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October 19, 2009
Sharing Soulful Images of African Orphans
Of all the places I’ve been, Africa feels the most like home. I can’t really explain it: I just know that when I step off the plane and smell the air—an almost primeval blend of fire, blood, sweat, dirt, and age—it goes straight through my body and I think, Oh my god, I’m home, I’m alive.
Because Africa is so important to me, I love to hear from travelers who feel the same way about this continent—and its people—as I do. So when 8-time traveler Linda Steffens contacted me to share some of the photos she’d taken on Grand Circle's Highlights of South Africa vacation, I couldn’t wait to see them.
Most of Linda’s photos were taken at the Esitjeni Primary School and Orphanage, a Grand Circle Foundation site in South Africa that is also featured on OAT's South Africa: Tribal Cultures & Kingdoms adventure. “Visiting the orphanage was the most overwhelming single moment of any trip I’ve ever taken,” she says. The emotional intensity of her visit is evident in her photos—evocative portraits of the children she met … children at once laughing and playful, but also wise beyond their years. Here’s an example:
Linda’s portraits are so stunning, I wanted to share them with other OAT and Grand Circle travelers, too. So I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll be featuring Linda’s photos in a special “Orphans of South Africa” exhibit at our Boston headquarters. These portraits will be on display in Harriet’s Corner—a new, physical space we created as an extension of the virtual community we’ve created here. (Read more about this exciting new addition.)
What’s more, we’ll be hosting a gallery opening for Linda on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. If you happen to be in the Boston area, I hope you’ll consider joining us for this special event. Simply email Mark Schianca, Manager of Corporate Culture and History, at mschianca@oattravel.com so we can save a place for you. And if you have photos or artwork of your own that you’d like us to display in Harriet’s Corner, please let me know at
harriet@oattravel.com
Harriet Lewis