...and there are stairs

I have been meaning to write this post since we got here. It's about the stairs - all 93 of them - if you count the three on the outside stoop, and I do. The stairs are one of my challenges. I don't really like stairs (right, Gayle?). Besides being generally out of shape, I have bad knees from playing field hockey in high school. At the top of 93 steps I am generally winded, have burning muscles in my thighs and sore knees (although going down is actually worse on the knees - eek).

So... nine flights of ten stairs each plus 3 out front. At least twice a day, taking those kindergartners to school and picking them up from school - thank heaven they don't come home for lunch! Add to that a trip to the grocery store or the market or the orphanage and it's probably 279 steps a day (and don't get me started on the stairs at the orphanage). My goal is to be able to consistently make it up all nine flights without taking a break. So far I typically make it up at least five flights, sometimes six. Seven is my personal best.

I noticed today that the thigh burn really didn't start until 6, so I'm making progress.