Egypt

In November we went to Egypt. We had a great holiday traveling to Luxor, and Cairo. We stayed at amazing hotels with INCREDIBLE views. We spent an equal amount of time in the pool and sightseeing. The one thing we didnt get was great food we didnt have the best food but not the worst. Here is how the vocation went. When we flew into Cairo we had some dificultys meeting our tour guide. Finallt, we met him andwe drove to our hotel. We got settled in and had a goods night rest. The next morning we went to the Memphis Museum. Then after the fog cleared up we went to the Pyramids. Then we rode camals at first it is very scary then by the time the ride is over you were just getting used to it. We went back to the hotel to go tothe light show. Thenfor the rest of the days we spent time doing activitys like this. I also pulled/tore a muscle in my upper inner thigh. I was walking around for 5 days in Egypt and 10 days in Ghana like a crippled person. I got many looks, stares, and questions. Even now I still have to be careful with it. My birthday also happened in Egypt. I had an awsome day we spent the whole day in the mall. Then for dinner we went on a cruise and had a great meal and entertainment. Even though I cried the whole time because of my leg pain I still was great. On our final day we went on a boat to Banana Island. There we saw baby crocodiles and an old fashion irrigation machine. Then we got to try Egyptian bananas. The we took the boat back to the main land and went to bed. The next day we went the airport and did customs and all that fun stuff and then we were on our way. We will have fun memorys in Egypt. Top 10:

1. The pools and pool-side service

2. The markets (yet sort of scary)

3. Our great tour-guide (even bought us ice-cream)

4. The Pyramids

5.Camel rides

6.Going to a MALL!!!

7.Normal food

8.Hot Air Balloon

9. The Nile boat ride

10. The vacation

Thats all sorry dont have pics yet but will get some soon!

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone has a great, coustume-filled, pumpkin-carving halloween. Here is a bit of halloween history:
Did you know that Halloween is one of the oldest holidays? It has gone through many changes, but it was originally a Celtic festival called Samhain, marking the end of harvesting and the begining of a new year. The druids believed that ghosts and spirits roamed the earth at this time, and they lit bonfires as protection.

When Romans took over the Celtic lands, they adapted the day to honor their own deities. One of these, Pomona, was the goddess of fruit and trees and was represented by an apple. This may be why we bob for apples today at halloween partys!

Eventually, the Roman Catholic Chuch adapted the day as All Saints', or All Hallows', Day, to honor saints who did not have a specific feast day of their own. The name gradually changed to Halloween.

The tradition of trick-or-treating dates to All Souls' Days parades in England. Villagers gave poor people "soul cakes" in return for prayers for their dead relatives.

In 1920's America, childern began going trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. By this time, halloween lost all its religious meaning and became a holiday where people could don costumes and become, for one night, something fantastical. It also became an inexpensive way for communities to celebrate together.

Other countries have their celebrations at this time, but with different meanings. In Mexico people celebrate El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Thisis a time to honor and celebrate the dead. Families clean and decorate their relatives' graves, and on the night of November 1, everyone meets at the graveyard. Traditionally, this is the time that spirits are believed to return to the land of the living.

Happy Halloween

Guitar and Fingers

I have recently been taking guitar lessons by a indonesian lady who has lived in Denver before. It is actually quite easy. I am sure that you are saying to yourself ya sure 'cause she knows how to do it. I can not play like Taylor Swift or Nick Jonas, but I can play a bit of songs including: many from Taylor Swift, and some others. Currently the guitar teacher is in America so we do not have lessons which brings me to the finger part. I cant play guitar right now because I badly sprained my fingers. I was playing basketball with my class. Someone on the other team did a very hard pass in the air I tried to stop it with a jump but it just bent the index and middle finger back. After 2 days it still hurt and was throbbing so we decided to go to the docter. He said it was just sprained and to give it rest. He bandaged it up and said to stay of it for a week. Does this guy kow me? No sports for a week my teacher said for fitness we will do running games so I dont use my finger. Thats what I've been doing lately.

Athletics Day

We had been training for this day for at least a month now. The day finally came and we were lining up for our first run, long distance almost a mile. We had to pace ourselves so we could actually finish the race. Me and one of the ghanain kids ran next to each other the whole time. Then we both saw the finish line and we started sprinting for it. It was a challange for me because I havent run in so long and my legs felt like jello. I crossed the finish line and came in second place. Then we sat and cheered on the other children. After that it was of to the shot put. Oh, how I hate shot put the ball is to heavey and the technique is very difficult. Thankfully I got third place! After shot put it was time to go to long jump I like long jump but I'm not very good at it. We ran as fast as we could and threw ourselves through the air just to see where we would land. Again I came third place. Then it was time to go back to normal school activities. The next day we did our javalin throwing. Then it was off to do high jump but it started raining so we decided to do it the next day. The next day came along but we had to do sprints and hurdles first. Again we lined up cheered each other on and raced. Finally I raced and I won. Then I had to race against some other girls and again I got third. Then it was of to high jump but it started raining so we couldnt do high jump, tabloids, or games. So in the afternoon when it stopped raining we went out and did our high jump I came pretty far but agin I got third. That afternoon was the award ceremony. I was so excited but a bit nervous then the called my name and I came third out of my whole division! Now I have a bronze medel sitting in my room. Then on monday we did the relays and tabloids. It was so much fun even the moms participated! And that concludes our athletics!

Italy

Hum, where to begin? When we first arrived in the airport it was exciting and also a bit weird. Then we took a train to the city center. When we got to the hotel we put our bags down and we were of to the colosseum. We took a tour and it is truely an amazing place. Then we got lunch which was like cafateria food. We went back to the hotel and we took a well needed nap. We went back out and got dinner. The next day we went to the Fourm, Trevi Fountain, and Panthenoen. The next day we were of to Florence after an 1.5 train ride we were there. Our hotel was right in the plaza. At the plaza there were reastruants, little shops, a wine tasting, and a carousel. There were so many little shops with people selling paintings my absolute favorite part. My brother alsogot his haircut at a shop downstairs from a hotel. Florence was my favorite part of my vacation. Next we were of to Siena, our only hotel with a pool. It was a bit of a letdown to us because the water was absolutly freezing. The hotel was beautiful though. It was a huge property with beautiful gardens and even chickens. Then we went on a day trip to Pisa we were there just forthe afternoon only to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Origanaly me, dad, and brotherwere going to climb it thenCarter heard he would have to wait in line so he backed out. Then dadsaid he would stay with the kids so me and mom climbed it. It was really cool because you could actually feel that you were tipping. Finally wewere back in Siena and next day it was of to Rome again. At this point to be honost Iwas ready to go home. We went to the Vatican and the next morning we rushed to see St. Peters Basillica. We were in our taxi and on our way home.It is now goodto be home. Top Ten Highlights of the Vacation:

1. Eating at least 2 gelatos everyday

2. Getting all the pizza and pasta we want

3. Getting a guitar

4. Seeing all the amazing sights

5. Having a taxi that is not all beat up

6. Seeing the cat sanctuary

7. Relaxing

8. Having McDonalds

9. Looking in shop windows

10. All the cool paintings

Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock

For the past 6 weeks the school has been practicing a musical production called Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock. All of the students are different animals and the lead character is Anansi. He is a mean old spider who uses a magical rock and steals all of the animals food. Then a Little Bush Deer tricks Anansi and gives all the animals their food back. Regan and I were ostrichs who loved our coffee beans and Carter was a lion who loved his roast beef. We sang a total of 9 songs: Lion Sleeps Tonight, Mellow Yellow, Java Jive, Kings Of The Road, Elephants Have Wrinkles, Zebra Song, I Wanna Be Like You, Every Breath You Take, Shoop Shoop Song, and We Will Rock You. Sadly, the principal (production director) will be leaving so I don't know if there will be any more productions. You won't be hearing until a week when we go on holiday but I will definatly post when we get back.

Puzzles, Puzzles, and more Puzzles

Update

I have not been posting for a while. We are very busy with homework, school, and playing\adventureing. Last weekend we were very busy. We went to the pool on Saturday and Sunday and were there for hours. My brother and I also accommpanied my dad to go to work. We felt very special walking through the gates with our badges. After his work we decided to go for a drive to Kenyasi and home. Driving through the town and walking have a totally different picture. On our drive we saw a funeral, cats, dogs, lots of goats, and very crowded streets.
Our next major event of the past couple of weeks is Carter's beatle. We had a huge rhinocerous beatle sitting on the screen of our front door. Personally I thought it was discusting but if you knowCarter well enough he cared for it. 1. He named it Mr.Beatlesly 2. He asked everyone who went though the door if they slammed the door because he might fall off 3. He said hello to it every morning when we walked to school. This morning he was not on our door he left just as Carter said he would.
Last thing that happened is that not one but 2 kids in ourfamily havea cold. That would be Carter and Regan. Wait thats not all Baileys ankle is sprained. Mom still has a stress fracture in her knee but we willall get better sooner or later.
Thats all for now. Bailey

Vacation to Kenyasi

Over the weekend we went to a local villiage called Kenyasi. While we were there we stopped at a shop that sold hand crafted wood sculptures. Mom didnt come so we didnt buy anything but we are going to go back and buy some things. Then we continued down the road and met some kids who were on there way to church. We talked to them and got our picture taken. Then we went onto the busy street and bought a soda, lollypops, and milo ( a drink like hot chocolate ). When we were walking home we met some more kids. They said they play soccer everyday my day said we will come one day?! When we left the boy blew me a kiss.... yuck! It was a good fun adventure.

1 Week = Many Adventures

I have now been in Africa for 1 week. It has been filled with exitment, nervousness, and happiness. We have been in school since Monday and will continue until the end of the year. They are already half way through the year so we are just finishing up the year we already did. No problem for me because if I went into 6th the class would be me and 3 boys. One of the best things at school is we each have swimming one day of the week and the whole school goes swimming on Friday.

The town I am living in has so many of the things we need and I could live here forever. We have a swimming pool larger than a hotel one and that is just one and two feet. Three, four, and five feet are double the size of one and two though. The pool is open all hours( but you dont want to go at night from malaria). we also have a store that sells the BEST ice cream and everything else. We have a clubhouse which has a bar, a restraunt, and a kids area. We also have tennis court, racketball, and a gym.

It has been so much fun!