Smooth travels & A little exploring

[the following are my journaling of the past 24 hours of my travelling, when I didn't have internet. Since I have it now, I thought I'd update]

September 29, 2010

 

I’m currently en route to Washington DC from Denver---first let of my 4-legged, 3-day journey to Sudan. Things went so smoothly this morning, Praise God! My Sudanese visa was waiting for me at the FedEx in Denver when I got there at 10am, and I quickly and easily checked my bag—which ended up being EXACTLY 50lbs (such a blessing!). I also found out that though I transfer airlines (United to Lufthansa to Ethiopian Air), my luggage is going all the way to Juba so no need for me to baggage claim and recheck my GIANT 50lb bag at the different airports. I just want to add, I think I packed pretty light—for me at least. Half of my bag is full of things for the trip that are staying there. I have a bunch of water testing kits for the MENA office, clothes and a soccer ball for the orphans at the orphanage in Sudan, and a book and miscellaneous supplies. That means… PLENTY of room for souvenirs on the way back?!?! I guess that means I need plenty of money for those souvenirs too, which I don’t have, so I guess I’m traveling light on the way home! 

It hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m on my way to AFRICA for a month! In the prayer-sendoff in the office yesterday, one of the staff prayed about God having this trip planned for me since before I could even imagine it would happen, and that really changed my perspective on this next month. Since this trip fell into place as a series of ideas turning into actuality, I didn’t really take the time to think about the fact that none of these stops are random, and God has a plan in all of it. It made me start to consider why I am the intern that is suited for have this experience (“The eMi Office Tour 2010” as Rex & I have dubbed it), and what it may be that God is going to do with it. I’m excited to find out! I think I’m ready for anything… I think.

9:45pm- Washington DC

Ok, so I don’t want to speak too soon, but God is REALLY blessing this trip so far! Last flight I sat on the aisle and there wasn’t anyone next to me. This flight—the 7 hour one to Frankfurt—I am ALSO on an aisle (making going to the bathroom at 3am a LOT easier) and I ALSO do not have a neighbor. Now, despite the convenience of this, I do actually enjoy having someone to chat with a bit on the plane. I like making friends J But, instead I get this… which will make it easier for me to sleep, hopefully!

Sept. 30, 2010 –Frankfurt Airport

Surprise! I found a church to sketch ;)

I’ve arrived in Frankfurt and am a little confused as to what to do when I get off the plane—we’re EARLY on arrival and I already have a 12 hour layover. Thank goodness for my friend, Davidson, who gave me detailed instructions as to how to get on the S Bahn to go to the city (a 5-minute train ride). I will probably just go to the places he mentioned—the shopping areas and churches and old buildings (touristy stuff)—so as to keep a low profile and blend in with the crowds. I’ve traveled enough that I’m pretty good at hiding the fact I have no clue what I’m doing sometimes ;) I’ll have to find a locker to put my carry-on into. I don’t want to make it THAT obvious that I’m straight off the plane. I think I might sketch a bit if possible. The pilot just said it’s 50 degrees here… I’ve packed for 80+ degrees… haha, we’ll see how I fare!

6:22pm – Frankfurt Airport (Flughafen)

Well, I’ve returned from “Frankfurt am Main” (downtown). It was a nice little excursion! It took a lot of info-desking and question-asking but I found the luggage lockers (very secure) and train tickets and got downtown around noon. It was very bustling because it’s the work-day lunch hour. I bought myself a nice little map and followed roads around the city. It looks pretty similar to other European cities I’ve been to. The juxtaposition of contorted glass-box skyscrapers abutting classically-European, 19^th century stone buildings with arched entryways was neat, and made me think it looked like Belgrade combined with Paris. I found some neat parts of the old city that is left after the Allies bombed Frankfurt during WWII (thanks Davidson for directing me to those places!), and took some awesomely-lame pictures of myself in front of some cool places (see above). I also got a chance to do a few quick sketches (will scan and add later!)! I spent about 4 hours downtown, and then it started to rain (it was overcast all day). BUT, even with the rain, and the 55-degree temperature, people were still enjoying their coffee and food outside on the umbrella-covered seating areas on the pedestrian-only streets. That is what I LOVE about Europe—the café-&-street life. I still think places like MN could get away with doing this, because in colder places like Germany and France, they do it, they just put heaters outside. Now, it couldn’t be year-round, but it could be 3-seasonal! I do feel bad that I didn’t take the time to learn a lick of German before heading out into the city today. Even though I know almost all Germans speak English, I really like to at least know basics of a language when I travel somewhere. I guess that means I should start listening to those Arabic lessons I uploaded onto my iPod!!

Now I’m at a Starbucks until 8pm, when they will start getting boarding passes for my flight.

I saw this building on the left and immediately sat down to sketch it because of the glass addition hugging the old stone building on the corner. Such a nerd.