A more upbeat post - A message from Africa

shack
shack Posts: 11,154
edited July 2008 in The Clubhouse
Soon after I found out about the young girl we knew passing away last night I received and email from my daughter. It raised my spirits some. :D As some may have read here, she is on an 11 week trip to Africa. She spent the first two weeks in Egypt. She saw the pyramids, rode a camel, swam in the Nile, spent 2 days on the Nile in a felucca (sail boat), swam in the Mediterranean, visited the Sahara Desert, slept under the stars at an oasis, climbed a mountain, hiked in the desert and a bunch more stuff. Now she is in Kenya, volunteering at an orphanage for a few weeks before she goes to Tanzania to see some wildlife and Madagascar to snorkel in the Indian Ocean. In the meantime, she will be “roughing it” just a little.

Here is the email I received:
Well I'm finally in Kenya. And boy what a different world this is. The children are wonderful. So far I've visited their school, took a ride into town and helped with the dishes and laundry. Speaking of laundry I plan on wearing like 3 outfits the entire time I'm here. There is so much red clay and I figure I'll just leave them behind when I leave. The accommodations are interesting to say the least. I am in a "dorm" with 8 other people. We have no electricity and have to use mosquito nets for when we sleep. The toilet consists of a hole in the ground and the shower in a bucket of warm water that you heat over the fire. I'm pretty sure I might starve here. All meals have a mixture of rice, potatoes, cabbage, kale, and beans. Not really a lot of nutrition. But I did get to go to the grocery store - I'm talking like a real grocery store where they have cold milk. I cannot wait to get some of that. So far I think I'm going to be helping out around the orphanage with the work and teaching some of the locals how to use the computer. I'm already missing Egypt and all the group members. Well gotta run. Love you all and I'll send out a weekly email to keep y’all up to date.

Lauren
"Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

"For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

"Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2008
    Wow, what a fantastic adventure. Cool stuff Shack.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited June 2008
    Wow,

    I can definitely relate to that. Was in Tibet last year filming a documentary with my friends, and I thought I was going to starve.

    Seems like she is having a lot of fun !
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited June 2008
    appadv wrote:
    Was in Tibet last year filming a documentary with my friends, and I thought I was going to starve.

    Only 5-6 more weeks of the rice, potato, cabbage, kale and bean diet. I believe they do have a cow to milk. Not very cold milk though. I bet even McDonalds will seem like gourmet fare when she's done. ;)
    appadv wrote:
    Seems like she is having a lot of fun !

    I'm sure she is. She called and talked her mom an hour or so ago. She was able to purchase a cheap calling card and use a land line. Much cheaper than the $4.00 a minute to use her cell phone. Texting is reasonable though at 50¢ per. She has to go to a small town nearby to use an internet cafe to send emails.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited June 2008
    What a great trip for your daughter Steve. I bet this will change her outlook on life and what she has.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited June 2008
    janmike wrote:
    What a great trip for your daughter Steve. I bet this will change her outlook on life and what she has.

    Probably will...but this is not a first for her. This may be the poorest area she has been to, but she worked with kids in one of the poorest areas of Mexico City a few years back and a year and a half ago she and her classmates helped to design an orphanage in El Salvador. She made two trips to that ophanage and got fairly attached to the kids. Both were in areas of poverty, but probably not to this extent and definitely not for this length of time.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited June 2008
    shack wrote: »
    She called and talked her mom an hour or so ago. She was able to purchase a cheap calling card and use a land line. Much cheaper than the $4.00 a minute to use her cell phone. Texting is reasonable though at 50¢ per. She has to go to a small town nearby to use an internet cafe to send emails.

    Wow, they have phone service over there? In Tibet we didn't have any electricity, water, or phone service; heck, the toilet was a hole in the ground and there was barely any food.

    The electricity became an issue halfway through the trip, as we couldn't recharge our camera batteries and most of my batteries had run out.

    As for the food, well, let's just say I lost 20+lbs!!
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
    edited June 2008
    That's so great that she's getting out to see the world & to be able to help other folks. I'm sure it's a real eye-opener for her to see just how rough others have it.

    The majority of kids here just don't have a clue how lucky & spoiled they are.

    Good for her...that 11wks will be over before you know it & she'll be home safe & sound. Those memories will last her a life time!
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited June 2008
    I'm so glad that my college required us to study abroad for at least a semester. Where many chose places such as London and Paris, I consider my adventure to Quito, Ecuador to be one of the greatest choices I have ever made.

    Way to go Shack... it really sounds like you're raising some unbelievable children.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited June 2008
    Actually, the food your daughter mentioned is very nutritional, although short on variety. It's much better than McDonalds, though.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited June 2008
    Early B. wrote:
    Actually, the food your daughter mentioned is very nutritional, although short on variety. It's much better than McDonalds, though.

    Not to bad. Missing some of the nutrients some of the fruits and vegatables will provide and some and the beans will offset the lack of meat. Acceptable, but not the well rounded diet that is optimal.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited June 2008
    You have one amazing daughter Steve. Congrats to you and your wife on a great job. I will see how we have done in about 10 more years.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited June 2008
    Great stuff Steve!
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  • joeparaski
    joeparaski Posts: 1,865
    edited June 2008
    If you manage...try to get a picture or 2 posted here.

    Joe
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited June 2008
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    The majority of kids here just don't have a clue how lucky & spoiled they are.

    To a large extent, that may be true. However, everyone has different personal circumstances so such a blanket statement might not be the case with kids in the US. Case in point: A friend of mine unfortunately has a very difficult disease to live with and isn't in that great health. Her parents buy her everything - she has a Lexus, gets a new computer every 9 months, etc. But her health is what matters in the end.

    About what you said though, I actually like the simple life better. When I was in Tibet, everyone was happy and it really touched me to see kids living in such poverty yet so happily. Its almost as if the more we have, the more we get caught up in things so I really enjoyed the 6 weeks with no electricity, plumbing, A/C, etc. Backpacking in the village was lots of fun and even though there wasn't much food to eat, it made us appreciate things that we take for granted. I did this trip when I was...18. It taught me a lot and I hope Shack's daughter enjoys her trip!!
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited June 2008
    joeparaski wrote:
    If you manage...try to get a picture or 2 posted here.

    Joe

    She tried to send a couple but the internet she was able to use was just too slow to download the pic files. When she can send a few I will post them.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2008
    I'm jealous!
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited June 2008
    Early B. wrote: »
    Actually, the food your daughter mentioned is very nutritional, although short on variety. It's much better than McDonalds, though.

    I know, I'm so sick of all the stories about the fantastic health and nutrition they get in Kenya. All you ever see is pictures of strapping, healthy kids from that region. ;)


    All kidding aside, awesome for your daughter shack. Both for the experience for her and the help she's providing to people who need it.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited June 2008
    Awesome read Shack, been to Kenya and some other parts of Africa while I was in the Corps. Lots to see for sure.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited July 2008
    joeparaski wrote: »
    If you manage...try to get a picture or 2 posted here.

    Joe

    Since Joe asked...She was finally able to send a few...

    Lauren is the brunette in the pictures...

    As a side note...a couple of Irish guys show up as volunteers who had some electrical skills and were able to set up some of solar panels so their dorm where she sleeps now has electricity.


    The Pyramids

    2646192300_b89f108c52_o.jpg

    Riding a Felucca on the Nile

    2645364637_fd1d6ca04e_o.jpg

    A Desert Fox in the Sahara

    2645364569_ea7be2f277_o.jpg

    The Siwa Oasis

    2646192428_7cd151c0cf_o.jpg

    A few from the orphanage in Kenya....

    The menu of potato, rice, beans, cabbage and maize is not the most appetizing and boring having to eat it everyday...however the kids eat it to survive...and are just glad to have enough to do so. Many aren't so lucky.

    2646192466_c8d582105b_o.jpg

    2646192348_d950c4766e_o.jpg

    He just got new glasses...he can see clearly now even though the picture is blurry.

    2646192120_bc0e432eb3_o.jpg
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • jflail2
    jflail2 Posts: 2,868
    edited July 2008
    Awesome stuff. Kudos to people like your daughter!!
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