researching trips to Africa , I could hear the Amazon calling my name . Then India . Belize , Indonesia , Europe , and so on .
My trip to East Africa lead me to discover Overseas Adventure Travel , and from that amazing and exhilarating and life-changing experience , I knew I would be traveling with O . A . T . for a lifetime . And I have ! I have been on 16 trips , with more scheduled . And with each trip , I grow as a person . Travel has changed me in ways I probably can ’ t describe .
Some of the ways , though , are more tangible . With my newfound sense of adventure , I volunteered for the Red Cross in the 90s . I was sent out to Missouri during the floods in 1993 . Flew out to Los Angeles after the earthquake in 1994 . Things I never would have even dreamed of doing before that first trip that changed my life so much . And , during all these years , I was traveling every year to the places that were beckoning me .
On the home front , though , my local Red Cross commitment just wasn ’ t keeping me busy enough . Right about this time , a new program at our county police department caught my eye . They were going to form an auxiliary police team to assist the department with various tasks , and they were taking applications . This sounded so interesting to me . The application was overwhelming , though ! It asked me to list every job I ever had , every place I ever lived , it wanted my driving records from every state I had ever lived in . OMG ! So overwhelming ! I was going to just give up . But , my ever supportive husband told me , “ Go for it !” And , I did .
Out of 75 applicants , I was one of three women chosen to fill the 15 positions . I even had to reschedule my O . A . T . Turkey ’ s Magical Hideaways trip so I could do my training .
Believe me when I tell you , this all went back to that first trip where I discovered my true self . If I had never taken that trip to Africa , this never would have happened in my life . And , as I continue down the path my life is taking me on , I continue to look for adventure opportunities . They are what I live for now , and I am truly looking forward to my return to travel once again . Hopefully , that will take place later this year ! In the meantime , I have all the stories and special memories of the places I have traveled with O . A . T . over the past 30 years to keep me happy .
Now my husband is retired and is traveling with me . He never had much interest in overseas travel , but that has changed . He has been to Africa with me three times on O . A . T .’ s Ultimate Africa : Botswana , Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari , with another Ultimate Africa scheduled for us in 2023 . He has been with me on the fabulous Backroads of Iberia , Turkey ’ s Magical Hideaways , and Egypt & the Eternal Nile trips . Travel has changed him as well . Probably nothing as drastic as for me , but now he will engage anyone who will listen with pictures and commentary and stories , especially about our Africa trips . Even he has become an avid O . A . T . traveler .
Left : While Elena travels with her husband , Michael , more often these days , she went solo on her first safari to Kenya and Tanzania .
Elena and Mike at a winery in Ronda , Spain , during Backroads of Iberia .
Far Left : Elena spotted this playful family of baboons during Ultimate Africa .
Experience the destinations that started it all for Elena during New ! Kenya & Tanzania Safari : Masai Mara to the Serengeti .
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DISPATCHES • AUGUST 2022 31