“Are you ready?”

I’ve been asked that question at least a hundred times over the last few weeks. I usually respond with a laugh. They’re talking about my Teachers Without Borders – Canada trip, on which I leave tomorrow. I won’t be ready until I get back. If then. The truth is, I don’t know what to be ready for. I’m so far out of my element with this thing that I don’t know what it is that I should be doing to get ready.

But the bags are packed, and I’ve collected everything that I can think of that I might need. Culturally, I’ve given up any hope of attempting to “blend in”. I can’t even blend in with the Canadians, let alone the Africans. I nearly forgot, for example, that today is Canada Day. I’m sure that will get a little better as we go along. The veterans on the team will help, and with a little humor, I’m sure they’ll set me straight. I’ve been told my socks are too white for Africa. We’ll have to do something about that.

Professionally, though, I’m not ready at all. I would like to be much further along with the workshop prep, organization of materials, and general workshop planning. The topics and schedules are still changing somewhat, but I really need to focus on that stuff over the next day or so. While I’m not worried about it all coming together, there’s still some work to do.

But that plane’s leaving in the morning, and I’m going to be on it. And my world is about to change. Ready or not, here I come.