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After 6 months of preparations, the day has finally come. My insides are torn between excitement and worry. I AM GOING TO AFRICA! It is actually happening- right now! Dreams that I had tucked away are revived and coming true. How will this change me? Will I come back a better person or hardened to life?
I grab my 2 bags, which are stuffed to the maximum capacity. My littlest child, 4 years old, tries to pick one up and she actually tips over. Proudly, I pick up both 50 pound bags and head out the door after saying my quick goodbyes and handing off the warm thoughts bucket to the kids. The warm thoughts bucket is jar that contains a note for each day I will be gone. That way they each have their own special thoughts from me to them while I am gone. Family.
Arriving at the airport, I quickly get through with no problems and head out toward the gate. In the distance I see my travelling companions whom I have met only 2 times before, but now call friends. As we sit at the gate, the professor inform us of "bad news". All the while, the news stations are playing video of an airplane in San Fransisco that has come crashing down onto the runway. Great start to the trip.
Sadly, our flight to Kigoma, and therefore my trip to Gombe Stream Research Center, has been cancelled. No refunds, no returns, notta...we were just out that portion of the trip. My Gombe is to remain a dream and I shed some tears on my friends shoulder. Friends.
And so it begins. i must learn to make the best of each moment and focus on what is given to me, not what I have lost. This is still the trip of a lifetime and 500+ other people applied for this scholarhip, but I got it. There must be a reason. Embracing change, I bid goodbye to the USA. Farewell.
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