Wow. It's here.
So on Monday I board a 20 hour flight that will land me in Tanzania for 21 days.
There has been so much to do leading up to this trip, both work wise and personally. I had no idea the extent of crap one needs to do when you're leaving the country for an extended amount of time. Nor did I have any idea of the expense involved in going to Africa. Amazingly, my "boss" has covered virtually everything and the things she didn't cover will come in handy if we end up going to Madagascar or Namibia in the future (a distinct possibility if she does well this trip and finds what she's looking for while we're there).
I've been a bit overwhelmed with the stress leading up to departure though...for various reasons that those close to me have heard, this isn't going to be an easy trip - and it has nothing to do with me. I know it'll be amazing, and wonderful, and incredible, but it's also going to be a real test of how well I can keep someone else grounded and sane. It's going to require quite the full-on use of every people skill I've ever had or developed.
Then there's the stress about the fact that I'm taking camera gear with me. To a place where mugging/theft is incredibly common. I have to have the gear with me at all times as that is the whole reason I'm going along. It's kind of a pay off from actually making a living at photography for this past year - I get to actually do photos outside of the studio, en-plain-aire if you will, and am thrilled at the prospect BUT am freaking out about how big of a target I will be with a decent camera body and three lenses with me at all times...And did I mention that my home-owner's/renters insurance won't touch my equipment? I have to go get different insurance Monday morning before I leave. How fun is that?
I will have no access to phones at all. May have a chance to pop on and send off and email but I doubt it. I'm due back on the 25th and will have photos up of the work part of my trip as well as the safari parts and hopefully some of the coral reef area (no underwater photos though - sorry) when I get back (after a couple days though - 20 hour plane rides are going to lead to some wicked jet lag I'm guessing)
If you need to reach me, I'll still be reachable by phone till around 1:30pm EST Monday afternoon. Am going no-mail with a vacation-type notice tomorrow and signing off all email lists tonight. If there are emergencies, contact my mom (those close to me should have her number) or leave a message at my house. Unfortunately, we don't know where we're staying while there other than the few days at the beginning and end of our stay, so getting word to me will be impossible.
I hope everyone has a wonderful January and I look forward to catching up when I get back!
There has been so much to do leading up to this trip, both work wise and personally. I had no idea the extent of crap one needs to do when you're leaving the country for an extended amount of time. Nor did I have any idea of the expense involved in going to Africa. Amazingly, my "boss" has covered virtually everything and the things she didn't cover will come in handy if we end up going to Madagascar or Namibia in the future (a distinct possibility if she does well this trip and finds what she's looking for while we're there).
I've been a bit overwhelmed with the stress leading up to departure though...for various reasons that those close to me have heard, this isn't going to be an easy trip - and it has nothing to do with me. I know it'll be amazing, and wonderful, and incredible, but it's also going to be a real test of how well I can keep someone else grounded and sane. It's going to require quite the full-on use of every people skill I've ever had or developed.
Then there's the stress about the fact that I'm taking camera gear with me. To a place where mugging/theft is incredibly common. I have to have the gear with me at all times as that is the whole reason I'm going along. It's kind of a pay off from actually making a living at photography for this past year - I get to actually do photos outside of the studio, en-plain-aire if you will, and am thrilled at the prospect BUT am freaking out about how big of a target I will be with a decent camera body and three lenses with me at all times...And did I mention that my home-owner's/renters insurance won't touch my equipment? I have to go get different insurance Monday morning before I leave. How fun is that?
I will have no access to phones at all. May have a chance to pop on and send off and email but I doubt it. I'm due back on the 25th and will have photos up of the work part of my trip as well as the safari parts and hopefully some of the coral reef area (no underwater photos though - sorry) when I get back (after a couple days though - 20 hour plane rides are going to lead to some wicked jet lag I'm guessing)
If you need to reach me, I'll still be reachable by phone till around 1:30pm EST Monday afternoon. Am going no-mail with a vacation-type notice tomorrow and signing off all email lists tonight. If there are emergencies, contact my mom (those close to me should have her number) or leave a message at my house. Unfortunately, we don't know where we're staying while there other than the few days at the beginning and end of our stay, so getting word to me will be impossible.
I hope everyone has a wonderful January and I look forward to catching up when I get back!