What a Start to My Travels!

8/25/2019 *Reposting blogs from my Senegal website because I took it down.

What a start to my travels!

An update on my baggage situation. It only took me three and a half hours to pack everything in my suitcase. Remind you everything was laid out on the table, so I had everything that I needed in front of me. The whole time was spent taking items out of my suitcase into my mom's old backpack and then to my backpack. When I add all my bags up, it weighs more than I did:/ By the time I get to Senegal, I will be jacked!

If you're wondering why my bags are heavy, it is because of all my food, medicine, toiletries products, and of course, all the different bags I sewed. I barely brought any clothes, so my bags will be mostly empty on the way back.

Oh, also I have a cold. I thought it would have passed by now since I got it last week, but "you know what thought did." Currently, I am on the plane right now fighting to San Fran for a couple of days for Global Launch before my flight to Senegal (Global Launch was awesome. Being able to meet all of these people from across the country and world was an experience I will remember. At Launch, we listened to a lot of speakers, and we had small group talks after the sessions. Listening to other fellows' talks reminded me that we all share more common thoughts and ideas. We all just need to speak up.)!

Let me tell you, having a cold comes in handy when you are on an airplane! I know what you're thinking, "I would hate having a cold on a plane," but let's look at the bright side. Right now, I can't smell anything. This has helped me three times already today. First, when I was going through TSA, a lady behind me vomited, and I could not smell her breakfast or dinner because it was 5 am. Second, this boy brought this tuna bowl on the plane, and I do not like the smell of seafood (he was sitting across from me in the airport and I told him his food looked good, and then he told me how to make it. If I was going home, I would substitute the Tuna with Tofu or chicken). Third, a dad was changing his child's diaper in the seat in front of me and telling by the other passengers' faces it must have smelt bad. Bonus, if anyone on the plane farted, I can't smell it (I bet at least one person had to let one go), so I'm a happy camper this morning despite having a cold.

I almost forgot to tell you! All my food in my backpack caused a little bit of a problem at the security line. Warning any future fellows, if you are bringing food for your host family and friends, try to make sure you spread your food into different bags because I just put all of it in one bag. I was stuck there for about 20 minutes while they scanned and wiped each of my candies individually. On the plus side, I had a great conversation with the worker. He told me that I had set the record for the amount of food in one's carry-on.

Well, I better pack up since I'm about to land.

See you next time!

Shea:)