The Crazy Adventures of the Northern Girl

Canadian soil!

northerngirl — Sun, 1 Jul 2012 07:11:00 GMT

Well I am not officially back on Canadian soil! After many problems (which may at somepoint be explained...wine required) I am here. Last night I was in a BEAUTIUL hotel room for about 7 hours and only slept about 1.5 of those. The time change going to Africa was waaaay easier than this one. I feel like my body is in limbo; doesn't know when to be sleepy, when to be hungry or anything.

So, to welcome myself back to Canada on Canada day the day is starting with some Timmies! In just over three hours I get all my family and my boyfriend back and after these past few days I'll be holding them closer then ever before.

I do have a pulse...

northerngirl — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:30:00 GMT

If anyone else is as worried as my mom was....I am alive.

Mozambique and Swaziland are very different from south Africa but still incredibly beautiful!

Mad a quick recap...in Swaziland I did a horse back safari then we headed to mozam! I learned that is horse riding for two hours then siting on a bus results in a very sore butt. We arrived in mozam yesterday morning and did a ocean safari and I swam with a whale shark! Holy. Crap.

I may not have much Internet between here and home but I begin my journey home at around midnight on Thursday and will arrive Sunday morning!!

The Big 5

northerngirl — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:15:00 GMT

This morning we woke up at 4. That's right....4 am. We left here (Bibs) at 5 so we could be at the safari for 6.

LUCKILY...what we saw made is sooooo worth it.

The "Big 5" is buffalo, leopard, elephant, rhino, and lion. And I saw all bu the leopard!!! I have soooo many good pictures. The lions were awesome!

Tomorrow we leave for Swaziland where we will be spending a night at a game reserve and then Thursday night we drive through the night to Mozambique! My computere access will be touchy in the next little bit so don't expect much:)

HIppos and crocs.....

northerngirl — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:30:00 GMT

I never thought I would say this but I am almost sick of seeing hippos. We went on a hippo and croc cruise today (mostly an excuse to sit and drink on a boat....reminded me of home:)) We saw ALOT of hippos and a few crocs.

Tomorrow we get up at 4 to go on a big safari!!!! Hopefully we'll see the big five while we're there!!

Just a quicky

northerngirl — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 19:10:00 GMT

Ok this is a quick one...wifi at the restaurant! We decided to go out for dinner as dinner t bibs (the hostel) is a little repetitive.

I got to swim in the ocean for the first time ever today! Yay!!!

This time in two weeks I'll be home!

Lamb Roast!!

northerngirl — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 20:20:00 GMT

Today was our last day of volunteering....I went to a cat rehab centre and hung out with the cheetahs!!! (Pictures when I return). It was lots of fun but the 6 days of work felt very long!! Tomorrow is a day at the beach...a well deserved day at the beach!!

IN honor of the last day we all chipped in and bought a lamb to roast and celebrate and traditional zulu dancers came and danced and they even made me dance with them!!

On to the real vacation!

Much better day...

northerngirl — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:40:00 GMT

This morning I woke up feeling better. WAY BETTER. So I ate breakfast and went off to the croc park!!! EEKKK! I was like a kid in a candy store. It was so much fun. I got to hold a little one and the rest of the time was spend cleaning out various pens.

I even did a little shopping for myself today and bought a maxi dress and some new sunglasses:)

It was a lot of fun and tonight I go on a night safari!!!

Sorry there are no pictures on the blog....no way to transfer them but when I get back, you better be ready!

Today SUCKED

northerngirl — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:10:00 GMT

So all last night I was sick and then when I thought I was ok to go volunteering I sat down on the bus and got right back up again. So I spend my whole day sleeping it off and dirnking lots of water and electrolyte powder!

The adventure contiunes

northerngirl — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Ok so the blog I wrote about the travel didn't post so I'll fill you in.

After leaving New York it was a 12 hour plane ride to Dubai where I sat in the middle row and had zero room for anything but Emirates has an excellent entertainment selection so that kept me somewhat sane. When we arrived in Dubai it was 8 am local time which gave us enough time between flights for some Starbucks and a Mojito. ( I also learned the hard way that taking malaria pills with that combination doesn't feel too good.)

When we finally arrived in Joburg, get off the plane, meet our group leaders...and find out we have a 9 hour drive to look forward too. Holy. Crap. Luckily by then the mojito malaria pill mix had past so I was feeling better.

We arrived here at Bibs and all hit the sack. It had been a veerrrry long time since I had been horizontal so it was GREAT.

Now on to the current stuff...

Today I did my first day of education and it was pretty fun. The kids were SOOOOO cute in the morning and at the school we went to in the afternoon the grade 5 class tore us to bits. Jess and I got there and we had to do a natural science lesson (geology....crap....).

"where did the earth come from?"

SIDE NOTE: there is currently a hippo about 50 feet from the computer. Whoa.

"who made the earth?"

Yikes.

Anyways...things are picking up at the bar in our hostel so I may go check it out. No big drinking for me....the top bunk is hard enough as it is:)

Day 4

northerngirl — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:13:00 GMT

Well...I'm exhausted. It's only about 8:30 but I have a feeling I may just go have a shower and go to bed. Luckily I was done my construction rotation today so may tomorrow won't be so hard. Tomorrow bring the education rotation and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Other than that, not too much to report!

750 mL of beer for 11 rand....I believe that works out to just over a dollar...ahhh yeah.

( I thought I posted last night but I guess it didn't go through....)

Travel Day 1

northerngirl — Sat, 9 Jun 2012 00:12:00 GMT

Today was a bit of a rough day. Any day that starts with three hours of sleep when you wake up at 4:30 is a rough day. Toronto was pretty uneventful, I had never done customs going out. I was hot, tired and hungry (I completely slept through both flights).

Once I arrived in New York my mood hit the floor again...I was so hit and frustrated I began to second guess myself. (Sarah...how the hell will you handle Africa I you can't even deal with the heat in the damn airport!?!)

Once I made it to my room (thank god they let me check in early) I finally had a real nap. Not sittin up...not against a wall....a for real borizontal nap. My first real meal in almost 24 hours helped with the rest of the mood.

Then my first adventure happened....I went to Walmart. Yikes. My cab was a big old' cadillac escalade so at least I rode in style!

The next two days brig three airports (JFK, Dubai and johannusburg) so I'll update when I can! I get to meet my group tomorrow so I'm both nervous and very exciting!!

P.S. no adverse side effects from the malaria pills! YES!

The Best Laid Plans....

northerngirl — Thu, 7 Jun 2012 01:21:00 GMT

So my plan was to update this blog everyday for the month before I leave...whoops. I leave in less than 36 hours. I feel pretty ready but not ready enough to leave this week.

I hate packing. HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE. And I'm having to pack selectively....3 weeks in a 70L bag, she's gunna be a little dicy. But the excitement of going on the trip is greatly outweighing the hatred of packing (thank God).

Tomorrow is a day of packing and good byes...

Welcome!

northerngirl — Tue, 8 May 2012 12:54:00 GMT

Hello everyone!

(or no one)

As most people close to me know, I am going to South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique in exactly 1 month!!! So to keep everyone on the same page, as many people ask the same questions, I figured I'd start a blog to keep everyone up to date on my adventure, from the preparing all the way to the coming home. Just in time to gear up for Honduras!

These are the crazy adventures of a northern girl.....