My January Journey to South Africa

For all of you who are wondering about what I'm doing next month, here's a little glimpse!

As most of you know, last year I was beyond blessed to have been chosen to represent Virgin on an ambassador/mission trip to South Africa.  Little did I know how much I was about to fall in love... The week I spent in Africa was one of, if not the, best week of my life so far.  They say once you go to Africa, a bug bites you, and you will forever dream of returning.  This happened to me in 2005 during my first time there where I spent a month in & around Cape town.  There is indeed something special and unexplainable about it.  I could go on & on, but I'll cut to the chase and share with you my project for 2014.  

I'll be returning to Ulusaba, Richard Branson's private game reserve about eight hours drive from Johannesburg.  

As they did last year, the amazing charitable organization Pride & Purpose will be hosting me, and I am really excited to see everyone again!  My purpose in returning is to embark on a photo project that in turn helps the people of the surrounding village of Dumphries.  I'll be bringing cameras down to teach a bit about photography and how to capture their world using the lens.  I will curate a collection of their photographs to come up with a gallery that we will hang at their community center (which we helped put together last year!)   Visitors from the lodge will have the opportunity to purchase these one of a kind pieces of art, and the money will go directly back into the community. Additionally, I'll be taking portraits of the people who live in the village, as well as the volunteers and staff, and creating a photo documentation of life in & around Ulusaba.  I plan to put together a show back here in San Francisco, and send the proceeds to Pride & Purpose.  

Pride & Purpose

Many people might ask the question, "Why do you have to go so far to volunteer?  Why Africa?  Why not right here in your own backyard?"  I've contemplated this question a lot, and what I have some to realize is this:  When you are far away from anything familiar and comfortable, you really have the chance to sink in to what you are doing.  There are no distractions, no Facebook events to attend, no sunny day at Dolores Park to play hookie for, no checking your phone every five minutes for texts.  Your soul gets to really be there, and with that, it gets a little shake up, your senses are heightened, you actually feel yourself living every moment.  This is just my own experience, but it is pretty powerful.  

Returning for this project makes my heart skip.  I am nervous, I have expectations for myself that may or may not get realized, I don't know exactly what I'm doing... But it feels good to be afraid and go anyway.  I have an idea of what I am going for, but I look forward to it morphing into something totally different.  Richard Avedon said, "You have to be surprised for it to be magical."  

If you would like to contribute to this project, please send me a message, or PayPal directly to shellygerrish@gmail.com.  I am also in need of digital cameras, memory cards, small external hard drives, and old iphones.  The money I raise will go towards my travel expenses (airfare, bus, cost to check baggage-photo equipment, etc), software for photo editing, and time & cost of preparing the art shows both in Ulusaba and SF.  Each person who contributes will be gifted with an original 8X10 or larger print from Dumphries.

I thank you all tremendously for all of your support, & cheering me on!  I couldn't do this without all of your encouragement.  

Here are a few of my favorite memories from last year...

A Lyft with Daysmel: Day 42 of the Portrait Project

My brother gave me a ride back to John Wayne airport after Thanksgiving, it's only about 15 minutes from his house.  The plan was to hop on a United flight back to SF, have the afternoon at home, then return to work that night for a redeye to Newark.  Two hours before my flight, there were twenty seats open, so I wasn't worried... I was already dreaming of the delicious dinner that was being conjured up for me by my good friend who was going to pick me up from the airport so that we could have some QT together. But United had different plans.  It decided to toy with me and fill its 20 seats, then raise me another 20 for the standby list.  I was stranded.  My only hope was to get to LAX and catch a Virgin flight, which would not only cost me a pretty penny, but I'd lose my nice, relaxing dinner at home.  We have Lyft in San Francisco, a ride sharing company where every day people use their own cars as taxis.  I'd never used it before, but figured it might be the most economical way to get me where I needed to go.  Not more than five minutes after pressing 'send' on my handy dandy app, Daysmel shows up.  It's a little awkward getting in the front seat of a 'cab', not knowing this person, and wondering if you'll have anything to chat about for 45 minutes.  I was pleasantly surprised that we got along like peas and carrots, there was not a gap in the conversation for even a minute.  I learned all about how Daysmel's family hid in a boat and crossed over from Cuba when he was only nine years old, and how they were kept at Guantanamo for five months in a camp with thousands of others.  They had communal showers, army rations for food, and there were gambling rings formed out of the sheer need for something to do.  I asked him if he or his family had the desire to go back, especially since Cuba is on its way to opening up soon.  He tells me he'd like to visit, but for his father there's more to it. The way I saw it, he is stuck in a limbo of sorts;   His heart is Cuba, he has built his home is America.  In my mind's eye, I see his father returning to his homeland one day, a swirl of nostalgia, sadness, and joy, walking along the shore remembering the time he left everything and stepped foot on a boat, tears in his eyes, holding his breath...

Daysmel. 

Laurie & Gabey, 41

Not only have I been blessed to have three amazing little guys to call my family, but I am also lucky beyond belief to have a sister-in-law as great as Laurie.  She's been in our lives for over 20 years, as she and my brother met the first semester of college.  I remember going to Matt's fraternity parties down in Long Beach when I was still in high school.  I was infatuated with at least three of his frat brothers at any given time, and I think Laurie was always there secretly watching out for me to make sure I didn't get into too much trouble.  Gabey here is a tough little guy, having to keep up with and defend himself from his two older brothers.  So, when he is spent from the day of being little brother, he passes out cold!  

Laurie & Gabriel. 

It's 40!! & It's Kyle!!

Ahhh, my nephews!  I loooooove my nephews!!  If we lived in the same city, I think my brother would have to start locking the door to keep me out.  Noah, the first born, has never liked his photo taken and runs away at the mere sighting of a small black boxy thing.  Kyle, on the other hand, he's a ham.  Not only does he look at me when the camera comes out, he actually has a knack for giving me about a dozen different dashing looks, a real Steve McQueen with chocolate eyes.  This evening, the night before our family's Thanksgiving, we all went over to Mike's man cave for a bit of beer & hanging out.  After about a half hour of playing tag in the streets, (and giving me a good workout!) Kyle plops down in his chair and just chills out, listening to the adults shoot the shit over a few drafts, and watches the ball game on the big screen.  Kyle will be the first one to hop up to a pop song, raise the roof, and dance around with the biggest, giddy smile on his face... and then he can just as easily shift into this cool as a cat mode, pimpin' his Angry Birds cap and chillin' with the crew.  Yeah, my nephews, they are amazing.  

Kyle. 

PP:39 in JFK after a crazy day

Today was kind of a crazy day...

Just after take-off in LA we smelled smoke/burning in the cabin.  For those of you who are or have ever been in the airline industry, "smoke in the cabin" is one of the worst things you can hear.  We turned right back around for an emergency landing, fire trucks met us on the tarmac, and when the doors opened, there stood two enormous men dressed in silver suits who looked like linebacker astronauts.  It didn't escalate, we all deplaned normally, but it got our blood rushing pretty good.  We took a little time to recompose ourselves away from the crowd, then returned to work and got our passengers to New York just a couple hours late.  When we arrived at the hotel, I saw these three crew mates down in the lobby, and went over to sit with them & share my day.  Mikita was in my training class two years ago, and the other two girls were on their very first trip out of their training the week before.  I debated whether or not to share my story with them, afraid it might not be what they needed to hear on their first trip. Ultimately, I figured it would be good to hear that it's not all fun and games up there, and when you do go through something serious, it brings you closer to those you are with, and makes you fall in love with the job that much more.  

Mariana. Mikita. Olivia.

Thanksgiving on 38

I wasn't looking forward to flying over Thanksgiving weekend, especially since I didn't know any of my crew.  You always walk into the village holding your breath a bit, hoping that the people you are committed to spending the next four days with are at least somewhat cool.  Sometimes you shrug and just get through the trip, while other times, this time, you laugh so hard your face falls off.  Steve, with his British wit and humor had us at "hello", as did his equally waggish cohort Matt.  I don't know if it's possible to get a more fun combination of crew to jaunt around the country with, especially since we got to play in Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas.  Trips like these make up for all the other madness we have to deal with up in that tiny little tube hurling across the sky.   After all the fun was done, and we had to say goodbye, we wiped away the tears (of laughter) and deemed ourselves "The Dream Team".  Steve, Matt, Shelly, Bethany, and Kaola.  Best Thanksgiving ever.  (Mom, that's only second to when I get to spend it with you!)

Steve. 

Matt. Shelly. Kaola. Steve. (Bethany hiding in the corner) 

Triple Threat 37

Dancing Queen.  That's what he was singing the first time I saw him.  It was a slow, raspy version that he sung as he sauntered down the stairs of the Muni at 5 am, gym bag in hand, sunglasses on.  

5 am again, I hear singing coming down the stairs and I knew who it was.  He sang to the silent tunnel, and to the three of us waiting there.  He looks at my red, shiny shoes and says, "You know what your shoes look like?"  I looked at him and smirked, "The Wizard of Oz!"  He looked bewildered, "You're a mind reader, aren't you?"  I said "Sometimes."

Excited to have a conversation, he continues, "The ladies call me Triple Threat!  You know why?"  His eyes I can see sparkling behind the dark frames of his sunglasses.  "Because I can sing, I can dance (does a little jig), and I got the muscles!!"   "HA!"  He moon walks for me, breaks out a few moves, and then pulls back his sleeve to show me his bicep flexing. He also flexes his pecs so that his shirt twitches up and down, up and down, up and down.  He smiles wide, and sings a little more.  The train comes, we both get on and he sits down.  Then the fun starts.  He smirks as he pulls out something so fantastic out of his gym bag... It's a... No, it can't be!  Yes!  Oh my God, it's a Shake Weight!  He looks up at all of us and starts to shake it, glancing back and forth at us, and at his muscles, smile a mile wide still, very proud of his muscles.  He sings a song, something about not leaving, but I get up because my stop is drawing near.  As I step out, I hear him say "Shake n' Bake Ricky Daddy!!"  Now, my smile is wider than his and I wonder if I'm the only one who thought Triple Threat just made my day!   

TT.

And just because he is SUCH a great character, I couldn't let this post go without showing you the ShakeWeight!  Enjoy.  

Al the shoe man: Portrait Project day #36

Al just might be the busiest man in the Castro.  His shop is only about 10 square feet, but he can fit two hundred pair of shoes in there!  There is usually a line out the door (kinda has to be, there's only room for one person at a time inside), and he's always got a friendly smile on his face, greeting everyone who walks in as if they were guests in his home.  The window front is a reason to go by in of itself, decorated with old workshop relics, dusty trinkets, ceramic wagon-wheel scenes, old bottles, you name it.  There could be a coffee table book dedicated to this intricate collection of artifacts.  His place is one of the reasons I love my neighborhood so much.  Every corner you turn, there is something deliciously out of the ordinary that makes you realize; we humans are pretty eclectic creatures.  

Al.

The W with Wendy: Day 35

There are friends, and then there are best friends.  

Wendy and I met in Spain over twenty years ago.  The first time we met was in Madrid at the hotel when all of us exchange program students gathered after our flight.  I had brought a mini coffee maker with me from home (Why?? I have no idea what I was thinking)  I made coffee and it busted because I did not realize I needed a power converter.  (I also did not realize Spain is the mecca for coffee)

Wendy and I became fast friends, and found ourselves in Southern Spain one weekend for Carnival.  We were supposed to be gone two days, we stayed for seven, and almost never returned... Maybe it was because of the hot Navy guys we met, maybe it how we loved playing drinking games with the General of the Spanish Air Force, or maybe it was just that we felt more free than we ever had before in our lives.  Wendy and I have been there for each other through good and bad ever since.  She even forgave me when she came to visit me in New York and I accidentally locked her INside my apartment all day while I was at work.  I can call her at three in the morning and she won't blink an eye, she'll tell me the truth, not just what I want to hear, she laughs with me over the silliest of things, and she is the only one who I know will never judge me no matter what.  And I do the same for her.  She makes you feel like you can do anything, and she's right.  Even if is beating the General in a drink-off in a tiny little bar in Spain.

Wendy.

Portrait Project Day 34: Steve

Steve took me in when I needed a place to stay.  I had finally decided to leave Mill Valley, my home of seven years, and make the move to "the city".  I had been couch-surfing, house-sitting, and vagabonding for about two months when I got a note from Steve saying I could stay with him for a couple days if I needed another place to crash. I didn't know him very well, but he was good friends with my good friends, so I figured he was an ok guy.  That, and I believe he had just received the honor of being "man of the year" in a certain fundraising circle for all of the effort he put into raising money for MS.  I tucked my things in his back room and promised I'd only be there a short while.  

A month later, we were like old friends, cooking dinner together, sharing good wine, telling each other about our days when we were home from work... It was feeling like home.  One day I woke up to find a cup of coffee in the fridge from the local cafe down the street, and my name was on the lid.  I was confused, did I go there and forget? Did I sleepwalk?  Steve knew I liked lattes, and got me one before he left for work.  I overslept, so I missed it, but I knew then that we had indeed become roommates.  It was nice.  A week later, I found the place that I would become my new home,  just five blocks away.  We still get together over good wine and delicious food and reminisce about that month that bonded us in each other's lives.  I miss his cooking and his bright smile, but most of all, I miss his heated toilet seat.  

Steve.

Karenna & Hermie on Day 33/PP

This woman is one of the most outrageous, beautiful-hearted, unabashed, real, whole, unapologetic, sexy, righteous, loving, endearing, and gorgeous people I have been blessed to have connected with... and all because of an amazing, glorious, soulful, deep, artful, extravagant, enlightening, fun-beyond-belief, melting pot of creativity in the desert called Burningman.  Man, do I feel blessed!  Oh, and meet her rad sidekick Hermie! What a cool little dude!  Next time, I'll treat you all to a photo of Karenna dressed up in her Fou Fou Ha costume, or her Snail Trail digs, or her stilts... Yeah, she's the kind that kinda blows your mind!  

Karenna.

Amy's Birthday: PP32

Amy woke up feeling sick on her birthday.  We all had plans to go out in the city and get a little crazy, but at 3 pm she still wasn't sure if she'd be up for anything.  She flipped on our new Apple TV Vevo channel, and very quickly country songs began to play.  

An hour later, I hear the music blaring along with Amy's voice singing along.  It was all sad country music!  I ran downstairs to stop this madness and insisted she play happy music.  She said "No, no!  It's not sad, it's music from when I was growing up!"  She's from farmland, a place called Vacaville (in spanish that means "cow land"!)  She clicked around to find some other, more upbeat country songs, and I sat down with her, curious to see what came up.  Then she said "What were songs from your childhood?"  Ahhhh, yeah!  I pondered for a minute, then called out a few band names... "Duran Duran!"  "Depeche Mode!"  "Bon Jovi!!"  We cracked a pair of pumpkin beers and sat there laughing and singing for the next hour watching video after video, each one more nostalgic than the last.  The doorbell rang, in came Lillian, then came Bridget, then Aaron... "What are songs from when YOU grew up?"  she asked all who entered.  Before you knew it, we had been huddled around the couch watching videos (and spontaneously jumping up in song & dance) for over five hours!  I don't know whether it was the pumpkin beer or the Wham! video that ended up making Amy feel better, but it was one of the most fun birthdays I've been to in a long time, and we all fell asleep to "Wake me up before you go go!" 

In all the fun, I forgot to take a 'portrait of the day'.  I had only taken one photo all day long!  I couldn't believe I forgot, especially with a house full of people dancing around to pop music.  I took this on my iphone so we could send it to a friend, I forget who now...hmmm.  So, my project today was to turn a crappy iphoto into something that Amy would actually like.  She's got her Sox shirt, her Arbita beer, and a smile.  That pretty much sums up Amy's happy place!  I am also attaching a portrait I took a couple weeks ago in Boston because I want Ames to be represented with a true portrait here in my 73 days!  

Amy.

Day 31 of the Portrait Project: Playing with Cats.

Decided to play around with the kitten creatures today, as it was a cozy night in, and the down comforter & warm fuzzies were more appealing than going out into the Castro streets.  I wanted to toy with some abstracts, use movement, and practice some techniques that a friend recently showed me.  Our kitties are a year old this month.  They have tortured us more than anything... scratched up furniture, peed & pooped in awkward places, left fuzz in every corner, cost us a month's rent in vet bills, and meowed us awake at 3 in the morning one too many times... BUT, they are also the coolest, friendliest, quirkiest, lovable creatures around, and when we're not dreaming of what life was like pre-cat, we actually adore the hell out of the little fcukers.  I'm really not certain which orange furry this one is, could be Cass, could be Dodo.  I like to think it's a mixture of both siblings, a little cray-cray, a little aloof.  

Cat. 

Portrait Project, Day 30. Jenna

Her voice.  

As she explained about the layout of the memorial to the other couple standing nearby, I turned and listened.  At first, I didn't know what was so intriguing, it was just a ranger talking to her guests.  Then when she and I started chatting, it hit me.  Her voice did not match the body it was coming out of.  We are so conditioned, aren't we?  To put a raspy, harsh voice together with a weathered face; a smooth, soft voice together with a clear, slender complexion.  Pretty much everything about her screams "man".  I mean, look at those hands!   Yet, she has the most beautiful, soothing, inviting voice one could imagine. Jenna has been working as a ranger her whole life, she's been at the Jefferson Memorial just a few months.  I can see why she loves her job... Not only does she get to speak to scores of people every day, but in that she gets to hear her own, melodic voice, reminding her perhaps in some intrinsic way that she is that beautiful song. 

Jenna.

Day 29 in DC: Justin

Justin hates his picture being taken.  He says it's because of his work, and trying to stay out of the newspapers, out of the limelight.  His job is quite high profile.  Once, he tells me, his mom gave him a winter coat for Christmas.  He had mentioned he could use a coat, so his mother did the only thing a respectable mother in her position would do.  She bought him a bright yellow parka, which she later admitted was a ploy to be able to spot her son in the papers if he was photographed.  It worked.  Justin never wore the parka again.  

This evening he also reminisces about twenty years ago, and the twenty four hours that created what is turning out to be a lifelong bond.  It was in San Sebastian, Spain, where we were both on a study abroad program.  I had been there for a semester already and he had just arrived for the second half of the year.  He claims that I hadn't noticed him yet, so one day after class, in true Justin fashion, he walked up to me point blank and asked if I wanted to join him at his Basque cooking class.  I wondered who this new guy was, but I said, "Sure!  Why not?", and he smiled.  "I promise you it'll be a fun time.  Come on."  And off we went.  The next thing I know, we were dangling our feet over the railing on the Paseo Maritimo watching the waves crash at sunrise, telling each other stories of our lives back home and not wanting the day to break.  Come to think of it, that might have been the first time I stayed up all night and watched the sunrise.  That night we had chopped, cooked, laughed, drank, danced, explored, and sat in silence to the morning hush.  It was a perfect way to begin a friendship that would span the globe.  

Justin.

Molly 28!

Molly and I are both Virgins, and we are both photographers.   I heard about her way before I actually met her, everybody is in love with Molly.  Rightly so, as I found out.  She is marvelous.  She's got this aura around her that is smiling and radiant, one which can't help but to draw you in and want to know more about her.  Then, every little piece that you do discover makes you adore her just that much more.  I've never flown with her, but we are both huge fans of our other dear Virgin Paju, and we find ourselves at places like The Look Out, The Cafe, or Toad Hall cheering him on when he lip syncs to some glorious song in an impeccably tailored dress.  This evening, we were on our way to see Paju down the street from my place, and couldn't help but to pull over to this mural and play around with some shots.  Just another reason why I love my camera so much... it makes an ordinary walk down the street turn into a memory, it creates opportunities to play, and it brings you even closer to people you adore.  

Molly.

The Mission with Aaron: Day 27

Oh Lordy, where do I begin with my dear friend, Aaron?

He strutted to San Francisco and into my life a year and a half ago, and my life has been more colorful ever since.  When you are introduced to a friend's friend, you expect there to be some kind of grace period, a time that has to pass before you create a bond, and are able to call them your friend too.  Not with Aaron.  It was instant.  He was Amy's friend who had just moved here from San Diego, and we all decided to meet up at Barracuda's for sushi and dollar sake.  By the 8th round of sake (hey! don't judge, they were only a dollar!!) we were already in each other's future weddings.  There have been too many escapades since that night to count, (but never, ever have I ordered another eight rounds of dollar sake...not a good idea) but I get a little thrill whenever we meet up because he always has this devilish look in his eye, and I know it's gunna lead to something good! 

Aaron.

26 in Boston!

24 hour layover in Boston, and it just so happens that my roommate Amy is there too! After getting in from the redeye, I slept for three hours and dragged myself out of bed to go meet up with her & her friends for the day.  She's been saying for so long, "You HAVE to meet my friend Steve, and his boyfriend Joe!!  You will LOVE them."  So, today was the day... and Amy was right, I absolutely adored both of them beyond words.  We wandered the streets of the North End, starting our day off at a cozy little Italian restaurant where we ordered practically every appetizer on the menu, along with a round of "espresso martinis".  If you've never had one of these delights, go to Boston and order one, they are fantastic.  (Be sure to also order the pumpkin beer;  they serve it rimmed with sugar, cinnamon, & nutmeg, it's to die for.)  The five of us wandered around town the whole day, stopping at local watering holes to sample the "water" as well as the atmosphere.  There's nothing like Boston in the Fall on a Saturday afternoon... it just works!  

Joe.

Day 25 of the Portrait Project: Men on street

This Seattle layover was a rainy one.  I was planning on doing a million things for my day here, but what ended up transpiring was a long sleep-in and a couple hours at a coffee shop just across the street.  To be fair, it's one of the only SEA layovers where it's been rainy (surprisingly enough!), so I was quite happy to just allow myself to sit and observe the umbrellas go by, sipping on a beautifully crafted almond milk latte. 

The coffee shop girl & guy were good looking, unique, and perfect for my portrait of the day...and I wouldn't even have to leave the building!  She had on a tiara, which I later overheard was because it was her birthday.  I had it all planned in my head how I would approach her to ask to take a birthday photo... then all of the sudden, I found myself waiving good bye and walking out of her coffee shop.  Cat got my tongue.  No photo.  Disappointed, but sure that there would be plenty of great rainy umbrella shots out there, I pulled my hood over my head and walked up the street.  As I turned the corner, I saw these guys... Not wanting to let my shyness creep in again, I stopped and immediately asked to take their photo.  Eric gave me this most amazing smile, and I walked away giddy once again.  

Eric.

Friend of Eric. 

Rodney . Day 24 . Portrait Project

Rodney and I became friends during a scavenger hunt through San Francisco.  We were at Red Carpet, a new-hire event for Virgin America.  He had been through this before when he was hired as a gate agent, and was not amused that he had to do it again.  It was nice to have him on our team though, as he has good insight on the riddles of this game, and he brought a certain calmness to the crazy vibe that we were all giving off.  

Although I have not flown with Rodney yet in my two years of being here, I run into him all over the place- as flight attendants tend to do.  He still has that quiet calm every time we meet, and I appreciate the bond we have.  He really hates his picture being taken... but for me (and after several beers), he relented, and we had fun snapping photos on our way up to my room for a flight crew social.  I ended up falling asleep (some may say passing out, but let's not get too technical..) and Rodney & the crew turned out the lights, tucked me in, and tip toed out.  He'll laugh at me next time I see him, and I'll love him for it.

Rodney.