the (European) age of kristy

Our Russian Relatives

2011-08-30T00:38:00.001-06:00

Moscow

2011-08-30T00:36:00.004-06:00

St. Petersburg

2011-08-30T00:36:00.001-06:00

#37 -- Finland

2011-08-30T00:35:00.003-06:00

#36 -- Sweden

2011-08-30T00:35:00.002-06:00

#35 -- Czech Republic....PRAGUE

2011-08-20T03:33:00.002-06:00

We took a train from Vienna to Prague. I am pretty terrible at reading military time. When I booked the tickets I remember thinking that the train would be 4-5 hours, but when we got to the station again I looked at the times and realized it would only be 3 hours. So we all sat in our compartment playing games and having a great time. After three hours we packed up our things, got out into the hall and ready to exit the train as it was slowing down. Well, no one else was getting off, and we looked like we were in the middle of nowhere, so we asked a conductor. He informed us that we can't read military time, and indeed the train would be another 2 hours. I am lucky that everyone was so nice and in good moods. We just laughed about the whole situation, unpacked our stuff again and started another rousing game of Phase 10. It was pretty hilarious.

Prague itself was gorgeous. Our hotel was in walking distance of the train station and every place in Old Town that you would like to go. We dropped off our stuff and walked 5 minutes to the main square that houses the oldest functioning astronomical clock in the world. We sat right next to it in a lovely cafe and ate dinner. The next day we spent wandering up to the castle, finding the Little Prince (first try) and eating more great food. Highlights: finding a KFC with AC, bathrooms, and FREE REFILLS!!! Diet Pepsi has never tasted so good. They even had ice. It was wonderful. Other great food was a shiskabob on a baguette from a farmer's market that looked more like a Christmas village. Fab.

One of the last activities was a 6 person circular bicycle ride. Ty was insistent that we went on it. We all dragged our feet, but in the end this was the funnest thing we did. We had a driver from the States who drove us all at break neck speeds through crowds of people fearing for their lives. It was quite a challenge to hold on, pedal, no kill anyone and not laugh so hard that I had bladder control problems. It was awesome!!!

Friday morning we woke up at 3:00 am to catch a 3:30 taxi to make a 6:10 flight that landed in Brussels and put us on an 8:15 am bus that took us to a train station where we took the metro back to my apartment. Exhausting.

Vienna

2011-08-20T03:30:00.003-06:00

We spent 24 hours in Vienna. There was some great window shopping and food. Ty and I also went to a classical concert with a symphony, ballet dancers and opera singers featuring music by Mozart and other Austrian composers. It was definitely a highlight. I also got to return to the DeMel chocolate cafe I had visited three years ago.

#34--Slovakia

2011-08-20T03:27:00.002-06:00

We took a late train from Budapest to Bratislava, Slovakia. Our hotel reminded us of an old Vegas casino where mob deals went down. The rooms were huge, the view amazing and breakfast was fantastic.

In the morning we wandered the city looking for a Slovakian copy of "The Little Prince" (which we found in a nearly empty book store). Then we wandered the old town of the city and got some authentic food before taking the hour-long bus to Vienna.

#33--Hungary...Beautiful Budapest

2011-08-20T03:20:00.003-06:00

On Sunday night we flew into Budapest. It was absolutely gorgeous. We spent the night wandering the stunningly lit city. The next morning at 5:00 am we woke up and went to the Bath Complex. It was really like swimming in a bunch of palace fountains. There were over 20 pools over varying temperatures...from freezing (there was a snow machine producing the ice) to hot tubs. We also sat in many different saunas, the hottest being from 80-100 degrees celcius...which is rougly 200 degrees farenheit. Yikes!!

The rest of the day we spent on a Hop on Hop Off tour that tooks us to the Castle, Opera House, and over-look points. We also made sure to stop for some authentic Hungarian Goulosh and pastries.

Paris

2011-08-20T02:45:00.001-06:00

I picked up Liz and Shannon in Paris on Wednesday. We took a great boat tour of the city and then spent Thursday at Disney Paris. It was amazing! We got into the park for free thanks to Liz's cast member discount and were totally surprised by how intense the rides were. Space Mountain pretty much should have required helmets.

#32 -- Luxembourg

2011-08-01T14:50:00.000-06:00

Today I visited country #32...Luxembourg. We drove to Luxembourg city and took a fun (and highly dramatized)tourist train through the old city walls. Then we walked around the down town shops. That really was all there was to do in Luxembourg. The country is only 5 minutes away from Tim's house, so they always go there to buy gas, coffee and other things that are way cheaper than in Germany. Luxembourg city was about a 40 minute drive from Trier. After we had toured around I took a 3 hour train from Luxembourg City to Brussels.

#31 -- Germany

2011-08-01T14:38:00.003-06:00

On Saturday I drove to Germany with Harry, Lucy, Steffi and Tim. We really had the royal treatment...amazing food, super nice car and house...everything we could dream of. Germany is the 31st country I have visited. We were in Trier...a beautiful town of about 100,000 people situated right along a river in the tall hills, forests and vineyards. It was so beautiful. I could have stayed forever.

I also had a very popular dish: spaghetti icecream...which is really just icecream put through a pasta maker and topped with strawberry sauce to look like spaghetti. We ate an amazing meal at Steffi's house...spaetzel, Hungarian meat, some other kind of skewered meat, potatoes, mousse, pudding, coca light, herbal tea...the works.

At Tim's house, the best part was breakfast each morning...a huge assortment of fresh breads, cheeses, jams, meats, etc.

The picture is hard to read, but it says "255 km/hour" which is roughly 159 miles per hour. We reached this speed on the German Autoban like it was nothing.

GPs in Brussels

2011-08-01T14:36:00.000-06:00

On Friday the GPs (German People) came to visit Brussels. My cousin Harry, his wife Lucy, and their two German friends, Steffi and Tim, drove from Trier for the weekend. We all camped out at my cat apartment. Our first order of business was to visit Maison Antoine...the shack boasting the acclaimed title of "Home of the World's Best French Fries." Steffi and Tim had seen a TV show on the world's best food a few months ago, and this place showed up for the #1 French Fry place. And, truly, they were amazing! We wandered around Brussels, ate waffles, fries and kebaps...saw the Grand Place and Manekin Pis, had a cat sleepover, french toatst for breakfast...then we visited the Atonium and left for Germany. Brussels in 20 hours!!!

So you think you want to go to Russia?

2011-07-28T02:04:00.003-06:00

Number of Trips to the Russian Consulate: 4
Number of Different Documents Needed: 5
Number of Hours Standing in Line: 9
Number of Hours Spent on Public Transportation: 10.5
Number of Days for the entire proccess: 24
Number of Dollars spent: $158

Obtaining a 10-day Tourist Visa for Russia: Priceless.

Monday, July 4:
We had the day off of work so I decided to go to the Consulate to apply for my Russian visa. I knew it was a process, so I had spent the previous week gathering all of the required documents including: application form, photos, official invitation obtained from tourist agency, copies of train tickets into Russia, copies of flight plans out of Russia, and certification of health insurance. I got the consulate to find a mob of people outside the door. There were no directions, signs, or anything organizing the mob. Just a mob. Every five minutes or so a large Russian guard would open the door up a sliver and stick his head out, and in Russian he would say, "Who is here for a visa?" The whole mob began jumping up in down and waving there documents. The guard let one person in. This repeated for the next two hours. I made my way to the front of the line, but after 2 hours the guard stuck his head out again and said, "that is all." We all went home.

Monday, July 11, 2011:
I returned to consulate better prepared this time. I arrived at 8:00 am (the door doesn't open till 9:00am). By the time I arrived there were already 10 people in line. Within 20 minutes there were another 20 behind me. The same process began. The guard would open the door to the mob, take one person, then shut the door again. I stood in line for 5 hours before being let in. I was the 10th and last person they allowed in for a visa...the other 40 behind me were all sent home. Getting inside was a Christmas Miracle! Once I was in I was sent to a kiosk with my paperwork. Good thing I speak Russian. However, I was told that because I was an American, this Consulate could not issue me a visa, and I would need to obtain one from a Russian consulate on American soil. I said that wasn't posssible and pulled out my State Department and NATO badge and said that I needed a visa. When they found out I was with the embassy they said that they might be able to help me if I could get an official letter from the US Embassy stating that I was working with them in Brussels...and I would need to come back again. So, I left to get my letter.

Wednesday, July 14, 2011:
I obtained my official letter from the U.S. Embassy and made my way back to the Russian Consulate. This time I didn't show up till 10:30 am and made my way straight to the closed dooor and knocked. The guard answered and let me in, by passing the 50 people waiting in mob. The kiosk girl looked over my documents and said that they would probably work and that I needed to pay. So, I went over to the cashier to pay...but they only accepted European bank cards...no cash, no credit cards. Well, I was in a jam, because all I had was cash and American credit cards. The stern looking woman at the window had little sympathy for me, so I stood by the cashier and started asking people if they would pay for my visa on their credit card and I would give them the cash. Unfortunately, my American visa was a lot more money than their European ones, and the first two people I approached didn't have enough money on their cards to cover it. Keep in mind that there aren't a whole lot of people to ask, since very few are actually let in. I asked a couple of people who were there with tourist agencies doing multiple visas, but they couldn't help me either. I finally asked this very nice young woman, in Russian, and she said she would be happy to help me. Wahoo! So we went to the window together to pay...and they wouldn't accept her credit card. So now we were both in the same bind. Luckily, another very nice woman overheard our distressed situation and offered to pay for both of ours if we gave her cash. The first woman who offered to help me didn't have cash, but I had enough to cover both visas, so I gladly made the deal. Once we were paid for, the first woman and I left together, and we drove to an ATM and she got cash and paid me back. We had a great time and became good friends. She is actually from Moscow and had also lived in the States. Anyway, the consulate told me I now needed to wait 2 weeks, and then I could come back and get my visa.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011:
I returned to the Russian consulate for the fourth time, and was eventually let in to collect my visa. They warned me over and over to double check everything before I left the room because once I was gone it was out of their hands. I was so afraid they were not going to issue me the visa...I nearly cried when she handed my passport back to me and I found a clean, perfect Russian Tourist Visa glued inside. A true Christmas Miracle!!

By the way:
I considered paying a courier or agency to do this work for me, but because I was an American they wanted to charge me 4 times as much as they charge Belgians...a whopping $150 just for the service. Boo.

#30 Holland

2011-07-10T14:40:00.000-06:00

This weekend I checked off country #30...Holland. Lovely windmills, friendly people and delicious food. I'm going back this next weekend.

Temple Road Trip

2011-07-10T14:39:00.000-06:00

The Price family from my ward let me hitch a ride with them to The Hague, Netherlands, temple for our stake temple day. It was wonderful! I got to perform the work for my 8th great grandmother, Marjeta, who was born in the late 1700s in Slovenia. Afterwards we all went to Burger King for lunch.

Gouda, Holland

2011-07-10T14:36:00.000-06:00

After the temple we stopped in Gouda...yes, that city that gave us the famous cheese. There was cheese everywhere, and we just wandered around tasting it, eating strupwaffles and enjoying the town. It was quaint and gorgeous. So far Holland takes the cake over Belgium.

Knight in Shining Armor

2011-07-07T14:53:00.000-06:00

We wandered to the center of Brussels tonight to watch a Jousing Tournament and a pardae of hundreds of people dressed in medieval royal court attire. After getting a pic with one of the knights we opted for a Lebonese buffet and Australian gelato. What a Knight!

Mont St. Michelle

2011-07-06T13:01:00.003-06:00

This past weekend 8 of us rented 2 cars from Brussels and headed on a road trip to Normandy, France. It was quite the adventure, but when the GPS was working it wasn't so bad to drive. All rental cars in Brussles are stick shifts...and apparently East Coast people don't ever learn to drive them. We lucked out that I could drive a stick as well as one other person. Tolls were very expensive, but gas wasn't so bad. The first day we drove down to Mont St. Michelle.

Mont St. Michelle is an old abbey that sits on an island that is surrounded by water at high tide,and dry ground at low tide. It's amazing. We had to be careful with our car because after 7:00 pm our parking spots were under water.

The abbey was gorgeous. It was just like Hogwarts.

KGB Recycling

2011-06-30T12:52:00.003-06:00

You know, when I was living in Russia I thought it was probably the most communist-reminisant place I'd ever call home...well, that was true until I moved to Belgium.

Specifically today I am talking about the KBG enforced, mandatory recylcing. They MAKE you recylce here. Ugh. Yuck. Nothing against recycling, but please stay out of my trash. I'll save the planet if I want to. Here's how they do it: The garbage men will only collect trash that is placed in special bags; four colors: blue, yellow, white and red, for each kind of recycling. Well, you have to buy them from the store and they are massively expensive. As in, more than $1 per bag!!! They charge you up the wazoo to throw trash away, and if you don't put things in the right bag they will stick a big red "rejected" sticker on the bag and just leave it on your curb. They actually go through your trash to make sure you are recycling. Kill me now. I'm ready to buy a shot gun and a plot of land and just move to Wyoming. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a planet-hater or anything like that, but I prefer to be inspired and motivated to recycle rather than absolutely forced. 4 Different kids of bags, and 6 different types of glass that MUST be separated or they won't touch it. Not even at $1 per small bag. Not even inspite of the nearly 55% in income tax that people here pay for these benefits.

So, the next time you're in Belgium remember to shred everything remotely associated to yourself and recycle meticulously because the government WILL be going through your trash.

The Only Place I'd Rather Be...

2011-06-29T12:42:00.004-06:00

My life is just too good for words. Living for free in Belgium, just got back from England and Spain with plans to visit 8 more countries before I go home... so what could be better than this???

The hot tub at my mom's with all the grandkids. I'd trade places in a heart beat!

Inspiration

2011-06-29T12:37:00.000-06:00

Bad Day Better

2011-06-29T11:04:00.003-06:00

Today was not the best day in the world, but then everything turned around...I went to the army garrison and bought a real can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. It was a tender mercy moment worthy of a general conference address.

Bad Spanish Fashion

2011-06-19T13:30:00.000-06:00

#29 SPAIN

2011-06-19T12:46:00.000-06:00

Friday I took work off and flew to Madrid to meet up with a few friends from BYU. My Ryan Air flight was only $70 (round trip with taxes). We all met up in Madrid and had a fabulous time.

Highlights:
The Prado Museum (lots of Goya & El Greco)
Authentic Tacos al Pastor
Les Miserables (en espanol)
Sunny, 90 degree weather

Crying with Cats

2011-06-15T15:10:00.000-06:00

I decided to stay in tonight, by myself, and watch a chick flick. One of the best (and most depressing) girl films out there is "Becoming Jane"--the true story of Jane Austin and her short and tragic love life. In short, she fell in love, but because of the culture an the time was unable to marry the man she loved, and she remained unmarried for the rest of her life. Her love eventually married and named his first child Jane.

Anyway, so I'm sitting on my couch just as the film starts to get horribly sad. I start to cry and say out loud, "Why am I watching this?" Then I look to my left, and both of my cats are sitting right next to me on the couch arms just staring at me. Then I cry even harder...because I realize that now I am that woman home alone watching chick flicks with her cats. Sob.

My name is Debbie, and I love cats.

2011-06-14T14:52:00.001-06:00

Guilty Pleasure

2011-06-14T12:28:00.000-06:00

I wasn't planning on buying all seven books of the Harry Potter series... but there they were... the original Brittish versions with different art work, spellings, etc. I'm sold. My new goal is to read all 7 books before the final movie comes out in 29 days.

Dirty Dancing

2011-06-14T12:20:00.000-06:00

Life changing. Only $35.

Stonehenge

2011-06-14T12:19:00.000-06:00

This picture does not do justice to the misery of the weather. Pouring rain, sideways, violent wind and freezing temps. I spent 10 min running around the rocks and $20 on hot chocolate and a pair of socks I'll never wear again.

London- #28

2011-06-14T11:34:00.003-06:00

This past weekend I visited my 28th country--England. I have now officially been to more countries than the years I am old. I hope this will continue for the rest of my life. I took my backpack to work with me and left early to catch the Eurostar to London. It took less than 2 hours to get there, including about 20 minutes in the tunnel under the Chanel.

I met up with my BFF Scotty who is there on a BYU study abroad. We toured the city, saw fabulous shows and had great food.

Shows:
Billy Elliot
Jersey Boys
Much Ado About Nothing
Dirty Dancing

Best Food:
Pork, apple, stuffing sandwich at Borough Market
Shepherd's Pie at Slug & Lettuce
Chocolate-covered honeycomb
Real Diet Coke
Real Milk

I Love My Cats

2011-06-06T13:09:00.000-06:00

10 minutes after I changed the litter box and lysol wiped the bathroom down.

I can't live without...

2011-06-06T12:39:00.000-06:00

My co-worker offered to pick me up some American products at the army base this weekend. What did I choose? Only the things I can't live without.

Waffles!

2011-05-31T01:17:00.000-06:00

The 4 Euro waffles are worth the trip. I got mine with strawberries, bananas, chocolcate and whip cream. De-lish!

The Best Day of My Life

2011-05-29T16:15:00.003-06:00

Ok, so maybe it only seemed like the best day of my life, but today was pretty great. All last night and this morning I was feeling super anxious about being in Belgium. It is cloudy and cold, and I live alone with cats. Then I woke up an hour late for church and dropped my new jar of strawberry jam on the kitchen floor, shattering every piece. I had a really bad attitude and was thinking to myself, "What have I gotten myself into?"

Then I went to Church. 10 min walk; 20 min tram ride; 10 min walk. I walked in during the middle of the block, and almost immediately a very nice, English-speaking man pulled me aside and asked if I was looking for Sunday school. Turns out he was in the bishopric, and he pulled me into his office and we started chatting up a storm. He was SO nice. Turns out that he works at NATO across the hall from me, and the Bishop works on the floor above us. He was so nice. He talked non-stop at a very excited level about NATO, giving me all sorts of helpful tips. He drew me maps, told me where to travel, and invited me over for dinner. It was awesome. Then he introduced me to a Russian woman (the only Russian in the ward) and we hit off too. By the end of church I had three dinner invitations and a huge list of phone numbers and places I needed to visit.

I went to lunch at a house of a really great family. Husband, wife and five kids. He practices international law and they have lived all over the world. They are pretty young and are about to leave to preside over the mission that includes Slovenia, Bosnia, and Croatia.

This may seem like a pretty ordinary or small thing, but today this was the most sincere tender mercy in my life. It was a clear reminder to me that the Lord knows who I am and where I am, and that no matter where I go, in The Church is where I need to be. I felt the Spirit so strongly and came home with a renewed desire to build and share my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Outside My Apartment

2011-05-27T17:25:00.000-06:00

Inside My Apartment

2011-05-27T17:13:00.000-06:00

Belgium

2011-05-27T17:01:00.001-06:00

Well, I did it. I packed my 65 liter backpack and got a plane to Belgium. After two nights in a hostel I have finally moved into my new apartment. I will be house-sitting and cat-sitting for an American who lives in Brussels but will be out of town all summer.

Courage to Hope Cupcakes

2011-05-08T17:08:00.000-06:00

Courage to Hope hosted its annual "Night in Moscow" classical concert at the Springville Museum of Art of May 4, 2011. I made and donated cupcakes for the event. It was quite the undertaking, but everything went smoothly. Overall the event helped raise over $1,600 for victims of domestic violence in Ukraine. If you would still like to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.couragetohope.org.

Tax Season 2011

2011-04-17T21:52:00.001-06:00

After 12 wonderful and terrible weeks we brought tax season to a close. No more Little Debs, donuts or C-train arrivals.

U.N. Foundation Reception

2010-09-16T19:45:00.003-06:00

Scott and I attended the United Nations Foundation screening of a video on global health, followed by a reception with AMAZING food and some performances.

Utah State Society Reception

2010-09-16T19:43:00.001-06:00

LOTR at the Wolf Trap

2010-09-16T19:40:00.001-06:00

On Saturday night we attended an event that makes my top ten list of all time favorite events. We watched a screening of Return of the King to a live orchestra, choir and soloists. It was outstanding.

The Wolf Trap is a very unique venue, with outside seating that looks down into a regular theater and stage.

Food in China Town

2010-09-16T19:35:00.002-06:00

Saturday a few of us U of U students headed down to China Town where we ate from a very large vat of paella, followed by a delicious gellato served in a frozen baby pineapple.

Night of Shakespeare

2010-09-16T19:31:00.002-06:00

Scott, Matt, Emily and I got $15 tickets (regularly $60-90) for the DC Shakespeare Company's production of "All's Well that Ends Well." It was fantastic, and we even ended the evening with a cupcake.

RGA Film Premier

2010-09-09T20:16:00.002-06:00

We were invited to the Republican Governor's Association event to premier the film "A New Jersey" about conservative Republican NJ governor Chris Christie. We got our picture taken with Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi.

Philadelphia

2010-09-09T20:11:00.002-06:00

Jenny, Scott and I spent the afternoon in Philadelphia. We visited Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the Rocky steps. We finished the evening with a great philly cheese steak and a trip to Target.

Moscow Reunion

2010-09-09T20:09:00.002-06:00

My mission companion Emily and I met up with our friend Katya for dinner. All three of us were together in Moscow and Zelenograd, Russia.

Georgetown Cupcakes

2010-09-09T20:06:00.002-06:00

This famous cupcakery has its own TLC show. We waited in a line behind 100 others to try our first Georgetown Cupcake.

Ray's Hell Burger

2010-09-09T20:03:00.003-06:00

First stop DC: Ray's Hell Burger. This is the hole-in-the-wall burger joint that President Obama brought the Russian president for dinner.

North Carolina

2010-09-09T20:00:00.003-06:00

I got home from Europe at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, and by 3:00 on Thursday I was on a plane headed out to the East Coast. My former roommate, Jenny, picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Richmond and then to the beach in North Carolina. It's so hard to be me!

First Class from Paris

2010-09-09T19:55:00.002-06:00

The best moment of my life was when our buddy passes on Delta got us bumped to first class on the direct flight from Paris to Salt Lake City. Not only did I get a 6 course meal with real stemware, flatware and quality food, but at one point in the flight I was literally woken from my peaceful slumber by the aroma of freshly baked cookies and milk. Thank you Kate and friends!!!

And then there was Slovenia

2010-09-09T19:45:00.003-06:00

Kate and I flew from Istanbul to Lubljana, Slovenia. My great grandmother immigrated from Slovenia after WWI when she was 17 years old. Her sister and other family stayed behind. My cousins Kate, Liz and I stayed with family for a week, and we were treated like royalty. Slovenia was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We visited Lake Bled, the Alps, Mini Mundos, Lippitza horse farm, Italy, Austria, and on our last day we visited my 26th country: Croatia.

Turkey in a Nutshell

2010-09-09T19:19:00.003-06:00

After Ukraine Kate and I flew to Istanbul. We stayed for two days visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Cistern, a Turkish bath and a Hookah/Whirling Dervish Bar.

Courage to Hope Update

2010-08-09T14:35:00.004-06:00

Today, after 17 months of fundraising, 100+ donors, 50+ volunteers, 27,000 miles traveled, 19 ATM withdrawls and 1 sacrificed faux Jimmy Choo purse (ripped out the lining to stash the cash I was carrying).... the women's center in Kiev, Ukraine finally has funding for 3 new programs and 2 specialists serving 7,000+ victims of domestic violence.

Thanks to so many of you who made sacrificed much more than my faux purse to improve the quality of life of thousands of Ukrainian women and families.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes!

2010-04-08T11:54:00.001-06:00

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes:

A little discomfort will make the difference!

Saturday April 10th, 2010

University Mall, Orem, UT

Begins at 8:00 AM

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes asks men to literally walk one mile in a pair of women's shoes, while raising fund for The Center for Women and Children in Crisis (www.cwcic.org). It is not easy walking in these shoes, but it is a fun opportunity for men to educate the community about a very serious subject. So challenge your buddies and help get the community to talk about something that's difficult to talk about: sexual violence. Registration is only $5.

Why Walk? One in three women has experienced sexual assault in her lifetime. One in six boys are sexually assaulted by the time they are 18. That means someone you know, someone you care about has been a victim of sexual assault. So walk for your daughter, your son, your wife, your mother, your niece, your nephew, your colleage, yourself!

Of course, women are welcome to walk - the men might need a little support along the way!

More Questions? Contact: Lindsee Anderson, 801/380-9714 or lindsee.anderson@gmail.com

Looking Good for a Good Cause

2009-12-12T09:52:00.003-07:00

Some of my friends are raising $20,000 to build an orphanage in Sri Lanka. Last night they held a fundraiser, "A night at Wayne Manor." Guests paid $10 to get in, had drinks and dessert, and then the party was crashed by Batman villains (who were defeated by Batman and Robin in a fight among the crowd...) I, of course, was asked to appear as Poison Ivy. All for a good cause!

Shelters in Ukraine

2009-11-30T19:35:00.005-07:00

While in Ukraine we spent four days meeting with different shelters throughout Kiev and western Ukraine. Not only was I impressed and moved by the women who had come to the shelters to take control of their lives and hope for something better, but I was deeply moved by the Ukrainian workers who gave so much of their time, talents and professions to helping these women. Social workers, therapists, psychologists and other professionals were dedicating their lives to helping combat domestic violence...some for absolutely no financial gain whatsoever, and all of the others for the most minimal salaries.

They greeted us with graciousness and professionalism as we worked together to discover what programs and other needs Courage to Hope could assist in supporting.

Ukrainian Host Family

2009-11-30T19:18:00.002-07:00

While in Ukraine we were hosted by a family with 8 kids.... an unheard of number for Eastern Europe. The family is part of a new kind of foster program in Ukraine, aimed at getting kids out of under-funded orphanages and into homes. This family brought in seven children who were each victims of domestic violence...some were younger than a year when they were finally taken away from their abusive parents.

Collecting Supplies for Ukraine

2009-11-30T19:15:00.002-07:00

We collected over 300 lbs of humanitarian supplies to take to shelters in Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who donated!

The Return of Glam

2009-11-07T13:40:00.002-07:00

It has been far too long since I have really let my GLAM out. Last night I went to a red carpet Glam Karaoke party. Zack, Becca and I stirred the crowd with a rousing rendition of the Neil Diamond classic, "Sweet Caroline."

Good times never seemed so good.

Hong Kong

2009-07-04T21:52:00.002-06:00

View from the Peak.
Yesterday we did a session in the Hong Kong Temple.

This is our entire bathroom/vanity/shower area. Terrible place to have the stomache flu.

Poor Rob.

Our most expensive tiny hostel

Welcome to the land of expensive space and lots of people! We are staying in our scariest, smallest and most expensive hostels thus far. People are everywhere, and Rob has been sick for two days. Yikes.

Bouncing between islands

2009-07-04T21:46:00.003-06:00

We chartered a long tail boat to takes us from Rai Lay back to the mainland of Thaialnd.

I love this pic with our matching packs. they are totally hammered by now.

The tide was so low on the east beach when we left that we walked out to the boats.

Rai Lay, Thailand

2009-07-04T21:24:00.007-06:00

This tiny little peninsula on the Thai coast is only accessible by ferries and long tail boats. It is very famous for rock climbing and boasts the very best beach in Thailand. Very few people were there, and it wasn't touristy at all (compared to other islands.) No cars or scooters on the island. You could walk from the east beach to the west beach in five minutes.

Here I am getting a Thai Oil massage on the beach. 45 min for $7.

Chilling on what Lonely Planet calls the "Best beach in Thailand." There were maybe 20 people there the whole time.

Our $40 a night resort was right on the beach. Every morning we had breakfast here. Spectacular.

Rob joined in with the locals to play soccer at night. He's the third head from the left.

Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

2009-07-04T21:10:00.005-06:00

The main thing I wanted from a resort was a pool that looked like it fell into the ocean. Found one!

This is the view from our room. 1300 Thai bhat a night (about $40)

We spent five days bopping around Southern Thailand, taking ferries to various islands.

Cambodia

2009-06-28T06:49:00.003-06:00

Unfortunately, I have the bad luck of leaving my memory card and usb adapter everywhere I plug it into an internet cafe (like last year in Rome.) So, right now I can't upload any photos.

Spent one day in Kuala Lumpor, Malaysia. Very clean. Saw the Petronas towers (were the tallest in the world until a few years ago.) Also saw the nicest mall I've ever seen and visited the banana republic.

CAMBODIA---was amazing. Very expensive. Had to buy a visa to come in and pay a $25 tax to leave the country. We had no concrete plans when we got there and just relied on everyone to take us around. They use the US dollar. Spent two days trekking around the temples of Angkor. Amazing. It was terribly hot. We met a driver (he rides a scooter and pulls us in a cart) named Aun. Very nice man. He was with us for two full days, drove us everywhere and waited for us at every stop. Cost $37 for both days, inluding a big tip and taking us to the aiport. It was a steal of a deal.

Woke up at 4:30, saw the sun rise over AngkorWatt. Had a terrible breakfast.

AUn drove us (max about 30 mph) out to a small village over bumping dirt roads. Took us an hour to get to the village. Then Rob and I got on the back of scooters driven by young guys that looked about 14. They drove us over bumpier and mudder dirt roads where cars could never have made it. We bounced for 30 min (i've got blisters in seven places on both hands from gripping the bike so hard as to not be bucked off.) Arrived at a small canal, got in a boat and went 30 more minutes until we arrived at a floating village. Would have been floating at any other time of the year, but we came when it was dry. Looked exactly like a set from Water World. Houses all up 20-30 feet on stilts. Walked through the village, bombarded with children with no shoes and shirts, asking us to buy notebooks and pencils for their school. I think we were getting scammed, but we couldn't resist.

Everyone in Cambodia lives in bamboo huts, kids have no shoes, no shirts, lots of bicycles, some scooters with atleast a family of 3-4 on each one. dirt roads, even in the big city. No seven elvens (they are everywhere in thailand). Children selling things everywhere.

We were at an outdoor market and a VERY small boy with no shirt and shoes came and held my hand. Drug me to the store and pointed at bottles of formula. I don't believe in supporting parents who force their children to peddle and work the streets, but I could not resist these kids. I had to leave Cambodia because I literally was buying everything they sold and giving away my money. Kids were everywhere.

Flew back to Malaysia for a day.

THen to Southern Thailand. For the first time we are staying in nice places. Staying tonight on a n island 30 km off the coast of Thailand called Ko Phi Phi. Bungalow with glass walls that has a full panoramic view of the bay and ocean. Pool that looks like it falls off a cliff into the sea. Amazing. Breathtaking. $45 a night. That is way up from the usual $8-20 we've been paying.

Coca light is NOT the same as diet coke, by the way.

Meeting tons of tourists, mostly European. Lots of people backpacking for 6 months to a year. Yikes!

Trekking to a Hill Tribe in Northern Thailand

2009-06-22T19:09:00.003-06:00

Well, I am sore all over, but I had a fabulous time on my first trekking adventure. We flew from Bangkok to a small town in Northern Thailand called Chiang Rai (Our 1.5 hour flight, with taxes and fees, was only $9.75 US dollars . . . and it was actually really nice.) We landed and took a taxi into the town to a hostel to set up a trekking trip.

Our guide, Jong, met us at the hostel and we started on our adventure. We took an hour long tail boat ride up the Mae Kok river (spectacular views) to an elephant camp. Here we rode elephants around the small village and through the river. Afterwards they fed us a great Thai lunch while all of the men watched Moi Thai boxing on a small TV in the corner.

After lunch we crossed the river and the three of us began our trek. I have never been backpacking at all, so this was a new experience for me. We walked for about three hours through the mountain hills. Most of the first two hours we were walking through rice fields. After that we started into the jungle and up the mountains. We followed a stream for a couple of hours to a small waterfall. Mostquitos were everywhere, but it was totally worth it. Tall, tall trees and huge arches of bamboo surrounded us. Jong had his machete out the whole time, hacking our way through the jungle. He took good care of us. Warned us not to touch the big green leaves, because that is where the poisonous green snakes wait to bite you.

After resting at the waterfall we climbed for another hour until we arrived at the Lahoo hill tribe village. It sat on the top of one of the mountains. We came to a hut and rested on the porch. The tribe has about 20 families and 100 people total living there. Jong made us dinner (three Thai dishes) and then two small tribeswomen pounded on my body to get the knots out.

We slept in huts on mattresses on the floor, but we had big mosquito nets, so that wasn't a problem.

The next morning we left the village and continued on our trek. We trekked for a few hours, occassionally passing other villages. We stopped at one for lunch and all three of us took an hour nap on a open porch on bamboo mats. Then we continued on.

An hour later we came to a beautiful waterfall. I have never sweat so much in my entire life, so It was better than christmas morning to jump in the water. We were the only people around, and it was fantastic. perfect temperature.

After the waterfall we continued trekking, passing a few more villages and then headed down the mountain. In all we trekked about 20 km and had not major injuries or scares. Jong was a great guide, hacked us through in safety and even made us each cups out of bamboo.

Now my body is sooooooooooooooooo tired, but I feel great.

Around Town . . .

2009-06-18T20:34:00.002-06:00

We stumbled upon a group of monks praying in a temple. They let us go into the large room and kneel next to them while they chanted. It was very cool, and there were no other tourists around.

Lots and lots of dried fish for sale. Yuck.

To enter into the main temple they made Rob (and all other guys in shorts) borrow pants to show respect. Very cool pants.

Bangkok

2009-06-18T20:20:00.004-06:00

Beautiful Thailand! We spent all day yesterday walking around the old city, seeing the grand palace as well as numerous temples.

We also took a boat ride through the canals of the city where we saw locals paddling along.

The bathrooms are super small with no separate shower, just a shower head. So, if you are in a hurry, you could actually use the bathroom and shower at the same time.

It is very hot and humid. But, usually all indoor places have good AC.

To Thailand

2009-06-17T20:19:00.005-06:00

Last month I planned a cruise for 80 friends and friends of friends. One of those friends of friends was Rob Clarke. Pretty much the first time we met we decided that we needed to backpack together. One day while sitting on the deck of the ship I turned to him and said, "Rob, I really think we should go to Thailand." A little over a month later, here we are!

2 hour flight SLC--LAX
14.5 hour flight LAX--Taipei
4 hour flight Taipei to Bangkok, arriving 1:10 am

Light House Love

2009-05-24T22:16:00.002-06:00

The Possible Dream

2009-05-24T12:36:00.002-06:00

I have officially found Heaven. Actually, it is a beach house in Duck, North Carolina. Complete with 7 master bed rooms, 6000 square feet, dinning room for 20, a pool, hot tub, hammock and a private 15 foot board walk directly onto the beach, it's not wonder how it got its name "the possible dream."

Now throw in 25 co-eds from North Carolina and 800 other young single LDS adults from the East Coast staying in other beach houses, and you get a feel of this annual tradition.

The Return of the Traveling Summer

2009-05-24T12:25:00.006-06:00

High Rollers

2008-12-10T09:15:00.004-07:00

high roller: n. Slang

1. One who spends freely and extravagantly, as for luxuries or entertainment.

I guess you don't know what the high life is until you actually get to live it. This past weekend five of my college friends and I spent went to Vegas to party for my roommate's 21st birthday. I learned two great lessons:
#1: it pays to have a friend with a dad on the board at the Hilton, and
#2: Even unlimited money can't guarantee good room service in the middle of the night.

My friend Zack Oates happens to be the son of a former NFL player who now happens to sit on the board at the Hilton in Las Vegas. Zack told us he could get us some discounts on rooms, so we decided to plan a Vegas trip. Little did we know just what it means to be an Oates.
After we had some car trouble on our way to St. George Zack placed a call to the Hilton explaining how difficult it had been for us to make it. "If there is anything at all you can do," he said, "to make our stay more comfortable, we would appreciate it." Well, that line apparently doesn't just work in movies.
When we got to the hotel Zack walked past the check-in counter lines to the VIP lounge where he was greeted by name by one of the employees. "Hello, Mr. Oates. We have been preparing for your arrival for a while." Zack emerged from the lounge with two VIP suites, VIP passes for all of us, and a little buzz word that made all the differnce in the world: "Comped."
Comped . . . yes . . . our rooms and anything and everything that we charged to our rooms was completely comped. All of the hotel's shows, restaurants, roomservice, etc was on the house. It's good to be an Oates.

Diet Cokes and Chocolate-covered Strawberries . . .

Sandy and I decided to add a little comfort into our beautification on Friday night before we went out for dinner and clubbing. Love that word, comped.

Party like a Rock Star . . .

We spent two days in Vegas partying like rock stars, VIP passes and all. We ate the Bellagio, went clubbing at the Wynn, ordered a cart of room service at 3:30 am, shopped, saw a show, and basically had the time of our lives. You know, if this really is how the other half lives, I might need to reconsider my profession. :)

All That Korean and a Bag of Chips

2008-12-04T08:36:00.002-07:00

This is my token foreign roommate--Sun Hee Kim. She's a 1984 from Korea studying Property Management, one of the coolest girls I know, and the only person I am aware of who spent Thanksgiving break watching Titanic ten times.

The other day we were coming back from the store after buying chips and dip for a party. Sun Hee was getting the last groceries out of the trunk and somehow managed to accidentally close the trunk right onto a bag of tortilla chips. Forget the munchies, this was one of the funniest moments of the semester, and I almost died with laughter right there in the parking lot (and by "died with laughter" I mean that I almost wet my pants.)

This just really got me thinking about how happiness in life is all about the people you know and the small moments you share. It was Thoreau who said, "That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest." Amen to that. I hope that I am always easily pleased by the small and simple things in life, like a bag of chips shut in a trunk and a quirky Korean roommate. Cheers!

Changed Men Can Change the World

2008-11-18T10:57:00.005-07:00

“When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed. The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature . . . Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.” --Ezra T. Benson

Last year when I called my mother to tell her that I had been called to serve as Relief Society President, her response was, "Good. This will be good practice for the real world." I have to admit that I was a little taken back. It seems that the bubble that exists in Provo, Utah is often viewed as a mere training ground for young people who one day want to do great things. You know, one day we'll be in REAL wards and in REAL situations where people REALLY need help, right?

Well, my experience in Happy Valley has lead me to the firm understanding that I am living in the REAL world, zoobies and all. The people and experiences surrounding me right now are as real as they will ever be, and I can not wait for a future moment to start making a difference and changing the world. I would submit to all of you (yes, all two or three of you who love me enough to read the thoughts of my soul) that the real purpose and work in life which each of us needs to be engaged in is most vital right here with those people immediately surrounding us. BYU is NOT simply a training ground. We are not here simply to learn and then one day go forth to serve. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ can not wait until we have a degree or land the job we want. God needs good men right now to change the world, even in Provo.

What good is it to study to become a world-shaking leader or humanitarian if I can't push aside my own agenda today to help those around me? How can I expect to change the world one day if I'm not flexible enough today to change my busy schedule in order to serve? It all starts here and now, and it starts with Change. It's not enough to solve my own problems or to help to solve the problems of others. Solving problems isn't the long-term goal; Change is the long-term goal.

So, get out there and serve. Reach beyond yourself. Open your eyes and see that every single day the Lord needs people to make a difference. He needs you; He needs me. We can not afford to be caught up in the common self-absorbed culture of college life. Yes, school is important, but even a college degree can not trump the importance of serving a child of God. I hope that I am never so busy or so important that I can't push my personal or professional life to the side for a moment to help someone.

So, let's start. Christ changes men, and changed men really can change the world.

New Shoes and Chocolate Sundaes

2008-11-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

What is love?...I can't fight this feeling anymore...I want to know what love is...Unbelievable sights, indescribable feelings...Living in a powder keg and giving off sparks...

You know, after nearly half a decade of the hustle and bustle of BYU co-ed life, I find myself wondering, 'What is love, anyway?' The answer remains the same as it has for the last four years of my life: Real love is like new shoes and a chocolate sundae. Really? Now, I don't want you to mistake me for a shopaholic or fashionista of any sort--heaven knows that until one week ago it had been over three years since I purchased a new pair of jeans--but, let me explain how the search for and landing of real love is not too different from a hunt for a perfect pair of shoes followed by a dessert that never gets old.

You all know what it feels like . . .you seriously need a new pair of shoes. You have been saving your money for the big purchase, and you make your trek to the mall with full commitment to find THE pair of shoes you want and need. After all, where there is a will, there is a way, right? You begin to shop. You look at a thousand different pairs of shoes in fifteen stores, but you find nothing that you are in love with. You consign yourself, out of obligation to fulfill your commitment, to start trying on some pairs, hoping that your initial impression was just wrong and that somehow you will magically adore the shoes once they are on your feet. Nothing. Nothing sings to you, nothing fits right, nothing turns that light on. Nothing gives you that "New Shoes" feeling. You start formulating some back-up pairs of shoes . . . you know, the pair that will just have to do even though they are not exactly what you want (not to mention the fact that they are WAY overpriced.)

Now, if you have ever been in this position before, you may be familiar with that empty frustration that begins to seep into your heart. But, when all is said and done, you know that you need a new pair of shoes. At this point you may begin to doubt your own sanity/conceitedness. How is that out of the thousands of shoes you have looked at you can't find just one that makes you want to throw down your money and take the dang pair home? Could your expectations for that pair of shoes be just a little too lofty? My mother would certainly say yes.

But then, just as you are about to give up in defeat, you decide to check one last rack of one more store. And there, shining like justice, are THE pair of shoes you have been looking for. Not even the vast, virtual shopping potential of the internet could have provided you with something you desired more. You don't know how to explain it, but you knew it when you saw the shoes. They were for you, and they were 40% off. Suddenly an intense feeling of relief and satisfaction encompasses you. How on earth did you ever doubt yourself? You found your pair of shoes, and with no hesitation you make the purchase. The usual doubt, analyzing and uncertainty that you feel about buying any other pair of shoes is gone as you buy the shoes with absolute confidence.

Do you know this feeling? The complete relief, joy, excitement and comfort found in finding the pair of shoes that you desperately needed, saved for, searched for, and, despite failed efforts, knew somewhere existed. This is the "New Shoes" feeling.

So the search goes on. Love IS a many splendid thing, and finding that one person who takes away the hesitation and anxiety from making a commitment is worth more than a grand shopping trip. Love isn't always brilliant or dignified or even obvious. And, like that pair of shoes that has been sitting for who-knows-how-long on the sale rack, the person who you love may not be right for anyone else. But they are yours, and you know it.

And once you've found the one that makes you WANT to give up being single in order to share your life with them, that love grows and gets better with time. It is like the best chocolate sundae you've ever had, but you never get sick of it, and it never gets old.

So to those of you who claim that marriage and commitment is death, I say: You just haven't found your new shoes yet. Maybe you haven't even been looking. But, when you do find them--and you will--love will become something more than a great mystery or a line on your to-do list. Love will keep you alive.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:42:00.000-06:00

It's not a phase, it's my personality . . .

2008-09-23T13:09:00.000-06:00

“Not all those who wander are lost.”
- J. R. R. Tolkien

I love this quote because I feel like it sums up my life right now. I have been pondering a lot lately about the incredible experiences that I have had over the past five years and the amazing people who I have met along the way. I've seen more sights in this short amount of time than most people get to see in a lifetime. I've completed a first-class education and worked with an organization (ILP) that has changed my life. I've done two semesters of service abroad in Ukraine and Mexico. I've served a full-time mission in Russia. I back packed Columbia, Peru and Western Europe by myself or with friends I met along the way. I studied abroad in the Holy land and traveled to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. I've seen things that people have only dreamed of, and I've had so many people, places and experiences etched into my heart that I feel an incredible fusion of enhanced wholeness and longing emptiness at all times, wherever I am. I suppose that once so many people and places have so much meaning for you, you can never be the same person you once were. I am certainly not the same as I once was. I hope that I am always a wanderer, searching for experiences in life and jumping at any opportunity that comes my way. I am so blessed to have the life that I do, and I hope that the desire I have to see the world and understand God's children is not just a phase.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

When in Rome . . .

2008-08-19T13:17:00.000-06:00

Here it is . . . THE Colosseum. I opted for the audio guide, which was a great choice.

Here I am sitting on the Spanish steps. Last night we saw a free classical concert here.
Trevi Fountain.
I really am happy to be at the Vatican. Really.

Well, I've had 48 hours in Rome, and I've hit all the major things on my list. Yesterday we saw the Colosseum, forum, Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Caravagio works, an out door classical concert and lots of other things. Today was also a really busyIn between my breakfast of croissants, lunch of lasagne, gelatto #1, pasta dinner and gelatto #2 for dessert I managed to tour the Vatican, including St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel and take public transportation out to some catacombs. There was no cistern, but it made me feel at home to be underground again.

Vienna and Venice

2008-08-17T02:11:00.000-06:00

We had chocolate parfaits for lunch at the posh Demel chocolate shop in Vienna
On the train from Vienna to Venice the three of us shared a sleeper cabin with an Albanian man and a Chinese couple and their daughter.
Ah, Venice. Doesn't it look like I just photo-shopped myself into this one?

What an Experience

2008-08-12T07:40:00.000-06:00

I don't even know how to begin to talk about everything that has happend over the past two weeks. We spent ten days staying on the Sea of Galilee at a Kibutz, which is a communal living compound. They run a resort, and we stayed in little bungalows right on the beach. We had class every other morning and then took fieldtrips every other day. We went to Caesarea Martima, Armageddon, Mt. Tabor, Nazareth, Dan, Gamla, Tiberius, Capernum, the Mount of Beattitudes, Taghba and much much more. We saw a lot of ancient cities and we sat and read scriptures and taught each other in all the places we know the Savior went. It was so incredible.

My favorite part of any field trip we took was crossing the Sea of Galilee. We took a boat with just our class accross the entire sea one morning. It was totally clear and the rays of sun were shining on the water. This was the highlight so far of my entire time in Israel. I felt the Spirit so strongly testifying to me that Jesus Christ had walked on these waters and calmed the storms. A lot of the sights we go to here have huge churches built over them, so they don't appear as they most likely did 2000 years ago. the Sea of Galilee was the real thing. We ate a fish restaurant, walked the shops at Tiberius and went to church in a branch building (it's really just a home) across the Sea. Beautiful.

After the first few days of being in the Galilee I decided that the best time of day was the morning, so I started waking up at 5:30 every day so that I could have time down on teh Sea by myself as the sun was rising before anyone else got up and we got going. It was so sweet to read the Gospels and sit and watch the water in this very special place. Each night we sat on the beach and watched the sunset. Nothing could be so beautiful. I think that this place is perhaps the most beautiful I have ever been. Not because the beaches were great, but because everything that the Savior did in His ministry seemed to come to life in Galilee.We got back to Jerusalem a couple of days ago and have been very busy finishing all of our finals. Yesterday we took a fieldtrip to Bethany and Bethphage where we saw the tradition sight of the tomb of Lazareth and Mary and Martha's house. It was very sweet. Today we took our final walking tour throughout the old city. We followed Christ's path from Bethany, his triumphal entry into Jerusalem then to an upper room where the last supper may have taken place. This morning we started in Gethsemane and then went to the House of Caiphas and the church of Peter Galicantu, where Christ was first tried before Caiphas and where Peter denied him three times. We then went to the Church of the flagelation where Christ was scourged and followed his path throughout the city as he took up his cross and eventually ended up at Golgotha outside the city wall. Today we concluded all of our fieldtrips and class time in the Garden next to the tomb where Jesus came from the grave. It was quite an experience.

I really feel like I can't express how much this has meant to me. I feel like I have learned so much walking in the places where Jesus walked. To think that today I sat in the only place in all of the Father's many creations where the Savior of the World atoned for the sins of mankind. Today I was there. I sat and I read scriptures and prayed and wrote in my journal, and I felt the Spirit testify that Jesus is the Christ, and that this is His church. I truly hope that all of you get the chance to see this things and be in these places. On a lighter note, we finished all our finals, had an awesome talent show and are now trying to get in all the extra sights we can before we leave in two days. This has been the fastest, craziest 6 weeks of my entire life. It has flown by, but I feel that I have learned enough and experienced enough that it feels like I've been here at least a year. What a strange thing time is.Life is wonderful!

The Galilee

2008-08-08T08:58:00.001-06:00

We just spent 10 days on the Sea of Galilee. We held class every other morning and then spent all of our free time swimming, studying and seeing all the sights. It was absolutely beautiful. Highlights include the Mount of Beattitudes, Sailing straight across the Sea of Galilee, going to church in Tiberias overlooking the Sea, Capernum, Caesarea and Meggido (Armageddon).
Walking around the boardwalk in Tiberias was kind of like a carnival. You could buy really expensive icecream, tatoos, bags, skirts and crazy rockstar sunglasses (like the ones John and I are sporting.)
Sailing across the Sea of Galilee has been my favorite part of my entire experience in the Holy Land. There really was such a strong spirit as we crossed the sea where Jesus had walked and calmed the storm. It was awesome.
We stayed in little bungalows right on the beach, and each day we had time to swim and play. We were really ambitious one day and spent two hours building the best sand castle that beach had ever seen. Unfortunately we didn't really consider the tide, so by morning it was gone.
We visited Capernum where Christ spent a lot of his ministry. Here the Savior performed many miracles. The traditional location of Peter's house has been excavated as well as some ancient synagouges.

2008-07-23T21:50:00.000-06:00

We drink all day long, and it is never enough. We make hydration look good, don't you think?

Here is Petra . . . one of the wonders of the world, and the location of the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It was really spectacular.
For $5 we rode donkeys up a mountain to the great sanctuary at Petra. It was one of the most frightening things I have ever done. We were riding up steep steps and rocks along big edges, and the donkeys may have been suicidal. I was definitely scared for my life, and I fell off once because the make-shift saddle swung underneath the beast.

Here we are sitting in the only shade we could find in Oman while listening to our tour guide use really bad English to explain this ancient Roman city. It was really hot and I had just taken an allergy pill because my eyes hurt, which I did NOT know would cause drowsiness. I think I almost passed out about three times that morning. It was terrible.
We had to put on these very modest black robes to go into a Mosque in Oman. It was very fun. There were no Muslims there, but we got to take as many pics as we wanted.

There are really large pictures of leaders all over Jordan. I think this guy is the king, and a total babe. Check out that mustache. All the men here sit around and smoke those things.
I have become addicted to playing Phase 10. Kader, Dallin and I are playing in Petra by the pool. In the past week alone we have played over 20 full games. It is really addicting.
This is Elder Matson (i.e. John). We served together in Moscow and then both ended up coming on the program. Here we are sharing a head set for our tour as we begin to walk into Petra. John is one of the coolest guys I know, a really good friend and a really good influence.

How many camels for your wife?

2008-07-13T11:26:00.000-06:00

Our first night in Cairo we went to a laser show at the pyramids. It was really cheesey, but the back drop was spectacular.
Gotta love the JC (Jerusalem Center ) fanny pack that I worse everywhere.

"How many camels for your wife?" Is the question constantly being asked to all of the young men in our group as we palled around Egypt. We spent seven days in Cairo and Luxor seeing all of the sights and doing some great shopping.

Jerusalem

2008-07-05T10:54:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am in Jerusalem. It is pretty incredible. I live at the BYU Jerusalem Center overlooking the old city. It's only about a fifteen minute walk to visit Gethsemane, the Garden Tomb, the Old City, or pretty much anything else.

Dome of the Rock
The Garden Tomb
Climbing around in some ancient caves

Bogota, Columbia

2008-07-03T10:36:00.000-06:00

On my way to Peru I had an eight hour lay over in Bogota, Columbia. I made a couple of friends on the flight who drew me maps and told me where I should go. I ended up going to a couple of museums, doing some shopping and taking a gondola to the top of a peak overlooking the city. It was great. The way back from Peru wasn't so great, as my Columbian layover took place from midnight to 8:00 am. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed falling asleep on a bench in the airport with the Spanish version of Total Eclipse of the Heart playing loudly in the background.

Peru!

2008-07-03T02:24:00.001-06:00

We arrived at Machu Picchu early in the morning so we could climb Winna Picchu, the mountain right above my head. I would say that we "hiked" the mountain but that wouldn't do the 3 hours of practically verticle Inca steps justice. Ouch.

Since I was already in Mexico . . . I decided to make the South America swing and see Nate in Peru. I flew into Lima, by way of Columbia, and stayed with him and some mission friends for a few days. We then flew to Cusco (where we got our great llama hats) and headed to Machu Picchu. It was COLD, but really fun.

Mexico in a Nutshell

2008-07-03T01:52:00.000-06:00

The kids is Mexico were adorable. We had about 35 students who came each day for an all English preschool program through ILP (they are the same non profit I went to Ukraine with in 2004.) Isai and Vanilka were two of my favorite kids. I was the head teacher this time, which meant I didn't get to teach my own class, but I did have a lot of interaction whenever the other teachers needed me (team teaching, taking kids to the bathroom, management issues and calming the crying kids.) It was a great experience.

April 28 I took off to Mexico. There were four other girls in my group and we spent our first 8 days in Mexico backpacking the Yucatan. We stopped in Merida, Chichinitza, Ciudad del Carmen, Palenque, San Cristobal and Oaxaca. Gotta love our matching drug rugs.