I write this blog post (to be posted later) on the first morning of our team’s trip, from the first of four airplane rides. I am excited and anticipate we are going to have an outstanding trip! Randy is chatting away with his seatmate, Jenny is reading a magazine, Barb is fast asleep, and I can’t tell if Sarah is watching the movie or also resting. I am sitting next to a mom, with her 1 ½ year old son asleep in the window seat. Sitting next to them reminds me of several plane trips with my own son whom I have left at home this morning. To me this scene on a plane seems like just how it was supposed to be – so normal, so natural – a smiling face of a stranger has just greeted me as she walks down the aisle. Yet each passenger has embarked on their own very unique journey. Each of us is having a different experience right now, and this will continue!
My teammates are amazed that I am using my iPod for the first time (which I am listening to right now). Things that some take for granted, we must always understand are just a “want”, as they may be either unnecessary, scary, or even irrelevant to others. On this laptop, being squashed on an airplane I am also reminded why smaller accessories are better for traveling. I packed one, super-heavy suitcase, and at the airport was promptly encouraged to split that into my extra duffel bag to avoid the hefty over-weight charges. Seems like I brought a bag of bricks (actually, books and other souvenirs for my host families – most of which I will be replacing with my own souvenirs!). Another teammate managed to get a slightly overweight bag through with no problem.
Rewinding time just a bit, this morning my wife, son and I were awakened quite early, about 2:30 a.m., by heavy rain – I think one of my teammates had just recently commented that it hasn’t really rained in months. (You got your wish, right before we left!). This lack of rain is, of course, not uncommon in the desert which is why it is always a novelty when it rains for a day. We can always use the rain, at least for a day. Now that the South African team visiting Arizona has seen that it does rain occasionally, hopefully they will continue to enjoy our mostly sunny, pleasant Arizona springtime weather.
I was glad to be awakened by the rain and have just a little bit more time to spend with my family. As this is the first trip I have been fully packed at least 12 hours before departure, even though the morning was anything but routine we were able to relax together, get ready to go to the airport at a leisurely pace. It reminds me that I am so grateful for all the time I get to spend with friends and family, and to simply enjoy the moment wherever I am at and with whomever I am sharing this experience.
We’ll be arriving in Cape Town in about 30 hours.
My best to all,
BJ
With great anticipation, I write this. At this time just two days from now, I will be just a few minutes into the two days of travel that it takes to get to South Africa! Everyone keeps asking me if I am ready; YES! Absolutely! I think I was mentally prepared to head out on Monday. Only a few have dared to ask if I am packed. That part of my preparation, manifests itself in a great heap of things that I know "must" go with me in that suitcase that's about half the size of the heap. I'll make it happen.
On Monday, our team gave its third presentation to a very warm send-off party at the home of Nik & Gina Scherer, including many of their fellow members of the Pantano Rotary Club, several past, the present, and future District 5500 governors, and others. It was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces that have taken a strong interest in this exchange program - those that assisted in our team's selection, those that have been supporting our team efforts behind the scenes, several that I have been a speaker at their club and who encouraged me to apply for the GSE program, even those who know people in South Africa, or shared with us their personal contacts within our professional fields of interest.
We were also able to meet our South Africa counterpart team that is already visiting Southern Arizona! Even in the short time that we were able to chat individually and as a team, we had been seeing each other's pictures and anticipating meeting so when we finally met it was like old friends were seeing each other again! I hope that Graham, Jolene, Tracey, Wendy and Zulfa enjoy their monthlong visit to Arizona as much as I enjoy living here, and look forward to meeting up with them again in a few weeks, on their home turf.
I am also reminded of the strong impact that this trip will inevitably have, and while I make an attempt to place my life on "pause" here, my coworkers, family and friends remind me that life does go on unseen, and that I have already done as much as could be expected. Some things will be left undone - for now - and they will be taken care of if they are important. Other things, aren't as important and simply will not get done.
To my wife and young son, I love you very much and appreciate the sacrifice that you are making. I know that our lives will be greatly enriched by this experience and the friendships being built through Rotary. As we all rush out the door this morning like it is any other day, I am reminded that tomorrow is the last day that our routine will be as such for about a month. I miss you already and will be thinking of you along the way while I head out with an important mission - as always - to help make the world a better place! Besos y abrazos...
B.J.
Wow, here we are just a few short weeks from our team's departure for South Africa! I feel very honored to have been chosen to represent Southern Arizona, Rotary District 5500 in our exchange with the Western Cape, South Africa portion of District 9350.
Since our team's selection in Fall 2008, it has been great to be a part of a dynamic group and to see our team begin to develop from being near-strangers to one that I feel will be very cohesive, represent our community well, and with distinct perspectives that will allow us to experience and better understand the many connections between South Africa's history, culture, natural environment, business and political climate, and also to represent our community and professions well in these same areas.
I have enjoyed learning more about Rotary activities, at the local, national and international level and am excited to be a part of this unique opportunity to build goodwill, teach and learn, explore and get involved! It has been amazing to me, to learn that there are so many connections between South Africa and Arizona - a hidden secret, but perhaps not for long!
I would like to thank the Tucson Sunset Rotary Club for their encouragement and sponsorship of my application, and continued assistance in preparation for the upcoming trip. My coworkers at Tucson Clean & Beautiful have also been very supportive and flexible in helping cover activities that I will miss, during what I call "Earth Season" which is one of our two busiest times of year and seems to last from mid-March to mid-May.
I would also like to express great appreciation to my wife - my best friend, confidant, and the love of my life - for supporting this great adventure and all the hard work that she has put forth as I have become involved in this exchange, and with the support of our family and friends will take care of our wonderful home and son while I am away. !Gracias!
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