7 Valuable Lessons Learned
By Imani M. Cheers | March 25, 2013 | Ghana
I just returned from my first trip to South Africa, Zambia and Malawi and I learned some incredibly valuable lessons!
1. Now matter how much planning you do in advance, have a second, third and fourth plan in the works.
I thought I was prepared and had my contacts and stories all lined up. Until 24 hours before my flight departed and my contacts in Malawi was not able to host me. I had to scramble to find additional stories and everything worked out fine but I was panicked for a couple days!
2. Bring extra equipment, batteries and electrical converters.
My $3500 lens broke 4 days into my trip. For the first hour I FREAKED OUT since I didn’t have another one. Prayerfully, I was in Cape Town when I noticed the damage and was able to go to a Canon store and buy an additional lens. If the damage would have occurred in Mazabuka, Zambia it would have been chaotic!
3. Learn essential phrases in the local language and arrange a translator.
In general I try to learn a few phrases of the local language where ever I travel as a courtesy. When conducting in-depth interviews, I find it necessary to use a translator since most people feel more comfortable speaking in their local language. Try to find someone neutral if possible to avoid any misunderstandings.
4. Reach out to the essential government ministries at least 3 months in advance to get approval for interviews and filming.
I had NO idea that in order to do reporting in many countries you need permission from various government ministries and officials. This is a long and tedious process so get started ASAP. If you’re working with a local organization or contact, ask for their assistance as they often have to go through the extensive process.
5. Make sure you have recent U.S. currency for converting to local currencies.
I made sure to have cash to convert to local currency before I left but one of my $20 was from 2008 and therefore I was not able to exchange it. Make sure your cash is recent (at least within the last year) to avoid any issues.
6. Don’t rely on constant internet access.
Finding an internet connection was difficult and rather sporadic. Hence my lack of posting this month! Plan in advance and take an internet card or check with your lodging to see if they have a connection. Even then, as I found in Malawi, the signals can be sparse!
7. Pack non-perishable snacks for long trips.
I was on the road 7am-7pm most days traveling through rural areas and there weren’t many places to eat. I had a few granola bars but should have packed three times as many. Avoid chocolate or things that might melt or spoil. You also might end up in places where there aren’t any healthy options so if you have dietary restrictions, plan ahead because you might end up eating fried eggs and crisps (french fries) if you don’t pack your grub!
Stay tuned for some amazing multimedia stories in the coming weeks. Until then, I’m off to edit and catch up on some sleep!
~Cheers
Imani Cheers is a 2013 International Reporting Project New Media fellow. She is investigating the intersection of mobile technology and global health in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire and Liberia.This post originally appeared on Imani's blog, The Cheers Report.
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