KILIMANJARO!

WOW! What can we say! We reached the summit on our 9th Wedding Anniversary.

We had some interesting Israeli company!

Day 1--the easy 3 hour hike through the rain forest...I was sick and thought I would have to turn back. (I had gotten sick the night before but thought I was feeling better).

Day 2 & 3 were a breeze though.
Look for my favorite Dr. Seuss trees. There's lots of pictures.

Day four-our anniversary--

WHAT A DAY! Wake up 11pm night before and start hiking at midnight, reach the first summit at sunrise! Then on to Uhuru peak.

You never know who is going to get altitude sickness....a lot of athletes get it.. because they go too fast. I was really hydrated and had the smallest lungs and actually did the best out of our group. One of our group threw up. The Bear got really sick: Head pounding, can't breath. You breath 50% of the oxygen you are use to. I also heard that we have now lost 5-8% of our brain cells. I am thankful for pilate's 100's and breathing exercises from my Singing CD! Also that we had been at high altitude for 6 weeks prior, I don't think we could have done it otherwise.

Watch our music video below.




We also learned some fun new songs.

Jambo
Jambo Bwana
Habari Ngani
Mzuri Suana
Wageri Wakaribishuwa Kilimanjaro
Yetu Hakuna Matata
Tukienda Mandara, Hakuna Matata
Tukeinda Horombu, Hakuna Matata
Tukienda Kibo Hut, Uhurua, Marangu Hoteli Hakuna Matata


Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro,
Kilimanjori mi mlima mrefu sama x 2

Na Mawenzi, Na Mawenzi, Na Mawenzi,
Na Mawenzi, mi mlima mrefu sana x 2

Ewe Nyoka Ewe Nyoka Ewe Nyoka
Ewe Nyoka Mbona Wamizunguka Wataka
Kumila Nyama x 2

Tukienda Mandara, Hakuna Matata
Tukienda horombo, Hakuna Matata
Tukienda Kibo Hut, Uhuru peak, Marangu Hoteli, Hakuna Matata

Gift from LACE!

The girls were so nice and bought me a going away present. They had heard about Rich and my favorite animals.

I LOVE IT!!

My New DO!

I have a new hair do...see if you can see it in upcoming pictures!! It only took 6 or more hours to get done.

High Altitude Training Center!

If I go back to Kenya this is where I want to stay.
For $40 a night, you have a room, breakfast, lunch, dinner, all the facilities and a world class coach to train you. That is a steal of a deal.

I wish we had gone earlier...actually we tried and we missed meeting the owners Peter and Lornah...Lornah being the fastest woman in the world.
www.lornah.com (under construction now).

Although I think its sad when we are beat by all the Kenyan runners, its awesome! It's awesome because they take the money home and help their own country in ways we never could.

Since we had to reschedule several times we were not able to meet Peter and Lornah in person but we did get to meet two of their trainee's Sharon from Zambia-trained with them for 5 years and is running a marathon in Cape Town and Dorcus Chesek look for her in upcoming Olympics as she has been smoking the 10,000 meters in the Juniors...she actually served us soda while we were there.

Kenni the manager met with us and showed us around and we got to see some athletes from around the world working out.

We put our pictures to some music.





The track and stadium that you see is close by and hosts approximately 600 runners amateur to professional every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Rich and I thought we would run on the track of champions in our street clothes.

TUESDAY FUN! (September 15, 2009)

One of the Missionary couples who came back to Kenya for the Measles campaign hung out with us all afternoon. First we went with our IU couple friends to the Cheese factory! (pictures to come)

Then we went to the Orphanage! (pictures to come)



Then we had punch and cookies at Sally Test!

And then my favorite....(we dropped off the other couple)...we went to the High Altitude Training Center...which get's it's own post.

PIANO & RUNNING

One of my favorite things while in Kenya has been to teach piano to some of the branch members. It's amazing how talented they are and how eager that are to learn. My last Monday in Eldoret (September 14, 2009). I spent 4 1/2 hours teaching piano lessons.

Here are a couple more of my students.


However, We're suppose to back at the IU house by 6:30 pm (dark) or take a taxi. I am usually too cheap to take a taxi especially when I have good enough legs to walk and my piano students are always so eager they don't want me to leave.
Twice I found myself running back to IU house because it was already or almost 6:30 or after. (it's about a 30 minutes walk or 15 minute run).
Running to not get mugged, running to not miss dinner, running in my suit skirt one day, running with my back pack, running in the red dirt, that's what it's all about, it really get's your heart pumping!