Trip to Africa: In The Beginning...

"This brochure tells you all about Yellow Fever", said the nurse as she began thumbing through leaflets about potential illnesses we may encounter on our trip. "This one details Typhoid, the green one is Malaria, and purple is for Hepatitis A..." Each leaflet had its own color, as if, upon contracting Hepatitis A, I would hearken back to this day thinking, "Oh, right... this is the one described on the purple paper."

And so my first experience with world travel begins... My wife, Juliana, and I are about to take off on a trip to Freetown, Sierra Leone, in West Africa. We've been planning this trip for about two years now and we're both so excited to see this day finally arrive. So, "Why Freetown?" you may ask. Juliana is originally from this coastal capital of Sierra Leone and we will be spending time with her immediate and extended family.

We have planned to stay in Freetown for about 3 weeks, starting on December 11th, then we'll putz around London for eight days before coming back to Seattle on January 8th. I've only been to local retreats, close to the U.S. You know, Mexico, Canada, Florida and Hawaii. So this is a big leap for my untraveled soul.

I'm looking forward to experiencing the culture, music and family of a country half a world away. I feel special to have such a unique experience. Well, it's unique for me. I will be the first in my immediate family to have traveled so far away and I can't wait to bring back armfuls of experiences and stories! I'm going to try my best to journal as much as I can while we are away.

If you know me at all, you will clearly understand the enormous undertaking this will me for me. I enjoy writing. But journaling on a blog from halfway around the world? It seems to me I'd rather be out doing stuff than writing about it. Honestly, though, I want to take on the challenge. If nothing else, it will be an opportunity to bring another part of the world to friends and family that may never get to go there. So here goes nothin'. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to post comments (if this blog allows that) join in this international commiseration!

- Jay