It starts today.

2:09 A.M.; have been up for an hour - just like last night. Trying to get an early jump on jetlag (it usually helps on trips to Asia & Australia.

I've been 99.9% finished with packing since Saturday. Occasionally I'll think, "You know, I should take ... (a baseball cap. an extra pen. some notecards. more business cards.)" and I can easily add them. I'm taking 4 sets of clothes in addition to what I'll wear. A small pharmacy "just in case". More technology than existed when I started at IBM 25 1/2 years ago. My Nikon digital SLR, a couple of lenses (including my big zoom lens) and a good flash. Chargers. Connectors. A few snacks. And the 11.5 pounds of tchotchkes IBM asked me to take "if I had some extra space" (ha). This may be one of the 2 times I've ever had to check a second bag, but it's a discardable one ... unless it's full of prezzies coming home.

I'm vaccinated against typhoid,  and start the malaria prophylaxis this morning. Had my last allergy shot for 5 weeks yesterday. Still have the cough from my mini-flu two weeks ago, and it gets a little better every day.

My team at work has been terrific on picking up items to cover in my absence.

First flight at 12:15 today (getting to the airport way early to participate in just a couple of calls before I disconnect): first stop Washington DC, then Zurich, then Nairobi (just a quick stop), then Dar es Salaam tomorrow night at 8:05 local time. Then some sleep, and a weekend full of meetings, and getting over jet lag.

Can't wait!

Let the travel begin.

15 days to departure!

Things continue to progress toward the IBM Corporate Service Corps adventure in Tanzania.

Received my passport back from the embassy in under a week, and I'm now "official".

The main team has been distributed into three subteams, each of which will work on different projects:

• Tanzania Meteorological Agency
• Recycling sisal fiber
• Creating Public / Private dialog & partnerships

I'll be working on the Public/Private part, helping business associations and businesses work effectively with public & governmental organizations. There's been a fair amount of previous work done on this topic globally, in Africa, and even some in Tanzania; a lot of our preparatory work will help us to avoid reinventing any wheels and learning from what has (and has not) worked elsewhere. My colleagues on this subteam are from Australia, Brazil, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines, and we bring a combined 50 years of IBM experience with us.

We're now having weekly meetings for each of the subteams, as well as our overall preparatory meeting for the entire group. Our preliminary workplan is due next week.

My team (and my colleagues) continue to be tremendously supportive. I'm blessed to have this opportunity, and to have so many people supporting my work ... they each contribute to its success.

More to come ...

#ibmcsc Tanzania

Continuing preparations for Tanzania #ibmcsc

As part of getting ready to be gone for a few weeks, I've done the usual things:

• Checked with my doctor (will get some shots & things to take with me in the next couple of weeks).
• Sent my passport off (today) to get my visa. I'm a little unsettled when my passport isn't where I know it should be - in my computer bag. It'll be back soon.
• Reading, reading, reading about Tanzania and the work we'll be doing (more about that in a future blog).
• Started culling items from my calendar (my cullendar?) for the time I'll be away. My team is stepping right up to help.
• Getting used to the features of a new camera. The Nikon D2x served me well, but it has been replaced with a D800. All the lenses, flash, & accessories work with the new one.
• Thinking about which bills (I write only one check a month) need to be prepaid.
• Drafted the note to friends & family with all the details about my itinerary and how to reach me in an emergency.

... and today, I am opening my blog.

My plan is to use this for more in-depth writing than just a Facebook update or an Instagram picture. I'm still not sure what to expect with regard to connectivity there ... but I'm resourceful.

I will start posting pictures here at some point, and will also link to colleagues on my team who will be in Tanzania as well.

Please excuse some frequent updates & edits while I get this going.

For some background, here is information about the Corporate Service Corps in general, and some information about the great work done by the previous 9 teams sent to Tanzania.

Zaidi kuja haraka! (More to come soon!)