40 Hours Awake and Still No Jet Lag

We left at 7:15 the next morning. Renee drove me to Toronto to catch my plane ride to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The traffic was amazing; we didn't have to stop once. We got to Toronto International Airport by 9:10 AM. I was supposed to arrive between 8:30 and 9:00, so we rushed to the check-in desk. Renee helped me tons with getting me checked in and getting me an escort for my first leg of the trip. The desk-woman told me to sit in the booth on the chair in there lol. 

My Very Friendly Escort

As soon as I got on the plane, I realized that I was the first passenger on the plane of like over 500 passengers. Then a stewardess told me that; confirming it. Those people are stewardess.

Flying Mega Bus's TVs

 My plane ride was amazing. They gave you headphones, a pillow, a blanket, toothpaste and a brush, and that thing you put over your eyes to help you sleep. All that for free! 15 minutes after that the plane took off, a blue tint covered the windows; turning the windows into like sun shades and letting you still see out. They also had this light that turned on, making the place look perfect. It was awesome! Notice the blue windows and the light in the pic.

Blue tinted windows and red shirts.

 After about 4 or 5 movies, I decided to write up a post while I listened to Fall Out Boy. This band is  pretty Irresistible. I could listen to them for Centuries. I really like Uma Thurman. Good song.

Play of words.

This computer has recently become my best-friend. I named her Bob, short for Bobiiilyn. I don't know what I'd do without her. I'd be 6 feet under if I lost her. Lol. Some photos below are just put in, because I thought they were neat.

#acer

Journalism in the 21st century

It is kinda weird. As soon as the pilot landed the plane, everyone clapped for him. Kinda awesome, too. It was hot, but not as bad as Jamaica in April.

First shot of Africa.

I was rushed into the Addis Ababa International. Men in dresses walked everywhere. Bathroom floor covered with water, cuz these Ethiopians are not really good at keeping the water in the sink. NO MUM! I DIDN'T DRINK ANY OF THE WATER! I was taken to a lounge where I uploaded a blog post and sat around. There was food there for free, but no bananas. No peeling, no eating. That is, until Tuesday - October 6th. That is when my Hepititis A shot becomes effective.

I didn't plan on accidentally making one of my math sheets a screen cover. Don't know how to fix it.

Speed-walking again, I saw these little neat prayer rooms for men and woman. Love their robes. Lol

Flying out of Terminal 2, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa. Duh. 1 more flight after this. There was no TV, so I slept through it mostly. Just for your information, I do not watch much TV at all, so when I get a chance to watch all the new blockbusters  for free - I take it.

All of the countries around Ethiopia are each in the middle of their own civil war. That was the only country that my Mum wanted me in and out of as quickly as possible.

                                   

Beautiful city of Addis Ababa. The same place is where my Mum and Dad adopted my 2 sisters from. They flew them out of this airport. We have had them for over 7 and a half years now.

Beautiful Capital City of Ethiopia.

I landed in Lilongwe, Malawi in good times and I got up and hauled my luggage. Walking out of the plane to go hurry to my next plane, I had forgotten that this was the plane I was supposed to be on. Hauling it back on the plane, I got back in my seat and did nothing until my neighbor arrived. He was a pastor from some Georgian town in the states. He travels to countries like Malawi to mentor the pastors here and there. His name was Frank. Frankly, I can't remember much more of what he said. HA! YES! A pun accidentally made. Lol Well, it isn't probably that good anyway. Lol. This whole flight, Lilongwe to Blantyre, Malawi, I slept.

Did you know that there are people in this world that are starving. This food would be so much for them, when we complain if it tastes bad and throw it out.

The medium sized Ethiopian Airlines airplane puts its wheels down onto the burnt field of a runway at 2 in the afternoon in Blantyre, Malawi. My destination -well almost. The sun was really quite hot and humid. Entering the airport, the whole place stunk of sweat. It smelt horrible. Poor Malawian airport workers. After Immigration, I met with the Emerys! Time to tell my Mum that it was alright for her to go to bed. 5 in the morning for her! 

Well... Mum Awareness moment: Thanks to my wonderful Mum who was helping me make this trip happen. She really made it happen. And thanks for all of the hours that you stayed up to make sure that I got to my destination properly. She stayed up until 5 in the morning making sure that I was with the Emerys before she even thought about going to bed. Without her, I wouldn't be here. Luv ya ;)))) Give her a Timmies for me. (won't pay ya back.) ;)

The Emerys and I piled in. We drove around to pick up some food, water, and motor oil. They only go to Blantyre once a month, so they get what they need everytime they go. Below is Darren Emery trying to get some motor oil.

It really shows how much shade can bring out the smiles in people.

After shopping, we finally got to a restaurant to eat dinner. We stayed there for about an hour, and then we headed for Hope Village which is an hour and a half away.

Some life in Malawi.

As we drove down the road, my window was open, so all the Malawians yelled and waved, saying, "Mzungu." Which means white person. They are so friendly and nice.

A form of taxi service here in Malawi.

Like England

Main road to Hope Village.

These houses below belong to the cops here Blantyre. The police officers here use whatever weapons that they can earn up for. Darren said he saw a police officer with a grenade launcher. I had seen one in Blantyre carrying a M4. I also saw some soldiers sitting down at a store. I wonder what they are carrying. Maybe an atomic bomb. Who really knows. ;D

City view.

The women in this country are very talented. That bag probably weighs over a hundred pounds.

Balanced lifestyle.

Let's just say that these roads are very crowded from everything from a child to a pig to a car.

Yes, there is traffic all over the world. You may have thought that there wasn't any traffic in Africa, but think again. This traffic took a long while to get out of it.

Traffic in Malawi.

We got to Hope Village by 8 PM. It gets dark in Malawi at 6 PM all year round. I helped Darren and Keiren haul 16 100 pound bags of concrete into a shed from the truck. After that was done, we were completely covered in white concrete dust. I had a shower and had unpacked my bags within the first hour of arriving.

My room with the the mosquito net. 

I should head to bed. I have been up for over 40 hours.