On Our Way

Flight 301 from Atlanta to Caracas - we are on our way. This moment has come so rapidly and, though we have spent months organizing the trip, raising the funds to make it possible, planning an itinerary that aims to transform hearts and minds, and preparing the youth for the wonderful challenges of international travel, it seems like yesterday that I was gathering students in room 307 at City Arts and Tech High School to watch a slide show of the previous trip to Venezuela to get them excited the journey.

I have traveled out of the country every summer since I started teaching in the Bay 9 years ago and have visited Venezuela 3 times in the past few years but getting on a plane to fly several thousand miles and a language away brings challenges that I have never faced before. At 5am this morning I kissed goodbye my partner, Shikira and Omari, my 9 month-old son - knowing I would be away from his glowing smile and his captivating laughter for almost two weeks. Two days marks the longest span of time I have been away from him in his short lifetime but, though I know I will miss both he and Shikira like broken wings miss flight, I am excited about both seeing the world with the new eyes of a father and returning to family carrying new experiences and insights in my heart and mind.

by Trevor