Despite the fact that we had few scheduled activities this afternoon, we’re all pretty exhausted and looking forward to a good night’s sleep. I spent the better part of two hours trying to get the Internet moving beyond its glacier pace. Sadly, it never generated enough speed for us to upload photos for you to see for now. Keith and I did make to the airport this evening to pick up Mary and Carlton and their boys Isaac and Calvin. They stopped off in Germany en route and seemed to be in good spirits after visiting a Christmas marketplace while in Frankfurt. So our group of travelers is now complete.
Myself, Cheri Gaulke (film teacher from Harvard Westlake), Mary Blodgett & Carlton Calvin (Isaac and Seth’s parents), and Akiko Tamaoki (Yuko’s mom), and the kids:
Sidney, age 16, author, Youth Leadership Board, Westridge
Billy, age 17, treasurer Youth Leadership Board, Harvard Westlake
Yuko, age 15, Youth Leadership Board, San Marino High
Matthew, age 16, President, Youth Leadership Board, St. Francis School
Isaac, age 13, Past Youth Leadership Board, Polytechnic School
Seth, age 12, volunteer, Huntington Middle School
Henry, age 20, illustrator, UCLA
Jake, age 17, filmmaker, Harvard Westlake
We are preparing for the enormity of tomorrow’s travel — 10 hours, 650 km south to one of the hottest parts of Ethiopia. Because we are not able to drive after sundown (the roads are so poor it makes the trek dangerous), we will be rising very early. Then for the next five days, we will be in the heart of it all, seeing the sites of various water projects in an assortment of stages of completion. The areas where we shall be traveling are so remote that the access to internet will likely be nonexistent. So, if you don’t hear anything form the kids for a few days, fear not. We shall post everything on the 26th when we return to Addis. Thanks for reading and for supporting our efforts to educate and empower these amazing kids. And Happy Holidays to all!
