2009 GSE 6560 to Africa!

Last day in Malawi, for now...

2009-05-24T09:14:00.008-04:00

Hello! We have had a busy few days, mostly adventurous days, which has left Dan feeling pretty satisfied I suspect. Today, Sunday, marks our last full day in Blantyre, Malawi, as tomorrow we leave very early (5:30 a.m. Africa time, 1:30 a.m. US time) for the boarder of Mozambique. I'm pretty excited. Everyone keeps telling us that most people speak Portuguese, so it should be an adventure in language at the very least!

On Friday, Nick, Dan and I paired up and were taken to a project about an hour away. A Rotarian has started the Tisunge Heritage Center far out from the main city, which employs village weavers. The project then purchase the work and sells it in a heritage center set up near the village. Some of these weaver have been able to build brick house with tin roofs because of the income they are earning from the opportunity. We had a great day, capped off by another game drive (one can never see too many animals in the wild :)) and a perfect sunset as we drove a twisty-turny road back to Blantyre.

Yesterday we visited Mt. Mulanje.

We drove to the mountain passing through tea estates and a few small villages. As usual, I was trying to make photographs out of the car window as we zipped by! I think I can pretty much teach a course in that by now! We stopped a resort built in the mountain and went on a hike up the moutain. Nick, Steve, Dan and their guide Gift, hiked for most of the afternoon and made it pretty far up the mountain. Here is the view from where I made it too. Not nearly as high as the guys, but still beautiful.

Half Way!

2009-05-20T15:37:00.005-04:00

Please forgive the order of these photos, I can't get them to move!!

Lake Malwai sunset 05-20-09

Lake Malawi sunrise 05-20-09

Nature Sanctuary - Lilongwe, Malawi 05-18-09

Crisis Nursery - Lilgonwe, Malwai 05-18-09

Poinsettia tree - Lusaka, Zambia 05-16-09

Game drive - Lusaka, Zambia 05-16-09

The team has had a much needed two days off from Rotary duties. We have spent the last two days at a resort along Lake Malawi thanks to the Rotary clubs of Lilongwe. We needed a chance to put our feet up and just sort of hang out together. Tomorrow morning we will be picked up and driven to Blantyre to meet a couple of new clubs and begin the last leg of our trip. It has gone by fast, but we still have a lot to look forward too!

I've attached some photographs from our last day in Lusaka, where our hosts Hassan and Pankaj took us to an amazing lunch and on a short safari. We were on the hunt for zebra (none spotted as of yet!) but found some giraffe instead. I'm sure the group would agree that we had a fantastic time in Lusaka, good food, good times and especially good friends!

In Lilongwe we visited the Ministry of Hop Crisis Nursery, as you can see, the babies were very cute. The nursery is a great project, giving babies who have been abandoned or are HIV positive a place of respite until they can be reunited with family or placed in a home. We also took a walk through a nature sanctuary. These animals were rescued from all over the world and put into contained areas, more like their natural habitats and less like the zoos they had been living in.

Here is a photograph of some men working to clear an area that will eventually be the site of a veterinary clinic. Currently, all surgeries are done outside in the open.

Finally, we reached Lake Malawi on Tuesday morning. Somehow I managed to wake up this morning (5:30 a.m.!) in time to photograph the sun rise over the lake, so beautiful. Today we took a few walks, the guys climbed some boulders and we hit the pool. Then we braved the water and took a very choppy ride out to see the sunset behind the mountains, what a way to end a great two days off!

To our families: We are having a wonderful time and everyone is getting along great. Not a day passes without the thought of how very grateful we are for this opportunity. We love and miss you!

It's been awhile!

2009-05-13T11:09:00.003-04:00

I haven't had internet in a few days and I am waaaaay behind on editing pictures but we will give this a shot and try and get caught up! : ) Hopefully I will be able to post again later tonight, but for now...

We spent Sunday and Monday in Kitwe, which is in the Copperbelt of Zambia. Yesterday we were in Mufulira, also in the Copperbelt and we visited a copper mine. Not only did we visit, but we trudged 5,000 feet below the surface of the earth to explore the mines. This is an experience, and I am sure the team would agree, than can't be accurately described in words or photographs. It was hot, I mean really hot, we walked for what seemed for miles and it was dirty! It was an amazing learning experience with the biggest lesson being in respect for those who work at the mines everyday, for little money.

Not a day goes by with out the much appreciated generosity of our hosts, it has been a humbling experience as we have eaten and drank our way toward gaining pounds! The team started this adventure with the misconception that we would all be slimmer by the end, and thus far, after five meals a day, it looks like they may have to roll us home!

Lusaka

2009-05-07T17:18:00.006-04:00

After a long, hot, nine-hour bus ride, which included a two-hour delay due to a flat tire, we arrived in Lusaka, Zambia on Wednesday.

We met our hosts and were treated to a fantastic dinner at a local favorite restaurant (Ask Gina about the pepper steak!)

Today we had a very busy day. Nick and Gina toured a public school, Dan the police station's forensics department and Steve and Melanie chatted with the Managing Editor of the Post for our vocational visits. We gave a lunch presentation and off to visit the Misis compound and St. Lawrence. The highlight of the day, specially for Nick, was getting to meet and then play a game of wheelchair basketball with a local team. More soon!

Last Day in Livingstone

2009-05-05T17:27:00.006-04:00

Today was our last day in Livingstone and we filled it to the brim!

We started the morning off by visiting the Lubasi Home and a hospice. From there we visited Victoria Falls and got drenched! I mean soaking wet! It was worth every drop. After the falls we headed out to walk with lions and I really do mean walk with them. They are not penned in, but let free to walk the trails with us. We had a wonderful guide and loved getting to pet such amazing cats. The evening ended with a drink social at the local golf course with members of Rotary of Livingstone. Tomorrow, we are up very early for a 7 a.m. bus ride (seven hours) to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.

More later!

Day TWO!

2009-05-04T16:05:00.008-04:00

What a heck of a day!

We traveled to Botswana to spend the whole day at Chobe National Park for a boat tour (amazing!) and a safari by truck. We saw it all, birds, impalas, crocodiles, hippopotamus, giraffe and elephants. We had an amazing day capped off by our first Rotary meeting, dinner and presentation with Rotary Club of Livingtone, Zambia. A full day for sure!

Tomorrow, we plan to visit a local orphanage, hospice and market followed by a tour of Victoria Falls (much anticipated!) and an excursion to walk with lions! Yes, I said walk! And all of this before dinner! What a day!

We Made It!

2009-05-03T15:43:00.004-04:00

It is Sunday night here, about 9:45 p.m.

We flew in from Jo'burg this morning and are staying Livingston, Zambia until Wednesday, when we head for Lusaka.

This afternoon we took an evening sunset cruise that was amazing!! We met some wonderful people, shared a few stories and some drinks and took a lot of photos.

I have limited time online, so for now I will just tease you with a couple of photos of our boat ride and a photo of where we are staying the night! Cheers! : )

Finally Off

2009-05-01T13:13:00.004-04:00

GSE 6560 preparing to take flight from Indianapolis (5/1/09)

Indiana

2009-04-29T15:58:00.002-04:00

Here is a little map that shows where our team is from!

Back on track!

2009-04-29T15:42:00.003-04:00

The word on the street is that we are going to Africa!

Revised Itinerary #5:

Leave on Friday at 12:08! Same flight path and everything. Indy to Atalanta, Atlanta to Joburg, overnight, then off to Livingstone, Zambia.

We have an overnight stay in Johannesburg, South Africa, at what looks like a realllly nice hotel, on Saturday night. We will arrive in Livingstone on Sunday, May 3 around 12:30 p.m.

The adventure has already begun! I wonder what is next?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2009-04-29T11:50:00.003-04:00

We have hit a speed bump. Just a small one, I hope.

We had to postpone our departure till tomorrow (hopefully!) due to our passports arriving a little too late. We were scheduled to fly out today at 12:20 p.m. Unfortunately, the overnight package containing our passports and visas for Mozambique wasn't on time and it showed up this morning around 10 a.m. instead of on Tuesday. It just didn't leave us enough time to get to the airport and get checked in! : (

The good news is that we have our passports! Now we just need a new flight plan. Fingers crossed!

Only 48 hours!

2009-04-27T13:55:00.000-04:00

Hi!

GSE Team 6560 is just 48 hours away from our departure to district 9210 in Africa! We will be visiting Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi.

We leave at 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday. We will be flying Delta to Atlanta and then off to South Africa on a 18-hour flight! We stay the night there and fly out Friday day to Zambia, where our hosts are planning a trip to Victoria Falls! Needless to say, we are all very excited!!

Dan Randolph

2009-04-27T12:14:00.001-04:00

Occupation: DNA Analyst, Strand Analytical Laboratories

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Current Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana

Education: B.S. in Biology, Indiana University; Masters in Biology, Purdue University

In my spare time I like to: hang out with friends and family, travel, read, run/exercise, do anything outdoors--hiking, cycling, sailing, skiing, rock-climbing

Favorite Authors: Dean Koontz and J.R. Moehringer (even though he’s only written one book)

Favorite Musical Artists: I have too many favorites to choose one. I’m always listening to music.

Best Adventures: Medical Mission trip to Nagua Dominican Republic, Month long road trip on the east coast with my best friends, Annual snow-skiing trips to Colorado

Adventure I would like to take: Helicopter-skiing in the Swiss Alps

Advice to live by: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count but the life in your years.”

–Abraham Lincoln

Melanie Maxwell

2009-04-27T12:09:00.000-04:00

Occupation: Photojournalist

Hometown: Livonia, Michigan

Current Residence: Muncie, Indiana

Education: B.S. Photojournalism, Central Michigan University; B.F.A.
Photography, Central Michigan University

In my spare time I like to: Travel, cook, drink coffee and visit with
my friends. I also like to knit and sew.

Favorite Authors: David Sedaris and Dave Eggars

Favorite Musical Artist: Radiohead

Favorite Foods: Pizza!

Best Adventures: Traveling the United States with my family in a
pop-up camper. Also, spending a week in Seattle and taking several
trips to Chicago.

Adventure I would like to take: I would like to visit Iceland and India.

Steve Currens

2009-04-27T12:08:00.001-04:00

ROTARY INVOLVEMENT: I am a charter member and past president of the Rotary Club of Kokomo Early Risers. I have been the Foundation chair for several years. I regularly attend 2 Rotary clubs and am an Assistant Governor for 3 Rotary Clubs. I have been a GSE host and committee member for the past 2 years.

I will be the Race Director for a 5K Walk/Run to raise money for Polio Plus this year.

OCCUPATION; After earning my degree at Indiana University I worked for two years in Gabon and Senegal teaching English as a foreign language in the US Peace Corps. I was a public school teacher in

Indiana for 2 years. I worked in the Real Estate field for 20 years listing and selling residential and commercial property and chairing the Grievance and Professional Standard Committees. I am currently the

owner/operator of Currens Zapfe Paper Company, a distributorship of commercial paper products.

INTERESTS; I love animals and nature and enjoy natural settings where I can observe them. I enjoy

being around water, swimming, snorkeling and boating. I love to travel and have recently visited Belize,

the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Mexico and Canada. I am planning a trip to the Holy Land .I like meeting new people and making new friends.

IN MY FREE TIME: I enjoy going to the movies with my wife, reading, especially biographies,Rotary activities, computers, going to libraries and bookstores, and regular trips to Starbucks, a popular US Coffeehouse .I like spectator sports, driving and long walks.

THOUGHTS THAT HELP GUIDE ME THROUGH LIFE; "The highest form of Wisdom is kindness," and

that "the one's you love are life's most precious gifts." And I love the 4 Way Test.

Nick Reich

2009-04-27T12:07:00.000-04:00

Nick Reich

nick.reich@indianapolismet.org

Occupation: Social Worker

Title: Director of Student & Family Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School

Hometown: Evansville, IN;

Current residence: Indianapolis, IN

Family: Wife, Becky and two children, Camren (3) and Cayden (2)

Education: B.S. Social Work, Indiana University

I have lived in: Greenville, IL; Spokane, WA; East Lansing, MI

Favorite destination: St. Louis for St. Louis Cardinals baseball game

Favorite Food: Pizza

Pastimes: Coaching basketball, playing with my kids

Favorite Book: Conversations with God, by Neale Donald Walsh

Gina Allen

2009-04-27T12:05:00.000-04:00

Occupation: Community Outreach
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Education: BA, Political Science, Purdue University
I Have Lived: Washington DC
Last Book Read: Lady Moses by Lucinda Roy
Best Adventure: Traveling through Scandinavia
Favorite Destination: Caribbean
Pastimes: Reading, theatre, hanging out with family and friends
Goals: To see as much of the world as possible
Favorite Author: Heather Neff
Favorite Foods: Chili, Italian food and cereal
I enjoy: Reading, hanging with friends, playing volleyball and tennis, enjoy watching football, traveling
Favorite Musical Artist: Jill Scott
Current Objective: Build a successful business
Favorite Movies: Let's Do It Again, Pelican Brief, Like Water for Chocolate
What's Important To Me: That children know that they're loved.
I Am Most Excited About: Our 44th President being an African American
If Visiting the US, You Should Experience: Washington DC, the nations capital. It gives a pretty thorough understanding of how our country was built.
When I'm Not Working: I try to spend time with friends and family
Favorite Quote: If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude" - Maya Angelou

Motto That's most Influenced Me: You got to sing like you don't need the money; Love, like you'll never get hurt; You got to dance like nobody's watchin'.