Let the Adventure Begin!

*I started writing this post on the Flight #1: from Indianapolis to Detroit on Wed, Mar 9*

The day has finally arrived. This past week has been filled with anticipation, excitement, and preparation. I can hardly believe that today is March 9, 2011 and I am on my way to Kenya!

A couple of weeks ago I made what I consider to be the “best packing list ever” and I made shopping lists and to-do lists. I pulled out my container full of “Africa” clothes that I had packed away at the end of last summer. My goals for packing were to 1) pack light and 2) be prepared. In my experience it is a challenge to meet both goals! In my desire to meet #2, I usually end up tossing items into my bag that are not on my list. And I love to be prepared (you should see my purse—it sometimes gets mistaken for a small suitcase). So, that’s why I made The List with great attention to detail, like numbers next to clothing items to indicate how many of each should be packed. I even put asterisks next to things that would go in my carry-on or that would be worn on the plane. Yes, I’m crazy like that. However, last night when I had everything spread out on the living room couches, I needed that list! I looked at the list, looked around the room, checked inside my little Clinique bags (that are holding everything from toiletries to medicine to computer cords and chargers!), and looked at the list again. After a few calls and texts to my mom this morning—Did she know where the ponchos were?—I was ready to go! And my bag only weighed 20 lbs!

I do have a confession to make…I was trying to be so good about taking clothes and things that I already had on hand—and had survived 8 months in Cambodia a couple of years ago. However, as I was putting my outfits together for the trip (and only taking 5 days worth), I realized that I didn’t have capris or shorts. Seriously? Now, there is a possibility that when I pull my summer clothes out of storage in a few months I will find a pair of capris or shorts that would have been perfect for this trip. But rather than venture into my parents’ attic, I went to the mall. Last night! And after that I really was ready.

*I picked up again in the airport in Amsterdam on Thur, Mar 10*

I met up with Amie and Charity on Wednesday morning around 11am. My mom drove us to the airport through the cold and dreary rain of March in Indiana. That definitely made me even more excited about the warm Kenyan air that would greet us in just a few long plane rides! More rain greeted us in Detroit. After an easy 2.5 hour layover, we boarded a completely full plane to Amsterdam! There were several other groups heading to Africa and I enjoyed talking to them about our upcoming adventure and swapping travel stories.

Now we’re halfway there. And in Amsterdam! Again, we have a relatively short layover (~3 hours) before we board for the flight to Nairobi! Currently we are thoroughly enjoying comfy chairs and free wi-fi at the airport. Obtaining some strong coffee is next on our itinerary. The flight to Kenya is about 8 hours, so I’m hoping to get some stretch time during this layover.

Here's a little group shot--and after 12 hours of travel! (Amie, Me, Charity)