hello, Dubai-bye

Between the haze, the heat, and the 16-hour flight hangover, my experience in Dubai was a bit of a blur. We had about 20 hours to explore the city and spend the night in a bed before jumping back on a plane to Tanzania. And while, of course, 20 hours isn't enough time to get to know a place, I decided that Dubai is really not for me.

The incongruous, artificial nature of the place just made it feel weird. No doubt the buildings they've erected in this desert are stunning and noteworthy, but I couldn't help feeling like it was all just trying too hard and falling flat.

An artificial snow park in the mall. The tallest building in the world. The bright white pillars, arching ceilings of glass, and nonstop air conditioning. It doesn't quite line up with the burkas and debilitating desert heat. In any event, it was a cool place to see. And the contrast from this carefully controlled city to wild Africa will be quite a ride...

hello, iPad

It's safe to say that my college degree has already proven worthwhile. I was thoroughly spoiled by my wonderful Aunt Val and Uncle Max when they drove up to Santa Barbara from LA for brunch at Shoreline Cafe... and brought a special something with them. I opened the sexy, red leather smart cover first. I almost couldn't continue... An iPad!!!!??? FOR ME!?

Becoming the owner of an iPad 2 was a pretty sweet initiation into the world of Apple product consumption. I don't know if I was off sailing or just plain aloof when the whole Apple craze first happened, but my only experience with iGadgets thus far has been a preprogrammed hand-me-down iPod from Gleb (thank you, darling). I seriously didn't even have iTunes on my computer (I'm more of a Pandora kinda gal... just let it play).

Now, I understand the craze. So sleek. So intuitive. So small enough to take to Africa! One wireless keyboard, one camera connection kit, and a whole lot of hours later, I am proud to say that I am creating this entire blog post via iPad! Thank you, Max and Val, for making this all possible!

Tomorrow we venture to LA-- really, CARmageddon is THIS weekend?-- and sleep one more night in the States before jumping on a 16-hour flight to the other side of the world (Dubai, to be exact). It's 9pm on the eve of our departure, so I thought I should upload a few pics to prove that this blog, pictures and all, can really happen via iPad :)

The essentials (iPad included)

Abby weighs in (she and the pack made the cut)

My saving grace on the mountain (wish I could bring my real Grace, too!)

hello, heartbeat

Santa Barbara. Home. LAX. Dubai. Dar es Salaam. Serengeti. Kilimanjaro. Zanzibar. Cape Town. Johannesburg. LAX. Home.

We made the plans. We booked the flights. I graduated, and I came home to gear up and get the show on the road.

Stop. Slow down. What's that? My heart beating out of my chest... like a hammer. Literally, my heart kept beating like a hammer. Stress? Anxiety? I just graduated from college. Finals are over, forever. And I don't even have to get a job yet. I don't think stress explains it...

I kind of brushed it off, assuming I would be fine. But luckily I have a brilliant boyfriend who can advise me to do things like take my resting heart rate. 105/60? Not okay when you literally just got up and walked over to the microwave from the couch. His recommendation: just go to the doctor already.

The doctor couldn't explain it either when I went in to get checked out two Fridays ago. And then Kaiser started calling me at 4am on that Saturday morning to come in to the ER. "Your red blood cell count is critically low. You need to come in right away." Oh, great.

Four hours of torturous uncertainty later (sorry, Mom and Dad), I was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. Perhaps it was related to my "low-iron diet" (still skeptical about that; I'm a good eater), but whatever my problem was, it has been deteriorating over time to the point that my body just couldn't compensate any more. Not exactly prime condition to do a six day trek up a 19,000 foot mountain in Africa.

From what I can gather (sorry, Gleb, if this is not precisely correct), without enough iron, my body was making tiny red blood cells... and not enough of them. Since red blood cells oxygenate our bodies, my heart was working extra hard to try to pump these scarce little blood cells around. Cue: hammering heartbeat. This also explained why I was having muscle cramping in my lower legs for the past month and why I felt the need to wear more bronzer than usual. The human body is an incredible--and delicate--machine.

So, back to the game plan:

Graduate from Santa Barbara. Come home. Fly to Africa. Safari in the Serengeti. Climb Kilimanjaro. Scuba dive Zanzibar. Explore Cape Town. Visit Johannesburg. Fly home.

Insert a big scare, a blood transfusion, some iron supplements, some healing recipes... and we're good to go. Just got a follow-up blood test: "Your red blood cell count is back in the normal range. You should be fine to do the hike with these numbers." Thanks Dr. Nguyen!!!

And while my body may not be the strongest it has ever been, and my red blood cells might have needed a boost, I'm still saying hello to Mama Africa... and all the challenges and adventures she has in store for me!

Until next time, I'll be pumping iron and eating steak. (And doing lotttssss of packing.)

COUNTDOWN: 3 days!

p.s. In the future, my posts will consist of lots of pictures, too. Just didn't really have any blood pics worth sharing ;)

hello, friends

Hello, and welcome aboard. We're about to embark on a journey of a lifetime! Nestled conveniently between my graduation from UCSB and my entrance into the "real world," this trip to Africa will be a chance for me to reconnect, to reflect, and to dream...

I thought the video below would be a perfect visual introduction to "Mama Africa," and also would serve to illuminate my inspiration for creating this blog. In addition to my love for reggae (sorry, Julia), I'm drawn to this song because it so casually and effortlessly touches on the undeniable allure of Africa.

 

"Even though we're oceans away

You're with me

Day by day

Memories of you keep flashing

Through my mind

The very thought of you

Makes my time"

It has been almost ten years since my last visit to Africa, yet my memories from that trip are some of my most vivid. The sounds of the bush. The smells of brunch cooking over a campfire. The clouds resting on Table Mountain and penguins on the beach. The morning ritual of tea and Ouma's rusks. It all makes up that allure I'm talking about. And THAT, my friends, is what I hope to share with you. 

I will live, record, and share my two months in Africa. And maybe by the end of it all, we'll come to know a bit better this magical place we can commonly call our homeland. (And maybe... just maybe... I might find the path to my future on this journey to my roots.) 

Welcome aboard. Please keep all arms and legs inside the Land Rover.