The Boondocks

Every now and I again I like to go through my photo albums on facebook and reminisce about my adventures over the last 5 years.  Today as I was browsing through one of my Egypt albums from Semester at Sea I found this picture

It's a seemingly boring picture.   There's no great sites or activities in it, but this was the beginning of my most memorable day in Egypt.  In the picture we're standing on the side of the rode in Adibiya, a commercial port on the Red Sea near the mouth of the Suez Canal.  The men in the background, yes all of them, are attempting to get a taxi for us to Suez, the nearest town, which wasn't an easy feat considering how desolate our location was.  At this point we were wishing we'd just taken one of the taxi's parked right outside of the ship.  We'd bypassed them seeking cheaper transportation that we were certain was on the road just outside.  As we walked through the port toward the gate we realized that we were the source of entertainment for all the Egyptian men we passed.  When we finally reached the gate the guards were all smiles but didn't really know what to do with us.  When we finally communicated with them that we wanted a taxi to Suez they told us "No Taxi come." Well, OK can we get one anyway?  And then we come to the scene above.  We did eventually get a ride into Suez.  It was overpriced but at least we got there.  Little did I know what this day would lead to.  Free lunch given to us by a little Egyptian man who was all smiles, getting picked up by an drug dealer (for the record I didn't like him to start out with) then being rescued by a travel agent who we ended up spending the rest of the day with, getting our hands wet in the Suez Canal , getting free drinks, free rides, free everything, finding ourselves in the middle of a wedding and becoming the center of attention, dancing for Russian sailors, should I go on? It was quite a day, and to think, tourists don't go to Suez, I'm sure it wouldn't have been half as interesting if it were a tourist town but would I go back? Hmmm, probably not.  I think I've had enough Suez to last a lifetime.

The Worries and Woes of Fundraising

To put it simple I HATE fundraising.  I would rather climb Mount Everest with bare feet than fundraise.  When I committed to doing The World Race I knew that raising the money was going to be the biggest hurdle for me. Over the past six months I've fluctuated between a "wow this is awesome I shouldn't ever worry, it's much easier than I ever thought it would be" feeling to a "why did I ever think I can do this there's no way I'll ever be able to do this" feeling more times than I can count.
   The facts are this.  I have to raise $16,000 and right now, between fundraisers and donations I have
$5, 874.59.  My first thought when I see this is Wow! I've almost raised $6,000!  But then my immediate second thought is one of dread and worry because I still have so much farther to go.
   In case you don't remember what I'm fundraising for, in July I will be leaving on a unique 11 month mission trip visiting 11 countries, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Eastern Europe (x2), South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.  Most importantly it's NOT a vacation.  It will be a year lacking comfort.  We'll be living out of backpacks, sleeping in tents, showering in rivers and waking up sometimes before the sun comes up, not because it's what we love to do but because it's what we've been lead to do.  We want to initiate change in our world and help those who can't help themselves.  I have no idea what exact jobs we'll be doing or what people we'll work with but from what current and past groups have done, I'm pretty excited about the prospects.  Whether it's giving food to hungry children in Swaziland, helping construct a pipeline to bring water to a village in Ecuador, or teaching children in Cambodia, it's going to be 11 challenging months but 11 amazing months at the same time.
   Now here's the problem,  I can't go and help these people if I don't raise enough money.  I need $6,500 in my support account in order leave with my squad in July.  That's less than $700 from where I am now!  After that I will need $11,000 in my account by Sept. 21 and the full amount in my account by December 21.  Although there's 8 months until I need to have it all, the idea of how much farther I have to go still weighs heavily on me.  If I end up getting sent home because I can't raise the money I won't be able to feed the kids in Swaziland, or teach the ones in Cambodia, or befriend that 17 year old girl working as a prostitute in Thailand.  My heart cries for them and I desperately need to make it there.

   If you feel at all like you want to help fund this journey I would be grateful.  If you don't have $25, $50 or $100 to give that's NOT a problem.  I really mean it when I say every single $1 makes a difference.

If you want to make a donation you can do so by going here.  Don't worry, the site's secure and your donation is tax deductible (as well as life changing!).

 If you're at a point where you can't help financially, there's no shame in that.  Not long ago I was there myself.  But I want to thank you for reading this blog and I would encourage (as well as anyone else) to follow my World Race blog at amandadorough.theworldrace.org.  There's a place on the left hand side of the blog where you can sign up to get an email update each time I post.  No spam I promise!  While I'm on the World Race that is the blog I'll primarily be updating with pictures, videos and stories.

If you want to meet my squad mates and read their blogs you can find them here.

Thanks!

I fell off the face of the earth

It's true.  It has been quite some time since I posted a blog, at least quite some time for me.  I have found it quite difficult to write a blog when my life has been well, somewhat boring (as you might observe from the lack of pictures in this post.)

I could have written about the Harry Potter Exhibition.  We saw sets and outfits from the movies.  The wands were pretty cool, and so were the Quidditch uniforms.  My favorite were the brooms, they were pretty awesome, and Dumbledores robes too!  Alas, we weren't allowed to take pictures, but that allowed more time to just enjoy the pieces.  If you have a chance to see the Harry Potter Exhibit in your city you should take it.  Sorry west coast people, it's leaving our neck of the woods for good tomorrow.

I could have written about the day I went skiing with my dad at Crystal Mountain.  My boots cut off the circulation in my toes and I learned that having a desk job makes your leg muscles pretty weak.  Needless to say it was a pretty terrible experience that I don't prefer to remember.

I could have written about the fact that I was upgraded from my churches Junior High Youth Director to just Youth Director.  It's going to be a lot of work, but I'm excited.  Then when I leave for the World Race in July my pastors wife Linda is going to take over.

Speaking of the World Race we found out when and where our training camp is going to be.  It looks likes I'll be heading to Copperhill, Tennessee at the end of May and there's going to be a pretty epic roadtrip to get there.  More on that later.  I also have good news!  I have just over $5,000 raised, that means only a little over $10,000 to go!  I've never raised this much money in my life!  Last year one of the goals I set was to do something I fear, this definitely qualifies.  It's a scary process but it's going to be rewarding for not just me, but others as well!

So that's my life for now.  I'll try not to fall off the face of the earth again AND my humble little blog is going to be taking on some BIG changes soon, like hosted website big!  I can't wait to share the news when the time is right.

The End & The Beginning

This time, last year I was on a plane making my way back to Bangkok after spending Christmas with my family in Seattle.  I had no idea what 2010 had in store for me, but I was excited.
   Looking around Facebook, Twitter and all other means of social media these past few days I've seen a lot of mixed feelings towards 2010.  While some thought it was the best year ever others desperately prayed that 2011 would be better.  Looking back now, while I wouldn't say 2010 was the best year ever I would say it was pretty epic, and I've been able to document the entire journey.  January 1, 2010 was not only the beginning of a new year for me, it was the beginning of a project, project 365 to be exact.  While I knew taking a picture a day for a year was going to be tough, I was excited to try it.  With the project over now, I have to admit that once I moved back to America I became far less diligent at taking pictures, sometimes only taking one or two a week yet I'm still amazed at the picture of my year it paints.

So here's looking at back 2010 with a selection of pictures from my project 365 folder

Early in the Morning on January 1 I packed up my bags and boarded a plane back to Bangkok via Tokyo

1/365

Over the year I had the pleasure of being part of a pretty awesome small group


12/365



And I was the teacher to some pretty rad second graders who liked to goof around with me



33/365

 I got lots of cheap pedicures... before I lost my toenails again and again



38/365


I applied for the awesome STA World Traveled Internship, was chosen as a finalist, but that's where the road ended.
 

47/365



Paid one last visit to my favorite Thai island, Ko Samet, and got a pretty wicked sunburn as well



60/365


Ate plenty of Chicken Chile Paste from Sombats (and now I miss it so much!)


64/365

 Spent Quality time with good GES friends and co-workers

79/365

And said goodbye to my AMAZING second graders.

84/365

I visited two new countries, Malaysia and Singapore

97/365

99/365

And I got to go ziplining through the jungle for the first time.\

104/365



Then I moved back to America and have gotten to spend a lot of time with this little cutie.

131/365

I got to travel back east to visit a good college friend and we spent loads of time exploring Maryland, DC, and New York City.

134/365

136/365

 Had a great summer at home where I...

Got to be a Junior High camp counselor

183/365

Turned 25 by making a visit to Mt. Rainier where yes, there was snow on my birthday.

196/365

And finally made it to Victoria, B.C.

239/365

I got a new job.

280/365

Became at youth leader at my church.

307/365

And rung in 2011 by playing games and making paper monsters with friends.


365/365





So here we go, 2011, I triple dog dare you to be more awesome and more exciting than 2010.  You think you can do it?

If you want to see more of my project 365 photos you can find them here

Once Upon a Christmas

On Christmas Eve, as I stood in my church, holding a candle and singing Silent Night, I had a flashback to Christmas two years ago when I stood singing the same song and holding a very similar candle in a very different part of the world.  In Thailand the idea of Christmas is widely accepted but the actual Holiday of Christmas is celebrated by few, that's why you may find it interesting that I consider the Christmas I spent in Thailand the best Christmas of my life. 

   When I woke up that morning I must admit, I was feeling a little sorry for myself.  Christmas had always been a time for fun and family, but that morning there was no tree, no presents, and my family was thousands of miles away.  If I had had the opportunity, or moreover the finances, I would have taken that two week break to fly home, but instead there I sat on a stiff hotel bed in Chiang Mai, staring at a white sheet.  But my sad little self in a Thai hotel room is not where this story lies.  Instead we must journey several miles out of Chiang Mai to a place called Baan Saan Faan, or in English, the House of Dreams.  The nearly two dozen children that live there had no concept of the Christmas I longed for, but I daresay, they had a much better plan.  Christmas morning was filled with hugs and giggles and a rousing round of Sharks and Minnows. After lunch the games continued.  Relay races, food eating contests and water balloon volleyball.  The hours quickly passed and the children were overjoyed.  It's not everyday that they get a dozen new playmates.  But again, this isn't a story about some amazing selfless Americans, we weren't the heros of the story.  That night, after dinner we sat in a large circle and after a very unique version of a White Elephant gift exchange (involving tree branches and a bunch of interesting Thai snacks) the kids sat down to open their one Christmas gift, provided by sponsors in America.  I had the pleasure of sitting next to a young girl named Faith.  This girl had a light that radiated from every pore of her body.  As she opened her gift to reveal a new blanket and pajamas, her excitement couldn't be contained, a look visible on the face of every other child in the room as they opened their similar gifts. 

     I couldn't help but notice the differences between us and I felt so guilty.  At that same age I was consumed with counting my Christmas gifts, wanting as many video games or Barbie dolls as I could get.  Pajamas or blankets are gifts I would have scowled at but to these children this simple gift was precious beyond measure.  These children had nothing, and asked for nothing and yet they were happy.  This profound revelation hit me like a ton of bricks.  These children had a grasp of humility that is foreign to many others that are far older than  me.  They knew that Christmas wasn't about stuff.  Although they were thankful for the gifts they were given, they knew that Christmas was simply a big birthday party for Jesus. A day set aside for loving others, making memories and celebrating the life we've been given.

Playing Sharks and Minnows

All the kids

Faith and I

Opening their gifts

Sporting his new PJ's!

This year I once again joined my family for Christmas.  As I stared at our towering (and funny looking) Christmas tree I found myself fretting over the lack of items for me underneath it and I was finding it hard to get into the Christmas spirit.  And then I remembered Faith and her "Brothers and Sisters" at Baan Saan Faan and I once again found the prospective I gained in the orphanage two years ago.

Next year Christmas will once again find me in a different part of the world.  Whether it's in South Africa as scheduled or in an entirely different continent, I look forward to the lessons I will learn from those I meet, and not only taking them in, but applying them to my life in the future.

Winter Winter

I'm a victim of December and it has unfortunately made me a bad blogger.  Oh how I long for the days of school vacations, which, aren't to far in my past.  Two, three day work weeks are semi making up for the lack of an extended Holiday but, in truth, this season just brings to many things to do and not enough time to do it!

So what's been going on the last 3 week's?  Let me show you!

• I experienced ,my first black Friday sale EVER.  I woke up at the crack of dawn to stand in line at Best Buy (Thank goodness it had stopped snowing!).  I made some friends and got what I wanted!  So what did I want you might ask?  The Barnes and Noble Nook was on sale for $100!  A deal I couldn't pass up!  I've honestly wanted one for a while and thought it would be perfect to take on the World Race.  Even better is it came with some free e-books.  Pride and Prejudice, Dracula and Little Women.  Score!

Waiting in line at Best Buy

• Also fun on Black Friday was the 50% off everything at Goodwill sale.  I got this cute little Christmas Elf and stocked up on a ton of vintage sheets.  It was wonderful!

• 
  My car broke down and I had to shell out $700 to fix it.  That stunk.
• I think I seriously became addicted to Hot Chocolate. I don't drink coffee, and apple cider is just so so, so what other hot beverage could I drink?
• Elaina wants an airplane for Christmas from Santa Clause. When I asked her why she replied "So I can fly all over the world." Thus further establishing that we're totally related.
• I helped out with my churches drive-through Christmas story. It was pouring down rain but nearly 600 people still came through on the two nights! The first night I was a greater and the second night I was in the Inn where we had a grand old party and I ate to much! Pardon the picture, it was taken from my car:)

• I saw both the new Harry Potter movie (in IMAX, it was awesome) and Tangled, by which I was pleasantly surprised. I especially loved the fire lanterns a-la Thailand. I think I will definitely need to buy it when it comes out in the stores.
• My dear friends Shaela and Russell got Married on Dec 19! I wanted to go to the wedding so badly, in fact I was supposed to go, but then the World Race happened and my car broke, so flying to Amarillo was no longer going to be an option. I was sad, but I'm so happy for them!
• We celebrated my Dad's birthday by eating pot roast, looking at Christmas lights and playing Bananagrams. It was amazing.

• Everything with World Race fundraising is going pretty well! I'm almost 20% of the way there and I'm currently planning a 5k fundraiser in the spring which SCARES ME TO DEATH but also has the potential to bring in a lot of money for both me and my squad mates. Fingers crossed! And THANK YOU to everyone who ordered Christmas Cards. You helped me out so much and I am so grateful!
• TV seasons are wrapping up and yes, I am a reality TV junkie. I was super stoked that Nat and Kat won the Amazing Race and I'm so excited for the next season! I also love that Fabio won Survivor. I recently discovered "Ice Road Truckers: Worlds most Extreme Roads" on demand and watched every episode. It was awesome. And finally I'm loving "The Sing Off," those groups have some real talent!
• Last Wednesday we had our youth Christmas Party complete with "Christmas Tree" making contest, white elephant gift exchange, "Elf" watching, and cookie decorating. We had a lot of fun but found we didn't have enough time. At least we learned for the next party.

So there it is.  Only 4 more days 'til Christmas!  I've still got my fingers crossed for a White Christmas although it's looking like a wet Christmas.  A girl can dream right?

Thankful

It's been two years since I last celebrated Thanksgiving with my family.  It was so awesome for all of us to be able to come together yesterday even with the snow, and really, it was just a wonderful day overall.

So what am I thankful for?

My family
The amazing time I had in Thailand
My great friends
Being healthy
My dreams
My job
My World Race supporters
For being born in a country where I have so many freedoms

The list could go on and on, but instead I'll share some pictures from my snowy Thanksgiving day.

Stay tuned for my upcoming blog on my first Black Friday experience!