Ilula-Friends-2023

We are experiencing many new things post pandemic. This is a random list. 1) BKB has justifiably asked for a "COVID 19 RISK MITIGATION & CONTINGENCY PLAN." To quote Randy Hurley, "HIV used to be the virus we were concerned with and had a mitigation strategy for. Something I never wanted to become an expert on, but may need to! 2) A new, more flexible transportation contractor: Makuta Travel and Tours. Excellent to talk to and work with! 3) New as of this trip, electronic visa application. (Although John Kvasnicka got to try it out last trip.) 4) Hopefully, updated living quarters at Ilula, thanks to a generous grant from our friends at the Peter King foundation. 5) Using Google Meet instead of Zoom. Always good to learn new things! 6) Using Google Forms and Sheets for data instead of Excel so colleagues have more ready access. Oh, there must be more!

It has been a two-year hiatus for us to visit our friends in Tanzania.We are happy to return! Of course things have changed a bit. We are excited to find out what they are! I think we have our commitments and sadly, a few hopefuls have had to decline. Some have already committed to 2024. I have two colleagues helping me with the planning, Shana and Cole, so it doesn't feel as lonely at the top. Ha! It isn't quite Kilimanjaro. And hoping Carl Sherman will make his way to Ilula as well. I know the new travelers are in fro a treat and I expect the wizened are just as excited as I am.