FAQs

I'm lazy and I have a short attention span. Neither of those are conducive to successful blogging.

Anyway... I've been getting a lot of questions about my exchange student-ness lately, so I figured that I might as well use this blog to answer said Frequently Asked Questions.

Where are you going again?
Mali. More specifically, Bamako.

Ok.... and where the heck is Mali?

Bamako, Mali (aka, my home from September-January)

Mali is in West Africa. It is bordered by Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. Bamako (where I'll be living) is in the South of the country.

How did you get this opportunity?
I am one of the fifty teens fortunate enough to be going to abroad on full scholarships through the Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES Abroad for those of us in the know ;). You should look it up, its a ridiculously cool and amazing program.

Why do you even want to go?
It sounds really pathetic, but I can't really put my reasons into words. I just know that when I heard about this program there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I had to apply. I've had plenty of travel experience before, but it has always been in a touristy setting. I look forward to completely immersing myself in Malian culture.

Why Mali?
It actually wasn't up to me, but I accepted the scholarship to go to Mali because they have an ancient and rich culture, and everything I've heard or read makes it sound like an amazing place.

Are you excited?
OH MY FREAKING GOD YES!!!!!!!!!!!!