IAN – Our bags are nearly packed and only a few things left on the checklist. After months of planning, I’m feeling pretty good that we are ready to go with 36 hours left.
Of course, I wish I had read more about Africa and made a few more contacts over there. But I guess part of the fun is learning new things and meeting new people while on the road.
Many people have asked why we are going to Africa. At the beginning, I don’t think we had a firm reason. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized that it appeals to three big sides of my personality. I’ll let Gillian explain her reason in another post.
1. I crave adventure and challenges. Breaking out of a routine and exploring cultures and places really gets my blood pumping. I’ve brought back the most amazing memories from Asia, Europe and South America . I also love pushing myself to the limit. Back home, that has led me to long, gruelling canoe trips and marathons. On the road in Africa, I’m expecting some tough bus rides with no sleep, navigating strange cities with outdated maps, hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and dodging a few scams and trouble makers. I consider this the Indiana Jones side of my personality.
2. I’m becoming a stronger advocate for social justice and equity. The more I read and hear about the AIDS and poverty crisis in Africa, the more I want to see 
change happen. I’m very excited to be working with Friends of Mulanje Orphans in Malawi to help hundreds of kids get a good start in life. We’ve already raised more than $4,500 for the orphanage, and we’ll be spending a week there in August. I’ve also promised myself to spend some time away from tourist activities and observe the true conditions and realities that Africans face. I realize I’ll be looking at things with Western eyes and never tread far from safe neighbourhoods, but I’ll give it my best try to still learn and understand. I consider this the Stephen Lewis side of my personality.
3. I also have an artistic side that wants to come out and play. I love photography and used to roam Toronto neighbourhoods with my old Pentax K1000. But it has collected dust in recent years while I was busy with other volunteer and work responsibilities. So I’ve bought a new digital Nikon SLR, and I intend to take plenty of time framing some great shots. And what better place to do it… Namibia’s sand dunes, Zambia’s Victoria Falls, Kenya’s Masi Mara plains, Zanizibar’s Stone Town, etc… This is the National Geographic side of my personality.
So I’ve leave it at that for now. We’ll try to keep you updated throughout our trip. First stop is Cape Town.
