HIGH SCHOOL KIDS' HANDWRITTEN LETTERS

U.S. Postal Service

It's not often you get a handwritten letter these days. Blame it on Facebook or the failings of the U.S. Postal Service, but few people take the time to put pen to paper to send personal correspondence anymore. 

We had a big surprise waiting for us at home during our recent stop between trips. While we were away a class of high school students we had never met decided to write us letters. On paper. With pen and pencil. 

It turns out the kids and their thoughtful teacher Mrs. Paula Callender at Pleasant Hill High School (La.) had been following our travels and volunteer activities online for months. One day in class, they decided to write us letters on what they thought about traveling, our trip and giving back (Mrs. Callender later invited us to speak to her class, which we'll write about this week).

We read every letter, most of them a few times. Some were hopeful, some a little goofy (you know who you are!), all of them inspirational and well written. 

Thanks again to Chiquita, Mrs. Callender, and all the students who wrote us. While every letter they sent made us smile, one particular note stood out, the text of which we've included below:

"You inspired me to look beyond Pleasant Hill. You inspired me to be a better me and help others. What you guys are doing is beautiful and selfless. You guys have showed me that the world is a canvas and where ever you go, you can paint your life story. I just want to say thank you for opening my eyes to all the possibilities there are."

--Chiquita Carhee, student, Pleasant Hill High School

FUNNY MONDAY: GOOFING WITH STUDENTS AT PHHS

Just before leaving for El Salvador, we met some inspiring kids at Pleasant Hill High School in Louisiana. More about them tomorrow. 

For now, here's a shot of DaMarcus Evans, a kid who wanted to try on our backpacks and Kip's recently-washed safari hat when we spoke to their class about travel, volunteering, and the weirdest foods we ate on the trip so far. The hat looked much better on DaMarcus than it does on Kip, according to Liz.

PHOTO FRIDAY: A SAND DOLLAR'S WORTH

One year ago this week, we were enjoying a stunning sunset in the Philippines, and we wrote about all the crazy modes of transport it took to see it. 

This week, a sunset in Playa El Cuco in El Salvador was made all the better by the presence of a nearly symmetrical sand dollar Liz found on the beach. In monetary value, the little sea urchin doesn't come to much.

But considering it was Liz's first sand dollar ever to see in the wild, it sure meant a lot to us.

STORY FROM WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF

Big thanks to the folks at World Bicycle Relief for all the work they do...and for posting the story below on their blog about our recent experience with them in Uganda. 

For more than 100,000 individuals across Africa, WBR has shown bicycles can change lives. Thanks again, guys, and keep up the great work!
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WBR: Wheels on the Ground in Jinja, Uganda

Liz Zipse and her husband Kip have been traveling the world for the past year, with the intent to learn, adventure, and most of all--give back. 

With a goal of incorporating one day per week of volunteerism into their travels, Liz and Kip have participated in a myriad of amazing projects as they've hiked, dived and surfed their way around the globe...

Read the full article here... 

CAIRO LAYOVER, HELLO USA...AND HOLA EL SALVADOR

A street scene in Giza, Egypt, with a mix of the ancient, modern and everything in-between.

How did we end up in Egypt on an eight-hour layover en route to DC? 

We would have loved to stay in Africa for many more months, but it was time to go home. Briefly. 

To help pay for this trip, we had rented out our house in DC last year. But the lease was up for our awesome renters (thanks, Bob and Ali!), and so, being responsible adults (sort of), we had to get home using our few remaining frequent flyer miles to take care of some business, like filing our taxes and re-renting  our house to new and hopefully equally-responsible tenants (that means you, David and Michael!).

Considering we don't mind taking long layovers or making endless connections through out-of-the-way airports on our trip back, especially when the ticket is basically free, we began the search to see how we could best "enjoy" the trip back home. 

Our ensuing 40-hr marathon, while perhaps horrifying to a business traveler, included two scenic layovers, taking us from Uganda to Cairo to London and on to Washington. There are still advantages to booking with frequent flyer miles when you have the time.

Our first stop, flying Egypt Air, took us to Cairo. These guys know about proper layovers. Upon arrival, a representative presents you with a menu that includes options on what you want to see based on how long you have before your next flight. They handle transportation, transit visas and making sure you get back in time for your departing flight. 

We picked a tour of the Great Pyramids, with a quick stop for lunch in Giza. 

The ancient, the modern, and everything in between--that's what you get walking through Giza, the just-outside-of-Cairo town that serves as a foreground to the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

While the area immediately surrounding the well-aged structures is covered with sand (and camels and tourists), a bustling street scene with some stellar local eats is just a stone's throw away. And we just happened to be hungry.

Ever heard of "koshari?" If you've been to Egypt, chances are you have. 

The carb- and protein-loaded dish, the country's most popular fast food, comes with rice, macaroni, lentils, and chick peas topped with caramelized onions and a spicy tomato sauce, among lots of other things, depending on who's cooking (here's a recipe). 

London's first koshari restaurant recently opened to rave reviews. Could be a koshari food truck opening in your hood soon.

A national pastime in Egypt--drinking sugar-dosed tea and smoking cherry-flavored tobacco from a hookah pipe. We didn't inhale, Mom, we promise. 

And so, not quite halfway through our near two-day return trip, we bid farewell to Africa. 

After an adventurous overnight in London that included chicken gyros near Paddington Station and a brief meeting with Gaia, the darling baby daughter of good friends Cecile and Augustin (thanks for the wine and the short but good night's sleep!), we headed back to Heathrow for a short stay at home before our next trip south of the border...coming soon!