry-ons which means that I needed to get all my personal stuff in one of my carry-ons so I could stuff, really overstuffed, 2 duffle bags with things to leave in Africa. 

So 2 months of cleaning out my clost, the kids closet, and Roy’s baby clothes I am waiting at the ticket counter to see if my bags made weight.  Let me also say that I did spend $20 on one of those suitcase weighing gadgets and I’m so glad I did.  My first bag – the monster green duffle weighed in at… 49.5 lbs which means I could have fit one more thing on there!  My other bag – 44lbs.  But really, there wasn’t room to spare on either bag.  When I return I hope that one of these bags is filled with treasures from Tanzania.  If you are in my family, just guess where I’m doing my Christmas shopping this year!

Now I’m not a big traveller – not because I don’t like to but I’ve just not had the opportunity.  The times I’ve left the US… does Nuevo Laredo, Mexico count across the Texas border?  No… I didn’t think so. Then we are left with 2 trips to Grand Cayman but they have Wendy’s, take US$, and there is a direct flight from Houston.  The only other time was going to St. Lucia back in 2001 when we went to a Sandals resort with Thane.  No passport needed then. I guess we can consider that this is my first international trip! 

Here’s to 30hours of travel.  I’m stocked with 2 magazines (Lucky & In Style) to be left on the airplane, a book in my hands (Cutting for Stone about a Dr. in Africa), a book on my iPad (Clan of the Cave Bear, part 2), and movies out the wazoo ; Bridesmaids, The Host, Safe Haven, the entire Twilight series, The Messenger, and one more I can’t think of.  Along with that is my iPod filled with music and my phone completely empty to allow for as many pictures as possible.

Back to the airport – security was busy but I guess a Saturday morning departure is pretty popular in the summer.  I saw Chris & Christina and their son as they headed out of town too!  Always nice to see friends you know at the airport but even more special to see Chris as last year he did my race and had a hard day and a crazy year.  It was wonderful to see his smile and to see him enjoying life with his beautiful wife and son.  A great send off from the US and I go to Toronto.

First stop, Toronto from 7:45am – 6:10pm – that is a 10 hour layover!  I looked into tours, hotels, fun runs, etc. but I’m not committed to doing anything.  I may just get there and find a book store and read and people watch in Canada, eh!  After Toronto it’s an overnight to Zurich then a short stop there until we take another long flight to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania arriving at 8:30am Tanzania time (or as my son says it Tan-ZANE-ia).

Hugs to my family!  I'll miss you!

Turning Miles into Smiles is growing

I'm so excited that this year my little fundraising program, Turning Miles into Smiles, will be growing to produce The Smile Train Triathlon as well as The Buddy Run 5K.

I got an offer this past week to take The Smile Train Tri on the road to Columbia, SC in 2010. I'm so tempted to do it because this is why I started this race - to spread the word. But with any opportunity, there is risk. What if I don't get enough sponsor money, what if it takes too much time from my kids, what if, what if, what if.... Of course - my husband is a horrible 'what-ifer' so that doesn't help.

I don't have to decide today but this is a big step. So far my premise for Miles into Smiles has been to send 100% of the registration fee directly to a charity that will use the money immediately to change lives. This requires A LOT of sponsor money for each race - about $15,000 for the Columbia race. If you know anyone who has a spare $K, send them my way!

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

Pinki & The Smile Train at the Oscars

I am so excited to tell you that a beautiful little girl named Pinki will be going to the Oscars to represent The Smile Train.

A few months ago I received a preview copy of the "Smile Pinki" DVD from a friend at The Smile Train and when I saw this documentary about The Smile Train it brought me to tears. You can watch a 3 minute trailer of Smile Pinki right now at our web site www.smiletrain.org and you can also register to find out where you can view the movie or get a copy of it.

This beautiful 6-year-old (same as as my daughter Polly) little girl lives in one of the poorest parts of our world. Her family was hesitant to go see The Smile Train because it would mean not working and it would cost the money family in food to eat on the way. They got it worked out and little Pinki (barefoot) and her father began their journey on foot to find The Smile Train.

Well, this little girl is 8 now and in New York on her way to The Oscars to hopefully accept an award for The Smile Train.

Have you been feeling like the economy is getting you down, you don't have an extra penny to spare, maybe you can't take that trip you had planned for this year. Remember how blessed we are that we even have those options and that yes - health is a gift!

Donate to The Smile Train at www.milesintosmiles.com and give a child a second chance at life. I've personally commited to donating $25 a month. It doesn't seem like much but over the course of a year it adds up to $300. Donate what you can!

Ahhhhh warmth!!

So it's February in North Carolina and I'm from Houston, Texas. I don't do cold - ever - don't like it, don't like being cold, not even chilled. I'd rather sweat and fry any day (but yes, when it is summer I'll say it's getting too hot!)

Anyway, on to my news!

I've discovered the greatest thing for a cold long-run since layering! The other morning I was in a hurry to get my Gatorade made. Yes I make my own at home in 1 gallon jugs with the powder because I'm frugal. So I've learned that if you make it with hot water it dissolves faster and you can put it in the fridge and go right to bed without congealed Gatorade at the bottom of your bottle.

Well - I made my gatorade, dissolved the powder then poured it in my backpack/hydration pack that I carry. I must say - I've never enjoyed warm Gatorade as much as I did on that run! I actually WANTED to drink it because with every sip I got all toasty inside.

I'm lovin my new discovery! It's like eating a warm dessert on a frigid cold run! Try it and you'll be amazed. Who'da thunk it - hot Gatorade actually can taste good!! Just don't try this on a 100mile ride in July!