The Beginning

Confession: We don't know if this can be done. Travel around Africa in one year? As my mother said to me once, "Isn't Africa at war?" Are we crazy? Probably a little. Ignorant? Most definitely. Unskilled? Yes. Undeterred? Absolutely.

IT ALL STARTED with a dream. In July of 2009, Girl 1 and Girl 2 sat in a kitchen in Kampala, Uganda, eating granola and mini bananas. Across from us on the wall was the biggest map of Africa I've ever seen. The longer we stared at the map, the bigger Africa loomed before us, and its mysteries deepened. Then we thought, jokingly at the time, wistfully - you know, in one of those dreams that vanishes before it's fully formed - we thought maybe some day, we could travel around Africa, visit all of its countries and get to know something about its treasures. Then we came back to America, started a fall semester heavy with books and essays, and forgot all about it.

NOW IT'S 2010 and the dream has resurfaced. Add Girl 3 to the mix, throw in a lot of bravado, position us as college seniors unsure of our next steps, dig up the hollow wells inside of us aching for adventure...and we want to do it again.

We're more serious this time, if not any more informed. But we plan to be. We will start by detailing a specific country each day of this spring semester, progressing in order of a potential trip route.

Will you join us?