My head has stopped spinning and I've finally settled down after traveling with Senerita and Senio. After one day in Los Angeles, we were on a plane to Philadelphia for the official launch of the KivaB4B program, (The launch party itself deserves a few pictures of its own, so I'll save that for another post). When we arrived in Philadelphia, we had a few hurdles to get over. For example, the escalator was a bit daunting, although the moving walkway was a treat.
Here's Senio braving the escalator. Senerita chose the steps.
After a dinner with Ami and Darren from Advanta, we set off the next day for a tour of the city with Karil Daniels, the independent filmmaker who was one of the original lenders to Senerita on Kiva. This was actually the first time that a Kiva borrower came to the US and met a Kiva lender. Karil met us for breakfast, camera in hand, documenting the occasion. After spending time talking and getting to know each other, the four of us took a trip up a skyscraper (the tallest building in Samoa is five stories), visited beautiful Rittenhouse Square and then set off on a journey to Fabric Row.
And then Fabric Row with Karil:
And the fabric shop:
Senerita was in heaven as she chose fabrics to bring back to Samoa. Senio stood outside and waited like a typical husband.
After I left Philadelphia, Senerita and Senio decided they really wanted to go see a Wal-Mart...Independence Hall didn't seem to capture their imagination. Combined with a Phillies game the next day and Senio's fascination with 75 channels on the hotel TV, they had a full course meal of American culture before leaving Philadelphia.
After a mass at St. Peter's Cathedral, they headed up to NYC with my brother as escort and took the requisite trip to the Statue of Liberty and the chachke stands in Chinatown to buy knock-off "gold" watches. This evening, they'll be attending SPBDs (Southern Pacific Business Development) fundraiser. I'll be picking them up tomorrow afternoon at the airport in LAX. Tomorrow evening, they'll meet up with Senio's brother who lives in Compton with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild. After nice hotels and big city tours, their week in Compton should give them a much fuller picture of the extremes in America.
Here's Senio braving the escalator. Senerita chose the steps.
After a dinner with Ami and Darren from Advanta, we set off the next day for a tour of the city with Karil Daniels, the independent filmmaker who was one of the original lenders to Senerita on Kiva. This was actually the first time that a Kiva borrower came to the US and met a Kiva lender. Karil met us for breakfast, camera in hand, documenting the occasion. After spending time talking and getting to know each other, the four of us took a trip up a skyscraper (the tallest building in Samoa is five stories), visited beautiful Rittenhouse Square and then set off on a journey to Fabric Row. 
Here's Senio and Senerita in Rittenhouse Square on a truly spectacular spring day.
And then Fabric Row with Karil:
And the fabric shop:
Senerita was in heaven as she chose fabrics to bring back to Samoa. Senio stood outside and waited like a typical husband.
After I left Philadelphia, Senerita and Senio decided they really wanted to go see a Wal-Mart...Independence Hall didn't seem to capture their imagination. Combined with a Phillies game the next day and Senio's fascination with 75 channels on the hotel TV, they had a full course meal of American culture before leaving Philadelphia.
After a mass at St. Peter's Cathedral, they headed up to NYC with my brother as escort and took the requisite trip to the Statue of Liberty and the chachke stands in Chinatown to buy knock-off "gold" watches. This evening, they'll be attending SPBDs (Southern Pacific Business Development) fundraiser. I'll be picking them up tomorrow afternoon at the airport in LAX. Tomorrow evening, they'll meet up with Senio's brother who lives in Compton with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild. After nice hotels and big city tours, their week in Compton should give them a much fuller picture of the extremes in America.
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