One of the missed travel opportunities is not taking time to reflect on the journey. We often jump right back into our hectic lives and miss the opportunity to steep in the experience.
Perhaps this is the only good thing about jet lag; I awake early before the day is rolling and have an opportunity to steep. The definitions of steep include “soak (food or tea) in water or other liquid so as to extract its flavor or to soften it.” So, this morning I extract Tanzania’s flavors.
It was after I had dinner with Mark and Linda Jacobson on Tuesday night (See April 6 post), that I realized how fellowship at that table has been part of my life since 1992.
When I was 28-years-old, I took off on my second round-the-world trip. The first time, I was part of a missionary-pastor family, as we left for Hong Kong from the West Coast of the USA in 1965 and returned from the other direction in 1970 with a very scenic route through Thailand, Israel, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, France, Netherlands, and England.
In 1992, I was on a solo journey over two months. While it sounds pretty adventurous, I was met at the airport by friends in every place except Israel, where I soon met up with friends. So, Nepal, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Kenya, and Tanzania were part of that trip that changed my life.
Travel tip: Travel to see friends! Instead of being a spectator of a country and culture on an organized tour, become more of a participant in the culture by walking with people in their lives. So, eagerly go ahead and befriend international students, temporary workers, and others you meet. You will develop a network of friends around the world.
This makes me think of my time in Pakistan visiting my sister. At the home of a Pakistani friend, I was enthralled as this woman about my age brought out her wedding dress to show us. What a treasure!
Travel tip: If you are on a tour, get off the beaten path. An easy way is to go to a local market. (Also the prices are less expensive than the tourist places.) I have had the privilege of the gift of free travel with two tours my dad was facilitating, one to Greece and Turkey, one to China. These trips are economical ways to see the tourist sites, but the best part was being with my dad in China who speaks Cantonese and Mandarin. It opened up wonderful connections with the people, like with a half-dozen Shaolin Kung Fu monks who just couldn’t get enough talking with my dad!
Back to the Jacobson’s table and my visit to Tanzania in 1992.
In 1992, I had no interest in Africa! My family’s connection with Asia was strong in me too. However, my dear friends, Jean and Marv, were on sabbatical in Arusha, Tanzania, and I had an opportunity to visit. I would be the first one in my family to touch foot on Africa. So, in a little travel rivalry with my sister, Elenn’, I made plans to visit Jean and Marv; it changed my life!
During this visit, I had dinner with Mark and Linda, visited homes of Tanzaniana for dinner, and had a wonderful safari. My first safari will always live in my memory. But it was the warmth and hospitality of the people that captivated me.
I heard a story of one family with young children who were going to work in Africa, and the parents were doing due diligence in preparing for their children’s well-being and health. They were asking questions to veteran expatriates who spend many years there. What about malaria, snakes, rabies, typhoid, yellow fever? The wise elder replied, what you really have to worry about is the Africa bug? What!?! Africa will get in your heart, and you’ll never be the same.
Africa changes one’s perspectives. Instead of a focus on productivity, there is a focus on relationships. This is seen in the classic African proverb, “I am because we are, and because we are I am” (Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy 1990:110). Africa’s gift is allowing one to be a human-being instead of a human-doing. Obviously, there are challenges and issues with this. I’m not talking utopia, but sharing of a relational center that gives meaning and joy in life.
(Note: My adviser, Knut, is a friend of Mbiti!)
So, let me put this into application. I was emailing Marv with my strategy to pack and optimize my space and time crunch to get settled in Uppsala with limited resources. I’m not planning on buying a car in Sweden, so I was bouncing an idea off Marv. He responds with the wisdom he learned from Mch. Kimirei in Tanzania. Kimirei states (in paraphrase), “Oh, you Americans! When you run out of matches, you go to your neighbor and ask for a box of matches. We we run out of matches, we go to our neighbor and ask for one match. Then we will be able to visit our friend tomorrow and ask for another match.” The crux is the reminder to connect with the life-giving nature of belonging to community.
