itinerary of summer
a lot of people have been asking about where exactly i'll be wandering off to.
the short answer is india, morocco, and zimbabwe.
the long answer is delhi, india ( 3 weeks); rabat, morocco (4 weeks); and victoria falls, zimbabwe (3 weeks) and wherever else my curiosity leads me to.
i'm also trying to organize a week in italy and greece, and i'd like to finish with a week in south africa. i'm planning on taking weekend trips to neighboring countries. in some places, there's a fair chance i might. in others, my visas are single-entry only, so my explorations must stay within country borders.
. . .
and my purpose of travel?
the short answer- it's a simple mix of rabid curiosity and the desire to exist prioritizing others above myself.
the long answer- it varies.
i'll be teaching english in delhi's slums. people in india oftentimes cannot get jobs without basic knowledge of english. poverty is a cycle- people in the slums do not have access to educational resources, which prevents them from getting a job, thus prolonging their poverty.
in rabat, i'll be working in a childcare center. during my time in morocco, the country will be celebrating the muslim holiday of ramadan. essentially, it is a monthlong period of prayer, fasting, charity, and introspection. out of respect, i will also be fasting. when i'm not working in the childcare center, i will be assisting with the radamdan festivities. the combination of fasting and the 120 degree temperatures makes this a breeding ground for fainting, dehydration, and other minor health problems. truth be told, i'm slightly freaking out about how my body will handle such conditions- but what a cool cultural experience to have the opportunity to partake in.
in victoria falls, i'm going to be living and working in a big 5 wildlife reserve. aka i'll be in a 'safari camp' that houses africa's five big wildlife species: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo. we'll be doing conservation management and anti-poaching work- this particular site is the intensive protection zone for the critically endangered black rhino. (eek!)
T-MINUS 13 DAYS, EVERYONE. THE ADVENTURES ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN...
(IMAGES BELOW NOT MY OWN. credit TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS)
