Sasa by Proxy: The Rebirth

Jambo friends of Sasafrica!

This is Josh, the original ghost-blogger who kicked off this series back in August while Sarah and the girls got settled in their new African digs. Since then Sarah has taken the reigns and delighted us with her daily tales of life in Tanzania, all while subtly instructing us to send clothes, to carpe diem, and to not eat shit sandwiches. Well folks, we’re going to TiVo that stream of red-headed consciousness for a little while as Sarah leads another ambitious group up Mount Kili. In her absence, I and Eric “Too Tall” Schoonveld, the stretched husband of Shawna, Sarah’s co-leader and partner in crime, will be filling in with both play-by-play and color commentary as Fric & Frac lead another group of brave philanthropists up the hill. For those who have grown accustomed to the stylings of Sasafrica, please note that the tone will change a bit. With me, you’ll get a Sedaris-like slant on the events with a light-hearted, but sardonic take on the climb. When Too Tall starts typing, his eloquent lawyerness will come shining through, and suddenly you’ll be Thoreau country. Once the climb is over, he and I will gladly pass the baton back to Ramona Quimby: The Acid Years for her own take on the climb and 2nd semester in Africa.

As for the climbers, welcome to the great journey that is sure to change your life! Sarah introduced you all in previous posts in guest star fashion, reminiscent of the opening credits of the Love Boat. All that was missing was each of your faces in the ship steering wheel and, of course, the Landers sisters, Sid Caesar, and Charles Nelson Reilly. A key pointer: when you’re on the climb be warned that Sasa likes to tell stories…repetitively. When you hear her open up with “Did I tell you…?” quickly cut her off at the pass. Sure, you’ll need the entertainment to get through the grueling part of the climb, but don’t let her think that the multiple climate changes will erase your memory. Demand new material!

I’ve also sent Sarah 7 awesome CDs, so if anyone is short on music, ask Hannah Africanna if you can borrow her collection, then you all can dance a Soul Train line up the mountain. However, watch out for Sarah’s moves…when she puts that iPod on she’s Elaine Bennis with a backpack, and trust me, there have been casualties.

Shawna will be a great resource, particularly if you need to reach the top shelf. Her favorite pastime is laughing (and subsequently peeing in her pants), so if you want to feel like you’re headlining at Caroline’s Comedy Club, grab Shawniqua and let the jokes fly. Knock-knocks had her at hello.

So good luck to the climbers, and happy reading to friends and family near and far. It’s sure to be another successful adventure, so Too Tall and I will do our best to translate the journey to make you feel like you’re right there with them!

Snow and Spelling

First a shout out to all my misspelled words...I type fast and usually never edit...similar to how I live my life...I could use a full time editor....anyone intersted in the position???
Anyway...so I just wrote my group about how the snow on Kili had been going away and then BAM...it's now covered. Yesterday I drove to Arusha and noticed Mt. Meru has also gotten snow (very very uncommon) the second highest portion of Kili...Mwenzi...snow...ug.
I am hoping the unseasonable rain we have gotten of late is almost over as we start climbing Monday. They are mostly traveling from Chicago which I hear has gotten its fair share of snow...
Soon on this page there will commence a bloggins smackdown...in one corner we have Josh...who is a Google exectuive...in the other we have Eric who is a high powered attorney...I doubt they will have misspellings...should prove for some interesting reading while i am away....best to all of you and more when I return on the 23rd!!!
Love and Peace,
Sarah
PS...positive energy our way as we do a Valentine's day summit!!!! LOVE

Intros continued!!!

Ok...so...next we have Jimmy Masterson...Jimmy has been interested in doing this climb sense the first time I came here 4 years ago. He had that look in his eye as if to say "I want to do that" way back when . He and his wife Beth ( who will join us for the second half of the trip) generously sponsored me for that first climb! They are parents to 5 great kids...who I hope they are inspired to bring back in the future. I look forward to spend ing this time with both Jimmy and Beth!!! Then there is Yong Myong....he is the father of three great girls. Yong has traveled all over the world so he will lend an experienced sense of this adventure. yong is checking out the climb for his wife and first born daughter who also want to climb with us in the future (right cathy????)
Julie Newman is a business woman from Chicago...a very very busy one who I imagine will have a challenge slowing down to the pace of Africa. I doubt she will flinch on the mountain as she is a courageous independent soul.
Anna Loftus and Joanne Jorgenson are the other respesenting lawyers on the climb. They both owrk for the same firm but in different regional offices. Joanne hails from Utah...and has been hiking at altitude...she'll be leaving her its and her Army employed husband....now it's her turn to leave the country as he spent time in Iraq. Anna I don't know as well and really met briefly at our last meeting in Chicago...she strikes me a a bright vibrant addition to the group....she's tiny...and looks very fit.
Melissa Guierrez is the youngest member of our group. She is a veteran traveler mostly in South America...I'll be happy to introduce her to Abu one of our drivers who is fluent in Spanish. A few of our Tumaini trained porters also speak Spanish...I like Melissa's enthusiasm and will appreciate it onthe mountain!
Last but not least....it is our lucky luck to have Jamie Dwyer labor delivery Nurse extrodinaire. She was supposed to climb with our group in dec. but contracted Dengue Fever in South America...she has been here in Tanzania for the last few weeks traveling and visiting her sister Sam who is a GAA employee. She is great....I am SOOOOO happy she will be joining us!!! Nice to have a nurse along as well....especially if anyone goes into labor!
Ok....more later my mom needs some more training! HA....
Love to you all....see you climbers soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah