My daughter Kimberly, finally contacted us last night at 12:30am. They had a long audience with Castro yesterday. They have been kept very busy and it has not been easy to contact us. She commented on the poverty and the lack of "modern facilities." It was very cool there yesterday, about 50 degrees. Other than that she is enjoying every minute and sounded so excited about everything. Everyone seems to be doing well. I hope this helps other parents who have not yet heard from their kids. This message board has been my lifeline and I check it every chance I get. Thanks to all who have written and kept us informed.
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I am in shock! Just received an e-mail from my daughter. She had her head shaved on Neptune Day! I can't believe my quiet, shy girl did it. Other than the temporary loss of her sanity, she sounds like she is enjoying every minute. She loves her classes and has only the highest compliments about the professors. She will be part of the website team and said it should start after Brazil. Maybe she was just kidding about the hair??!!
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Brazil
My daughter Kimberly called last night at 7:30 est from Brazil. Guess what? She was putting me on about the head shaving on Neptune Day...whew, what a relief!
Anyway, she sounded great , despite the poor phone connection. It was very hot and humid there. Many of her friends were going off on field trips and would be gone for a few days.. She is scheduled to do some things in Salvador, and was hoping to hook up with some other SASers who hadn't booked overnight field excursions to "explore" the area. It sounds like they are having a wonderful time and "only feeling homesick sometimes."
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Greetings from Brazil,
How are you? I'm good but getting tired from all the walking and the hot sun. I just got back from a field trip to a youth center for street kids. It was amazing! The girls danced and the boys played instruments for us. Some of the instruments were made from soda bottles! The kids have a lot of talent. I am enjoying Brazil, but still can't believe that I'm here and that I will be in SA in another week! It is a different world that I am seeing. . I met a nine year old girl today. She was very smart and since she knew some English, she was trying to translate for us, but she couldn't even write her name. When she was dancing, I said "excellent" She was so proud! Then she tried to teach us how to dance. Unfortunately, I don't have the rhythm they have! Tomorrow I'm going to Caheiora so I'll see rural Brazil.. We're going to a cocoa farm and a cigar plantation. You can roll your own cigar, so Dad I guess that you'll be smoking a homemade cigar! Last night I went to Bropeia had dinner and saw dancing. It was amazing! It was right on a dock, so we got to see a beautiful sunset. (I will have lots of sunset pictures) This a.m. I went to the market and found a really cute sundress for only $5. Yesterday I went with 2 others to to a mall and supermarket. The mall was outdoors with the ocean a few feet away. We walked along a strip parallel to the ocean. The beach had lots of tables, huts and lounge chairs. The natives don't carry anything to the beach so you don't see coolers, they go home for lunch. We stopped for some pizzza, eaten with a fork and knife(they never use their hands). Sunday I'm going to a soccer game . Right now the boat is really quiet b/c people are off to the Amazon or Ignaussi Falls They"ll be back Sun. Then it will be another 9 days at sea. I will try to call you before we leave Brazil.
Love you, miss you Kim
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South Africa
Heard from my daughter Kimberly. She was very excited to finally be in SA.
( FYI She was sick,and had not been on the Amazon trip)
Hi Mom and Dad,
I miss you guys. I am so glad to be here. On the 15th I got sick for 2 days with diarrehea and vomiting. It was gross. I slept for two days. I'm starting to feel a little better. The seas were also rough before we got here so that didn't help.
We arrived this morning at 5am. I was up by 6 had a quick breakfast and have been on the go ever since. I got Aunt Carolyn's letter, but not your package. Today, I rented a taxi for the day with two other girls. (25 US dollars) We went to the Cape of Good Hope, saw penguins, and ostriches. Then we climbed up to a lighthouse and saw a whirlpool in the ocean. Lots of ships get wrecked there. Oh, at the cape there were baboons. One tried to attack me from behind for the cookie I was eating! Luckily a worker scared him away. Someone had to walk us to the taxi b/c we were carrying food. The baboons would take the food right out of your hands. Tonight we are going out to eat and tomorrow I'm going to hike Table Mt. and go to Robin Island..The next day I'm going to the winelands, and the last day to a township.SA is amazing, and I can't believe I am here! The weather is in the 70's, nice huh? It is seven hours ahead of our time, so I'll try to call you at some point. We are right near a large mall :) I bought a small teapot made out of an ostrich egg and a beautiful small jewelry box made out of a green stone. I am having so much fun, and I can't thank you enough for this trip!! I have so much to say, but I'll tell you later, I miss you and love you. Can't wait to hear your voices!!
Kim
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Tanzania
I received a quick email from Kim to let me know that she was back from her safari. She seemed happy about it . It was a brief message and a little short on the details . She took a 12 hour bus ride to Arousha(?), stopped at many towns along the way, saw lots of zebras, hippos, and elephants, visited with the Massai and was invited into one of their houses( made of cow dung and bamboo--lots of flies) stayed at an amazing hotel where she slept under mosquito netting, and now more than anything else she just wanted to take a shower . The weather is hot and humid in Dar, while Arousha was nice but very dry. She is looking forward to India. I think she was happy to be back to the comforts of the "great white mother ship"
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