16 Days and Counting

In 16 days (December 28th @ 6:00 a.m. CST) I am headed to Africa. 15 months of planning, organizing and preparing are knocking on my front door. This month is flying by.

The packing challenge began… It actually started in July with a nine page email from my methodical, organized, detail-oriented son. (Gee, I wonder who he gets that from?) Andy, in his infinite humor, compared our Africa Adventure in the following way,

“I like to think of myself as the pioneer, the Christopher Columbus of Africa, if you will. I have made contact with the new world and have settled here. Now I am inviting the next wave of explorers (we’ll call you Lewis and Clark, and Pocahontas, and you can fight over who’s who)”.

He continues in his email, “I want to forewarn you that there is very little in Ghana that is easy, comfortable, stress-free, quick, on time, clean, available, comforting, tasty, cold….should I continue? I’m telling you so that you can prepare yourselves mentally for what is ahead. Included below is a packing list but there are a few items too important to place with the others: patience – this one is key (mom), flexibility (mom), and a sense of humor (mom)”.

The highlights of his packing list email include: #1)Pack only one suitcase, #2)Make sure it is an old suitcase, #3)Pack VERY light, #4)Shop at Goodwill-don't bring good clothes, #5)Bring only four tops and four bottoms (apparently we will wear clothes multiple days and, per Andy, we will “hand wash” when we need to), #6) Being females (and to show respect for the culture) Jana and I cannot wear pants or skirts above the knee or low cut blouses, #7)Bring plenty of underwear (as Andy so delicately puts it – “You will crap your pants and sometimes it really isn’t a toot”), #8)Pack plenty of toilet paper and keep it on you at all times.

Using my packing list as my guide, I began gathering items needed for the trip several months ago. I raided friends’ closets (thanks Karin and Lori), gathered items at second hand stores and Goodwill, and made several trips to Wal-Mart. For five months I have stuffed every available dresser drawer and closet with items I have gathered and shoved the remainder under beds. Yesterday was the day I decided to drag it all out and heap it on the bed to begin packing it in the ONE suitcase I’m allowed to take. You CANNOT believe the MOUNTAIN of stuff piled on the bed! It’s scary….I seriously think I could climb it!

However, I WILL succeed and I WILL get all this stuff in ONE suitcase. Why? Because my son keeps telling me that for the two weeks I’m in Africa, HE is the "parent" and I have to listen to him because I will not be the parent on this trip. AND, he told me I could only bring ONE suitcase!

Look out Africa – here I come…..It’s going to be a trip of a life time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!!

Coming mid January 2010 – pictures and details of the trip.