homeward...

From our very last country to wherever you are, 'Hola!' 

For 3 weeks, we have been enjoying the beauty of Guatemala and the warmth of its people. We have grown quite fond of the children we are teaching--both in the after school program and in the public school, though some of them aren't quite as easy to love... Manos de Colores is an after school program where community kids come for homework help, as well as English and art lessons. The 5 to 14-year-old kids greet us with cheery hellos and bid us farewell with besitos. Tuesdays and Thursdays, we trek to teach English at a public school just outside of the city. The 5th and 6th grade students can be a delight to teach, but can also be less of a delight--especially when blowing spit wads at us. 

We have been living in Xela with our host family, who feeds us delightful Mexican-esque things, which is just warming us up for home. They are patient and kind as we try to communicate with our broken Spanish (Taylor's a little less broken Spanish than mine) and their non-existent English. All in all, they've been a treat, but at this point, home is sounding better and better. 

Like all of the other countries we have visited, Guatemala has character to boot. With stray dogs EVERYWHERE and buses crowded full of people, to babies wrapped in colorful woven cloths and apron-donning women slapping fresh tortillas, our eyes are constantly entertained as we walk our daily miles. 

Not only have we walked, but we have also had the pleasure of joining our Guate-mama on her frequent morning runs. Although on the first day we were a little unprepared and found ourselves jogging in flip-flops behind a little Guatemalan grandma, we have since wisened up and are sure to leave the house in shoes. 

Our spare time has been filled with the beautiful lake vistas of Atitlan, climbing up the hill just outside of town to see the nearby volcano, strolling through vibrant markets, and playing with our newfound gatito. 

We had an unexpected change of plans when our commitment here ended a week early, so we thought: "Why not head home and surprise the pants off of our friends and families??" (who we are more than excited to see after 7 long, but wonderful months away). By the time you read this, we will be settled into our more permanent places of residence, so if you live near us and would like to hear more stories or to see pictures of faraway places, please let us know. 

But whether you live far or near, we would both just like to say: thank you, dhannyevad, webale nyo, teshekular, grazi, danke, obrigada, gracias, and THANK YOU again--for caring and for praying and for coming along for the ride. We couldn't have done it without so many of you, and it's been a dream--maybe even more. 

With SO much love, 

Taylor and Corie

Brasil pictures

Tiff painting with the girls, from the walls to faces

Taylor washing sweet little Emily's hair

Corie painting hands to print on the walls

Home of the Good Shepher

Brasil: Que Legal!! (translation: So Cool!!)

"Oi! Tudu bang?" (Hi! Everything good?) the words we were greeted with each morning as we arrived at the children's home, usually accompanied with big hugs despite little arms. For three weeks we were surrounded by beautiful children with whom we shared lots of laughter and love, despite our inability to speak Portuguese. They were a hoot! Plus, our dear friend Tiffany came along for the Brazilian portion of our adventure, and she was just a treat to have around.

We split our time between the boys' and girls' sites; each was fun in it's own way. We were given the project of painting the boys' homes.  The boys started out watching us and keeping us company, but were so eager to help that we turned the task over to them, one boy after another, until there weren't enough paint brushes for us. Thus, our role became monitoring the scene: washing paint drips off the wall before they dried, turning a puddle of spilt paint into a soccer ball and washing paint out of the boys' hair. All that said, it was so fun to watch them focus intently the job they had been given, and show it off proudly every few minutes. We took breaks to eat oranges that they had picked from the trees for us, or to sing along with them to Justin Beiber. 

Our time at the girls site was split between baking cookies, playing voleyball, tye-dying shirts and painting nails.  We even got to treat them to a salon day, using a hair washing sink that the local hair stylist donated. We shampooed and braided 25 beautiful heads of hair. Mondy and Wednesday nights the boys and girls came together to play 2 games of soccer. The first was for the younger kids, the only ones we were qualified to play with. It was fun to cheer and watch the second game, but they would have run circles around us, because by age 10, a Brazilian can school almost anyone at soccer.

It's safe to say that the kids stole our hearts and every minute spent with them was packed with fun, even if a lot of it was at our expense. Our time outside the home was spent with our wonderful hosts Randy and Carla.  We were constantly impressed and inspired by their love for the children and the time and energy they pour into the home. If you're looking for a cause to support, Home of the Good Shepherd is a great one to look into. Carla, one of the warmest and most hilarious people we've encountered, never failed to provide us with entertainment and laughter. She also provided is with jars of salsa and the closest thing to a DQ Blizzard outside America--two things we've been craving for months.

On our way out of Brazil we spent two amazing days at Iguazu Falls, a place that cannot be done justice with words. Not only did we get to admire the expansive falls from afar, we were soaked by the cascading water as sped under it in a boat--so incredible!! This was followed by a day in Rio de Janeiro, where passed the moring at the beach and summited Sugar Loaf Mountain by cable car in the afternon. We bid Tiff farewell at the airport, before having the privilege of sleeping there (one of the things we certainly won't miss about budget traveling). En route to our final destination...how crazy is that?! and just like that, we are back on the home continent. PS. Pictures to come later...maybe.              

A hop, skip and a jump through Europe

Way back when, in the beginning of June, we enjoyed a fantastic 4 days in Switzerland.  The Best family wins the prize for being great hosts, for not only did they spoil us--rotten, in fact--but they also allowed our friends, Diana and Tiffany to join in on the fun. (They came to meet us from Hungary and Germany, respectively).  While Taylor enjoyed reconnecting with old Colorado friends and getting a taste of their life in Switzerland, the rest of us were thrilled to meet such warm, new friends and to experience such a gorgeous country. 4 days might seem short, but we sure packed in a lot.  We strolled over the flower-covered wooden bridge in the city of Lucerne, drove up and down the vivid green hills, feasted Swiss-style at a family barbecue, and sipped countless lattes from Tanya's in-home coffee shop. What a treat it was to be both in Switzerland and with the Bests (Corey, Tanya, Livia, Silas, and Sarah).  En route to Brazil, with Tiffany along for the ride, we had a one-day pit stop in Lisbon. And man--what a COOL city. With colored plastic chairs along the ocean, cute cobblestone streets, and statues galore, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. It was great to escape the airport and soak up some Vitamin D, all before crossing the Atlantic--and the equator. For the first time in 6 months, we will be now on land connected to the good 'ol US of A (in the words of Taylor). 

A little trip to the Mediterranean

For the first time in 5 months, we had 7 days to do a whole bunch of nothing. We didn't realize how needed it was until we were in the midst of thorough appreciation of our poolside days. Basically, we rotated through laying by the pool, catching the bus to the beach, and browsing the shops up and down the cobblestone streets. It sure was hot, but the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean were ever offering refreshment. Plus, we had a kick-start to fitness after months of far too much eating (as food was often offered as a gift) and far too little activity (aside from picking up kids and walking around cities). So thanks, Malta, for the health. We even spent a day at the Blue Lagoon--home of quite arguably the clearest water on earth. Google it if you don't believe us. We are currently boarding a plane to Switzerland, where we will spend 4 lovely days with the Bests, while also reuniting with our dear friends, Tiff and Diana. So perhaps you'll hear more from us there before we hop back over the pond to South America. Hope all is well wherever you may be reading!

the stunning BLUE Lagoon

The streets of historic Mdina

The harbor in the capital city of Valleta.

Turkish Delights

Turkey has been a very pleasant surprise. It's not that we were expecting anything bad--we just didn't know what to expect at all. But as it turns out, Turkey (Istanbul specifically) is incredible. Moral of the story: if you ever have the chance to frequent this country, do it. Plain and simple.

As has become the norm, our time in Turkey has flown by. It has been a whirlwind with people coming and going (so great having you, Tristan and Jessie), and our 3 weeks are down to days. It's unfair to clump a people group, but we're going to do it anyway :). The Turkish people are surely some of the most kind and generous out there (we are the grateful recipients of small gifts almost every day). The language barrier has put us in our fair share of uncertain situations, but it helps to know that our Turkish friends are laughing with us and not at us (or so we think...ha). With the aroma of fresh-baked bread around every corner and servers hired specifically to shout the specialties as people pass by, the food is dangerously delicious (and cheap, so it's not easy to turn down).

As you might know, the city is unique in that it spans 2 continents--we are staying on the Asian side, so a ferry ride to Europe is not uncommon in our daily commute. Our home is in the heart of a local area and we absolutely love walking to get our produce (or to run any errand, for that matter) in the nearby shops, where the lively and friendly atmosphere is thick in the air. Our weeks are varied and quite exciting. While some of our time is spent giving moms a break from their tots by doing crafts and teaching English, we have also inspected hundreds of beautifully handcrafted necklaces and bracelets. Other days, we practice English with some lovely adults--and make friends in the process--what a treat!

With weekends off to tromp around Turkey, we have been awed and amazed by the beauty and history with which this country is rich. Not only have we seen most of the major sites in Istanbul (mosques, bazaars,and palaces galore), but we have also bussed it to Ephesus and back (that's right, folks--home of the Ephesians)! And now, as we write this, we are sitting at a picnic table amidst the mind-blowing landscape of Cappadocia; it is truly a one-of-a-kind place full of cave dwellings and underground cities (seriously, if you don't believe us, google image that business). Plus, we were given the gift of Australian parents for a day. Debbie and Peter, if you ever read this, you are one FUN and all too generous couple.

Tristan and one of our many servers turned friends

Corie and Taylor dwarfed by the stadium in Ephesus. Capacity: 26,000.

A little sample of the heaps of fairy chimneys and other-worldly landscapes of Cappadocia.  These things used to  be the homes of people!!

The waterfront of Kadikoy, just a short jaunt from our apartment and where we catch our ferry to Europe .

As we head into our last week in Turkey, the whirlwind continues with nearly every hour mapped out. We will be sad to leave our newfound love of a country, but the beaches of Malta are calling us (pity, we know). So merhaba from Turkey and thanks for reading. Pictures may come at some point. Just wait for it.

Leaving the Pearl Behind...with a little piece of our hearts

Our month in Uganda has come and gone; it seems like we were just settling in here and now we are getting ready to leave.  In our first weeks here, we were learning to roll paper beads with some seriously talented and hard-working women in the I Choose You Microfinance Program next door. Otherwise, we were walking through the slums of Namatala with kids grasping every finger (actually, though), visiting Taylor’s friends from years passed, and cleaning/dressing wounds.  We also painted a church blue.  Really blue. 

Corie and Tristan stand in front of our masterpiece, 3 days in the making

The last two weeks were spent with 109 precious souls at Lulwanda Children’s Home, and with the wonderfully loving staff that cares for them.  Since the kids were on holiday from school, we got to partake in a plethora of fun activities and outings.

We went swimming with the 48 singers and dancers from the home, which basically meant that we served as lifeguards and flotation devices, but the kids had a blast—splashing and being shuttled around the pool for hours.  We baked cakes in preparation for the quarterly Birthday Bash, where we celebrated with songs, sodas, and goodie bags for the birthday kids.  Several field trips were taken to St. Kizito Baby Home, where we held, fed, and bathed babies alongside the Lulwanda children.  Afterward, we were rewarded with ice cream from the local supermarket (and for those of you who know Tay, you know how fitting such a reward is). 

Corie and little miss Bondina, one of many precious babes at the Baby Home

Elated Ugandan kiddos look skyward to the beach ball they have flung into the air

During the last 5 days, Lulwanda hosted a Christian conference for youth; our job was to

clearly enjoying the task of baking cakes for their birthday friends

organize and play games with the kids from surrounding villages and to be an audience for the singing and dancing (let me tell you—much easier here where musical talent and rhythm is far more abundant than at home).  And aside from all these things, we squeezed in soccer matches and learned (well, tried to learn) the countless rules of the kid-created card games.  So from baking cakes to swimming to visiting a baby home and playing every afternoon, our time at the home has been nothing but joy-filled—and full of hugs and smiles.  The sun setting over the lush African landscape was a lovely close to each of our days spent with the incredible children here—all before journeying home down the red dirt (or mud, given it’s rainy season), pothole-filled roads that our friend and host, Natalie, navigated like a champ. 

As usual, pictures will probably be able to show more than we can say, so from the cameras of all 3 of us,here are some snapshots from our time in Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.  Enjoy.

Taylor and Shadia clapping and laughing away the language barrier.

Namaste, Nepal!

No amount of words or collage of photos could do justice to the things Nepal has allowed us to experience over the last 2 weeks. As with our other destinations, we went in without expectations (or so we thought). Nonetheless, our (lack of) expectations were blasted to pieces.

It all started when we found out that the school in which we were going to teach had closed, and not yet reopened. Surprise #1. The new school will be opening in a district far from Kathmandu, but for now, no students. No teachers. Surprise #2.

A day after our arrival in Nepal, the 4 of us (we happily acquired Tristan on our way from India to Kathmandu) hopped into an expedition vehicle, completely oblivious to the adventure ahead. Our 6-hour journey turned into a 15-hour haul, after we spent 3 hours stuck in the mud, another 3 awaiting a vehicle fit for the treacherous roads ahead, and many more hours winding up said roads at less than 10 km/hr (a crawl, for those of you who aren't familiar with kilometers). When we finally arrived, the sun was long gone. We knew we had gained elevation and had left civilization far behind, but the rest would remain a mystery until the sun shed more light on our situation the next morning. We were warmly welcomed with flower necklaces to the bamboo structure we would call home for the next 2 weeks. We got ready for bed with headlamps on, since electricity was non-existent (Surprise #3).

As it turns out, we are in a village called Nalpang, which is tucked in the terraced mountainsides just in front of the snow-covered Annapurna range. Instead of serving as relief teachers, we are the school's first teachers with a class that has more than tripled in number since Day 1. The fact that our classroom is the great outdoors, and that we have students aged toddler to pre-teen, makes classroom management trying at times (to say the least). They are hungry to learn, though, and are more beautiful than words can describe, so that makes up for a lot.

When we're not teaching, we are tasting Nepali dishes made by our lovely hostess, the headmaster's wife; she has seemingly signed on to the mission to fatten the Americans. We have also explored some of the surrounding villages, which has allowed us to experience the incredibly generous and hospitable culture of Nepal. Since arriving, the house did get light, so we spend our evenings playing cards, reading, or listening to the drumming and singing of our jubilant housemates. We have learned the Nepali way of washing clothes, doing dishes, and scrubbing feet, thanks to our new, resourceful friends. And we have enjoyed the thunderstorms--more so when they're not leaking through our straw roof onto our beds, but that's another story.

It's crazy that we will soon be on to Country #5. We think it's safe to say our experiences here will be unmatched in the next 4 months of our adventure. And so we say farewell to Kit (and Nepal) and hello to Africa! "Boom," says Tristan.

Once upon a time we saw a beautiful Nepali boy with a basket on his back, carried by a strap on his forehead. A moment later he was kneeling before us revealing its contents: this little guy. Can you believe that?!

Our dear students, sitting in their half constructed bamboo classroom, singing about the joy in their hearts.

The incredible view we had the pleasure of waking up to for two weeks.

Three of the cutest and coolest siblings we got to spend our time with.

Bonus!



The view of Burari neighborhood from our roof at dusk.

 Thanks to our tech-saavy compadre, Kit, here are a few snapshots of our weeks in Delhi :)

Tea time with our 12 favorite kiddos.



Enjoying a relaxing afternoon at a local man's vacation property with the beauties that reside at the girls home.




A friendly match of cricket at the boys home.



The kids armed and ready for Holi, a spring festival celebrated with paint and water.



Behold, one of the seven wonders of the world: Taj Mahal, Agra.



Delhi Ho!

Turns out, time continues to fly. It seems like we were just blogging from Mumbai, but our 3 weeks and Delhi are nearing their end. Next stop: Nepal. Our days here have been filled with adorable children, especially the 12 we are staying with. We pass our time by teaching English, singing songs, drawing and coloring and helping our new friend Rupali with her kitchen duties. We have become a part of the family, and it will be strange to not be woken by little voices whispering "sister, brother" through the crack in the door each day. We have been guests at different homes for different occasions, and let me tell you, the hospitality of the Indian people is second to none--we have enjoyed more than our fair share of chai, roti and other cuisines native to this place.

In addition, we have been shown some of the iconic landmarks of India, including the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Rajghat (Gandhi's burial place), and India Gate (google at will for a virtual tour :)). We also shopped among the masses in the sprawling markets that Central Delhi is comprised of. We have donned the cultural dress and jewelry of Indian women with the help of 15 young girls and sweet Rupali (Kit has pictures if you would like to see when he gets back), and we have played match after never-ending match of cricket with 15 young boys. The last few days have been stiflingly hot, but we enjoy spending the mornings and evenings reading, playing games, skipping rope and people-watching from the rooftop terraces that are common to each building in this neighborhood of Delhi. We plan to cherish our last 48 hours here before saying goodbye to the dear friends and playmates we have made.

As we speak, Corie's brother is heading our way from California. We will meet at the airport in Delhi and fly to Nepal together for a few weeks of teaching  English at a primary school in Gorkha.

But wait! Before we sign out from Delhi, here are some morsels about our time here from the third muskateer, Kit: once upon a time there was a small man in a large country, but it was ok, because all of the people were small, too. My time here in Delhi has been great! It has been amazing spending time with the kids and seeing the joy in their lives.  The New Life Mercy home is doing great things with these kids and it has been a blessing to serve and get to know all of the people that we have met.  Due to the aformentioned exceedingly great hospitatlity our stomachs have been seemingly growing larger by the day. They just shovel food down and steal your plate to pile it up with more. I think that it's a game to see how much they can make us eat.  Taylor thinks they took a before picture of us and are now going to take an after picture to see if they succeeded. I hope not, although the food has been delicious and sometimes it burns my mouth off when I eat it. Well, that's about all for me from this leg. As they don't say here in India, "G'day mate!"

A Glimpse of Mumbai...



One of the places the bus stopped to teach and feed kidlets.



Some little cuties we found as we rounded up kids from the village for lunch.

The lovely people that comprise the Vision Rescue team. visionrescue.org.in

Despite my best efforts, these are the only pictures I could get to load presently.

Perhaps more will cooperate at a later time :)

Mum-bye! :)

Well, folks, we're in India. Plus, we adopted a new travel buddy: Kit!  We have been met with the most hospitable and kind people one could imagine. Our past week in Mumbai has been spent riding in Vision Rescue buses, which visit slum areas to bring education and food to hundreds of children. The kids here are gorgeous and brimming with joy. It's not hard to get a smile or giggle out of them, and their little selves have made our days so fulfilling here. The organization's staff is comprised of beautiful souls, who teach and love these kids on a daily basis, and they have made us feel right at home from the very start.

In between all the fun with the kids and staff, we have had some unique opportunities. Look for us in Race 2 (an upcoming Bollywood film); thanks to our white skin, we were asked to be extras! But don't get too excited--after 12 hours of filming, we are unsure as to whether we even made it into 1 second of the film. Also, our new friend and tour guide, Michelle, secured our spots on a tour of Dharavi (the biggest slum in India, second largest in Asia). While the tour revealed many harsh realities about living in such a place, it also focused on the community's productivity and resourcefulness. They literally recycle everything imaginable, making an income off of what the rest of the city considers garbage. So much to see and learn in this city, so little time.

We are off to New Delhi on Wednesday after a couple more days with Vision Rescue. Stay tuned for more on our Indian adventure...

See ya, Sydney. Hello, Mumbai!!

We are en route to India, but wanted to tell you about our delightful time in Sydney this past week.  Since the Singapore airport allots 12 minutes of internet, we will get right to the point.  Our Aussie experience was very well rounded, from the hilarious and hospitable family we stayed with (the Wangs), to the kangaroos and koalas we befriended. The world renowned beaches did not disappoint, so we soaked in our fair share of the golden sun and roaring ocean surf.  The cushion that we started our travels with is deflating quickly, and tomorrow morning we will find ourselves encountering the most culture shock yet.  As we speak, Kit is also on his way to meet us in Mumbai, where we will spend our days teaching and playing with some beautiful little souls from the streets of the city of 21 million and counting.  We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for health and relief from the 90 degrees plus humidty.  And as we've warned, from here on out our updates will likely be fewer and further between.  Hoping that this update finds you happy wherever you are; thanks for tagging along.

A Town Fit for Queens

the remarkables rising out of lake wakatipu

For those of you wondering whether or not we ever made it off of the buses, we did! And we are now readying to fly out of this BEAUTIFUL country tomorrow. 

Lucky for you, Taylor here is chomping at the bit to tell you all about our bus ride to Queenstown.  So here we go, directly from my fine friend's mouth straight to your screen: "It was nice.  The four-day journey through this country offered an abundance of beautious sites."  The important point that she is holding from you is that there really are more sheep here than you could ever dream.  It was stunning, though, in all seriousness, and we are now finishing our week at our final New Zealand destination: Queenstown. 

a genuine NZ sheep

corie, matt, patricia, denise, keith and taylor by the beach on the southern-most point of NZ

the view from the first row of our speedy jet boat

Our lovely hosts here have been better tour guides than we ever could have hoped for at an information station.  It has been a treat to sit in the backseat of their car, and be informed of the landmarks here, as nonstop beauty passes by our windows.  They have taken us from places of untouched wilderness to the southernmost tip of New Zealand (neighbors with Antarctica!), where the beaches offer lovely gemstones and flopping flounders (Taylor stepped on one, so this part is definitely true).  We went jet boating, walking, running, and swimming.  Plus we made friends with perhaps the friendliest Swiss couple you will ever meet (currently staying with our hosts as well).  All in all, this has caused time to fly at warp speed, and we cannot believe we're wrapping up our last day in our first fabulous destination!  We're off to Australia tomorrow morning, and will be spending the next week in Sydney.  Thank you, New Zealand, for surpassing all of our expectations (high as they were).  Goodbye from us here for the last time!

Farewell, Auckland

Surprisingly (Byron), tomorrow marks our last day in Auckland.  Time has sure flown, especially with all the excitement and fun that has been packed into the last few days.  First, while wading in the beautiful Pacific Ocean, we had a little visit from some friends--KILLER WHALES!!  How exciting it that?! When we first spotted them, they were a little way out (maybe 100 yards), but we must have looked friendly enough, cause they came right in close and hung out for a while.  While Corie likes to tell people that we swam with them, worry not, we enjoyed their visit from the safety of the sandy beach.  It was surely a once in a lifetime experience--one we will not soon forget.
After a couple days of projects around the house (including, but not limited to, painting a storage space white), we set off down the windy road, camping supplies in tow, to explore a little beach called Piha! It's a popular, local surf beach known for its fine, black sand.  We pitched our tent at the lovely campground and trod off to bask in the sun.  The ocean breeze and coastal clouds kept the heat from scorching us.  After laying around for a bit, we climbed up Lion Rock--a lush and looming rock jutting out of the ocean--then we enjoyed a picnic dinner (Mexican style) in the sand.  After dark set in, we busted out our headlamps for the first time--we were the coolest campers around. 

When the sun lit up our tent the next morning, we jumped out of our sleeping bags and took off to see the famed Kitekite Falls.  We were encouraged when we discovered that we were on the Hillary Trail.  If we can follow in his footsteps here, why not try Everest next?  We wandered up the trail under the jungle canopy until we spotted the falls! Breathtaking to say the least.  If breathtaking is the least, you know it must have been exquisite.  Much to our surprise and amazement, the track didn't end there.  A couple minutes later, we found ourselves sitting on the rocks at the very base of the falls.  We can't say enough to do it justice, so we'll let a few pictures try to convince you. 

Excited about chasing the whales down the beach...Corie, Taz, Taylor

Our little home in Piha!

Our lovely host, Lucy, dropping us off for a weekend at the beach.

Hiking down (or sideways, it seems) Lion Rock.

Piha Beach

Kitekite Falls--Taylor excited to be in front of it.

And Corie enjoying the view, too.

We are off on a 4-day bus/ferry tour of the country tomorrow, stopping off in Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch, before arriving at Queenstown for our last week in NZ.  That's all for now!

don't get too used to this...

As promised, here are some snapshots of our time in New Zealand thus far.  Now, we know we have gone a little bit blog crazy up to this point, but that trend will definitely not continue through many of our less technologically advanced destinations.  So soak it up while you can :) Please enjoy this brief tour of Auckland and its surroundings.

 Corie and I at the foot of what Lucy calls "the storybook tree." "It's our favorite," says Corie.

 Us plus Taz and Meg--Lucy's daughters--atop the highest point of Devonport peninsula.

 Here's our view from the top...Auckland City in the background.

 Lucy's backyard BBQ preparations with a few friends.

 Corie stepping out on a lily-pad at the Wintergarden in Auckland.

Taz, Corie and Rory enthused in front of the Auckland Museum--packed with Maori history and relics, as well as "taxidermied" New Zealand critters.

To the city and beyond...

We've come to feel quite at home here in Lucy's place. We have our responsibilities figured out and have enjoyed some nice times with our new friends. We wake up never quite knowing what the day will hold--sometimes weed-pulling, sometimes spontaneous trips to Auckland city, and sometimes (much to Taylor's disappointment) a little jog around Konini. We've been amazed by our disappearing mosquito bites, then sun-triggered reappearance of them...what in the world is that about? But all in all, we are loving this beautiful and hospitable country.

On Friday (your Thursday), Lucy offered to take us into the city--how could we say no to that?? We were dropped off at the ferry building, where we sailed across the water to Devonport (a small touristy village), and hiked a hill to catch the most stunning view we've seen so far. The city on one side, the ocean/volcanoes/islands on the other. (Right here is where we would have inserted a picture, but it turns out that neither of us knows how. Sorry about that, but you'll have to use your imaginations for now). Aside from that, we've been on a couple of incredible runs. A little more uphill than the two of us fancy, but our angry legs have been (somewhat) remedied by the rainforest-like scenery that surrounds every home. Last night, we all enjoyed a barbecue at Lucy's (to get a taste of Kiwi tradition). Tay's highlight was the guacamole; our English housemate (Martyn) was more a fan of the rusty nails that Lucy served. We are happy here. Surrounded by great scenery and wonderful company. Hoping the same goes for all of you :). We'll check back again in a couple of days...

Sweet As

We have arrived at destination número uno: Konini, New Zealand. It's summertime!! Coming from winter, there is a shocking variety of green trees and chirpings things. Plus, we get to hang out with the ducks that waddle around at will. We have settled in to our own little room at Lucy's place. She is a wonderfully eccentric host with 3 kids, who are surprisingly welcoming to two gallavanting American girls. On day one, after a little jaunt to a nearby hillside (picturesque as can be) and tucked-away waterfall, we enjoyed dinner on the still-sunlit balcony at 7:30. It seems our duties for the next 12 days will include hanging laundry in the summer breeze, gardening in the sunshine and other tasks around the house. We are also looking forward to getting out and seeing the sights and enjoying the laid-back life that seems to be the norm here in New Zealand. We will keep you posted as we venture on :)
PS. pictures to come!

great to have you with us.

Hello, people!  And welcome to our blog :).

Now.  Don't go getting too excited in that seat of yours; our journey hasn't yet begun.  Right now, Taylor and I are both still sitting cozily in our homes in Colorado and California, spending our days doing things that most of you would be very uninterested in reading about (and rightfully so).  Come Monday evening, however, that will no longer be true--and THAT is why we are getting this going, and also why we are here to say that we are so glad to have you with us.

Since this is just the little introductory post, please don't expect too much excitement.  I just can't live up to the high standards, and would hate to disappoint you one by one.  What I can do, though, is get you prepped for the potentially exciting posts to come.  So with that said, here's the information you might need to feel included, should you choose to check in every now and again:

Over the next 7 months, Taylor and I (Corie) will be traveling to 10 different countries (the first bit of information you might want to know).  We are beginning in New Zealand, then heading to Australia, India, Nepal, Uganda, Turkey, Malta, Switzerland, Brazil, and (probably) Haiti--a few of our plans are still in the works.  In most of the countries, we will be spending our time volunteering (often at orphanages and in schools, but details on that will come later), and we are both truly humbled to have the resources to do so.  As we both love other cultures and people, this really is a dream come true for the two of us.  All in all, we are thrilled to begin a journey that has been in the making for a long while, and we are excited to share it with you.

For those of you who know Taylor, you know how great she is.  But for those of you who don't (my people), here are some of the basics:  born and raised in Colorado, LOVES snowboarding, takes way better pictures than I ever could, may not ever be able to have too many sweets, is easy-going and a joy to have around, and really is liked by pretty much everyone who meets her.  Obviously there's more to the girl than what I've said here, but you can piece all of that together on your own over the next 7 months :).

As for me, my name is Corie and I was born and raised in California.  I like things like picnics and hikes and other fun activities outside.  I don't love snowboarding, am more of the point-and-shoot photographer-type, and can definitely get sick from too many sweets.  If you didn't already pick it up, I also don't like talking about myself, so if you are really dying to know something else, just ask and I'd be more than happy to satisfy your curiosity.  Otherwise, we'll move on to our final point:

Like I have said multiple times, Taylor and I really are grateful for all of you and are excited to have you along on this journey.  We would like to give a disclaimer, however, and say the following: we're pretty sure that we both stink at this whole blog thing.  So.  Our commitment to you is that we will try our best to update when possible and with as much enthusiasm as we can muster.  On the other hand, please don't be too disappointed if our predictions about our non-blogging selves are more accurate than you were hoping.

Well, that's really all we have to say for now.  Thanks for being you and for caring enough to read this.  Talk to you soon from NEW ZEALAND!