July 26th, 2010

For the last two weeks of May I had the incredible opportunity to go to Tanzania for a service learning trip with Chestnut Hill College, Rosemont College, and Marywood University. Going into this experience I had no expectations. I had no idea what the two weeks would hold and the adventures that it would bring. I entered into this experience with an open heart and mind, and was excited to receive from this trip whatever God had for me. Little did I know that I would be receiving more than any words can describe.

To actually get onto African soil it would take twenty-four hours of travel. The team would take a fourteen hour flight from New York to Dubai, and then another five hour flight from Dubai to Dar es Salam, Tanzania. In addition, we would have to endure a five hour van ride to Morogoro, the region that we would be working in.  I was a little apprehensive to take a fourteen hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean. I have never flow for that long, heck I have never left the continent before. To endure the long hours of travel I made sure my carryon bag was filled with Tylenol PM (a sleeping aid and my life saver on the flight) my iPod, and a book. However, my iPod and book were not really needed on the flight. I was able to entertain myself by watching a selection of films on my own personal TV that was attached to the seat in front of me.  A fourteen hour flight goes by fast when you have films like Lovely Bones, When in Rome, Invictus, and Leap Year to occupy you.

Before I knew it we were in Dubai. Though I was exhausted from the flight I was ecstatic that I was safely out of North America, and in another part of the world. My eyes were overwhelmed at what I saw in the Dubai airport. People from India, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and European were scattered about checking for flight times, shopping for souvenirs, and claiming their luggage. I had never heard so many different languages spoken, in one place, in my entire life. Plus, Dubai was known as one of the wealthiest countries in the world; it showed! The airport was filled with glamorous stores and palm trees. The airport also had rooms just for prayer, smoking, and had a quiet lounge. It was one of the most interesting airports I had ever been in my life!

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Tagged As: Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Service, Tanzania, Travel
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May 14th, 2010

In a few weeks I’ll be on a plain flying above the Atlantic Ocean and heading to Tanzania. But before I leave for the airport I have to make sure I have all my belongings packed, organized, and ready to go which, for me, will be a very a difficult task.  You see, I am not good at packing, especially when it comes to packing for long trips. I always over pack; however, I am learning that for this trip and for trips in the future, less is always more.

What to Pack?

Before I begin shoving miscellaneous things in my suitcase and make yet another packing fopa, I did a little research on the internet and came cross some great packing tips. I know these tips will be helpful as I prepare for my trip, but perhaps they will help you as you travel this summer too.

TIP 1

Make a list all the things you think you might need or want to bring. Planning out what you want to pack before you pack it will help you cut down on some of the unnecessary items that often creep into your suitcase.

TIP 2

Before you pack your clothes, plan out the outfits for each day of your trip. This will help you know what clothes you need to pack, oppose to the ones you want to pack. Also, always pack one extra outfit and put in your carry on. You never know what can happen with your luggage, especially if you are doing long distance traveling with multiple layovers.

TIP 3

When packing, roll your clothing to minimize space in your suite case, as well as prevent clothes from creasing or wrinkling.

TIP 4

Pack Medications, ID, passport, toiletries, glasses, and any other personal items you may need in your carry on. If you are traveling abroad it is a good idea to keep the things you often use close to you as you travel.

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Tagged As: packing tips, Tanzania, Travel
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June 27th, 2009

     These are a couple pictures from my recent trip to Europe, I was there for two weeks and had a lot of fun. I was there on a sports tour which included Mens Basketball, Womens Basketball and Womens Volleyball. We toured the countries of Austria and Italy, playing 5 different teams. This is just a small sample of a major life experiance. Keep a lookout for the next blog which will include more pics and short discription on each.  

     Pictures include some basketball games, authentic morano glass hand made right in front of me, and tours of some cities which includes Venice, Italy or Venezia as the locals call it. I represented my country well and had the honor of wearing the number 10 Jersey.

Tagged As: basketball, Europe, Hand Made Glass, International, Italy, Summer Fun, Travel, Venice
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September 12th, 2008

Luckily the friends I have made at Chestnut Hill College equally appreciate the recreational pursuits I choose to engage in; it was with the help of my roommate Alli and close college friend Justin that I was able to put together an unbelievable road trip. Together we collected our friends to travel to Chicago, Illinois in order to take part in the three day festival formally known as Lollapalooza in Grant Park. We were able to bring friends from our home-towns on the journey, which allowed us to witness each other’s personalities outside of Chestnut Hill College.

The road trip itself was a stellar experience because we needed to cram five people in Alli’s car while Justin and his friend Mike from home went in their own separate vehicle. We left bright and early Thursday morning in order to make it to Alli’s house in Glenn Ellyn, Illinois by 10 o’clock at night; the drive itself was twelve hours long! The trip proved to be a long distance, however amongst us five we were able to alternate drivers every 300 miles, which helped relieve the stress of driving for extended hours. We passed through Ohio and Indiana during our excursion and witnessed extraordinarily vast farmlands and breathtaking mountains. We traversed under tunnels to get through the Allegheny mountain region in Western Pennsylvania, where construction became heavy after each mountain we passed. I don’t think anyone slept throughout the whole trip because the landscape was simply astounding.

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Tagged As: Bloc Party, Blues Traveler, Booka Shade, Brazilian Girls, Broken Social Scene, Chicago, Chromeo, Concert, Does it Offend You Yeah, Driving, Explosions in the Sky, Festival, Foals, Friends, Gogol Bordello, Lollapalooza, MGMT, Millenium Park, Music, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Saul Williams, The Black Keys, The Go Team, The National, Travel, Vacation
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