Nakupenda, Kenya- Lessons Learned & Last Thoughts

6months. A half year has flown by and here I am getting ready to catch my flight back to the United States. Crazy! People keep on telling me that this experience was the opportunity of a lifetime. Looking back on it, I can only agree with them.

Even now, I still do not feel that I have fully processed the fact that I spent 6months in a 3^rd world country. To me, it feels like I’ve been away at a college and I’m just now going home for “break”. As soon as I land in the US, I know the questions will start coming.

“What did this experience teach you?”

“What was your favorite part?”

“What was it like?!”

“How is this going to change your life and how you live it?”

It’s hard to put into words exactly how Africa has changed me and my way of thinking. I know that there are many things I will not take for granted. I know that I learned priceless lessons about the value of work, family, friendship, and simplicity. However, I also know that it is very likely I will slip back into my old, comfortable ways. That is a thought I would rather not indulge in.

My main objective of this post is to answer some of these questions and in the best way I can pin point the things that made a major impression on me. No words or number of pictures or amount of storytelling can fully express my 6 months in Kenya. It is something you have to come experience for yourself. J

::Lessons Learned::

1.      Experience is the greatest teacher.:: My thoughts on life are that you learn more in the real world than in the classroom. I could read an endless amount of books and study maps of Africa, but classroom “book smarts” do not compare to the experience that is Africa. My past 6 months of “real world experience” has taught me priceless lessons about life and what is important to me.

2.      The Value of Family:: This is a two-fold statement. First of all, you don’t realize how amazing your family is until they aren’t around you 24/7. One of the hardest parts of this 6-month journey was missing out on major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas and not being at home to celebrate my family’s traditions. Furthermore, it was my first major separation from my twin. On the other hand, the importance people place on family in Kenya has deepened my appreciation for my loved ones back home, and after 6 months I’ve even come to consider the Benedictine Sisters as a part of my extended family.

3.      The Value of Friendship:: One thing I am constantly being reminded as the years pass is that I have world class friends! From the ones I talk to every day to the crazy, random friendships I’ve made over the years, I don’t know who I’d be without my friends. It was a huge blessing to be able to have Kate and Harris here to share this African adventure with. They both helped me so much. They have taught me to appreciate other people’s strengths and to do things I wouldn’t have thought possible (Mount Kilimanjaro!). They have been a great source of encouragement, laughter, and entertainment! We had our ups and downs, but overall I don’t think I could have been put with two better people.

4.      The Beauty of the Sisterhood:: This was a cool thought I had the other day…I HAVE SOOO MANY SISTERS!!! There are my 4 (blood related) sisters, my numerous ESA sorority sisters, and now my beautiful Benedictine Sisters! Each of these incredible groups of women have shown me what it means to be a woman of God and to be proud of the person I am. They have been there through laughter and tears, each contributing to my life in a different special way. I know that where ever I am in the world, I will always have this amazing network of women who will be behind me supporting, encouraging, and showing me what sisterhood and friendship really mean.

5.      Simplicity- Less is More!:: Africa has taught me that I CAN live with less. Living here and visiting people’s homes and being a part of the Benedictine community has taught me that it is the people in your life that matter most. You can surround yourself with wealth and material goods, but none of that will bring a smile to your face and warmth in your heart like a good friend or family member. One of Africa’s little mottos seems to be “If it’s not broken don’t fix it”. People here use things until they can use them no more and they are incredibly creativity and resourceful! I’ve realized I don’t need the “next big thing”. I don’t need the top of the line phone or the fancy car. All I need is to surround myself with good people who make me a better person. This is a lesson I really hope I don’t soon forget when I go home.

6.      The Importance of Tradition & Culture:: One of the really cool things about Africa is the way tradition and culture are still a very noticeable part of everyday life. The music, the dancing, the jewelry, the traditional clothing…all of these things set Africa part as a special place. I think it is important to remember where you came from. Traditions and cultural practices are a way of remembering your roots.

7.      The Importance of Work:: One of my favorite parts about being a missionary worker is all the different kinds of people I got to meet and work with. I have befriended security guards, cooks, waiters, taxi cab drivers, people of religious life, artisans, craft sellers, gardeners, nurses, teachers, mountain guides and porters, and an endless list of other interesting characters. Getting to know all these people and gain a better understanding of their professions has truly taught me the importance of work and vocations. I feel like at home in the US people often turn their noses up to people who do work that they would consider “beneath them”. However, the functioning of society is dependent on these hardworking people who do the little tasks that many would not eagerly pursue. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. We are called to different vocations. This lesson has taught me to accept my life calling with a greater enthusiasm and to show a greater appreciation for different professions.

8.      A Lesson in Vanity:: Being a “mzungu” in Africa can be a tough lesson in self-awareness. Being the subject of many curious gazes and random inquiries can drive a person crazy. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I wish I could blend in while simply walking down the street. It’s frustrating being the center of attention! You feel like everything you do is under scrutiny. What I have learned from this, however, is to not worry so much about my appearance and what people think of me. My thought lately has been that there will always be people who judge you or will give you a critical look over. Don’t let that keep you from going about your day and just being you.

9.      Time is Relative/”Pole, pole”:: It’s a well known fact in Kenya that everything runs on “African time”. People are not big fans of clocks around here! What I’ve learned from this and the motto “pole, pole” (“slowly, slowly”) is to take my time and not rush through life. Too often we are in such a hurry to get somewhere that we don’t stop and take in our surroundings. We’re so busy getting from Point A to Point B that we ignore the people around us. So the next time you are in a hurry, take a few minutes and take in your surroundings. Don’t miss out on life!

10.   “Do small things with great love.” (Mother Theresa):: What I’ve learned from my work in Kenya is that you should follow Mother Theresa’s example and do even the smallest things with great love! Whether you are feeding babies or mopping floors, remember that all of your actions are significant and in some small way affect your life and the people around you. We are not all called to be Nobel Peace Prize winners and Medal of Honor recipients…However, we are all called to be saints! Be grateful for the gift of life you have been given. Put your whole heart and soul into your work. People will notice the difference!

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro- "Piece of Cake!"

Mount Kilimanjaro

Of all the crazy opportunities and moments of accomplishment in my life, no words can adequately describe the feeling of victory, pure relief, and accomplishment I felt reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The idea to climb Kili was brought up by Harris back in May when we had one of our first BVC group meetings. I remember agreeing that it would be an epic thing to do while in Africa, but brushing it aside as a crazy pipedream. I mean come on…what normal people say “Why don’t we climb the tallest free standing mountain in the world for fun?!?”. However, upon arriving in Kenya, our plans to climb Kili went into motion and slowly became a reality. I guess it didn’t seem real until we started the hike and we got to the point where we could see the summit off in the distance. What was I thinking signing up for this?! And for my 23^rd birthday no less!!

This is my recap of the week I spent in Tanzania with Harris and Kate climbing the world’s tallest freestanding mountain and making a few really amazing friends along the way! I’m also going to include advice for any other insane people who are looking for an adventure of a lifetime!

Enjoy!

Pre-Kili

On Tuesday (February 5^th), Kate, Harris, and I got a taxi to the Silver Springs Hotel in Nairobi to catch the Impala Shuttle to Moshi, Tanzania. While waiting for the bus, we met a family from Canada- a dad and his two teenage daughters- who were travelling around Africa to visit the sites of the wells the girls had raised money for. They were a really nice family and it was great to meet other people who are trying to make a difference here in Kenya.

On the bus, Harris and Kate struck up a conversation with 2 Norwegian girls who were sitting next to us. One of the girls was travelling all over Africa as a part of her gap year and invited her friend to come with her to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. We found out they are more hardcore than us and were going to do the route that was known for being the most difficult. Very impressive if you ask me!

When we got to Arusha, we switched buses to get to Moshi. In Moshi, we were met by one of the Kessy Brothers who took us to their office. At the office, we talked to the main Kessy brother who discussed the schedule with us and helped get us pick out winter gear, hiking poles, and the necessities for hiking chilly Kili.

We took the 5day "Marangu Route" which is known as the more touristy route. However, the success rate isn't as high as the other routes since there is less time for acclimation.

Next, they arranged for a taxi to take us to the Neunu Hotel about a 5-10mins drive away. At the hotel, we settled into our rooms. We had dinner together and met 2 Italian men –Mateo and Andrea- who were also with the Kessy Brothers group. Around 9pm, one of the Kessy Brothers showed up at our hotel with a few pairs of boots for Harris to try on. Their dedication and attentive service was incredible from beginning to end.

After a game of cards, we headed to bed. My feelings were a mix between excitement and anxiety for the climb. I was excited because it was my birthday and I was about to go on the biggest hike of my life. However, I was also anxious about my limited hiking experience and the challenge of climbing a 19,000+ ft. mountain.

DAY 1- 1^st Day of Hiking & MY 23^RD BIRTHDAY!!!

We had complimentary breakfast at the hotel around 8am.

At 9am, the Kessy Brothers’ vans pulled up and we all made our way to the office before heading to the mountain base.

At the office, we met Paul (our head guide) and Baracka (our assistant guide).

The drive to the check-in area took about an hour or so. We picked up some of the porters along the way. We arrived at the Welcome Center around 10:30am.

It took about a half hour to check-in and wait for the porters and everyone to be ready to start the climb.

We began hiking at 11:11am. I remember this since it was such an epic time to start the hike! We started off with Baracka leading us “pole, pole” (“slowly, slowly”) through the jungle-like part of the trail. On the trail, we passed some boys who showed us a baby chameleon on a stick, which was pretty cool. We also saw some monkeys in the trees!

Oh Hello, little monkey!

Around 12:30, we stopped for a lunch break. Harris finished early so he and Baracka went ahead. Kate and I were then passed to Paul.

Lunch Day1! The food was great the whole trip!

Paul was really great all of Day 1. We talked about his training to be a guide and about the time he forced his parents to climb to the summit. He made sure we stopped every hour to drink water. I felt like a camel! I’m not used to drinking a lot of water regularly, so drinking 3liters a day was a lot for me!

Day1- Arrival at Mandara Camp!

We made it to the 1^st campsite called Mandara around 3:30pm. Harris and Baracka had already been there for over an hour. What can I say? We take “pole, pole” very seriously!

We had tea break and popcorn around 4. After tea break, Baracka took us on a mini-hike to see the Maundi Crater.

Cool wispy trees. :)

Maundi Crater in the background.

5:30pm- Dinner. Every night dinner began with some kind of creamy soup followed by vegetables, some source of meat or protein, and finished with fresh fruit.

That night Kate, Harris, and I hung out in the dining hall and talked to people. We talked with the Arusha guides about climbing Kili and cracking jokes. They are a funny bunch! I spent some time talking to Mateo about my travels in Italy and about the different trips he has taken with his best friend Andrea. Before going to bed, we all went outside and hung out with the Canadian/Holland group. Of any of the people we met, they were my favorite! There was Hilly and her 13 year old daughter who became the youngest Canadian female to climb Kili. There was also Hilly’s sister Nell and their other friend who were both hilarious. The final member of their little group was Bob, a Kenyan in his 30s who was acting as their tour guide and translator. They were such a fun and enthusiastic group to share this experience with.

On a final note:: The stars were so surreal at night!! Nothing could beat the sunrises, sunsets, and stars on Kili! So beautiful!

DAY2 – Mandara to Horombo (3,720m)

7am- Wake up

7:30am- Breakfast of porridge, papaya (“popo”), fried eggs, toast, hot dogs, and veggies

Our Italian friends, Andrea and Mateo, starting the DAY2 Hike. :)

8:15am- Paul started us off on the trail to Horombo! The beginning of the hike began very quiet with minimal talking.

Every day is picture day! :)

About a 1/2hr into the hike, Baracka showed up. He and Harris ended up going ahead since they are really fast. Kate and I took the “pole, pole” pace with Paul. I guess in our case we went “pole pole pole pole”! We were very slow walkers! However, I think it really helped us acclimate going at a slower pace.

11:45am- We made it to the halfway point for lunch. Kate and I sat with Karina and Aliya who are from Kazakhstan. Karina is really sweet. She struggled the whole trip with the hiking, but she was always very positive and kept trudging on. She said she had done a 3 day hike in Tibet a few years back, but this hike was very difficult for her. Her uncle was the about 80 year old Kazakhstan man who smoked at least 2packs of cigarettes a day! This man was such a champ! We often would see him starting the hike on his own and watch in amusement as his guide would race to catch up to him.

12:30pm- We began hiking again with Paul. We saw some cool trees and flowers. A little mouse/chipmunk hybrid ran across the path. Paul said it is a mouse but I prefer to call it by a more accurate name- “CHIPOUSE”!

The porters are so hardcore!!

Horombo here we come!!

2pm- Kate and I reached Horombo! Harris called out to us from the rocks to let us know he already signed us in and got our hut.

We had tea break around 3pm and dinner at 6:20pm.

After dinner, Kate, Harris, and I hung out in our hut, played some cards, and cracked jokes. It was quite amusing all sharing a little hut for the week. I think it made for good bonding time for the three of us!

DAY3- Acclimation Day at Horombo

Day 4 was a really laidback, chill day. We woke up for 8:30am breakfast and went on a short hike to the Zebra Rocks. We took some pictures and then climbed up a little further to acclimate. It was a great feeling just hanging out up on the hill and looking out and seeing the “Road to Kibo” that we would be taking the next morning.

Zebra Rocks!!

Harris & Baracka & friends :)

We got back for lunch around 12:30am.

Up until this point, I had been feeling great! The hikes were relatively easy and I wasn't too sore. However, after lunch I felt like I got hit by a freight train! I’m not sure exactly if it was the food or the altitude or both. 
However, the rest of the day I spent either in bed or in the bathroom throwing up every hour. It was ugly. I felt like death. It was definitely not how I wanted to spend my “day off”.

Harris and Kate were really great and tried to make me feel better. Harris brought me limes and hot water that Paul suggested would make me feel better. In typical Harris fashion, he also figured that reading me jokes would cheer me up which I admit definitely made me feel less gloomy.

The real kicker of the night was when Harris dropped his huge size 16 leather hiking boot on my head. As Kate said, “If she didn’t have a headache before…she does now!”. The way DAY 3 was going it only made sense that it continued to get worse and more ridiculous as the night went on.

I remember all I could think before going to bed was "This is awful. As long as I make it to Kibo this trip will be worth it.".

DAY4- Horombo to Kibo

After throwing up all of  the contents of my stomach and not eating for a whole day, DAY 4 was also a rough day for me. The hike itself wasn't so bad. It was mostly flat with a few gradual inclines. However, the lack of food and constant nauseous feeling did not put me in the most chipper “Go get them!” mood.

Fortunately, Baracka decided to carry my backpack for me and Harris became my walking buddy for the day. Although I wasn't feeling well, it made it easier not having the extra burden of my backpack and having someone distract me the whole walk. Seeing the Norwegian girl also struggling with altitude sickness made me feel like less of a pathetic human being. Climbing Kili is no joke, people! It is no walk in the park!

About halfway to Kibo.

Kudos to Harris for being so awesome and pushing me up the final hill to Kibo! I honestly think I would have just given up and sat on the ground somewhere if he didn't force me to keep going.

We arrived at Kibo around 4pm. It was snowing and I was absolutely exhausted. I collapsed on a rock and waited for Kate and the guides to get there while Harris registered us.

We got placed in Cabin #2 with our Canadian friends! Even though I felt sick, it was really great to share a cabin with people we knew. Everybody was in high spirits and very chatty.

FUN FACT:: "Kibo" means "I admire". :)

One of the things you come to realize while hiking is that you are not in this alone. Getting to know the other groups with us really helped me realize that I was not the only one who was anxious about the final summit climb. Regardless of experience and physical fitness, everyone shared the same concerns about being able to reach the summit. One blog I read said it the best: “The mountain is the great equalizer”. It didn't matter whether you climbed one mountain or 50 before coming to Kili…We were all susceptible to the same elements. We all had to face the same rigorous climb.

I spent most of the night curled up in my sleeping bag. I didn't have much of an appetite and really wasn't feeling social. Looking back, I wish I had just sucked it up and spent more time with everyone else. However, all I can remember is how exhausted I felt and absolutely dreading the idea of getting up in a few hours for the summit climb.

DAY5- SUMMIT DAY!!

Wake-up call came all too soon at 11pm. Around 11:30pm, we sat down for tea and crackers.

There was this crazy feeling of energy and anxiety in the room. Everyone was rushing to get all their gear on and to prepare themselves for what was sure to be the most difficult climb of the week. To the summit we go!!

Most of the groups started sometime around midnight. I probably looked like a chubby Eskimo in all my gear! On my upper body I had on a tank top, spandex coat, Batman t-shirt (Because Batman is AWESOME!), a zip up jacket, ESA sweatshirt, and my huge red parka. I also wore 4 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of pants, snow gloves, and later on in the climb I put on my balaclava face mask thing. The amount of clothing was quite excessive! The beginning of the climb I felt way overheated. However, the extra layers were definitely worth it when we got to the freezing, windy summit.

Now this is the embarrassing part of the blog where I admit that I was on the edge of quitting 15mins. into the climb. The combination of barely eating, feeling overheated, and having the constant urge to throw up was not a pleasant one. After stopping a few times and having a “STOP CRYING!” talk with Paul, I realized that there was no turning back! Baracka took my backpack and put me in the front behind Paul and we continued the hike. That was the end of my complaining. Forward march!

After about an hour or two, the altitude hit Kate. She had a really bad headache and was also vomiting on the side of the path. Paul- being Paul- told her to stop crying and kept force-feeding Kate and I chocolate and energy bars.

Alas alas! Our little group trudged along, zig-zagging our way up the mountain! To my surprise, we ended up passing a lot of the groups. The first 3 hours were not so bad- just slow progress ("pole, pole, sana, Bwana"). Right before Gilman’s Point is where the climb got very challenging. We reached this point in the climb where we were practically rock climbing up to Gilman’s Point. I remember thinking 2 things: “THIS IS NOT A JOKE!” and “Kili is God’s jungle gym!”. It was at this point that I had my 2^nd wind and an empowering moment of “I’M GOING TO CONQUER THIS MOUNTAIN!” (not in those words exactly haha). Having made it that far, I knew I could keep pushing myself the rest of the way. There was no turning back! It was all onward and upward!

Looking ahead, I remember seeing cameras flashing but not really processing the fact that we reached our first major check point. When we reached Gilman’s Point I remember being so relieved and shocked that we  made it there. Everyone was hugging each other and congratulating one another. Paul hugged Kate and me and told us how proud he was. He told us that we would have to keep going to make it to the summit so that we could take our pictures with the pictures we brought with us of our twins/families. I remember turning to Baracka and telling him how surprised I was that we made it that far. I don’t think I would have made it that far or farther to the summit if Baracka hadn't taken my backpack.

After a few minutes rest at Gilman’s Point, we started hiking through the snow around the mountain towards the summit. At this point, I was feeling a lot stronger and more confident that we would make it to the top.

As we continued hiking, it got colder and the wind became stronger the closer we got to the summit. I remember thinking how beautiful and sparkly the snow looked. It seemed ironic that I had to go to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to see snow this year.

The final stretch from Stella’s Point to Uhuru Peak was exhausting and endless. I would make 10-15 steps and then have to stop for a short period to catch my breath and regain my determination to keep moving forward. It was torture when we finally saw the summit sign from a distance but still had about 20-30mins to go before reaching it. That final stretch I kept repeating the names of everyone in my family between brief rest stops. I had to remind myself that reaching the summit would enable me to add my name to the list of people who had already made this climb- Claudina, Sr. Heriberta,...and oh ya Jessica Biel! If they could do it so could I! I was so tired but I knew I couldn't stop. Once again, I had Paul and Harris beside me trying to boost my confidence and push me forward.

6:20am- WE REACHED THE SUMMIT!

When we reached the summit, I went a few steps then just collapsed on the ground. I was totally wiped out. Paul made me get up to take pictures since we only had about 15mins at the top since it was in the negative degrees.

VICTORY!!!!!!! :)

My inspiration! O'Malley fam pride! <3

Tebowing for MC!

Unfortunately, because of the freezing weather and the people in front of us, we didn't have a lot of time to take pictures. It was so cold my camera battery froze after a few minutes of exposure to the elements. However, I don't think pictures would even do the view justice! The sun coming up and the glaciers surrounding us were breathtaking! It was definitely one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. Moments like this continue to remind me of the beauty of God’s creation. I think it would be difficult for someone to climb Kili and not believe in God. Just a thought…

The worst part about reaching the summit is the realization that you have to climb all the way down! This was the main reason I really didn't want to do the summit climb in the first place! Hiking down was a slow and careful process. Since the sun was out, the ground was no longer frozen. This caused the ground to be really soft which led to us slipping and sliding our way down. I admit I fell a number of times. It didn't take an hour to get up the mountain and it certainly did not take an hour to get down!

When we got back to Kibo around 9:30am, we all took a nap for about 2 hrs and then woke up for some lunch.

Right after lunch our porter bags were packed up and we started out for Horombo!

The hike to Horombo wasn't so bad. Since we were going downhill it was much faster than our way up.

See that peak in the background?? I CLIMBED THAT! ;)

We made it to Horombo around 3pm. We had tea and then went to the hut to rest until dinner.

After dinner, we were all so tired and sore. We went to bed around 8:30pm or so after doing our daily video recap.

DAY6- Final Hike to the Bottom!

I woke up the morning of DAY 6 and all of my muscles were so sore!

We had breakfast at 7:30am and then began our final descent shortly after.

Sunrise at Horombo DAY 6

Starting out was slow going because my legs were dead. Harris ended up cruising ahead while Kate and I trudged along in the back with our headphones in. I ended up getting into a good walking mode and walked ahead of Kate and Paul until we reached Mandara.

At Mandara, Kate and I went to the bathroom and I took off my extra layer of yoga pants.

Leaving Mandara, I put my music on and started speed walking down the mountain. I quickly lost sight of 
Paul and Kate and ended up between two groups of porters. Since the porters walk wicked fast, I was moving quickly down the mountain. I reached the point in the trail where the porters and hikers split off and was pointed in the right direction by a porter named Joseph.

Off I went, racing down the trail, jamming to some Taylor Swift! I figured since I made it to the summit I earned the right to rock the walking poles and sing out loud for all the forest monkeys to hear! :)

When I reached the lunch break spot about 2 hrs from the trail exit, I started sprinting down the mountain, walking poles and all! I’m pretty sure all the hikers I passed thought I was insane as they hiked “pole, pole” up the trail. At this point, I was just ready to be done!

About halfway down, I caught up to Harris and Baracka. They looked shocked to see me running towards them brandishing walking poles. I guess I looked pretty ridiculous.

Harris and I ended up racing to the exit. I think if his legs weren't so long I might have had a chance! Oh well. :p

We made it to the exit around 12:30pm. We were HOURS ahead of schedule! Kate and Paul joined us only a half hour later. Kate was mad at me for rushing because it caused Paul to rush since he was afraid he would get fined for me leaving the trail with no guide. Luckily, it all worked out so that we all exited with a guide.

Team Kessy Brothers! With our guide Paul. :)

We signed out at the desks and then walked down to this little restaurant where Joseph made us lunch.

Around 3pm, we reached the Kessy Brothers’ office. We dropped off our gear and took some pictures and then headed two blocks down the street to sit for a beer with Baracka and Paul.

Kate, Paul (guide), Harris, Baracka (assistant guide), & Me proudly displaying our certificates! :)

We were all exhausted and ready to be back at the hotel, but it was good to sit and “celebrate” with our guides even if none of us were in a very chipper mood.

We climbed THAT! ;)

After our dirnks, we said our good-byes and got a taxi ride to the hotel. Kate and I panicked because our bag of extra clothes was locked away in a storage closet and the lady at the front desk didn’t have the key.

We ended up getting our bag back during dinner when the other lady came in for work.

After resting a bit, we all hobbled our way to the bar. Kate and I shared a bottle of Tanzanian Alta red wine. 

We all hung out and watched this BBC adventure channel.

10pm We went to bed.

DAY7- Heading Home to Nairobi!

The taxi picked us up at 6am. We took the Impala Shuttle from Moshi to Arusha and then Arusha to Nairobi.

There was a really cute baby on the bus! There was also a really annoying business woman who would not stop talking!

I spent the last 2hrs of the ride taking the braids out of Harris’ hair. His hair kept falling out. It was ridiculous.

We arrived in Nairobi around 3pm. Kate and I got a taxi and Harris hurried off to get his Visa.

We arrived back at the convent around 4pm with plenty of time to relax before vespers.

I spent about 3 days completely sore, limping from my apartment to the convent like a 90year old lady with a walker. But now I am finally 100% back to normal!

::Final Thoughts/Comments/Advice::

1.      I completely endorse The Kessy Brothers for anyone interested in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. They were extremely helpful and easy to work with beginning to end! They supplied all our gear and arranged for all of our rides and the hotel. The food was excellent and our guides were AWESOME! Definitely look them up if you are interested!

2.      Get to know the people in the other groups. The best part of climbing Kili was the camaraderie between the groups. I got to meet so many cool people from different countries. It was great getting to know them and finding out why they were climbing. Especially during the last few days, it was such a great realization that I was a part of such an awesome group of people. The support and encouragement I received especially when I was sick was the extra push I needed to complete this climb.

3.      You don’t need to be an athletic prodigy or a hiker extraordinaire to climb Kili! Most of the people (myself included) were you’re typical everyday people. As long as you are semi-fit and not a couch potato you should be ok. As for me, I have very little hiking experience and I made it to the top. On the last 2 days o the climb your determination is what will get you to the top.

4.      Days 1-4 are relatively easy. You won’t need your hiking poles. Save them for the summit climb. Once you've made it to Kibo, feel free to sport your walking poles with pride on your way to the summit and on your way down!

5.      DIAMOX! Get it!! I really think that it made a huge difference in adjusting to the altitude.

6.      WATER! Drink lots of water! We had to drink at least 3liters a day. You feel like a camel, but I was told it is important to help your body adjust to the altitude and also because you will be doing so much hiking you need the water to stay hydrated.

7.      SUNBLOCK! One of my biggest mistakes was not applying enough sunblock during my week on Kili, resulting in bad sunburns on my arms, neck, ears, and face. Think about it. At such a high altitude you are directly exposed to the sun. Make sure to reapply it every day especially on areas such as your arms, neck, face, and ears.

8.      Pack light! I say this for 2 reasons: 1. After 2-3 days everyone smells bad. This isn't “Miss Kilimanjaro”, ladies! Ditch the make -up and matching hiking gear and stick to the basics. 2. The poor porters have to carry all your crap UP and DOWN the mountain on their HEADS! Now, I don’t know about you, but I think I would just about die if someone told me I had to climb Kilimanjaro while toting 50+lbs of stuff! Be merciful & sensible, people!

9.      WET WIPES. They will be your best friends! Trust me. When you are freezing your butt off and shivering in your little sleeping bag, the last thing you will want to do is make your way to the bathroom to freshen up or *GASP* take a cold shower. No, siree! Keep it simple. Wet wipes are the lazy man and the cold hiker’s saving grace…that and strong deodorant!

10.  Take lots of pictures & Journal. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Take advantage of it! In the end you will be glad that you documented your trip and proud of how far you came. Don’t be afraid to ask your guide or travelling companions to stop for a group picture or 2.

11.  Talk to your guides. The guides are incredible! It is crazy to think that they do this climb a few times a month. Remember that this journey is as much about them as it is about you. They are the ones who will be with you every step of the way. They are the ones who will be telling you that you can do it even when you feel like dying or turning back. They have a lot of experience and a lot of cool stories they can share. Also, talk to guides from other groups. Our group became good friends with the Arusha guides who were really funny and supportive.

12.  Do the climb with your friends! It was really awesome to be able to do this climb with Kate and Harris as the last final event of my 6months here. I really think that the mental and physical challenge of the climb helped us to grow as a group. It put us in a position where we had to be each others’ cheerleaders. We all knew how difficult the climb was. I think the challenge of climbing Kili brought out our strengths and weaknesses and gave us the opportunity to spend more time together.

13.  Be a cheerleader and not the grim reaper!! The biggest reward after making it to the summit (in my opinion) was being able to cheer on all of the people making their way up the mountain. Although I knew they had a difficult climb ahead of them, it was good be able to be the one on the other side, encouraging and telling them they could make it to. After all, no one wants to be told “it was HELL!”  or “Turn back now!”…which is what several of the groups told us on our way up!

14.  TIP YOUR GUIDES & PORTERS!! These incredible people are the ones who made this epic journey possible. Compliments and thanks are greatly appreciated. However, remember that this is their livelihood and they depend on your generosity to support themselves and their families especially during the off-seasons. As our company told us, tip according to service. You can ask your company what is an appropriate amount per person. ALSO, feel free to give the guides and porters t-shirts, socks, water bottles, and things of that nature at the end of your trip. Our porters were happy to receive the extra things we didn’t feel like taking back with us.

15. Enjoy every moment of the adventure! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Take your time ("pole, pole") and really take it in!

Good luck to anyone who decides to take on the challenge of Kili! If you’re looking for further advice, I suggest you read other blogs and check out videos on Youtube for a greater perspective!

::Random Quotes::

“Piece of cake!” ~Paul and Baracka’s description of how hard it is to get to the summit.

“I heard that if you make it to the summit you lose 20lbs! I’m going to be sooo skinny!!” ~13yr old Jordan’s mom, Hilly….I don’t think that is necessarily true but you will lose weight!

“Victory!!” ~80yr old Kazakhstan uncle as we passed him on our way back to Horombo

“I was practically unconscious!” ~ Japanese boy’s thoughts about making it to the summit

“I feel like I’m training for Belmont Abbey wrestling…” ~My thoughts to Harris on the way to Kibo

"This is a mess! I need a wife!" ~awkward French Canadian guy who slept in the bunk above me

"Uh oh! She's got her Batman shirt on! She means business!!" ~Kate upon seeing me in my Batman shirt for the summit climb. lol