My trip to South Africa

1989: My senior year at Miami University studying under a Keith Haring anti-apartheid poster

In May 2010, my uncle Doug Roland retired from practicing law after 35 years and, along with my aunt Cheri, packed up and moved to South Africa for a 2-year stay. My dad's only brother, Doug has been managing the field education program at a Methodist seminary in Pietermaritzburg just outside Durban on the east coast of South Africa. My aunt works at the seminary too. I thought it was awesome when I first heard the news that my aunt and uncle were going to live in South Africa for 2 years. My second thought was how cool it would to go and visit them and find an HIV/AIDS organization at which to volunteer while I was there. But taking time off from work to travel clear across the globe for a couple of weeks was just not realistic. My job was too demanding, and the trip would have cost me vacation days that I would rather spend with Rob, my partner of 15 years. It was also not likely Rob would come with me on a trip to Africa. As caring and loving and generous as Rob is, he is not keen on helping some of the most disenfranchised people on earth. Poverty, disparity and disease are all difficult topics for anyone to deal with, but it would tear Rob's heart out. So I put the idea of a trip to South Africa out of my head and enjoyed a virtual trip thanks to Doug and Cheri's blog OUT OF THE BOX.

In April of this year, I was laid off from my job with a very generous severance package (thank you, Legacy) and I started to think about that trip to South Africa again. My aunt and uncle were winding down their 2-year stint at the seminary and soon would be returning to the U.S., so it was now or never. I hate regret....the coulda, woulda, shoulda moments that pass you buy, so I emailed my uncle Doug and asked him what sorts of volunteer opportunities would be available if I came to South Africa for a visit. I told him that I really want to see he and Cheri, but it was even more important for me to be able to give back and volunteer for an organization, especially one that works with people living with HIV. My uncle asked me to send him my curriculum vitae so he could forward it to an agency who knew. Within a couple of days, Doug connected me to the Come Back Mission (website) in Johannesburg. [I just noticed that a photo of my aunt and uncle is featured on the homepage of the agency's website!!] See my next blog post for more information about Come Back Mission.

I am so excited to go!! I know I will see things that make me sad and that will scare me, but I also know I will see things that make me smile. The folks at Come Back Mission have already welcomed me into their "family," so I know I will be surrounded by people who really care and who want to help. I hope that I will be able to use some of my knowledge in HIV prevention and education, and maybe I can use my knowledge of marketing and communications for nonprofit organizations to help Come Back Mission increase donations and grow to help even more people.

Please join me in my journey to South Africa by following this blog (bookmark it now!). You can also follow me on Twitter @EricSouthAfrica or on Facebook. I hope to be posting photos and stories from my experience on a daily basis.