Jeff and Mary's Big Trip

2/26 to 3/17 2011 Jeff and Mary went to Tanzania to visit her aunt. Here we are recording the preparation up to, the adventures during, the lessons learned from, and the follow-up of, the trip.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

T minus 1hr; good-bye Chase!

At the airport; just ate some grilled food; boarding is in 30min.  We got through security just fine - I went through the x-ray for the first time and I didn't like it!
Talked to Aunt Nancy on the phone last night and it sounds like everything is in order for our arrival.  She claims that half the neighborhood will be with her to greet us at the airport.  We can't wait!!!

Thanks to the GENEROSITY of family, friends, and co-workers, we'll be able to hand over $1500 to Nancy to put into the program.  I am thrilled to be able to be the transporter of such a gift!  I hear that there will be a big meal for the 123 children in the program on Mar 4th, which was made possible by the anonymous donation of a goat to head Mama Mkubwa.  Jeff and I will be able to attend and meet everyone.


We took Chase up to a kennel in Stanwood - it was a long drive but worth it, as this place was recommended by the breeder from whom Jeff bought Chase.  We miss him already!!!  But I think he's going to have a blast up there - the area is covered in snow, which always enchants him.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Explosion on Military Base

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/17/tanzania.bombings/

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

My thoughts: if we actually make it to Dar I will be thankful, given our stop in Cairo and the fact the Dar airport is closed right now.  Anything else we get to do is icing on the cake - I just want to get there!!!

Making the Website

This is so cool: Jeff was able to find a great deal on godaddy.com to buy space and own the URL: http://www.tuamoyo.org/.  We have already paid for the first 3 years.  If you go to it now, you will just see one page; it's just the beginning!

On the American Airlines website, where there used to be info about changing flights to Egypt, now has just info about Haiti.  I guess they are thinking it's safe/feasible to go through Cairo again so it doesn't look like we'll be changing our flight.

We have about an hour layover and Jeff really wants to go see a pyramid "real quick".  I don't think that will happen! :)

Friday, February 4, 2011

We fly through Cairo

Wow, we leave 3 weeks from tomorrow!  Still figuring out what laptop we'll take to Nancy but the rest of the electronics have been figured out.  We've raised close to or just over $1000 so far which is amazing!!!  The plan is to give it to Nancy directly and she'll put it where Tuamoyo needs it.

Bad news though: our flight goes through Cairo and I don't know what to do about it.  American Airlines is offering changing itineraries or refunding trips for travelers going up to Feb 15th.  We'll have to keep checking their website and once it includes Feb 26th we'll see about changing it up.  How nerve-wracking though!  Oh revolutionaries - don't you know Jeff and I need to get to Dar?

I don't have any more news about Tuamoyo but will surely communicate everything we learn about it while we're there and we'll take TONS of pics!  One thing we want to attempt is to get Aunt Nancy a solid and consistent internet connection.

More to come soon!  Thanks for your support!