For all the Sarah Perry blog readers out there...I am going to take a hiatus from blogging. If you are a family member or friend and you do read my blog regularly and you would like to be kept updated about my time in Scotland, please send me your name and e-mail address. I am planning to send out bi-weekly e-mail updates.
Perry.SarahMarie@gmail.com
I would LOVE to keep you updated and in contact!
Cheers! Sarah
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Publicity for 'Running to End Polio'
I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support of the local Aberdeen Rotarians making up the many, many Rotary Clubs in District 1010! The Rotarians have done so much to 'spread the word' about supporting my efforts to 'End Polio Now' through running the Rotterdam Marathon.
A press release was formed, distributed, and well received by many local Scottish news agencies...here are some links of published articles and information about 'Running to End Polio'!
Copy and Paste links in your Browser to view:
http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/12338-rotarian-running-for-rotterdam/
http://www.rotary-ribi.org/districts/page.asp?DistrictNo=1010&PgID=195507
My sponsor Rotary District in West Virginia also sent out information about how to support me through their District Newsletter! Many, many thanks to Rotarians!
www.JustGiving.com/SarahEndPolio
A press release was formed, distributed, and well received by many local Scottish news agencies...here are some links of published articles and information about 'Running to End Polio'!
Copy and Paste links in your Browser to view:
http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/12338-rotarian-running-for-rotterdam/
http://www.rotary-ribi.org/districts/page.asp?DistrictNo=1010&PgID=195507
My sponsor Rotary District in West Virginia also sent out information about how to support me through their District Newsletter! Many, many thanks to Rotarians!
www.JustGiving.com/SarahEndPolio
Coffee Mornings, Jogging in the Park, and Sweets!
Honestly have no idea where the past 3 weeks went…now nearly mid March and St. Patrick’s Day and my 6 Month Anniversary in Scotland just around the corner - I find myself mid-semester, busy with the first round of coursework, working, running, and participating in Rotary events and meetings.
Apart from all the necessary, seemingly mundane activities of…studying, training for the Rotterdam marathon, raising support for ‘End Polio Now’, meeting and speaking with many Rotarians, and serving countless pints of lager at my new part time job…it’s the small things like Starbuck’s coffee mornings, running to a nearby park, and baking inventive ‘sweets’ that really ‘refresh’ me!
The weather is getting slightly warmer here in Aberdeen, and we were all blessed with nearly a week of sunshine! No gray clouds, no rain – which has been unheard of since I arrived in Scotland in September. The hours of sunlight are getting longer, and feelings of spring and BBQ’s are just around the corner…
The warmer weather has also brought new ‘spring time’ flowers to bloom! One of my favorite places in Aberdeen is ‘Duthie Park’. The park is about a 2 mile run from my house so I frequent the park often – and recently the park has been full of the most beautiful purple, white, and light purple crocus flowers! The ground is literally covered with purples and white, so much so that the green grass just peeks through!
Lots of grad school studying has led to treating myself to Starbuck’s coffee mornings, and de-stressing by baking new ‘sweets’ recipes. Scotland is turning me into a true baker! Since Scotland doesn’t really sell many ‘box mixes’ of cakes or brownies or anything, I’ve been learning to make everything from scratch. Mmm homemade vanilla cupcakes, blondies, lemon cake, poppy seed muffins, orange chocolate muffins…
Looking forward to the Spring Break and the Rotterdam! I’m planning to take my Spring Break week to travel around Belgium a bit and ending in Rotterdam to run the marathon – just 28 days until the marathon and 4 more weeks of training!
Apart from all the necessary, seemingly mundane activities of…studying, training for the Rotterdam marathon, raising support for ‘End Polio Now’, meeting and speaking with many Rotarians, and serving countless pints of lager at my new part time job…it’s the small things like Starbuck’s coffee mornings, running to a nearby park, and baking inventive ‘sweets’ that really ‘refresh’ me!
The weather is getting slightly warmer here in Aberdeen, and we were all blessed with nearly a week of sunshine! No gray clouds, no rain – which has been unheard of since I arrived in Scotland in September. The hours of sunlight are getting longer, and feelings of spring and BBQ’s are just around the corner…
The warmer weather has also brought new ‘spring time’ flowers to bloom! One of my favorite places in Aberdeen is ‘Duthie Park’. The park is about a 2 mile run from my house so I frequent the park often – and recently the park has been full of the most beautiful purple, white, and light purple crocus flowers! The ground is literally covered with purples and white, so much so that the green grass just peeks through!
Lots of grad school studying has led to treating myself to Starbuck’s coffee mornings, and de-stressing by baking new ‘sweets’ recipes. Scotland is turning me into a true baker! Since Scotland doesn’t really sell many ‘box mixes’ of cakes or brownies or anything, I’ve been learning to make everything from scratch. Mmm homemade vanilla cupcakes, blondies, lemon cake, poppy seed muffins, orange chocolate muffins…
Looking forward to the Spring Break and the Rotterdam! I’m planning to take my Spring Break week to travel around Belgium a bit and ending in Rotterdam to run the marathon – just 28 days until the marathon and 4 more weeks of training!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Running to End Polio Now
Here it goes...Marathon #2! I've been training for nearly 4 weeks - for the Rotterdam Marathon on 10 April 2011. I'm running the marathon in support of Rotary's efforts to End Polio Now!
Check out the 'Just Giving' site to donate and for more information...
Copy and Paste the following link into your Browser:
http://www.justgiving.com/SarahEndPolio
**note - ONLY if you are a NON-UK resident...when donating, opt out of adding Gift Aid. NON-UK residents do not pay UK taxes, which is what contributes to the accumulation of Gift Aid - so if NON-UK residents do NOT opt-out, the site will NOT process or accept your donation**
I am asking every Rotarian, Rotary Club, and individual I come in contact with to support me per mile, or to donate any amount regarded appropriate.
£1 per Mile = £26
50p per Mile = £13
25p per Mile = £6.50
Goal… Raise £2,600 to eradicate polio.
£1 = 5 polio vaccines. So £2,600 will vaccinate 13,000 children!
Amazingly, polio is completely preventable! Immunizing every child until transmission stops will completely eradicate the infectious disease. Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the world has seen polio cases plummet by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of child paralysis and 250,000 deaths. But the polio cases represented by that final 1 percent are the most difficult and expensive to prevent. That is why it is so important to generate the funding needed to ‘End Polio Now’. To fail is to invite a polio resurgence that would condemn millions of children to lifelong paralysis in the years ahead.
With your support...I will run the Rotterdam Marathon in honor of every child who has lost their ability to run and walk due to the transmission of the polio virus. With your support … I will run the Rotterdam Marathon for every human being who suffers from this crippling disease. With your support…I will to run the Rotterdam Marathon to eradicate polio. With your support…we will insure that polio never again robs a child’s ability to walk and run. I need your support!
Check out the 'Just Giving' site to donate and for more information...
Copy and Paste the following link into your Browser:
http://www.justgiving.com/SarahEndPolio
**note - ONLY if you are a NON-UK resident...when donating, opt out of adding Gift Aid. NON-UK residents do not pay UK taxes, which is what contributes to the accumulation of Gift Aid - so if NON-UK residents do NOT opt-out, the site will NOT process or accept your donation**
I am asking every Rotarian, Rotary Club, and individual I come in contact with to support me per mile, or to donate any amount regarded appropriate.
£1 per Mile = £26
50p per Mile = £13
25p per Mile = £6.50
Goal… Raise £2,600 to eradicate polio.
£1 = 5 polio vaccines. So £2,600 will vaccinate 13,000 children!
Amazingly, polio is completely preventable! Immunizing every child until transmission stops will completely eradicate the infectious disease. Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the world has seen polio cases plummet by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of child paralysis and 250,000 deaths. But the polio cases represented by that final 1 percent are the most difficult and expensive to prevent. That is why it is so important to generate the funding needed to ‘End Polio Now’. To fail is to invite a polio resurgence that would condemn millions of children to lifelong paralysis in the years ahead.
With your support...I will run the Rotterdam Marathon in honor of every child who has lost their ability to run and walk due to the transmission of the polio virus. With your support … I will run the Rotterdam Marathon for every human being who suffers from this crippling disease. With your support…I will to run the Rotterdam Marathon to eradicate polio. With your support…we will insure that polio never again robs a child’s ability to walk and run. I need your support!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Front Page News
'I never felt unsafe' - my Cairo experience in print!
Front Page News in my local hometown newspaper, The Dominion Post!
'Cut and Paste the Link to your Browser to View'
http://ee.dominionpost.com/Olive/ODE/DominionPost/LandingPage/LandingPage.aspx?href=RFBvc3QvMjAxMS8w
Front Page News in my local hometown newspaper, The Dominion Post!
'Cut and Paste the Link to your Browser to View'
http://ee.dominionpost.com/Olive/ODE/DominionPost/LandingPage/LandingPage.aspx?href=RFBvc3QvMjAxMS8w
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Top Eleven of my Egypt Adventure
My two week journey around Egypt was just what I needed – relaxation, sun, and adventure! There were of course tons of temples and statues of different historic pharaohs, and we did do all of the ‘touristy’ things, like seeing Valley of the Kings in Luxor…so here are my highlights of Egypt. All the things that really made my trip of Egypt unique…
1. Seeing the Pyramids and getting my picture with the WVU flag in front of the Pyramids. Spreading the Mountaineer pride to Egypt!
2. Riding a camel in front of the Pyramids – in Thailand I got to ride an elephant, so I thought it was only appropriate that I ride a camel in Egypt! My camel’s came was Casanova.
3. Seeing the Sphinx guarding the Pyramids – the Sphinx was so much longer than I thought!
4. Going to the Cairo Museum and seeing all of the treasures that were found in King Tut’s tomb. My favorite piece was of course the gold burial mask!
5. Learning how to write my name in Arabic!
6. Holding a baby crocodile!
7. Spending 2 nights on a little felucca boat floating up the Nile. Nearly 20 of us, including a crew of 4, ate, slept, and relaxed on the felucca!
8. Swimming in the Nile! I took a break from the felucca to swim in the Nile!
9. Getting some type of sickness where I couldn’t eat anything for nearly 3 days and I had to take liquid ‘appetite stimulant’ medicine!
10. Climbing Mount Sinai for Sunrise – the mountain that Moses is said to have received the 10 Commandments! We took a 2 hour bus ride to Mt. Sinai, then we started climbing the mountain at 2AM – we climbed up the mountain for 2 more hours, waited nearly an hour and then climbed an additional 700 steps to the very top of Mt. Sinai! Then we had to wait until the 6:35AM sunrise – so we all wrapped up in blankets and waited for another hour in the freezing cold! There was actually snow and ice covering the top of the mountain. The sun rising, uncovering the mountains peak by peak was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. And the sunrise was a striking orange color, glowing over the mountains!
Then we had to descend the mountain which took another 2 hours! 700 steps down from the peak of the mountain, then additional 3000 steps to the very bottom of the mountain. It was a workout to say the least.
11. Snorkeling in the Red Sea – it was truly amazing to see the coral that is hiding below the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea. Bright colored fish and masses of coral living in the waters!
1. Seeing the Pyramids and getting my picture with the WVU flag in front of the Pyramids. Spreading the Mountaineer pride to Egypt!
2. Riding a camel in front of the Pyramids – in Thailand I got to ride an elephant, so I thought it was only appropriate that I ride a camel in Egypt! My camel’s came was Casanova.
3. Seeing the Sphinx guarding the Pyramids – the Sphinx was so much longer than I thought!
4. Going to the Cairo Museum and seeing all of the treasures that were found in King Tut’s tomb. My favorite piece was of course the gold burial mask!
5. Learning how to write my name in Arabic!
6. Holding a baby crocodile!
7. Spending 2 nights on a little felucca boat floating up the Nile. Nearly 20 of us, including a crew of 4, ate, slept, and relaxed on the felucca!
8. Swimming in the Nile! I took a break from the felucca to swim in the Nile!
9. Getting some type of sickness where I couldn’t eat anything for nearly 3 days and I had to take liquid ‘appetite stimulant’ medicine!
10. Climbing Mount Sinai for Sunrise – the mountain that Moses is said to have received the 10 Commandments! We took a 2 hour bus ride to Mt. Sinai, then we started climbing the mountain at 2AM – we climbed up the mountain for 2 more hours, waited nearly an hour and then climbed an additional 700 steps to the very top of Mt. Sinai! Then we had to wait until the 6:35AM sunrise – so we all wrapped up in blankets and waited for another hour in the freezing cold! There was actually snow and ice covering the top of the mountain. The sun rising, uncovering the mountains peak by peak was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. And the sunrise was a striking orange color, glowing over the mountains!
Then we had to descend the mountain which took another 2 hours! 700 steps down from the peak of the mountain, then additional 3000 steps to the very bottom of the mountain. It was a workout to say the least.
11. Snorkeling in the Red Sea – it was truly amazing to see the coral that is hiding below the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea. Bright colored fish and masses of coral living in the waters!
Cairo Chaos – From Cairo to Paris to Aberdeen!
Many people have been asking me about my experience in Cairo. I was in Cairo for the very beginning of the riots and protests that occurred there. Fair warning, this is the longest single blog post that I have ever written. That said, it is also probably the most significant and most interested blog post I have ever written. So here it goes…my account of the ‘Cairo Chaos’.
In Dahab (8 hour bus ride from Cairo) - Our tour group was informed by our tour leader that there were planned protests against the government that were to occur in Cairo Friday morning, after 10:00AM – after morning prayer and ‘church’ for Muslims.
Friday, 28th of January we drove overnight 8 hours by bus to arrive in Cairo at 8:30AM. We were restricted to our hotel all day. Everyone was unsure of where or what the protests would lead to, the extent of the violence or peacefulness, etc. So to play it safe we had to stay in our hotel. The only time we left was for lunch – we walked around block to a little local restaurant, and even then we caught remnants of tear gas, so we had to move inside and cover our mouths and eyes. Quickly we were ushered back to the hotel. All day we watched from the hotel roof balcony as the protests escalated. I witnessed watching the flames raise from the government building across the Nile as they burned down, I heard and saw protesters gather in the streets, marching towards ‘downtown Cairo’. We saw tear gas bombs being let off into the air and watched on the news as Cairo’s people went to the street, surrounded by army men and tanks.
Lack of information was the biggest obstacle. The internet had been shut down in Egypt and no one really knew if the protests would get better or worse. My flight was leaving the next day, Saturday, January 29th at 5PM – so along with another girl, Sam, who was on the tour and the same flight and me, we decided to go to the airport early Saturday morning. So we left at 7AM to arrive at the airport at 8AM and waited 7 hours until we could check in for our flight.
Long story really short is that our flight was canceled! We found out at 3PM and no one from BMI airline was there – so we were basically stranded in the Cairo airport without a flight out.
In Egypt there is no concept of waiting your turn or standing in line, everyone speaks Arabic, and no one was giving us any information about who to talk to or where to go – let the chaos begin…
Again, long story really short is that we had no option other than to wait to see if anyone from BMI airline was going to show up, so that meant spending the night in the Cairo airport. I spent the night on the Cairo airport floor with hundreds of other people who were also stranded at the airport…
How do I describe the Cairo airport? Picture this...masses of people in the airport…those whose flights were canceled + those whose flights were later in the week and were at the airport trying to leave sooner + those whose flights were actually planned to leave + Egyptians who were trying to leave the country or fly elsewhere within Egypt + plus all of those people who were arriving to Egypt and being told they weren’t allowed to go into Cairo and were being sent home back on a plane the next day = 5 times the amount of people that were supposed to be there! Plus + everyone was in ‘emergency’ mode, so all of the convenience stores and restaurants were being wiped clean of food and water!
I knew that the airport was one of the safest places to be, and I never felt threatened at the airport, but I was concerned about running out of food and water and I was concerned about what the next few days of these conditions would lead to. We didn’t know when BMI airlines would show up to change our tickets, we didn’t know when planes were leaving, and we had extreme lack of information.
As I sat on the airport floor I watched as people gathered together, people helping others, everyone recognizing the desperation of the situation. I was able to meet some really nice people in the airport and we talked and exchanged our ideas of how we would get out of Cairo. It was interesting to see people across cultures come together in unity under such uncertainty.
There was no ‘real’ food at the airport, just chips and chocolate, Twinkies and snack food – so after a night’s sleep on the Cairo airport floor and full of sugar, Saturday morning we decided we had to get out of the airport, meaning we would have to buy a completely new plane ticket!
So much happened in the time between 7AM and 2PM on Saturday – I cannot go into details or I would be typing all day. All the confusion, the mental exhaustion, my apparent annoyance of all the indoor smoking (there are no indoor smoking laws, so it’s perfectly normal to smoke inside, and I was determined my lungs were the color of coal) it was a completely chaotic and ridiculous situation. The crowds were getting worse, and I knew I needed to get out of Cairo as soon as possible.
By an act of God, literally a miracle, you could convince me of nothing less, a man came out of nowhere and instructed us that in order to get out of Egypt we had to get a confirmation number. So literally, within 30 minutes, this man had his company’s travel agent on the phone, he allowed me to borrow his phone, we contacted my mom, we bought a new plane ticket, and I was moving along the masses of people to get through security!
I was moved by this man’s generosity and selflessness. As we chatted he said to me “it’s all about people helping other people” – that simple comment completely struck me! How true – if we don’t help each other, encourage each other, invest in others, and share our lives with those around us, what is life really about? This man is a perfect example of how such a little thing done for others, how an everyday act of kindness, a smile, a selfless task, will change and impact a person’s life in ways we may never realize or imagine.
I wish all of you could have seen me in action for the one hour time frame which occurred next, as I fought through crowds of people and security to board the plane. I was in a complete rush because my plane was leaving just one hour’s time of receiving my confirmation number! I had to shove and push my way through masses of people who were mostly Egyptian (remember there is no concept of line!) while at the same time I had to get my luggage through a conveyor belt to the other side of the security. Security was HORRIBLE – I’m convinced nothing was actually checked for safety (which is kind of scary when you think about it). The man who helped me get a confirmation number, also helped me get my bag through security. I pushed myself through the crowds to the other side of security where I waited for my bags to come out of the conveyor belt. Again let me remind you of the complete mess of chaos – no one was on the other side of the conveyor belt to retrieve their bags, so I took the lead and was literally throwing other peoples luggage off of the belt so the belt would continue to move. I was shoving massive pieces of luggage onto the floor and piling bags on top of each other.
Then…here comes the best part. I finally retrieved my bag – a full 20 kilo bag, approximately a 40 pound suitcase – and I heaved it over my head! Mental picture…imagine me, a crazy American girl with a massive suitcase over her head, bumping into people and threatening to knock you over! My adrenaline must have been really intense. It was not glamorous – I was sweating and I was shaking from being so nervous I wasn’t going to make it on time!
I got to the AirFrance desk, continued to shake, watched as a man passed out beside me, continued on to the other security checkpoint where passports and boarding passes were being checked, and within 15 minutes of clearing security I was in another line to board the airplane!!!
We sat on the airplane for what seemed like forever and finally lifted off. I arrived in Paris 5 hour later at 10PM! My flight connection was from Paris to Aberdeen, and my flight from Aberdeen didn’t leave until the next morning at 10AM. I didn’t mind this overnight layover at all, I was just so happy to be out of the Cairo craziness! I could have cared less that I had to stay a second night on an airport floor!
Everything happened so fast, everything was such a blur, I was so anxious to get back to Aberdeen, plus the uncomfortable addition of homeless people that opted to stay the night in the Paris airport…all of this led to nearly no sleep. I just sat there in the Paris airport trying to process what had just happened!
The next day the plane left Paris – destination Aberdeen. I can honestly say I have never been so happy to be back in Aberdeen or to see the rainy, gray Scottish weather. I have a whole new appreciation for Aberdeen! I was so thankful for the safety of Aberdeen and the freedoms that I am blessed with in life. The whole experience truly impacted me and in many ways that I am aware of and in many ways I have not realized yet. The whole experience of Egypt has changed me.
It would be unfair to say that my whole Egypt experience was chaotic and intense. Fact is that prior to the last 2 days in Egypt, I truly did have a very enjoyable and relaxing vacation, so I will fairly dedicate a few additional blog posts to those adventures as well…
In Dahab (8 hour bus ride from Cairo) - Our tour group was informed by our tour leader that there were planned protests against the government that were to occur in Cairo Friday morning, after 10:00AM – after morning prayer and ‘church’ for Muslims.
Friday, 28th of January we drove overnight 8 hours by bus to arrive in Cairo at 8:30AM. We were restricted to our hotel all day. Everyone was unsure of where or what the protests would lead to, the extent of the violence or peacefulness, etc. So to play it safe we had to stay in our hotel. The only time we left was for lunch – we walked around block to a little local restaurant, and even then we caught remnants of tear gas, so we had to move inside and cover our mouths and eyes. Quickly we were ushered back to the hotel. All day we watched from the hotel roof balcony as the protests escalated. I witnessed watching the flames raise from the government building across the Nile as they burned down, I heard and saw protesters gather in the streets, marching towards ‘downtown Cairo’. We saw tear gas bombs being let off into the air and watched on the news as Cairo’s people went to the street, surrounded by army men and tanks.
Lack of information was the biggest obstacle. The internet had been shut down in Egypt and no one really knew if the protests would get better or worse. My flight was leaving the next day, Saturday, January 29th at 5PM – so along with another girl, Sam, who was on the tour and the same flight and me, we decided to go to the airport early Saturday morning. So we left at 7AM to arrive at the airport at 8AM and waited 7 hours until we could check in for our flight.
Long story really short is that our flight was canceled! We found out at 3PM and no one from BMI airline was there – so we were basically stranded in the Cairo airport without a flight out.
In Egypt there is no concept of waiting your turn or standing in line, everyone speaks Arabic, and no one was giving us any information about who to talk to or where to go – let the chaos begin…
Again, long story really short is that we had no option other than to wait to see if anyone from BMI airline was going to show up, so that meant spending the night in the Cairo airport. I spent the night on the Cairo airport floor with hundreds of other people who were also stranded at the airport…
How do I describe the Cairo airport? Picture this...masses of people in the airport…those whose flights were canceled + those whose flights were later in the week and were at the airport trying to leave sooner + those whose flights were actually planned to leave + Egyptians who were trying to leave the country or fly elsewhere within Egypt + plus all of those people who were arriving to Egypt and being told they weren’t allowed to go into Cairo and were being sent home back on a plane the next day = 5 times the amount of people that were supposed to be there! Plus + everyone was in ‘emergency’ mode, so all of the convenience stores and restaurants were being wiped clean of food and water!
I knew that the airport was one of the safest places to be, and I never felt threatened at the airport, but I was concerned about running out of food and water and I was concerned about what the next few days of these conditions would lead to. We didn’t know when BMI airlines would show up to change our tickets, we didn’t know when planes were leaving, and we had extreme lack of information.
As I sat on the airport floor I watched as people gathered together, people helping others, everyone recognizing the desperation of the situation. I was able to meet some really nice people in the airport and we talked and exchanged our ideas of how we would get out of Cairo. It was interesting to see people across cultures come together in unity under such uncertainty.
There was no ‘real’ food at the airport, just chips and chocolate, Twinkies and snack food – so after a night’s sleep on the Cairo airport floor and full of sugar, Saturday morning we decided we had to get out of the airport, meaning we would have to buy a completely new plane ticket!
So much happened in the time between 7AM and 2PM on Saturday – I cannot go into details or I would be typing all day. All the confusion, the mental exhaustion, my apparent annoyance of all the indoor smoking (there are no indoor smoking laws, so it’s perfectly normal to smoke inside, and I was determined my lungs were the color of coal) it was a completely chaotic and ridiculous situation. The crowds were getting worse, and I knew I needed to get out of Cairo as soon as possible.
By an act of God, literally a miracle, you could convince me of nothing less, a man came out of nowhere and instructed us that in order to get out of Egypt we had to get a confirmation number. So literally, within 30 minutes, this man had his company’s travel agent on the phone, he allowed me to borrow his phone, we contacted my mom, we bought a new plane ticket, and I was moving along the masses of people to get through security!
I was moved by this man’s generosity and selflessness. As we chatted he said to me “it’s all about people helping other people” – that simple comment completely struck me! How true – if we don’t help each other, encourage each other, invest in others, and share our lives with those around us, what is life really about? This man is a perfect example of how such a little thing done for others, how an everyday act of kindness, a smile, a selfless task, will change and impact a person’s life in ways we may never realize or imagine.
I wish all of you could have seen me in action for the one hour time frame which occurred next, as I fought through crowds of people and security to board the plane. I was in a complete rush because my plane was leaving just one hour’s time of receiving my confirmation number! I had to shove and push my way through masses of people who were mostly Egyptian (remember there is no concept of line!) while at the same time I had to get my luggage through a conveyor belt to the other side of the security. Security was HORRIBLE – I’m convinced nothing was actually checked for safety (which is kind of scary when you think about it). The man who helped me get a confirmation number, also helped me get my bag through security. I pushed myself through the crowds to the other side of security where I waited for my bags to come out of the conveyor belt. Again let me remind you of the complete mess of chaos – no one was on the other side of the conveyor belt to retrieve their bags, so I took the lead and was literally throwing other peoples luggage off of the belt so the belt would continue to move. I was shoving massive pieces of luggage onto the floor and piling bags on top of each other.
Then…here comes the best part. I finally retrieved my bag – a full 20 kilo bag, approximately a 40 pound suitcase – and I heaved it over my head! Mental picture…imagine me, a crazy American girl with a massive suitcase over her head, bumping into people and threatening to knock you over! My adrenaline must have been really intense. It was not glamorous – I was sweating and I was shaking from being so nervous I wasn’t going to make it on time!
I got to the AirFrance desk, continued to shake, watched as a man passed out beside me, continued on to the other security checkpoint where passports and boarding passes were being checked, and within 15 minutes of clearing security I was in another line to board the airplane!!!
We sat on the airplane for what seemed like forever and finally lifted off. I arrived in Paris 5 hour later at 10PM! My flight connection was from Paris to Aberdeen, and my flight from Aberdeen didn’t leave until the next morning at 10AM. I didn’t mind this overnight layover at all, I was just so happy to be out of the Cairo craziness! I could have cared less that I had to stay a second night on an airport floor!
Everything happened so fast, everything was such a blur, I was so anxious to get back to Aberdeen, plus the uncomfortable addition of homeless people that opted to stay the night in the Paris airport…all of this led to nearly no sleep. I just sat there in the Paris airport trying to process what had just happened!
The next day the plane left Paris – destination Aberdeen. I can honestly say I have never been so happy to be back in Aberdeen or to see the rainy, gray Scottish weather. I have a whole new appreciation for Aberdeen! I was so thankful for the safety of Aberdeen and the freedoms that I am blessed with in life. The whole experience truly impacted me and in many ways that I am aware of and in many ways I have not realized yet. The whole experience of Egypt has changed me.
It would be unfair to say that my whole Egypt experience was chaotic and intense. Fact is that prior to the last 2 days in Egypt, I truly did have a very enjoyable and relaxing vacation, so I will fairly dedicate a few additional blog posts to those adventures as well…
Monday, February 14, 2011
My 2nd Home
I have been in Scotland nearly 5 months – that is the longest I have ever consecutively been away from home, making Aberdeen the place I’ve lived the longest other than good ole Morgantown , West Virginia! Aberdeen is officially my 2nd home!
More blog posts to come about Egypt and ‘Cairo chaos’ soon … Happy Valentine's Day.
More blog posts to come about Egypt and ‘Cairo chaos’ soon … Happy Valentine's Day.
Mini - Life Update
A mini-life update: I have now been back in Aberdeen Scotland for 2 weeks after returning safely from Egypt. It was an adventure filled 2 weeks in Egypt, plus an extra 2 chaotic days trying to and successfully getting out of the Cairo airport!
I’ll post a few blog posts about my favourite experiences in Egypt like riding a camel, seeing the pyramids, snorkelling in the Red Sea and climbing Mt. Sinai to watch the sunrise!
I’ll also be sure to include a post or two about my experiences in Cairo as I witnessed the start of the riots unfold! Looking back it was a major historical event that I had the chance to momentarily witness, in the moment however… well, it wasn’t so fun.
I have returned to Aberdeen for many new and exciting changes and things to look forward to this semester…
1. I started a whole new set of classes – which despite all the work and busy-ness, I really do enjoy my International Marketing studies.
2. I started a part time job at a local pub/restaurant – I was in need of a little extra money, hoping to save up for some more travelling, so I decided to apply for a part time job … I am chuffed (happy) to say I am one of the newest wait/bar staff at a Scottish Pub in Aberdeen! We serve the famous Scottish pub food – fish and chips, minced meat pies, chicken stuffed with haggis…and we serve lots and lots of lager and whiskey! Not only is this a great opportunity for me to make a little extra money, it is also a really unique ‘cultural’ experience, one that would not have the experience of doing back in America!
3. I am also training to run the Rotterdam Marathon on April 10th I am running the marathon in support of Rotary International’s ‘End Polio Now’ Campaign. My goal, with the help of Rotarians and friends, is to raise £2,600 pounds to assist in the eradication of polio – more details on how to donate to be posted soon, so definitely check back.
So all in all…life is busy, but exciting, and after all of my travelling opportunities over the last two months, experiencing different cultures and people, and being caught in all the craziness of Egypt, I have a whole new appreciation for Aberdeen!
I’ll post a few blog posts about my favourite experiences in Egypt like riding a camel, seeing the pyramids, snorkelling in the Red Sea and climbing Mt. Sinai to watch the sunrise!
I’ll also be sure to include a post or two about my experiences in Cairo as I witnessed the start of the riots unfold! Looking back it was a major historical event that I had the chance to momentarily witness, in the moment however… well, it wasn’t so fun.
I have returned to Aberdeen for many new and exciting changes and things to look forward to this semester…
1. I started a whole new set of classes – which despite all the work and busy-ness, I really do enjoy my International Marketing studies.
2. I started a part time job at a local pub/restaurant – I was in need of a little extra money, hoping to save up for some more travelling, so I decided to apply for a part time job … I am chuffed (happy) to say I am one of the newest wait/bar staff at a Scottish Pub in Aberdeen! We serve the famous Scottish pub food – fish and chips, minced meat pies, chicken stuffed with haggis…and we serve lots and lots of lager and whiskey! Not only is this a great opportunity for me to make a little extra money, it is also a really unique ‘cultural’ experience, one that would not have the experience of doing back in America!
3. I am also training to run the Rotterdam Marathon on April 10th I am running the marathon in support of Rotary International’s ‘End Polio Now’ Campaign. My goal, with the help of Rotarians and friends, is to raise £2,600 pounds to assist in the eradication of polio – more details on how to donate to be posted soon, so definitely check back.
So all in all…life is busy, but exciting, and after all of my travelling opportunities over the last two months, experiencing different cultures and people, and being caught in all the craziness of Egypt, I have a whole new appreciation for Aberdeen!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Relxing with the Pyramids and Beaches
Off to EGYPT for 2 weeks…
After returning from Christmas Break travel and returning ‘home’ to Aberdeen Scotland, I am again off to ‘Make the Most of My Opportunity’ whilst studying in Scotland, since I am much closer to travel destinations compared to West Virginia!
I had to come back to Aberdeen for the first two weeks of January to finish my coursework for 1st semester as well as take an exam! So I’ve been doing non-stop studying and report writing for the past 2 weeks! Finished my last piece of coursework this morning…which officially means I have completed my 1st semester of graduate school! I’m 1/3 of the way there!
So now I’m ready to relax for 2 weeks and explore EGYPT. No coursework, no laptop, just a few books, and the beaches and pyramids of EGYPT!
Many more blog posts and adventures to be posted in 2 weeks…
After returning from Christmas Break travel and returning ‘home’ to Aberdeen Scotland, I am again off to ‘Make the Most of My Opportunity’ whilst studying in Scotland, since I am much closer to travel destinations compared to West Virginia!
I had to come back to Aberdeen for the first two weeks of January to finish my coursework for 1st semester as well as take an exam! So I’ve been doing non-stop studying and report writing for the past 2 weeks! Finished my last piece of coursework this morning…which officially means I have completed my 1st semester of graduate school! I’m 1/3 of the way there!
So now I’m ready to relax for 2 weeks and explore EGYPT. No coursework, no laptop, just a few books, and the beaches and pyramids of EGYPT!
Many more blog posts and adventures to be posted in 2 weeks…
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