That’s how far I’m flying next week to get to that East African country, home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, and the Maasai people.
10,000 miles from Albuquerque to Atlanta to Amsterdam to Arusha, Tanzania. (Can’t beat that alliteration!) I’ve had my tetanus, typhoid, and Hepatitis A shots, and got out of the yellow fever vaccine with a letter from my doctor.
(The Tanzania government is checking at customs for proof of yellow fever vaccination, but the U.S. isn’t a risk so the letter stating that fact should work in case I get stopped. And if it doesn’t I’ll be flying 10,000 miles all the way back without seeing the outside of the airport. Ha ha!)
I’ve also started malaria meds, bought Permethrin so I can bug-proof my clothes, and am making piles of stuff I need to take, including a bunch of fun journals and notepads for the students at St. Jude’s, a school in Arusha, Tanzania my mother and her Rotary colleagues have been sponsoring.
I was recently profiled on Ann Landi’s terrific website for artists, Vasari21, and here’s what I said about the trip:
“I’ll have my camera and will try to immerse myself in the community and the Serengeti landscape. I’m thinking that when I go on the road I can do a presentation about the school and the Rotary’s support. I like this idea of the everyday hero—people who are doing good work for the environment, for humanity. These small actions add up over time. And this is one way for me to give purpose to my travels. I want to make beautiful pictures, but I’m also after something deeper than that.”
(If you want to read the whole article, here’s the link.)
This blog will go dark for a few weeks while I’m away, but I should have WiFi at the beginning and end of the trip, and if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you’ll see my photos there.
I’ve been dreaming of visiting Africa for years and years, so this is a huge, exciting trip for me. We’ll spend the first half on photo safari in the Serengeti, and the second half at St. Jude’s with the kids and their families. I can’t wait to share what I’ve seen with you when I get back. Until then!
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10 Comments
way to go! Excited for you. Yellow fever was the vaccination that made me really sick.
Ron Hagg recently posted…HAGGMEDIA
Ron – That’s good to know about the vax, so I’m even more relieved I got out of it. Thanks for commenting!
Oh WOW, Deonne!! How very exciting for you! Take it all in! Have a great experience. We will be excitedly waiting to see your photos. Safe travels, friend.
Sarah – Thanks so much! It’s been in the works for a year, and I’m hoping to do just that: take it all in. There will be much to see and experience. See you on the other side. 🙂
Happy Tanzanian Trails to you and your Mom and her friend>>>>What a GRAND MOTHERS DAY gift<<<<
Enjoy Yourself IMMENSELY
A TRIP OF A LIFETIME AWAITS YOU****
Peace
£¥NDA
Thank you, Lynda! Yes, such a beautiful gift for both Mom and I on Mother’s Day. She’s such a treasure. 🙂
She very excited for you! Travel safe my friend and Enjoy the ride!
Thanks so much, Sherry! Beyond excited. 🙂
Just (finally) got to this.
What a wonderful experience! And as much as I hate medication, I think I’d go with all you took. It would be horrible to end up with some dread disease.
Photos! Please!
Emilie Vardaman recently posted…The Prime Suspect
Emilie – It was absolutely incredible. I’m still recovering from jet lag, a cold I got on my return home (but no malaria, et al, thank goodness), plus I just made a huge personal decision (I’ll talk about that on the blog soon), so my reentry is going a bit slower than anticipated, but life is grand. I’ll post at least one photo – a teaser, ha – tomorrow. And I still have some Ireland and all the Scotland photos to share with you! Ack!