I returned to Vancouver with two dogs which had been born in Tanzania.Įvacuating and leaving my husband behind wasn’t easy and I decided that the time was right to get back to my work. Although he stayed to finish the Tashkent embassy, family members were not permitted. In 2004, politics took a turn for the worse in Uzbekistan where my husband was working. (I had worked several years in mental health after leaving university.) All through the years that I played the supporting role in my husband’s overseas career, I had always found something to do – volunteering at hospitals selling antiques and fine art tour guiding and writing. Q. What made you decide to start a tour company in Africa?Ī. It was always my intent to return to work full time. Returning to Canada and the United States became the alternate reality and culture shock happened in reverse. By then, I knew I didn’t want to live any place else. The actual decision to make Zambia a permanent home wasn’t made until 2011, after living in several African countries. But I was affected too by African culture – the sense of community and hospitality the respect for elders the respect for education the love of music and dance and the courage shown in the face of daily challenges. I think I recognized immediately that I had found a home in Africa, primarily because of my love for wildlife. Prior to Tanzania, we had lived in Turkey, Sultanate of Oman, and Singapore (twice) and our own personal travels had always focused on Asia. When the opportunity came to live in Tanzania in 1999, (after al Qaeda bombed the Dar es Salaam and Kenya US Embassies in 1998), we jumped at it based on the memories of that first safari. Our first trip to Africa was in 1992 when we lived in the Middle East. My husband has worked overseas construction (builds American Embassies primarily) since 1989. In 1975, I went to Vancouver to attend the University of BC where I met my husband who was both an American and Canadian. I was born in Eastern Canada but grew up in Dublin, Ireland where I finished secondary school. Can you tell us about what first took you to Africa and how/why you’ve chosen to make it your permanent home?Ī. I am not from Vancouver originally. You’re originally from Vancouver, Canada. ![]() We thought it would be fun to share a little of her story with you! ![]() In Tanzania, our ground operator was Leslie Nevison of Mama Tembo Tours. We rely heavily on these contacts to make our trips go as smoothly as possible. As we do with all international trips, we partnered with a local tour operator. Kilimanjaro and safari with one group and a second group that only went on safari. Earlier this year, we ran our first Tanzania tour(s).
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