As of this week I have received more details about my leave to Tanzania which has increased the excitement level and now makes this experience feel like it is actually happening and not just a concept.
My position title during my leave will be Cultural Festival Advisor for the Hydom Cultural Festival that is organized by 4CCP (The Hydom Four Corners Cultural Programme), an award winning Cultural Tourism Programme for TTB (Tanzania Tourist Board) . I will be working with 4CCP and TTB to promote, organize and advise on the Hydom Cultural Festival. How perfect is that?? I couldn't have imagined a more fitting role for me. For those that may not know, for the past few years I have been involved with the planning and running of two events in Halifax called the Halifax Summer Opera Festival and Hal-Con. The experience I have from both these great events will help me tremendously with this exciting new role in Tanzania and I believe that easily accessible artistic ventures that showcase culture are very important no matter where you are in the world.
I also found out this week that my visa has been approved (that's really good news!) and I have received my travel itinerary details that show I will be leaving on June 25 and returning on July 24.
I am heading to Toronto this afternoon for a two-day pre-departure training with WUSC and CECI, the two organizations who over see Uniterra's Leave for Change program. I am exciting for this weekend - I will get to learn more about these organizations and this program, meet fellow volunteers and chat about the exciting places we will be traveling to and to discuss the diverse work we will be doing there, and I get to have a short visit with my mom which is fitting because Mother's Day is this weekend.
Having all these pieces in place has made this opportunity feel more real to me now. Before it felt like an idea or a possibility but now it feels like it is really happening. I have been full of excitement all week and I know that the excitement will grow as we get closer to June 25. I am trying to slow myself down to enjoy the build up and prep work going into Tanzania because I know the next seven weeks will go by so fast. Wait.... seven weeks, that does not seem that far away, EEEEK!!!!
More soon.......
