Who Am I?

It’s been five months since I first spoke the words: Africa 2027. So I thought it was a good time to re-introduce myself to my readers. I’m Tracy. I’ve spent the last twenty years working in higher education finance. I’ve been divorced for the last twelve years and was the primary caregiver to three kids. I have a ten-year old mini-golden doodle that I mildly resent – cue people calling me a dog hater. I’m not. I just want to be finished taking care of anything besides myself. And let’s not forget, my elderly tuxedo cat, Shadow.

 Four years ago, to the day, I left for a three week, mostly solo trip. I made my way through Iceland, Copenhagen, Norway, and met up with a group in Ireland. I had no idea at the time that my life would be irreversibly changed. Since that trip, I’ve been to thirty-five countries. Throughout Africa, Europe, South and Central America, and SE Asia.

 After all that, I finally decided that the work titles, the salary, all the roles that I filled were no longer enough. The harder truth is that I no longer know who I am within these roles. And I am even less certain who I am without them. So I made the decision to leave them all behind.

 At the end of this year, I’ll write my way across Africa. Fifteen countries. Some adventure: gorilla trekking, Mt Kilimanjaro. Self-driving my way across Southern Africa. Some fun: Vodun Festival and Carnival. Some volunteering. A lot of R&R — rest and relaxation, reading and researching. And then writing. And maybe I’ll come back with a better answer to the question of who I am.

 I hope you’ll follow along as I share my planning process. Less logistics. More the reckoning.