Day 2. Off To Brazil.

345 AM is extremely early, especially when Sierra wakes up in the middle of the night to sleep talk to you. haha Off to the Miami airport we waited in a very long line to check all our bags of luggage including the team bags that carried the Gatorade and medical stuff. Security went fast and before I knew it we were on the plane to Manaus. It was about a 5 hour plane ride and I was lucky enough to switch seats with someone to sit next to Sierra. We had a lot of time to talk and I feel like we bonded very fast. The plane ride consisted of naps, eating, talking and watching the movie "Running The Sahara". Ray, the founder of i2P is in the movie so it was a perfect pick and very inspirational.
We landed in Manaus and had to wait in the longest line ever to get through customs. Mainly because our luggage came out at a different carousel so we were like the last people in line. After that we had a few hours to kill before our next flight to get us to Santarem. All the adults got on the computer and Sierra and I fell asleep on the floor. Our flight was leaving soon and as we were trying to find out where to board (the airport wasn't big at all) all the employees kept telling us that the plane to Santarem wasn't our plane. It was the only plane leaving at that time and we weren't really sure what we were doing, but next thing I know Bob is out on the tarmac yelling to see if it was our plane. No security even tried to stop him. Fianlly we all ran out towards it and all the guy had to say was "my bad" haha. There were a few stops on the way to Santarem, but when we got there Ray and Shirley were there to greet and pick us up. We squished I think 8 people and about 12 or so bags into Shirley's SUV/blazer kind of care. I don't know how we did it but it wasnt very comfortable. Let's just say we all got very close very quick haha.
We ended up at a hotel in Alter do Chao, which
Shirley said was the closest thing to civilization before you hit the jungle. The USA part of the team got there way earlier than the Canadians so we had plenty of time to sorta through the rest of our gear and pack everything up. Our room had AC which was nice to have that luxury one last time before hitting the jungle and really roughing it! I also took my last "shower" before heading out that night and it was sooo nice! We had to be up early the next morning so we went to bed semi early, I didn't even hear the Canadians come in that night thats how tired I must have been. Before we fell asleep I remember mentioning how nervous I was to be on camera and how it was going to be the hardest thing for me communicating with all the kids and interviews and stuff. I have never really been on camera so I was obviously nervous. Last night in a bed, the next week and a half would be spent in a hammock!