Life...

So we have been on the boat about a month now, and I have to say, I love it. There are a few minor irritants, but for the most part it is awesome. Some things to consider for our own boat, no toilet by the bed, slats so the bed doesn't get condensation under it, enough space to properly sit up in bed, a proper faucet on the sink, see, nothing too major.
But now that Will is working, things are really perking up. Although I do miss his ambitious meals when I come home from school/work. But we are making it work. His new job is awesome, although he hasn't admitted it yet, new job nerves have taken over I think.
Next week we are going to look at boats in a new town, that's what he wants for his birthday. He's easy to please. I'm looking forward to my month off from school, right now I'm procrastinating. I have 12 things to get done in the next three and a half weeks, they'll get done, just not right now.
I took some adorable pictures of E. yesterday. He had a bath in a bucket on the table. He is growing so fast, he's only ten pounds less than James. Crazy.
I'm now waiting for R. & L. to go so I can move furniture around. Not sure this plan will work, but we will get it done. Plus I want to head home soon.
Victoria is definitely home now.

Love my sister, can't wait for her (big) wedding!!

Boat Life

So I officially live on a boat now. It's been nearly two weeks and so far it's awesome. There are definitely a few little things that are irritating, but really nothing big enough to make me mad. Just things such as, crawling up and over the hatchboards, ducking under the tarp, my lack of dishes and cutlery. I was too lazy to go through the boxes up island last weekend when we celebrated a belated Thanksgiving. It was E's first Thanksgiving. He is getting cuter and cuter, it's a bit ridiculous. I got a couple of cute pictures that I'll post later. I'm off to make my first dinner for company tonight.

Brief Descriptions

Snorkeling off the coast of Zanzibar. This was in Nungwi. First we were in Paje, but there was nothing to do there. Then north to Nungwi. Getting stung put a damper on our excursion. Poor Jayne got it the worst, jelly tentacle on her snorkel, big red itchy lips.

 Best beach of my life. I could sit and read all day. In fact I did a couple of days. Other than a two minute walk into town to buy water and use the internet, I didn't move from the beach.

 Paje. Beautiful, sleepy Paje. The night of Long Island Iced Teas, embarassing cat like shenanigans, sand in my bed, spins in my head, full moon, hammock, Simba, Jay, Mickey, Dmitri, shell collecting, paradise.

 At dinner in Nungwi. Making monkey faces, Sarah and I call this 'Aaron'. Somehow Sarah is so cute, and unfortunately I have a square chin. Oh, and a crazy eye. But I'm sure I looked worse at other points during that five weeks.

 All the kids came to visit. Our last weekend in Ulamba. Franklin, Lovine, Sharon, Quinter, I miss them all. They were drawing in my book. I will cherish that book. I was sad knowing I had to leave them. Everylyne left without saying good-bye. But I don't blame her. I may have cried.

 On safari. I got the front seat on the second day because we took Madeline and Catharina from the campsite at the Great Rift Valley. They were stranded, we had two extra seats, I got the front to myself. The animals were amazing, I was able to take some fantastic pictures. Two of the best days of my life. (I think the whole trip consisted of best days ever.)

 Madame Rainbow, that was my name. And I saw them everywhere. This double rainbow was on the way to Sharon's house after visiting Everylyne and Lovine's. It got dark fast. I was late coming home. Everyone was worried. I was revelling in my only time alone the whole trip. Holding on to the motorcycle driver. I didn't feel unsafe, but thought about the danger I could be in. But I was happy.

 My favourite photo of the whole trip. I know the corner of the path where we'd walk to school that I took this picture on. I knelt down to say hi and take their picture because they were beautiful children. The younger one cried and ran away, I didn't have time to check the exposure I just snapped a picture and the moment was gone. Somehow it works. It conveys more than I saw in that moment. But it encapsulates the whole trip for me. A bit raw, overexposed, difficult, thought provoking, and beautiful.

 A typical day at school.

 Mary. Sweet Mary. She would hold my hand. To and from school. She would appear out of nowhere and slip her small soft hand into mine. I never wanted to let go. She had a beautiful family. I wish I could have told her how special she is.

 Reading in Nungwi. Beautiful light.

 I was bit by a monkey this day. Jayne and I had a photo shoot and it took over a hundred photos to get us both in the air at the same time. I always made the same scared face. I really need to work on my jumping photos.

Another favourite. It says it all.

Picture Update

So I still can't find the stamina to write about Kenya, or organize my snaps on here. For now I will post about the last few weeks. There was a shower for Danica a few weeks ago which was fun. It was Alice in Wonderland themed, the food was awesome. I won the who knows her best game, but only because I am somehow super fast at answering those kinds of things. 

Tessa had us bring tea cups and signs, and the food was awesome. The thanks you's were cheesecake filled strawberry push pops and I could've eaten them all. 

Dez made the gift hat, we should've made her wear it out that evening, but we were kind.

All the girls, ready for a night out. MILs included. They stayed out all night, and drank at the club with us. It was pretty fitting.

Tequila shots for the MILs at the pub.

Off to Fortune Sound Club for some dancing. It was pretty quiet since it was pride and fireworks downtown that weekend, but it was still fun.

Sheer, pure happiness.

A bit of a dancing action shot.

Quynne came out for a drink.

Now to the boat launch. The truck was supposed to come to the house by 10, but the driver called around 9 and said that he had an emergency to deal with, a boat had been in an accident, so he'd be there closer to 4. It was a bit disappointing, but we wound up having a fun day. It was hot. So we made a huge breakfast, then went to the Spit for a few hours of relaxing. Jayne stood up and we couldn't resist this shot.

Bo came too, and brought his guitar. 

A perfect day at the Spit with friends.

Thanks Jayne, it's nice to get a picture of us. Even if Will is covered in sika.

Colleen covered Colin in the hundred degree sand.

Colin, Colleen, bo, Anna, Sarah, Jayne, Dad, Robert, Me, and Will.

The champagne to smash, and smash it I did!

It floats.

Dad and I on the dock.

Jacky, Ethan and Hayley. Ethan's first boat launch. One of many I'm sure.

I want to try to get back into blogging, it's so nice to look back at my other posts, we'll see if I can squeeze it in once school's back and I'm working at Caboose three days a week. It doesn't sound like much but I think it will be a good amount for now. 

I'm Back

It doesn't feel as though I ever left, and although I knew it wouldn't, it is still strange.
I have been back for a week now, and tomorrow I head down island, but my living situation is still up in the air.
For now I will not worry. I know it will work out, the days will go by, and I will never be totally homeless. Somehow it will work, it always does.
I took over 2000 photos, and now I need to narrow them down. I want to get some of the best printed for scrapbooking, but it will take me days to organize them I think.
For now I'll try to put a few up on here, the computer is full and will not allow me to upload any more photos, so I also have to fix that soon.
These are just the beginning, packing, and embarrassing flight photos. Awesome.

Never ending packing.

Flipping out.

At the airport.

Sarah's first pina colada.

Why is it stuck to me?

Sarah's awesome hair.

Can you guess who's on meds?

Good Luck & Good Bye

Will's been here since Friday and we've had a full weekend, but I don't feel like I did much. On Friday I had to work, then we went to C&C's, minus one C, and went down to the beach. We joined some other people who already had two fires going and made some new friends for the evening. It was our first fire on the beach of the year I think.
Will had a bit of a rough night once we got back to the house, and I'm pretty sure we were in bed before 12. Saturday consisted of replenishing Will's lost stomach, so we ate all day. Pancakes, pizza, soup, mexican food for dinner, chips, cookies, Orangina. It was never ending eating.
The whole family came down to say bye to me, which was exceptionally sweet. Danica and Lorraine bought me my brides maid dress which is beautiful and I feel lovely in it. Lorraine also bought me a ton of toiletries that I need for my trip, which really helped me out.
Robert passed on his whistle to me, which doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. Lorraine bought me a beautiful gold owl necklace, and I attached my St. Christopher for safe travels.
Sunday was a bit of a wasted day, we didn't do much. We drove around, walked downtown, and waited to go to Taylor's house. Janna came here and the three of us went together. His house is amazing, we sat in the back yard with the heaters on, next to his pond which is basically a lake. He made burgers and drinks and was a fantastic host. There was ping pong, and pool, hot tubbing, and talking until almost 3 am. I was up at 4:30, then 6:30, then up for good at 7:30. I woke up Jayne and we brought her home then to Janna's. She went to the school for an hour and we watched t.v. on her comfy couch.
Tonight is her game, and Will gets to stay which is awesome. Then tomorrow I work, finish packing and on Wednesday I'm going to Vancouver. Holy holy. It's not real. I don't think it ever will be.

One Week

In exactly one week I will be 6 hours into my plane ride to Amsterdam, at which point my ankles will probably be swollen, and I'll be bored of all my music, and trying to sleep a bit before landing. Then I will be running through the airport hoping that 50 minutes is enough time to make my transfer to get me to my plane bound for Nairobi. Holy.
Then I will be in Nairobi over night, hopefully in Jayne's friend's house, then back on a plane the next day to Kisumu, then a car ride to Ulamba. Oh will I ever be exhausted. I am a bit worried that I'll be anxious, exhausted, cranky, sad, but hoping that I'll be elated by the fact that I'm in Africa!
It's unbelievable which is why I'm feeling a sense of detachment. It's so foreign that I'm unable to imagine what will happen, although I've been day dreaming about it since September. I just want to drink it all in. Even this, now, my anxiety, nerves, heartburn, it's all part of it, part of going somewhere so amazing.
I don't really talk about it with anyone, except the other girls. I never want to sound as though I'm bragging, and I can't explain how I feel without sounding nonchalant. And that is not how I truly feel about this trip. I wouldn't have been able to afford it if it weren't for bursaries, work, student loans and help. It's an expensive place to go, but worth more than any money for me.

Everything I've been feeling these last few weeks has been compounded by all the little things going on, my lack of structure, not having my normal life lined up for when I get back, worrying that maybe I don't want that normal life back, man oh man it's been an interesting month. I've never felt this way before.

Date Day

Jayne and I had a date day yesterday to take pictures for our scrapbooks in Kenya. We ran errands in the morning, shared breakfast at Spoons, then went on a picture taking spree. We went to some of our favourite places, Clover Point, Beacon Hill, the Parliament, and Mount Doug Park. We had some good times trying to take jumping pictures...I am a bit embarrassed. 

Oh yeah, Jayne FINALLY got her nose pierced.

We were driving up Cook St. and I noticed Urge, looked at Jayne and said, "Nose piercing." She turned right, parked the car and got it done.

I can't believe that this was my first time at Mt. Doug Park. It was so beautiful. 

And I got to share it with Jayne, my person!

She almost pushed me off the ledge...

but we made up.

I was told I look like the Hulk doing my jumps, so I tried really hard to keep my arms at my sides, I am not very good at jumping, and there is now photographic evidence so that everyone will know.