Out of Africa

 
My husband and I live to travel.  And even though our financial situation doesn't always allow for an exotic excursion, we nevertheless often have our eye on our next big trip. Last month we were fortunate to be able to go on safari in Tanzania. Viewing numerous big cats, elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinos and other animals in their natural habitat and at close range was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and yet...

As a vegetarian foodie (no, not a contradiction in terms), who had notified our tour company of my gustatory limitation, I had expected that I would receive a variety of vegetarian main courses. However, after several days of being offered rice and beans or lentils, I began to complain (to myself, mostly) about the limited vegetarian entree options.  Luckily, within a day or so of my quiet griping, I came to my senses.  I was appalled to realize that I had become that tourist that I had always disparaged, one who wanted specialized catering and who expected to be treated as a queen. The dinner buffets were overflowing with food, including many vegetarian dishes --- creamy vegetable soups, various salads, fruit, hot vegetables --- and still, I was disappointed in the food offered to me. 

How many Tanzanians had the opportunity to choose from such an array of foods? Here I was, in an impoverished African country, anticipating that my every wish would be fulfilled, including restaurant-worthy cuisine. And I felt very ashamed.

Letting go of that disappointment and developing a more positive perspective allowed me to focus on what I had really come for --- the sights and sounds and culture of Tanzania.  It was a phenomenal trip, and I returned home thrilled, humbled and changed by the experience.