So... I'm Going to Malawi? Journal Entry: Saturday July 20

I'm writing this while on the flight to Malawi:

So we bypassed Friday! It's over. The stay in the hotel last night in South Africa was wonderful. There were beds, warm showers, even a TV! Sara and I woke up early so we walked around the hotel. The Emerald Guest house was the name. I think my sheets were dirty but I didn't care. I was astounded by how cold it got. In Celsius it was single digits - whatever that means. We were delighted by the sounds of cooing birds and the delicious smells of breakfast floating through the crisp morning air. The milk was in glass bottles. I think it may have been whole because it looked really thick. 

After our continental breakfast we headed to the airport by 7:30 for our 10 a.m. flight. We were in a few long lines for bag checks and customs. We made it in the nick of time to ride the shuttle to our plane after we stopped for water. I got change back in the airport in money that had Nelson Mandela's face on it. They're called Rands. 

We boarded our flight and we're about to take off. In rows of three we are all the way in the back. I'm glad I got a window seat and I'm glad we were on a bigger plane when we had our 17 hour flight to Johannesburg yesterday.

My family wrote me notes to read on each day of the trip. After reading today's and yesterday's notes I've decided that the theme for today is love. My dad suggested I read 1 Corinthians 13. Today (and the whole trip) is full of unknowns. So even though I don't know what to expect, where we are going, who we'll meet, I will go simply with love. 

Joel 2:13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

We'll be in Malawi by noon!

So... I'm going to Malawi? Journal Entry: Thursday July 18

"Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
You were only waiting
For this moment to be free"
~The Beatles

This song is playing on the radio as my parents drive me to the airport. I feel like it is representative of what this trip will bring for me. My eyes will be opened for the first time to another part of the world. All my life, I was only waiting for my moment to be free.

Other songs on the car ride:
Neil Young- After the Gold Rush
Jack Johnson- Flake
Suzanne Vega- Tom's Diner

Our first flight took less than 40 minutes! It was so quick and painless. Before the flight we talked about how the sound of rolling luggage over the tiles of Pittsburgh airport is sort of soothing to hear. It makes me excited because I think "I'm flying somewhere!" It's always exciting to be away from home of course! I sat next to Sarah on the plane and we had great constant conversation.

The D.C. airport smells like pizza and fresh paint. We had delicious Chipotle lunch in our international wing of this massive airport. It's interesting to see all of the people who are foreign. Foreign in language, dress, culture and simple ways of life. It's interesting how babies seem to have the same babble and innocence no matter their ethnicity, place of birth, etc. Babies are great. A little girl came up to me to show off or to give me her milk. I think she and her mom are from Africa because they are on our flight to South Africa. I didn't really know what to say to the little girl and it made me wonder if that was a sort of preview for the trip in relation to children. Now the little girl has been restrained by her mother in a scarf black sling. She's definitely not happy about it.

Our flight leaves at about 6 and we should arrive in South Africa during their dinner time!