In two weeks
I’ll be on African soil. Two weeks. Fourteen days. 336 hours. In case you can’t
tell, this is blowing my mind just a little bit. Looking around my room as I’m
writing this, my walls are full of pictures of animals, many of them African.
There are plenty of books on my bookcases that have to do with Africa. My
passport and plane ticket confirmation are beside me. The supplies for this
trip are in a small pile in the corner of my room, next to the suitcase. All
the details are worked out. All that’s left to do is try to relax and count
down these last couple of weeks!
Africa is a
place that I’ve read, thought, and dreamed about for longer than I can
remember. I’ve always known that I’d make that dream a reality one day, and
actually go there. Now that it’s so imminent, though, I can hardly believe that
this is real. I’m at that point where I’m so excited about this trip that I’m
having trouble falling asleep at night. I can only imagine what my last night
here at home will feel like.
About this
time last year, I left for Wyoming having no idea what that adventure would
bring. I returned to Texas in September a different person than when I’d left
in May, and I mean that in a good way. Spending those four months seeing views
that took my breath away, getting charged by elk, jumping off cliffs, and
sleeping under a sky absolutely full of stars made me see things in a slightly
different way- and also made me want to see more of the beautiful world we live
in. As my time in that park was nearing its end last summer, a thought hit me
very suddenly- it was time to stop just dreaming about my trip to Africa, and
start actually planning it! Why hadn’t I thought of it before? Sure, dreaming
about the trip was fun, but just doing that wasn’t going to actually get me
anywhere. So the planning began! Now, about nine months later, here I am. The
trip is paid off, the flights are booked, the travel insurance is set up, the
hostels are booked, and all that’s left is to wait, which is something I’m not
the best at doing. But, if I’ve been able to wait (mostly) patiently this
entire time, I think I can handle a couple more weeks.
I can tell
my family members and close friends are nervous about me going on this
adventure. It always seems to surprise people that I’m still not nervous or
scared about it, just excited. As I say, to me it doesn’t even feel like a
choice to not be nervous- it’s like my mind just doesn’t have whatever it is
that causes that emotion. As far as I’m concerned, though, that’s the best way
to live. What’s going to happen is going to happen; nervousness doesn’t help
that. Even if I did feel nervous, there’s no way that would change my mind
about going.
Africa has
been sort of a goal of mine for my entire life now. Being the dreamer that I
am, it almost feels like that place is already a second home for me, even
though I’ve never actually been there. One thing’s for sure- I’m definitely
ready to begin this new adventure! See you in 14 days, Africa.
This post’s
food for thought: “Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be
homesick for a place you’ve never been to, perhaps more homesick than for
familiar ground.”- Judith Thurman
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