T-Minus 9 Weeks

The past few weeks have been flying by so quickly. These are the things I can put a check mark next to in preparation for my trip:

• Received my visa for Tanzania.


• Made appointment for Immunizations.


• Figured out how much money I will need for each day for incidentals.


• Arranged to meet with another individual going to Africa who lives in California.


• Asked if I could bring stickers and crayons for the kids.


• Kept my packing to a shopping bag/backpack size wise.


• Raised 60% of funds for trip.


• Asked a lot of questions.


• Read a great deal of information on Tanzania and Dubai


• Made a 2nd attempt at a different address to contact Charlotte Blessing; the author of New Old Shoes, the book that planted the seed for this endeavor.

I'm in countdown mode. Only 9 weeks left and I do believe Spring has Sprung. It was 86 degrees here yesterday and absolutely beautiful. I think I filled six 40 gallon trash bags full of leaves from the yard and gardens around the house. The cherry tree in the front yard has bloomed and the kids remember snow from the winter when the blossoms blow all around the yard. Slow and steady wins the race... chug chug chug. What are we all racing for? Must remember to keep things in the moment and enjoy them. Looking forward to spring break with the kids. Not so much the five hour flight. They are older than the last time we traveled and hopefully will behave.

Have an action planned trip.

• Going to Venice Beach for a day of people watching


• California Science Center


• Reagan Presidential Library


• Disney


• Dinner with "my African friend"


• LaBrea Tar Pits


• Grumman's Chinese Theatre


• and which Hollywood Star will be our favorite on the walk of fame?

Bought a ton of little things to keep little ones busy and occupied for the flight across country. I think my favorite thing so far is the complete works of Beatrice Potter to read to Sarah. Wish we could go see the Giant Sequoia's and Yosemite, but that will have to wait until next time and the kids are older. The kids need to see that once in their lifetime to fully appreciate it.

Things I still need to do:

1. Fund raise the remaining 40% of the trip.


2. Get a map and translation book for Swahili


3. Ask more questions and get more answers


4. Figure out a way to convert shillings to American dollars. Trace the daily rate and estimate where it is at. Does it change daily?


5. Establish a paper itinerary for where I will be and when. Points to contact


6. Ask about access into and out of Dubai


7. Figure out how to upload photos to Blog from trip.

I still believe that I am doing something to better society as a whole and am looking forward to this trip. Others have said this will seem like a vacation to me because I do so much around home on a normal basis. I believe when you do something with truth, compassion and love that those things come back to you ten times more. I'll continue to try to post more frequently. If nothing else to track my own progress and where I stand. Hope that I can post as I travel and upload photos as well. (just added that to the list of stuff to do.)

Till next time...

chow chow

Rachel