First post - February 26th, 2012.

T-minus 4 days until I leave for Africa - the great adventure. I figured that since I've told just about everyone that I know that I'd be keeping a blog, I better actually start one.

On Friday I leave Toronto and by Saturday night I'll arrive in Kampla, Uganda (via Amsterdam) for the first of three stops in Africa - Kenya and Tanzania will follow.

For as long as I can remember Africa has held a fascination for me. I'm not sure when or how the seed was planted, but it took root somewhere deep inside and I've never quite been able to shake it. And so finally, after wondering about it and thinking about it and talking....and talking...and talking about it, I decided to actually do something.

I sold my house, quit my job and off I go. Crazy? Maybe....probably. But what the hell, you only go around this crazy mixed up life once so you might as well leave it all out there on the table, right?

This next few days will be busy, so busy I hope that I don't have time to actually think about what I'm doing. Because if I think too much about it, I'm afraid I might chicken out and decide that I really have lost my mind and try to get my old life back. Nah....I don't think I'd really do that, but the thought does go through my mind, however fleeting.

When I tell people that I'm going to Africa to volunteer for 6 months, the reaction is overwhelming, universally positive. It's easy to get and stay excited as I feed off their positive energy. With other people I feel really great and confident and excited about what I'm about to experience. But in those quiet moments, when it's just me alone with my own thoughts, that's when the uncertainty and anxiety begins to creep in.

I know that it won't be easy and there will most certainly be times when I'll be miserable and desperate to get home.

Oh well, in for a penny in for a pound. Fortune favours the brave, right?

P.S, I need some suggestions for the name of the blog. Any ideas?