It has been a matter of discipline when it comes to writing, or blogging, that has kept me from adding as many posts as I would have hoped. These past couple weeks and months, I've enjoyed living willy-nilly. Lots of golf, grilling-out, traveling, watching movies and television shows.
In keeping with tradition, I have a few books that I am reading but haven't gotten very far with them. Currently I'm reading a Pat Conroy novel "The Water is Wide".
Enough pleasantries and now to the details...I have one week left until I embark on a trip that I have dreamed of most of my life. Africa and Europe! Africa began as my Mum's dream for her and her children, my brother and I. She has a funny story to tell about how adverse I was to the idea back in my high school days. Ever since I can remember, as family we have sponsored a "brother" and recently a "sister" in Africa. Specifically Etabu was the first child in Kenya followed by a girl named Helen. Working with a non-profit organization by the name of Develop Africa from my hometown Johnson City, TN, the opportunity has arisen to travel to Sierra Leone. In Sierra Leone, I will have the chance to see Africa firsthand as well as the projects that the organization supports such as education, micro-finance loans, and malaria prevention. Traveling to Sierra Leone will be fulfilling a dream of mine and a dream of my Mums. It will be very interesting to find out what I will think of the country and how it will affect the rest of my travels.
In preparation for the trip I have had to get a Yellow Fever vaccination, apply for an entrance VISA, and started taking Malaria pills. Traveling is a money making industry. The Yellow Fever vaccination was $80 at my local Health Department. I'm still waiting for my VISA to be issued from the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone at a cost of $140 to apply and about $10 to mail with added cost of including passport photos at an extra $10. The Malaria pills were going to be over $100 until I found my insurance card and switched to another Malaria medicine for $10 (billed cost to insurance $40). Reading the side effects of the Malaria pills were encouraging. My roommate said he thought he would rather risk getting Malaria versus the side effects listed. Hah! I took my first one today and have felt nauseous the whole day. Hooray Malaria pills.
If I don't get my passport back from the Embassy in Washington DC and an entrance VISA for Sierra Leone...my big dreams and big travel plans will quickly fall by the wayside:(
More updates later...
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