Emmanuel's Visit Day 5

Day 5, November 5th 2011: Today Emmanuel and I went bowling with a few of my friends. When all skipped into the alley overjoyed and excited. The tall blond girl at the front desk told us to pick out our bowling balls then head over to the lane. Emmanuel picked out a bright red one that glowed in the dark! We all picked out our bowling balls then started the game. Emmanuel went first. He looked at the bowling ball and then rolled it off the giant alligator ment  for the little children to use. My friends looked at me in amazement when Emmanuel got a strike. Emmanuel, thinking that this was a bad thing, looked back at us in sadness. The game continued like this. Every single time Emmanuel got strikes and every time the whole group was surprised! After loosing the game to a first timer we decided to go home since Emmanuel had to leave the next morning. We said goodbye to every one and left the alley.

Emmanuels's Visit Day 4

Day 4, November 4th 2011: Today Emmanuel, John, and I went to The Wilcox Property to go for a walk. We were about half way through our walk when Emmanuel spotted a luscious pink rose bush. He breathed in the strong sweet smell then asked what they were. John and I looked at each other in amazement. How could someone not know the almost addictive smell of a rose!We explained to him that a rose was a sweet smelling flower that many people never stopped to smell them. A bewildered look appeared on his face. "How could someone not stop to smell these!" he said we laughed and continued walking. As we walked and talked about Ghana Emmanuel's eyes filled with sadness. John and I could tell that he missed his home town very much so we changed the subject. We explained to Emmanuel about SBMS and about our bike trips. We talked and talked until we got to the giant rope swing at the end of the trail. After many MANY swings we decided to go home because it was getting late. We went right to bed when we got home to rest for next action packed day!

Emmanuel's Visit Day Three

Day Three, November 3rd 2011: Emmanuel Sunk his teeth into the juicy IN 'N' OUT burger we got him. Greece dripped off of his lips onto his red shirt. I looked at him amazed at how someone could enjoy a burger that much. He grabbed a french fry and you could see the sensation of the smell run through his body. We sat for about an hour on the Santa Barbara Pier enjoying our burgers, fries, and vanilla shakes before walking to the sea center at the end of the long wooden Pier.  Emmanuel's eyes followed the door as i slowly opened it. I too was amazed at the gently hand painted sea creatures spread across the wide sliding door. I immediately ran for the touch takes, which were up stairs, because i knew Emmanuel would love them. I rolled up my sleeves and emerged my hands into the piercing cold water. Emmanuel put his hands in the water right after left with a reasured look on his face. I picked up a frightened sea urchin and put it in his hands, it was his first and last animal at the sea center to be in his hands. He did not like it at all. We decided to leave and go home to relax and get ready for the next day.

Emmanuel's Visit Part 2

Day Two, November 2nd 2011: Today Emmanuel and i went to go visit Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch. When we arrived Emmanuel danced right out of the car with excitement. I ran after him straight to the huge pumpkins. I stopped amazed to see what Emmanuel was doing. His lips and nosed were carefully pressed down on the smooth skin of the giant monster of a pumpkin. I watched for what seemed like hours Emmanuel smell and feel the pumpkin. Emmanuel stood up in a dazed and confused way liked he had been asleep. "It's beautiful Dia" he said I smiled at him and told him to pick the pumpkin and squash he wanted then we could go in the corn maze. Emmanuel nodded his head and ran to the pumpkin that grabbed his attention first. He picked it up and rubbed its orange blanket and green stem. The squash he picked was a bright yellow and very long. When we were done picking plenty of pumpkins and squashes Emmanuel followed me into the craziness of the corn maze. After running into many dead ends and squashed corn we finally found our way out. Emmanuel and I were exhausted! On the ride home we fell right to sleep like toddlers after a long day of play.


This was the  two pumpkins and squash Emmanuel fell in love with.

Emmanuel's Visit Day One

Day One, November 1st 2011: When Emmanuel and I arrived at Henrys beach a small smile appeared on his lips. I watched him as every step we got closer to the water the smile grew and grew. When our toes enclosed in the wet sand by the shore the smile transformed into closed eyes and heavy breathing. After about five minutes of joining him in deep breaths I reached for his damp hand and we plunged to the bottom of the ocean. We soon arrived at the surface dripping and splashing. We got out of the ocean and dried our salty bodies to go on a beach walk. The two of us walked hand in hand all the way down Henry's Beach. Dragging our toes in the sand with every stride. After the long walk we returned to the car and drove home. I wanted to share The ocean with Emmanuel because it is one of my favorite places to be.

This is what our walk on the beach looked like.