Travelog for: Lorca

Hi Mum,

I was so happy to hear from you.



Yesterday I said goodbye to Dicker Kumpel - and now I am on my way to my next host.

Love
Lorca

I made it to Oklahoma just in time to take a road trip to Dallas Texas. I ate at a place called the Tilted Kilt. A couple of the pretty waitresses took photos with me. I even tried the squid!

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

Today, I had some fried pickles and nachoes at Flatire Burgers.

I went to the Tesla Tea Part in Tulsa Oklahoma. It was a small Steampunk event at the Jazz Hall of Fame. They haven't finished the place so there wasn't a lot there... but it was still a good time! I got to meet a bunch of Easter Bunnies and other people.

I went to Planet Comicon in Kansas City MO. It was a fun convention. We actually got stuck 5 hours from Oklahoma City because the car died. The car had to be junked completely. We rented a car home and then got a new car. It was very frustrating, but at the same time, we have more comfortable car to travel in now!

My host was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which is where Cyphacon was held. It was really nice seeing my hosts home town. It was a beautiful place! The food was fantastic! We ate at a 24hr cafe on the L'auberge du Lac, casino river boat. I tried the etouffee and gumbo! The convention was also a lot of fun. It was a small convention with very friendly people.

On the way home, we stopped in Baton Rouge to eat at VooDoo BBQ & Grill. Amie photo bombed me... funny bear! I tried the gumbo but I really didn't like this one. The roux (stew base) was too thick. I loved the gumbo in Lake Charles way better. However, everything else was good (I had some sausage off my host's plate).

Potato wedges covered in pepper jack cheese and jalapenos. It's called a "Hot Mess" at Jack In The Box!

We went on a brief visit to see our hosts friend Joey. He lives out in the country in Tulsa!

We ate at a place called Popeyes. They made cajun fast food and it's pretty good if you don't leave far enough south to have real cajun food.

I ate at La Salsa Grille, a Mexican restaurant. I had the shredded beef chimichanga with salsa on top. It was a good dinner.

I wanted to let you know that me and host are safe a well! We had a devastating tornado that has killed many people today (it's all over the news). Thankfully my host and I are safe and with power. Please keep our friends in your thoughts!

WARNING! This post is about the devastation we've experienced in Oklahoma recently.

On May 20th, there was a devastating tornado that destroyed schools and homes in Moore, Oklahoma. That tornado kill 24 people, which included 9 children, and many more where injured. Teachers put themselves on top of children to save their lives. My hosts co-worker Jeff was the first person to get to Briarwood Elementary, which was completely destroyed by the tornado. He saved several children and teachers and his daughter was thankfully among the rescued! Jeff broke both his arms saving lives that day. It was a horrible experience for a a lot of people... it was devastating. Thankfully, myself and my host and her loved are alive and well! My host and I cried a lot that day, as it was a very emotional experience.

Jeff on the news!

Interactive images that shows the amount of damage the tornado caused.

On May 23rd, the first funerals were held where parents buried their children. If this wasn't enough, the Westboro Baptist Church tried to protest the funeral. They are a radical religious group that is pretty awful. They said that God hates us and killed the children in the storm because we are all sinners. It was a very hateful thing to do and they were arrested - it's illegal to protest funerals in Oklahoma.

And then there was yesterday - May 31st. We were in the middle of a tornado. It was a powerful storm and it was very scarey given what had just happened a week ago. The tornado was a lot bigger than the one last week. We were in the middle of the circulation, but we all came out alive and well! When the storm first hit, it was a lot of rain and high winds. Then the hail started to beat at the walls. The sirens were sounding outside for about an hour. It seemed like the hail and rain wouldn't stop. We were huddled in the bathroom (the bathtub is the safest place in the house) and we listened to the news telling us about the tornados that were coming for us. When the power went out and the internet dropped, and the cell reception died... we could no longer know where the tornadoes were. It was like being blind and hunted. It was frightening.

100,000 people, including us, were without power. We lost power around 6pm and then didn't get it back until today around 1:30pm. Cell phone reception is still down. Luckily, the fridge and freezer kept cold and our food didn't spoil. This afternoon, we learned that 5 people died and more than 70 people are in the hospital. Luckily, the tornado that was coming right at us, decided to "hop" over our apartment complex and went south of us!

Out here in the states, we have Storm Chasers, which are people who make a living chasing storms and tornados. They provide valuable information during the storms that helps to saves lives. One of the crews got too close to a multi-vortex tornado and the vehicle was destroyed. Two of them died (corrected info). And they got some amazing video of the tornado that passed through El Reno, OK - yes there were several tornadoes yesterday.

Here's the video!

Here's a photo of the destroyed vehicle.

Aside from the tornados and hail, there was lots of flooding. We braved the rain and hail around midnight and ate at a diner called IHOP where they had power. We spent some time in comfort with a friend, and it was a nice way to relax after an intense evening.

And now for the pictures!! Look closely, because there are photos of downed power lines that are live. We had to be very careful there taking photos. I couldn't be in every photo, but I thought you might like to see the photos anyway!

Recently, we discovered a bowling alley within walking distance! We got to bowl as long as we wanted for $10 (per person). They also have food... like hot dogs and fries! It's nice having a place nearby where you can get exercise and have fun with friends!