Kate goes to Africa

Well, I am going to turn this into a travel blog for a little while. It would appear that I am going to Tanzania for a month!

My Mom has been planning this trip for most of a year, it involves two short safaris and three weeks of volunteering at Peace House, a school for children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Unfortunately, her friend and travel companion had to back out just two weeks before departure for medical reasons. Fortunately, Mom and I were in Montana together, babysitting my niece and nephew. When I heard the news, I jokingly said "I'll go!" Surely there was no way to get all the necessary shots and paperwork done in time...or was there?

Well, astoundingly there was. After a LOT of phone calls and emails, we got the safaris transferred to my name, a plane ticket booked, and applications off to Peace House. O.M.G. I was going to Africa! For a month!! In 12 days!!!

Today it's Sunday the 24th, I'm chilling out at Billings airport waiting for my flight home. I am scheduled to land at 4:15, have to hail a cab to Rich's Starbucks, get my work clothes and the car, and then get to work by 5:30. It will be frantic start to a frantic week!

This week I have to find an assortment of clothes and check on my vaccination records. I know my tetanus is up to date and I'm 97% certain I had Hep A and B in college, before my May Seminar in Europe. I was able to get Yellow Fever and Typhoid here in Billings, ouch! The only real question now is when I had my most recent MMR and Polio boosters. Thankfully, nothing is actually required for Tanzania, but it's all highly recommended.

It is going to be a crazy week leading up to two 8+ hour flights. I still have to get a personal leave approved at work but I am moving forward as if it will go through. I just can't let this opportunity slip by! Plus, this trip fits so many of Starbucks' core values that I can't imagine there being a problem. How much better will I be at selling Project (RED) coffee after working with these orphans? And we will visit two coffee plantations as well. It was meant to be!

I would like to use what little time I have to blog about this rush to get ready and then my experience in Africa, but I don't know what sort of connections I'll have. For now, I will just try to keep the perma-grin on my face and be excited about this big adventure!

-K

Eight days to departure!