Safari with the girls

The end of term 2 finalized on Friday, giving me three weeks of free days. Whoo hoo! To celebrate and have a bit of R&R, I headed off with my girlfriends from work to Nakuru National Park to sit by the pool, eat four course meals, and see some African animals. It was great!

As we drove across the Kenyan landscape, I realized that this will probably be my last safari while living in Kenya. Sad. But it finished well when I saw a leopard, the only animal I really wanted to see but hadn't yet. Unfortunately it was getting dark and we couldn't get a picture. But I saw it and that means my safari adventures are complete.

When living overseas is hard...

We had a nephew born this week! Happy birthday to Carson Lucas.

As we skyped with Sam, Holly, and Baby Carson at the hospital, I realized that I probably won't hold that little guy until he's a year old or more. Skype is great, but I can't reach through the computer screen and have those cute, chubby fingers hold onto mine. These are the days when living far from home is just not so fun. Sam, Holly, and Jacob, congratulations. Make Will hold that baby double-time for me when he comes to America. Love you all!

Getting excited!

We are moving in 110 days (that's just over three months), and it's starting to hit me. Mostly, I'm getting excited for a new adventure. As I walk to and from school each day in Nairobi, past the dirt mounds and weaving through traffic, I think how different it will be going to school in Budapest...

Instead of walking over dirt sidewalks with matatus whizzing past me, I'll be walking on tree-lined, paved walkways with a tram going by.

Instead of being the only white face amongst the sea of people, I'll be one of many white faces.

Instead of going through a secured gate with a guard opening the doors, I'll walk out the front door of an apartment complex - no gates, no barbed wire, no shards of glass lining the walls around the compound.

Instead of wearing sandals and sundresses, I'll be headed to work in a coat and boots.

Instead of an African slum next door, I'll have a park and shops and European architecture nearby.

It will definitely be a change. Looking forward to the newness.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF OUR NEW CITY.

Time for a new name

In less than four months I won't have Kenya to blog about and this blog won't be describing "my view of Africa" anymore. So it's time for a new name... The Other Side of the World. How long will this title stick? I hope for a lifetime. We'll see!

It's hard to believe but...

...it's been a year.

Happy first anniversary to the perfect man for me. I love you Will.