Still in pre trip mode...

Friday, October 30, 2009 and our last day at work. Both Judy and I work at Family Support Services of West Hawaii in Kailua-Kona. Judy is a Clinical Specialist and I am the Executive Assistant.

Last minute running around today - had to stop at Kaiser and pick up two prescriptions. One is for Malaria, and the other a general antibiotic for "just in case". One thing about going to Africa is the number of immunizations required. Last month I felt like a pin cushion - but I know that they are all necessary. I'm praying that neither one of us gets ill on the trip.

Thanks to the generosity of Rotarians, both in the Kona Sunrise Club, and the Kona Club, we are taking one very full suitcase of school supplies with us. Apparently the schools in Benin are very poor and do not have sufficient supplies for their classrooms. I went shopping yesterday and spent close to $200 on paper, pencils, pens, stickers, notebooks, rulers, scissors - all kinds of things. I haven't weighed it yet, but we are allowed two fifty pound suitcases each on the Air France portion.

That's all for today.

Pre trip notes

It's hard to believe that Judy and I leave for Benin Africa in only a few days. We have been planning this trip for months, or rather Howard Tours has, but we've been doing our own planning too. The trip is to Benin, Africa with a group of Rotarians from all over the place, to participate in a Polio Immunization Day as well as participating in the West Africa Project Fair.

I have been a Rotarian for 10 years, and this is my second trip with a group of Rotarians. The first was on a Rotaplast Tour in the Philippines five years ago, the purpose being to correct cleft lip and cleft palette in children. This trip is for an entirely different purpose. Judy is new to Rotary, but is passionate about the elimination of polio in the world.

During the next two weeks, I intend to post daily blogs on the adventure. I hope whoever is reading this will enjoy reading about the experience, and will consider joining the efforts of Rotary and The World Health Organization to eliminate polio.