Alissa's World Tour Continues...

I think I have a problem.  I can't seem to stay home for very long...  I can't help it.   I want to see as much of the world as I possibly can.

Two weeks after I went to Mexico, my mom and I went on a Caribbean cruise. We flew to Miami and from there went to Cozumel, Belize, Honduras and Grand Cayman.  Here are some pictures..

Getting ready to drive to the airport

Welcome to Miami :)

Excited to get to the port of Miami and board the ship

My impression of Horatio Caine

Waiting for our shore excursion

 The first stop was Cozumel, Mexico.  My mom wanted to go see some Mayan ruins so that is exactly what we did.  We took a ferry to the mainland of Mexico and went to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula.

On the ferry

 
 Belize was my favorite stop.  We got off the ship and found someone to take us snorkeling, we hopped on the boat and went to a small island that the locals call Gilligan's Island.  We hung out there for a bit before heading off on a smaller boat to snorkel.  My mom totally rocked it!  We had to jump off the side of the boat into the water and it was her first time snorkeling.   We didn't see to many fish but oh well, we got to see lots of coral :)  We snorkeled our way back to the beach where we hung out for another hour or so.

Our snorkel gear

Heading back to the ship

Next we went to Roatan, Honduras.  We decided to face our fears and go zip lining.  My mom and I both had lots of fun and would do it again.

No Hands!

The last stop was Grand Cayman.  It was the most "Americanized" of the places we went and my least favorite.  That is not to say that I won't ever go there again, I just probably won't seek it out.  My favorite shore excursion was at Grand Cayman even though I didn't much care for the island.

The first thing we did was take a half hour boat ride to a sand bar where the stingrays hang out.  We got in the water for about twenty minutes and then took the thirty minute boat ride back.  Mom enjoyed the Stingray City but I was a little bit disappointed, I felt like there were way to many people and not enough time in the water. Most likely I wouldn't do it again.

I'm glad that my mom was able to hold and kiss the Ray.

We also went swimming with a dolphin.  I have been in love with dolphins ever since I went to Hawaii when I was in the eighth grade.  The dolphin that we were paired with was Luna and she was so sweet!  First Luna gave us a kiss on the cheek then she gave us a ride on her belly.  It was awesome and I loved every second!  I will never miss out on an opportunity to interact with a dolphin.

After one more day at sea we returned to the port of Miami where we would stay for about a day and a half before we had to go back home to the cold.  There were two things that I wanted to do in Miami with such limited time; take an air boat ride at the Everglades and go to South Beach.  We did both.

mom and I got to sit on the front row of Taz (the air boat)

Builders Without Borders--Because I have been given much, I to must give.

My sister, Michelle, had been looking for a humanitarian/service project for a little while but everything she was finding was either too expensive or not the type of project she was looking for. One day a classmate mentioned that she goes with a group every year to Mexico to build houses.  This was right up Michelle's alley so she, her husband Steve and I signed up.

We arranged for a ride to Tijuana, Mexico and set off the day after Christmas. We stayed in Vegas for the night where we met up with most of the group. The next day we all drove to San Diego where we met up again to cross the border into Mexico.  It was fairly quick, they didn't even bother to look at our passports or ask what we were doing in Mexico-I guess they aren't that worried about who is going to Mexico....

On Friday, December 27, all 211 of us made it to the church where we would stay and began unloading all our things--both personal items and donations.There were so many donations; bicycles, clothing, suitcases, mattresses, kitchen stuff, etc.  The sisters from the relief society were there with homemade carne asada tacos for us. I had previously decided that I would have to take a break being vegetarian while in Mexico.  When in Mexico, do what the Mexicans do, right? 

Ordering tacos

There were various projects going on; repairing roofs, sewing, painting houses.  I was part of a crew that would be building a house from the ground up. 

What we had to work with

End of Day One

End of Day Two

End of Day Three

End of Day Five

The final product-now its up to the family to complete the rest

We built a house for Sylvia and Damian Soriano along with their three kids, Brandon(6), Lupita(4), and Brianna(2) as well as Sylvia's younger brother and sister, Guadalupe(11) and Antony(9).  

Brianna, Michelle y Guadalupe

Guadalupe was so sweet, every time we saw her she was taking care of Brianna.  At first she was very shy and didn't really seem interested in talking to us but my sister was persistent and she soon became our friend.  Antony was the best kid.  He would constantly poke my shoulder and then immediately tell me that someone else did it.  I guess that joke is funny in any language :)

I learned that the Soriano family lived in a different stake than where Builders Without Borders usually works but it was really cool to find out how we came to build them a home.  The Bishop of their ward emailed Chris, the guy in charge, and wanted to become a part of what was happening.  Chris told him that they had no boundaries and were happy to help.  Two weeks before we were set to leave Chris received another email informing him that the family the Bishop originally had in mind had left the city and he didn't know when or if they would be returning but he had another family in mind that needed a new roof.  He sent Chris pictures of the house, if you can even call it that, and Chris said we wouldn't build them a new roof, we are going to build them a house.  It was the Soriano family.  They were strangers when we first met but by the time the week was done they were family.  It didn't matter that we didn't speak the same language.

Michelle trying to explain to Sylvia that our Grandma made the blankets that we gave her

Hermanas Siempre

Sisters Forever

We worked on the home for four and a half days and were able to leave them with four exterior walls, a finished roof, two bedrooms, doors and electricity.  Now when it rains they don't have to get wet.

Our last night in Mexico, we had a devotional with the stake members.  Several people shared their testimonies and we sang Because I Have Been Given Much.  Because I have been given much, I to must give.  That is a very appropriate sentence considering we were all there in Mexico to share some of the things that we take for granted every day.  Every moment was worth while (even the ones when I was sick), you learn to appreciate the things that you do have when you see people who we might think have nothing be so willing to share the things that they do have with us.   

I shall pass through this world but once.  Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to another human being, let me do it.

                               -Stephen Grellet


 

Bienvenue à Paris

I have always wanted to just take off and go somewhere on a whim.  Recently I got the chance to do just that.  I received a text from my Aunt one day around 10:30 AM and four hours later we were heading to the airport to catch a flight to Paris, France.

We nearly missed our flight, having to run through the airport to catch it on time.  We, however were not the last people on the airplane.  After a quick 9 hour flight and a 45 minute train ride we were in the heart of Paris, we found the studio apartment where we would stay with the help of two nice French men, dumped our bags and headed straight to the Eiffel Tower. 

We were lucky enough to be able to see the Eiffel tower during the day as well as at night.  When we went up to the top, it was day; while we were at the top the sun went down and we returned to the ground to see the tower completely lit up.

My awesome aunt Janet and me

The view from the top

 La Tour Eiffel was constructed in 1889 and is 1,063 feet tall.  It was originally built as the entrance to 1889 World's Fair and was never meant to be permanent. Today it is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

The next day we went to Notre Dame, Musee de Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge...  We ate croissants, a crepe with Nutella and Macaroons.  We flew home the next day.  It was such a fun trip!  I think I'll stay a little bit longer the next time I go to Europe.  I am thinking Rome... After all I have been to London and Paris :)

Breakfast croissant 

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Unfortunately the Louvre was closed... Just a reason to go back :)

Sacre Coeur

Lunch at a Parisian Cafe

Moulin Rouge

Flying home in style--business class

Brownies

My mom and I decided to make brownies--I had been craving these yummy brownies with mint frosting and chocolate on the top.  We gathered all the ingredients together and lined them up on the counter only to realize that we didn't have an electric mixer.  We really wanted the brownies and decided to make the butter cream frosting by hand.  It took a long time and made my hand hurt but it was WORTH it!  Here is a picture of the final product :)

Making the frosting

 

Mormon Miracle Pageant

This June, I went with my mom, dad, grandma, sister and brother (in law) to Manti, Utah to watch the Mormon Miracle Pageant in front of the Manti temple.  The pageant tells the story of Joseph Smith and the beginnings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  

We played football at the park across the street before the pageant began

Living Planet Aquarium

Who doesn't like a good aquarium?  I know I do.  Since I live in the middle of a desert, my only option is the Living Planet Aquarium.  

Me with my Grandma and Sister

 The Aquarium has gotten bigger and better throughout the years.  The first time I went, it was located inside a mall and was very small.  They have since added a penguin section among other things with otters being the newest addition.  This time we even got to touch a shark!

Being Lions

I'm touching a shark!

Me and Grandma

We each had our interpretation of "Be a fish"

Foot Picture

Unfortunately when we were there the otters were all asleep so we did not get to see them play :(  Maybe next time...