"Hello hello, I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello"

Hello blog!
I think this may be the longest i've gone without blogging since I got this. I hope all of you readers have been well. I had an AMAZING, much needeed vacation. I had the best of times on it and I'll never forget it. I decided to share the story of my whole trip with you through this blog so here it goes.

I left kansas at 6:00 pm to head to chicago midway airport then maryland. My flight got delayed, at chicago so by the time we arived to Maryland it was like midnight. Our gps got us pretty lost heading to my cousins house but around 1:30 we arrived. My aunt and uncle were up along with my cousin Neema. It was good to see everyone and we went right to bed. We woke up early the next morning to get ready for the main event. The graduation of Neema Maud Innocent and Nabil (secret middle name) Abdulla. The graduation was at college park at the university of Maryland. Keeping true to our familys ways we were late and missed the beggining part but made it at the time where the speeches started. The speeches were good and the names began being called. Both Neema and Bill did end up graduation along with a TON of other kids. Their school was like 100% black. There was not a single person of other color that I saw. That was new to me because there isen't a single school in lawrence like that. After awhile all the people started looking the same. They all had in weaves, curled at the bottom. They all wore basically the same white shoes and did the same things.

After the graduation was over we went outside and IMEDIATLY saw other african people. Thats D.C. for you. Half of Tanzania lives there. There was another boy from there graduation, he was kinda cute but was with his family. His aunt happens to be my godmother :) After getting past that big group we finally saw my Uncle Sunday with Bill and Camille. Bill looked SO happy. Heres some pics...




inside the graduation




The four cousins, Camille, Bill, Ben, and Me



The cousins and their fathers




Two graduates, Neema and Bill




My mom and the graduates



Neema and her mom


Family Picture

It took a long time till we finally found Neema, like an hour. Her parents had to bring her over to us and she left like within 5 minutes. She was so busy, we didn't even get to take a picture of her in here robe... As soon as she was done taking a couple pictures with us she went straight to her best friend who was graduation in an hour and helped her get ready then they went off together. We all drove home except for bill and family who had other plans. We were techically at a little celebration for neema but there was no neema there. Eventually uncle sunday came, hung out a little then took me and ben to bills house for his little celebration. Bll was home so I got to hang out with him and camille. We had a great time, lots of laughs. Camille told me all about her school and hereself. We had such a good time she reminded me of myself at her age. She dosen't look like me but hse likes the same things I used too. She told me about all her little crushes :). It was some good times. By the time we left Bill's it was night time so we headed back to Neema's, all of us together and hung out there for awhile. They left and we all just chilled preparing for the next morning. Heres some pictures from bill's "celebration".




Bill with his diploma



Bill with the medal and his diploma








The kodak moments continue



song of the day: Hello Goodbye- The beatles, and We are the world (Neema and Bills graduation song)

quotes of the day: A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that "individuality" is the key to success. ~Robert Orben

Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference. ~Arie Pencovici