Me vs. the Volcano

If you had asked me a week ago what I would be doing today, staying in my brother's old bedroom at my parents house would have been very low on the list of possibilities. Regardless, it's become my reality for the last five days. Last weekend felt like a frenzy of uncertainty and worry as I was constantly checking the news report for any sign that the giant ash cloud that had taken up residence above Europe was going to move out in time for my flight to Amsterdam on Monday morning. The first of four legs in my journey to Maputo, Mozambique, I cringed at the thought that a volcano in Iceland might render my trip over before it had even begun. Countless phone calls to airlines, and hours spent on hold, and my hands were tied. I do however consider it a small success that I only once broke down into tears while discussing my options with a United employee and informed said customer service expert that I hadn't seen my boyfriend in seven months, and were they really honestly expecting me to make it seven months and one day?? She abruptly informed me that United did not ask the volcano to erupt, and that there are thousands of passengers stranded all over the world, some of them haven't even slept outside of an airport in five days. Okay, United lady. Point taken.
So after five days spent occupying my time and my mind with sewing, packing, repacking, rearranging, and then packing again - with a little bit of luck I think I might actually get on a plane bound for Africa tomorrow. Now I do know enough to know that with three months of traveling ahead of me, this won't be the only setback.  Nor will it be the last time that I need to adapt and roll with the punches...I'll just be glad when I get to roll with punches in Africa instead of Boulder. And so, with one trial run under my belt, it begins...

The Adventures of Flootie

Lia selected this little creature - we're not entirely sure what animal family it falls under, as it seems to be a pig dressed up in a cow's outfit - to accompany me on my trip. When asked what said animal's name is, she thought for a couple seconds, and then very definitively said, "Flootie." Obviously. Wouldn't you name a cow-colored pig Flootie? So, thus begins the African adventures of Amanda and Flootie. Hopefully you'll see him popping up here and there along the way in the next few months.

As I'm preparing to embark on a three month journey to Mozambique, this seemed an obvious platform to document my travels, stories, thoughts, whatever may come over the next several weeks. I can't promise much, as I'm not really sure what my everyday life is going to look like - but that's just the point right? The name - dez mil passos, or ten thousand steps - represents my feeble attempt to learn Portuguese, and a not-so feeble attempt to close the gap between a certain boy who has lived ten thousand and thirty-five miles away from me for the last seven months.
I've been thrust into a transition in life recently, whether I wanted it or not. But, getting laid off from my job, and trying to negotiate the feasibility of a new relationship where the two people involved are half a world away from each other, this seemed the perfect time for a little trip. Lemons? Meet lemonade.
So here we are. I can't promise much from this. If nothing else, hopefully some good pictures (I know two mothers in particular who will be very upset with me if I don't at least provide that). But, ready or not, here goes.