I summited Kilimanjaro in August 2009 (Women's Month in South Africa) with a group of women. It was one of the most profoundly emotional and oxygen starved experiences of my life. How did I get there from Montreal, Canada? It's all Zambia's fault. I was born a Brit, lived in Canada for 30 years, then moved (by choice!) to South Africa in 1997.
First, a taste of Kili for you....
Seriously, it's a moonscape, with just a bit more air than on our actual moon.
What you can't see is how much effort it takes to do something simple, like take one step forward. That South African with the Vuvuzela had amazing lungs. But I digress.
And that's me on the right.
So how did I get there? Oh yes, I blamed Zambia.
In the beginning of June 1989 (the sharpies out there will remember that was the time of Tienanmen Square), I went to Lusaka, Zambia, for the first time of many, many visits there, in the role of project manager for an aid-funded technical assistance project aiming to help the electricity utilities and water agencies of Southern Africa to manage their hydroelectric reservoirs better. Wow. Lasted 9 years. And this was in the days when South Africa was still definitely the bad guy in the region.
Anyway, many Canadian Christmases had accustomed me to poinsettias needing to be put in cupboards 12 hours a day in order for their bracts to turn that vivid red, and to the accepted truth that they grew in small plastic pots wrapped in shiny metallic paper. And here I was in Lusaka, where they grew as big as trees. With bracts a vivid red, with not a cupboard in sight. That flipped a switch in my head and heart in a way I still can't fully explain, but started me on my journey home to Africa. I finally made it in 1997 and have called Africa home ever since. Our 2009 Kili summit was the culmination of a dream which germinated in my first Johannesburg office in 1998.
Looking forward to sharing stories of Africa with you, reading your stories and getting conversations going about moving mountains in life.
What a great introduction post, Linsey!
I had no idea how you had landed in South Africa (so little does your TFAY know, eh? Kudos on climbing, never mind summiting, Kilimanjaro.
Why thank you, TFAY @dalerog! As you'll have seen, I saw your more recent post first 😀. So great to have you on the platform!
:D Ya baby! Finally looking around this Steemit thing and am composing my "Introductory Post" as we speak...
Already building up that reputation score...you go, girl!
Upvoted you
Belated thanks to you, @amihay :-)
This is great!
Thank you, @stealthtrader!
Thank you, Wang!