Here we go....

Right. Here is the first, trial-run post for my blog that will, in theory, document "Johanna's crazy adventures in Africa". Or, more specifically, Senegal. I'm not sure if a) this blog will work ,or b) I will be able to post regularly, or c) I will want to post regularly once I'm there. But, should everything go according to plan (hahaha... that idea just cracks me up already) this is where you can tune in.


Just a sidebar: Google, I guess, bought blogspot a while ago, but kept all of the accounts the same, so even though I forgot my blogspot account name and password, I all of a sudden have access to all the blogs that I, as a middle schooler/high schooler, started and then promptly forgot about. There are six of them. It's kinda crazy. Such a blast from the past.

Another sidebar: The title! "Pays des Étrangers" is a song I felt was applicable, seeing as the first line is "demain on est parti dans le pays des étrangers" or "tomorrow I'm leaving for a strange land" It's french. There'll be a lot of french here. And, hopefully Wolof.

So, I guess since I don't have any stories yet, here's the pre-departure update:

1. Getting shots and pills on Monday. yaaaay.

2. I'm reading this book Mom gave me for Christmas: "Give with Gratitude: Lessons Learned Listening to West Africa" by Wisconsinite Katie Krueger. It's great- I'm already a third done. I think you should read it even if you never plan on going to Africa- it presents a really nice and honest point of view.

3. I am also about a third done with my "pre-departure readings" which is a big course packet of articles on globalization- homework, basically. It is not as exciting, in fact, it's very depressing.

4. I just got an update on my plane tickets- I'm leaving at SIX IN THE MORNING on Sunday, January 17th. Then I've got a one-hour layover in Chicago, and a SIX hour layover in D.C. So that should be fun. I'm leaving on the way back at 2am, though, and arriving in Minneapolis at about noon? that sounds right. On May 9th. Huzzah for airplanes.


Soooo yeah. That's it for the first post. Not exactly entertaining- they'll get better, I promise, I just haven't blogged since January 2006, as "blogger" now tells me.

Merry (day after) Christmas.