May 28th

May 28, 2009

The flight to Minneapolis was a breeze. Less than two hours and everything else seemed to fly right by. I got a window seat but I was asleep within minutes after we had gotten into the air. I woke up to take pictures but that is about it, then I would fall back asleep. I am thankful that I have a window seat for this flight. It is the longest flight I have out of the three flights, eight hours. Here we go!

The person sitting next to me on the plane is a Gideon, which means he voluntarily travels the world handing out Bibles. We talked for a little but he seems so pessimistic, like my bags will never arrive in Ghana on the first try and just the way he carries himself makes me feel as if he is someone of higher authority to these people instead of just someone who is more well off. Then again who am I to judge? When I would see Hispanics rambling in K-mart I would get upset because in American we should all speak English. So I have my fair share of bad judgment.

I see that there is a selection of movies that I am able to choose from. The first movie I watched was MILK. It is about Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man to hold a public office. It is a very inspiring movie and I recommend it to everyone. The second movie I watched was Benjamin Button, I did not get all the way through it so I have twenty minutes or so to finish it but I recommend this one as well. Not as much as MILK but Benjamin Button gives you a chance to use your imagination.

4:26 am in Amsterdam…it just hit me.

4:32…what in heaven’s name am I doing on this plane? What did I get myself into? I have come to the conclusion that I stayed confident and strong for the people around me. I mean you cannot really be scared about going to Africa alone to meet a stranger can you? I think it is just my stubbornness. Now what do I do when there is no one around me and the only person I can be strong for is me?

5:14…Canada. You see I am always near Canada but never in Canada. First I was in Canadian water and now I am flying above it…someday I will actually step foot onto it.

I wonder if I will make a difference? What am I doing here? Now I understand why my parents were crying, especially when I talked to my mom right before I was about to board the plane to Amsterdam. That was the last time that I was going to have contact with them until I arrived back into the United States. I mean they can read and comment on the blog but sometimes, you just need to hear the voice, hear the emotion. This makes me a little scared. I officially have lost contact with everyone I know. I now see why my parents did not support the trip. They say that are proud of me but up until I left I have a feeling they were wishing I was not so stubborn when it comes to getting what I want. It is all in God’s hands now…but if something bad does happen there is no redo or start over, it is just over.

“If you want to live big, you have to dream big, you have to want it” Quote for thought.

5:37…I wish I had someone here to share this feeling with. Someone to tell me it is going to be okay. Basically I need I hug. When I left, some of the last words I heard were, “Come back.” I said I promise. I needed a hug because I assured everyone that I was coming back safely, but who was there to assure me of that.

6:25…we have hit the OCEAN!!

6:42…I am a stupid naïve but optimistic young woman.

7:11…we are at the tip of Denmark and all I can see is a sea of clouds.

7:19…I need to go to sleep. This is the longest that I have ever stayed up, when it comes to movies anyway. Literally I am awake for maybe the first ten minutes of a movie and then I fall asleep. So those of you that I have fallen asleep while watching a movie with you…be impressed! I blame the sun for this, or my anxiousness to land. Sun keep on shining! We have five hours left on the plane.

7:32…you cannot wait for change, when you wait and just want something it will never come. That is why you have to go after things that you want ALWAYS. This will work out, I am headed on the biggest adventure of my life! I mean HOT DAMN! I am 19 years old and headed to Africa alone. I am living an adventure, I am living my dream, just the way that I want it!

Go for it, run for it, dive in head first, live life with no regrets, put your heart out there, don’t be scared that you might get hurt, it will all work out in the end because the best is yet to come…Hinder.

I am definitely going to feel jet lag!

Slept for a couple of hours

10:11…flying over the United Kingdom

10:18…back to the ocean

10:26…flying by London