Zambia
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Quickly checking in from Lusaka
I am alive and well here is Lusaka, Zambia. Currently, I am at a big shopping mall just like at the states using an internet cafe of sorts. It is hot and humid and I like it, mostly. The beer is pretty good as long as you like lagers. I have found that hanging out at the bar and talking to locals is a useful method of getting information. I guess I go where I am comfortable when everything around me is new and crazy.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
From PDX to JFK
Flight to Philly
We hopped onto a plane in PDX around 8:00 am on sunday. We were accompanied by former Portland Mayor Tom Potter and Senator Jeff Merkeley. They were both very nice to talk to and supportive of our adventures. During the second half of our flight Sal Palantonio from ESPN was on the flight but I did not get a chance to speak with him. However, while flying I learned of the existence of one "craft" brewery in Lusaka, Zambia and pints of beer cost between $1 and $2 USD.
Philly
While in Philly we were able to see the Liberty Bell and get a tour of Independence Hall. The room where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were created was awesome to see and made me feel very patriotic. Of course we also had a genuine Philly cheese steak from the place recommended by the locals, Jim's Steak House. It was good but frankly I think Heiny makes better ones at his tailgater.
Staging
During staging we did several meet and greet activities with other 30 volunteers bound for Zambia. This was broken up by bouts of eating and drinking. We had some excellent pizza(yes pizza), awesome pasta and some of the best sushi I have ever had. The beer however left much to be desired. I had a Yard's IPA which could have been one of the worst IPAs I have ever had.
Anyway this will be the last post for a couple weeks. Next time it will be from Zambia!!!
We hopped onto a plane in PDX around 8:00 am on sunday. We were accompanied by former Portland Mayor Tom Potter and Senator Jeff Merkeley. They were both very nice to talk to and supportive of our adventures. During the second half of our flight Sal Palantonio from ESPN was on the flight but I did not get a chance to speak with him. However, while flying I learned of the existence of one "craft" brewery in Lusaka, Zambia and pints of beer cost between $1 and $2 USD.
Philly
While in Philly we were able to see the Liberty Bell and get a tour of Independence Hall. The room where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were created was awesome to see and made me feel very patriotic. Of course we also had a genuine Philly cheese steak from the place recommended by the locals, Jim's Steak House. It was good but frankly I think Heiny makes better ones at his tailgater.
Staging
During staging we did several meet and greet activities with other 30 volunteers bound for Zambia. This was broken up by bouts of eating and drinking. We had some excellent pizza(yes pizza), awesome pasta and some of the best sushi I have ever had. The beer however left much to be desired. I had a Yard's IPA which could have been one of the worst IPAs I have ever had.
Anyway this will be the last post for a couple weeks. Next time it will be from Zambia!!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
PDX
We are sitting here at PDX waiting for our plane and still not completely ready. There is not way we are going to leave the country without forgetting something. On a side note, each time I use the porcelain throne I wonder what the next thing I will be sitting on will be. Also, I think my last Oregon beer for a long time is a Bridgeport IPA, sad!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Love Mom and Dad, F#@! T-Mobile!
Just had a great day with my parents. Spent the day playing cribbage and monopoly until they got bored. Then my 70+ year old parents forced me to go their local bar(which is a truck stop) and have some beers. I gotta love my folks they go out to the pub several times a week just to hang with friends. It is nice to know they will have people to be with while I am out adventuring.
The beer was actually badly needed because T-Mobile had pissed me off earlier. About 14 months ago I signed up for a contract and was told by the rep. that the cancelation fee would be waived if I left the country before my contract was up, perfect. I called yesterday to cancel and am told that a month ago the policy changed and I would be charged a $200 cancelation fee with no other option. BULL#@!%
The beer was actually badly needed because T-Mobile had pissed me off earlier. About 14 months ago I signed up for a contract and was told by the rep. that the cancelation fee would be waived if I left the country before my contract was up, perfect. I called yesterday to cancel and am told that a month ago the policy changed and I would be charged a $200 cancelation fee with no other option. BULL#@!%
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Update
After spending most of Thursday regaining my voice and losing the pounding headache created Wednesday night I have been able to play v-ball for the last time in Corvallis for quite a while. I had a blast and the exercise finished off my hangover. Today, Kelly and I spent the afternoon with family and had a good time eating excellent food and wondering when the next time we will be able to eat like this again.
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