I soon embark on a new journey; this time through West Africa. Follow the maps below:
I begin my trip with an overnight stay in London (not pictured) with my friends Hala and Adam. From there I fly south to Marrakech, Morocco on October 22. Here I will couchsurf, meet my friend Josh who flies in a day later and get used to the fact that I'm traveling again. A few days after, Oct 25, my friend Sjoukje (loyal Journey followers will remember her from Vietnam and Laos) flies in to visit and travel for a couple weeks.
November 5, the final two members of our party, Hala and Adam arrive in Tanger, on the north coast of Morocco. From there our plans are uncertain. A few things we know or have options for:
1. We are going to Cameroon before Christmas. A close friend of ours, Brian Bragg, is in the Peace Corps near Bamenda in Cameroon and our whole trip has evolved from plans to visit him.
2. We may stay in Morocco until flying to Cameroon or
3. We may have to fly from Dakar, Senegal depending on availability of Cameroonian visas in Morocco. This decision will shape the first two months of my trip.
4. Another option is that shortly after arriving in Cameroon I may head to Uganda to volunteer with a friend, Sheela, who is going to be doing an internship there with an organization doing work with antiretroviral treatment on AIDS patients and also making a documentary about AIDS in the country.
5. I also plan to stay a few months in Cameroon with Brian.
6. There are two organizations I have contacts with in Ghana that both sound like great opportunities to volunteer for solid nonprofits.
7. I want to see a lot and help a lot.
Balancing the two aspects of #7 will be a major problem of this trip. Also negotiating the group dynamic involved in traveling in 4,5 or MORE at some times.
Because of the money I've saved, and the freedoms I've awarded myself, there is no time limit set on my trip. I may be gone 6 months. I may be gone 2 years. Even if I run out of money, I have options to make more, or stay in one place for free for awhile. With all this, I am liberated to say, that although I will miss my friends, family, nachos, and toilet paper, I will not be returning to the US until I am ready.
