It’s funny now our North American assumptions pop up when we least expect it. For example, I arranged to borrow a wireless modem for my laptop from the Uganda main office. “Great,” I thought. “I’ll be able to blog from the field!” Except there’s a limit on the amount of GBs I can use. I have no idea how much GBs use. Does it make a difference how many photos I upload? Do I need to scale them down? Hmmm. Then, when I mentioned to my boss that I’d have the modem so I could be reached by email, he said “oh, yeah, it will be agonizingly slow since we’re used to DSL in the office. And sometimes you have to go to a different town in order to get service.”
And then, yesterday I received this note from our field office:
“The Uganda power situation has suddenly deteriorated since July 4 when several large generators were shut down over back payments due from government. Since no one is taking the blame (someone else is at fault it seems) it is hard to know how long the situation will continue. Maybe you were already planning to come with flashlights but this development reminded me to remind everyone in the group to carry a flashlight for those times when the power is out at night and no backup is available.”
The things I take for granted!
Be assured, I will do my best to blog from the road. I’ll figure it out. If not, I’ll catch you up when I come back.
Top 10 Tips for Traveling Overseas
- Remember, it’s not weird or bad, just “different to me.”
- Pack a toothbrush and Cottonelle wipes on your carry on.
- Dr. Bronner’s is a great multitasker: great for shampoo, body wash, and cleaning clothes in the sink. I hear you can even brush your teeth with it, though I’ve not tried.
- Eye drops are great for the dry airplane air.
- Pack protein bars or powders – just in case.
- Melatonin can help with jet lag.
- Pack light.
- Keep your plane ticket, passport, and credit card in a safety pouch. As long as you have that, you can at least get home!
- Try local foods.
- Pepto Bismol is more gentle on your stomach/system than Immodium.
Sounds like you’ve had personal experience with #10!!!
How long will you be gone? At least I will see you this Thursday at the farm for the food demo!
Yes, the women who have lived overseas told me never to take Immodium because it’s really hard on your system and if you have eaten something bad it will take longer for it to …er, come out. I’ll be gone July 20-August 5. What will you be demo-ing????
Great list! Before we go overseas, I always have my kids practice saying that things are different when they want to say things are weird. Have a great trip!
A delightful post! You take this all on with such a marvelous roll-with-the-punches attitude. I’m sure it’s a bit daunting somewhere deep inside, but you have made it entertaining and enlightening reading. Kudos! (And keep your passport close, but your flashlight closer?)
True, the thing I’m most anxious about is the trip to Rwanda at the Kigali genocide memorial. Someone told me not to worry, that tears are liquid prayers. I’m glad I’m entertaining 😀 I actually thought about doing a post about the top 10 things I’m most nervous about, but I don’t want to offend anyone. Not sure I’d like someone making a post “top 10 reasons I’m most nervous about visiting Michigan.”
Hi! I just got back from Paris (tame) and Athens (the week of the strikes). I found getting my NY Times news alerts helped me keep my feet on the ground and prepared for anything!!
Enjoy-
DM
that sounds like a wonderful trip!
I try to LIVE by #1 – learned it many years ago on a mission trip, and has been a mantra for remaining open to whatever expreience God brings my way!
Blessings!
LIB
http://bit.ly/obLcAH
that’s a great attitude to have, I agree. I like the way you put it–remaining open to whatever experience God brings my way.