I Blessed the Rains Down in Africa

This whole semester I have been struggling trying to decide what I am going to do with my life this summer....
Originally my plan was to go to India for the whole summer for humanitarian trip, but nothing worked out :(
For a minute I thought I would do in Logan, try to get a job, do summer school, make friends....
Then I decided to go home for the summer, teach swimming lessons for the sixth summer, pick up a second job, and enjoy life with my BFF's before they all get married within the next year..

Then something awesome happened!!!!!! My sorority lil' sis Jordan (I only call her "Little")  told me about a trip she is doing to Tanzania, Africa for the whole summer (June 3-August 15)! After an afternoon of crying my eyes out trying to decide what to do, my mom got in my face and said "Rachelle, its not the end of the world it is just a decision! its either yes or no!" (keep in mind my mom NEVER makes decision for me.. she makes me make all of them so I don't know why I cant make a decision to save my life!!!!) But I really thought about it, and figured that there is no better time in my life than right now to go because in a year I will be graduated and who knows where I will be after that...
4 days after making a decision I had my flight book, my shots and immunization card, and my passport in the mail.  Now only 53 days! (aka 7 weeks 4 days, or 76000.89 minutes if you want to get technical).
In Tanzania we are working and staying in an orphanage, going on a safari, going to Zanzibar, and of course climbing MT KILIMANJARO!!!!! Ahhhhh I am so excited I can't even focus on school anymore.

So Zanzibar is a beautiful beach just on the coast of Tanzania.  The plan is to do some kayaking, snorkeling, and lounging around in our swim suits.  SOO EXCITED

Next is a close up of the safari. We are thinking something around 3 days. I went once in Kenya, but hey, how can I say no to this?

And my personal favorite life adventure is to climb Mt Kilimanjaro! Its a six day hike, so the training starts tomorrow!!!! CAN'T WAIT!

Of course I can't wait for the humanitarian part either! When I went in Kenya in 2007 and taught in the schools it changed my whole life.  I feel like at 15 I wasn't fully able to appreciate the trip though so I am so lucky to have a second chance.

 

I need to give my Little a personal shout out at this time, for convincing me to go on an adventure of a lifetime! We have gotten so close lately and she really is one of my best friends, and the #1 little. She spoiled me like crazy last week and I love her with my whole heart! I cant wait to spend the next 2.5 months being nasty but having the best time with you!

But like I always say..."It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had"