7 April 2010 - Winston Salem

Today began with a meeting of the Rotary Club of Clemmons (arriving at 06:30am). The team presented and raised $55 towards the shelter box. We are starting to feel more at ease with the presentations and we received some great feedback (thanks Clemmons!!).

The team then went to the Winston Salem Police Department where we were treated to a tour of their department and met with the Assistant Chief of Police. Police patches and business cards were also exchanged. We are always keen to see how the other emergency services departments are managed and always leave on a high. We are welcomed where ever we go and learn something from each visit.

We then went to Old Salem and spent Lunch with two representative from the Rotary Club of Winston Salem. We toured Old Salem Museum and the working historic homes of the Moravian township of Old Salem. Buildings and furniture dating to 1790's were fascinating and we enjoyed sugar cake / biscuits from the old fashioned bakery (thanks Vana!!).

Steve celebrates a birthday tomorrow (Happy Birthday Steve!!), so we all enjoyed an evening with our host families or in the company of our team mates and their host families. Tonight is the last night with our hosts in Winston Salem. As with previous hosts, we have come to feel at home and even consider them our family. Mel, today when asking who was going to share dinner with her host, asked 'Are you coming to my house tonight?'. This is the power of this experience and the warmth of the host families and friends that we are meeting in Rotary. We feel like long lost friends or families.

We have a rest day tomorrow however we all have arranged for vocational activities during the day so to call it a rest day may be stretching it a bit. We have now been away from our loved ones for over two weeks and we are starting to feel somewhat fatigued or drained. A rest day will be much appreciated and will enable us to share Steve's birthday as a team. To my family, I love and miss you all.