Tuesday, January 3, 2012

What do chacos, malaria pills, and a visa all have in common?

With these items, I am now free to roam about the country world.  The countdown begins with somewhere in the ballpark of 11 days left until I leave for Dakar, Senegal.  After having dropped my passport and visa application in the mail over a month ago, it's a relief to have it home safe.  I went to the pharmacy to get my prescription for malaria medication filled today.  156 pills fill up quite a large pill bottle.  Picture one of those little orange prescription bottles, but for a giant.

I'm very excited about this trip.  Very.  There's no possible way to be 100% ready for it though, so I'm quite a bit nervous as well.  For those of you who are also nervous (cough, mom, cough), I hope this little blog will ease those worrisome feelings.

Senegal is a country in West Africa slightly smaller than South Dakota.  It is on the coast of the Atlantic ocean, south of Mauritania and north of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea.

Dakar is the capital and is located right on the coast.  While I'm over there, the weather will be pretty nice.  In the upper 70s and 80s.  Dakar is 8 hours ahead of Seattle, so right now it's about 11:30 PM there!

This is the website for the Africa Consultants International-Baobab Center, where I will be taking classes while I'm abroad: http://www.acibaobab.org/

I will be in Senegal from January 14 to April 21 and then I am headed to Europe for an extended adventure until May 17.  See you then!

2 comments:

  1. As you were taking off your shoes, unpacking your laptop and your quart sized baggie i was calling out to you, "A-O River!" but you did not hear me.
    so, here is my message in a bottle...We love you Maggie! Keep an open heart and an open mind. Listen to your heart and your gut (and probably your brain, too!). Have a grand adventure and we will see you in April. Keep us posted! xoxoxoxolovemomxoxoxoxo

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  2. Maggie: of course you are hooking up and enjoying the young ones! It is so great to read your strong connections you are already making with your family! Can't wait to hear more! You know what? I love you! Eye to eye...dad

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