My Mom and Malaria

The first time I took a solo trip was in 2000. I purchased an Around the World ticket and headed off from New York to New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Germany and then back home to New York.

Traveling through Africa in 2000 was pretty rustic. There were very few options for internet cafe’s and I would send occasional emails updating family and friends about my 6-week long safari. One day I decided that I would surprise my parents and give them a call. The connection wasn’t perfect and my Mom was nervous since she couldn’t hear me very well. I was trying to tell them about my trip and how our next destination was  going on to the country of Malawi. I don’t know how bad the connection really was or if she had just never heard of Malawi but a few days later when I could check email again I had messages from my brother and sister asking if I was ok. Their emails went on to say that Mom was sure that I had said I had malaria and she was sure I probably needed help but couldn’t understand what I was saying on the phone. All I could do was laugh! I could imagine my mother in a frantic state and telling everyone she could that I had malaria. Meanwhile I never got a single mosquito bite! (I’m lucky with that).

It’s one of my favorite stories to tell people, especially people who have met my mother. She is now aware that the country of Malawi exists.

I stick mostly to emails now with my parents so they can better understand what I’m doing and where I’m going. Hopefully they look things up in Google now before panicking 😉

Fortunately, my parents have been incredibly supportive of my world travels. They too thought I was nuts but after several years of traveling to random countries, they’ve become more familiar with the kind of travel I enjoy most. One of the things I love best about them is when their friends ask them “how could you ever let her travel to….?” and my parent respond with “you try to stop her!”

They know me well ❤