It's a little strange trying not to count down to something huge just days beyond Christmas. I don't think I've tried this little twist on adventure anticipation yet....so far the experience has been quite disillusioning. I watch people in slow motion in my head as they make the surprised-it's-so-soon face and I smile unaffected...not really realizing that I'm doing what they are surprised at. I'm leaving on Sunday afternoon. I spend New Years on the plane from London, England to Jo'burg, South Africa, and am landing in Antananarivo, Madagascar [Above] nice and fresh New Years day. I'll let you know how it goes.
The plan is to volunteer my labour, time and resources - backed by all of your generous support, donations and love- to hopefully improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the Malagasy people in Southeastern Madagascar. I've got a huge team of people behind me! I'll let you know exactly what I'm up to as soon as I find out but I know it will involve reforestation, teaching English and building sanitation systems.
I've been saying I'm not prepared, but those that know me well know that means I've covered most angles... and that I've got some great tools. Like a Polaroid camera for sharing photos with villagers I meet, a digital sound recorder, an entirely no-see-um mesh tent with a unobscured view of the African stars on a clear night, my insatiable appetite for adventure...and, this blog. I will be keeping you posted, however sporadic due to lack of technological access.
So I'm off to enjoy Christmas and let my mind flit between Harry Potter, eggnog and me and my backpack climbing those crazy steep streets of Antananarivo while everyone in Vancouver will be two hours and too many drinks into the New Year.
I love you all, Have a wonderful Christmas, I look forward to chatting at you soon.
