I am so sorry that we haven't posted an update since we left. Things have been CRAZY!!! I will try to fill you in as much as possible in the short time frame I have. Caesar (my cab driver) is taking me to the market so that we can buy some food! He's a nice man...tries to rip me off constantly but I have my eye on him. Anyway....here it goes....
We arrived in Houston on Friday night and it was pretty interesting to say the least. I booked us into a place close to the airport called Greenspoint and while we were being loaded into our shuttle, a man approached me. He told me that I'd book us into an area of Houston affectionately known to the locals as "Gunspoint"...nice. He advised us not to go out after dark. So, we ended up eating the most disgusting pizza you can ever imagine because it was the only thing we could order in!! The bright side of all of this is that the next morning I was allowed to make my own waffle...in the shape of TEXAS! (Are you reading this Murina!?) I was just thrilled...Kevin didn't care. Hahaha...off to the airport.
We arrived in Roatan on Saturday and, I must say, it was a bit of a culture shock. Dirt roads...beautiful beach...lots of parties. It is definitely another world. We couldn't sleep because the heat was totally incredible. Anyway, yesterday we checked into this little basement apartment that is much, much cooler and has a beautiful tiny fairy door in the middle of this garden. It really is like living in the Secret Garden. Plus, we get a beautiful claw foot bathtub and the owner is Canadian. It's in a very safe area. I will post photos as soon as I take some...it's been a rocky few days and at first I didn't want to do anything. Even though I've traveled a lot this is different and I find myself missing my friends and family to the point of tears. Silly girl, I know. OH...and we started diving today...three dives today...did a fun dive, a navigational dive and a peak buoyancy control dive as well. Tomorrow we finish our advanced course and on Wednesday we start Rescue...it's supposed to be INTENSE and we hear we will be tired and burnt to a crisp from the sun. Luckily I bought SPF 45 waterproof...although, of course, I'm the only one that uses it. Kevin is invincible. HAHA....
What else can I tell you? Hmmm...oh, my first day here (don't get alarmed) I was hit by a car. It wasn't very hard (no broken bones) but it did really hurt. Apparently the taxi drivers drink and drive in the evening and I was in their way. He clipped me pretty hard with his side mirror but some rum eased my pain. Speaking of which, the people at our diveshop (Coconut Tree Divers) are AWESOME!! So much fun...should be a very interesting few months. We're starting to settle in a bit more and feel more comfortable. It's hard to unwind and take things as they come. They say it'll be a couple of weeks before I'm not quite as high-strung.
Okay...must end now....talk again soon when the Internet connection is better. Oh, lots of bugs and crabs here. A lizard lives in our room but apparently he eats the gross bugs so it's better to leave him in there they say. Lots of love to all our friends and family!!! We miss you so much. I tried to call you today at work mom...just wanted to say things are good and I'm feeling much better about it all. Don't be worried!!! xoxoxoxxox Toot! Toot! Caesar's waiting!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
I Hate You Backpack! (Aug 28th)
It's 2 a.m. and we just finished packing. What a nightmare!! I don't consider myself a diva by any means (I can be ready to go anywhere in 5 minutes), but 85 litres is not as much as it sounds! I had to pack and unpack three times to make it all fit. I tell ya, that backpack is a b!tch of a lover! Nice to you one second...busting your chops the next. I'd open up one set of zippers only to have my stuff fall out another set of zippers. Anyway, I finally made it all fit (with room to spare after I got tough with myself) and now it's staring at me with it's taunting shoulder straps and oversized waist band. I have a feeling this war has just begun.
We said most of our goodbyes tonight. My dad came from Grimshaw to see us off and we had a lot of laughs! I saw him this past weekend as well and shed most of my goodbye tears then thinking I wouldn't see him again before we left. He will most likely come to South Africa when we're there though so it won't be too long before we meet up again. That will be a blast! He is the most fun person to travel with and you will always have an adventure if you're with him!
I bid adieu to Debi and thought long and hard about her wedding we'd be missing. I tried not to think about the details...her something borrowed, something blue. I tried to focus on the delicious cupcakes she brought but, in the end, we cried. Of course we did. I think there was a lot left unsaid mostly because it was just too damn difficult. Our weekly coffee dates are something I'll miss very much.
I made calls and said farewell to Murina. We didn't cry, but that was only because we hung up strategically and promised to learn how to use Skype. I think she may be worried that I'll end up dead in a ditch. She didn't say as much, but I know her. When I went to meet Kevin for the first time (we met online) she made me describe to her, in detail, what I was wearing. It was for the police report, she explained sternly....for when they found me chopped up in a suitcase by the river. Don't worry Meena!! I'll be safe. I can only hope this trip turns out half as well as that first meeting with Kev!
Lastly, I said goodbye to Jenny. That was very difficult. I almost escaped without any tears but didn't make it. I think it was the six month baby bump that dissolved my resolve. You see, I was there for the birth of both her and Luke's children...but won't be there for this one. It breaks my heart. We've been tied at the hip since we were 12 and have shared the important moments....engagements, marriages, babies etc but this is one thing I'll have to miss. I'm not happy about it. I'll leave it at that because I feel the tears coming back....
Tomorrow (or later today if you want to get technical) will be the hardest goodbye of all. I'll have to say goodbye to my mom and my brother. I've never been away from my mom for more than 2 1/2 months so this will be tough. She's my soft place to fall (love you mommy! xoxo). That farewell is going to make me sob like a baby. It's going to be terribly embarrassing. I've convinced myself that my brother will meet us somewhere along our travels and that makes his goodbye easier. Hopefully it won't be a full year until I see him again. His face makes me smile.
I guess it was naive to think that goodbyes would be easier because we had this grand adventure ahead. I think it makes it that much harder because you can't really share the experiences with the people you love the most. Blogs and emails are great but they aren't the same. I miss them already and we haven't even left yet...the plane leaves in 6 1/2 hours!
We said most of our goodbyes tonight. My dad came from Grimshaw to see us off and we had a lot of laughs! I saw him this past weekend as well and shed most of my goodbye tears then thinking I wouldn't see him again before we left. He will most likely come to South Africa when we're there though so it won't be too long before we meet up again. That will be a blast! He is the most fun person to travel with and you will always have an adventure if you're with him!
I bid adieu to Debi and thought long and hard about her wedding we'd be missing. I tried not to think about the details...her something borrowed, something blue. I tried to focus on the delicious cupcakes she brought but, in the end, we cried. Of course we did. I think there was a lot left unsaid mostly because it was just too damn difficult. Our weekly coffee dates are something I'll miss very much.
I made calls and said farewell to Murina. We didn't cry, but that was only because we hung up strategically and promised to learn how to use Skype. I think she may be worried that I'll end up dead in a ditch. She didn't say as much, but I know her. When I went to meet Kevin for the first time (we met online) she made me describe to her, in detail, what I was wearing. It was for the police report, she explained sternly....for when they found me chopped up in a suitcase by the river. Don't worry Meena!! I'll be safe. I can only hope this trip turns out half as well as that first meeting with Kev!
Lastly, I said goodbye to Jenny. That was very difficult. I almost escaped without any tears but didn't make it. I think it was the six month baby bump that dissolved my resolve. You see, I was there for the birth of both her and Luke's children...but won't be there for this one. It breaks my heart. We've been tied at the hip since we were 12 and have shared the important moments....engagements, marriages, babies etc but this is one thing I'll have to miss. I'm not happy about it. I'll leave it at that because I feel the tears coming back....
Tomorrow (or later today if you want to get technical) will be the hardest goodbye of all. I'll have to say goodbye to my mom and my brother. I've never been away from my mom for more than 2 1/2 months so this will be tough. She's my soft place to fall (love you mommy! xoxo). That farewell is going to make me sob like a baby. It's going to be terribly embarrassing. I've convinced myself that my brother will meet us somewhere along our travels and that makes his goodbye easier. Hopefully it won't be a full year until I see him again. His face makes me smile.
I guess it was naive to think that goodbyes would be easier because we had this grand adventure ahead. I think it makes it that much harder because you can't really share the experiences with the people you love the most. Blogs and emails are great but they aren't the same. I miss them already and we haven't even left yet...the plane leaves in 6 1/2 hours!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
So Much To Do! (Aug 26)
It feels like we're in a vortex and time is spinning madly out of control. I can barely catch my breath and I feel like I'm leaving a million strings untied. It is emotionally and physically draining trying to wrap up an entire life. It's like we're on the edge of a cliff...dangling dangerously on the edge. There is no going backwards...only a sheer jump into something we can't see. The excitement is palpable. The energy is electric. The fear is real. The day after tomorrow life as we know it changes forever.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
We're leaving when?! (Aug 23)
WOW! Time flies. This Friday we're leaving on a trip we've been planning for three years. Well, planning is a strong word...we've been dreaming about it...there hasn't been much planning at all! That's the best part. For once we just want to fly by the seat of our pants and live life moment to moment. It's exciting, but scary at the same time. It's a huge leap of faith but we know it's going to be freakin' awesome! There is no denying that leaving will be hard. Up until now we've been in a bit of denial about how hard it will really be to leave our family and friends. There have been a lot of tears this week and there are surely more around the corner. It's difficult to picture being gone during some really special times coming up. We're going to miss new babies, weddings, birthdays, Christmas and so much more. In the end though, this is something we have to do. Perhaps only the two of us can really understand why. It's like that old cliche...feel the fear and do it anyway.
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