Category Archives: Ch. 1: Africa

In pursuit of my life goal of studying something on every continent, we begin in Africa where I started out as a field assistant at Lajuma Research Centre in the northern part of South Africa situated in the Soutpansberg Mountain Range. This later lead me to Mozambique and Swaziland “on holiday” and eventually to the Democratic Republic of Congo as a field assistant within the Congo Basin working with bonobos. I followed monkeys, avoided getting pissed on, caught malaria and dengue fever, was itchy as hell, celebrated the full moon monthly, skinny dipped, swam with sharks, hitchhiked and met amazing people.

After nine months in Africa, I ended my time abroad backpacking solo around Germany and reconnecting with old friends from Lajuma. This is the first chapter in my post-student life with six more continents left to conquer!

Home, Sweet Home

Posted on September 1, 2011 by

A little over two months and 20 lbs later (yes, out of Africa with too much food and alcohol around…I’ve started rock climbing and doing hot yoga to ahem, slim down), I’m preparing to move to London for a Master’s … Continue reading →

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Sleeping In Stairwells, Couchsurfing and Lajumies Out of Africa

Posted on July 29, 2011 by

Early morning sun, birds chirping and that beginning of summer chill–would have been another lovely start to the day if I hadn’t spent the whole night out for the umpteenth day in a row. Realizing I had left my keys … Continue reading →

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“Excuse me while I pee…”

Posted on June 30, 2011 by

“Hey! Where are you from?” Three AM, some random Berlin club and I’m standing in the bathroom stall about to close the door when a hand snaps in and prevents me from shutting it. “Um…America.” “You here with friends?” “Yeah, … Continue reading →

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Return to the “Big Bad City”

Posted on June 30, 2011 by

Jolted awake, my first thoughts were, “OH MY GOD I’M GOING TO DIE.” This quickly changed to relief when I peered out the window and realized the plane was only landing at another city before reaching Kinshasa. Earlier that morning … Continue reading →

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Back To Kinshasa Part II: Chicken eggs, thunderstorms and village children

Posted on June 7, 2011 by

Children ran naked in puddles as the rain bore down and turned the dirt roads into rivers. Hit by a sudden thunderstorm, my two drivers and I watching forlornly as the motorbikes (and my bags!) were getting soaked through. Beneath … Continue reading →

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Whirlwind Journey Back to Kinshasa Part I: You Have to Go…Now

Posted on June 7, 2011 by

Mash-room, Mash-room, Mash-room, the teenage boys accompanying me on my last Sunday walk on May 22nd to Ndele were chanting this new word incessantly. I had shown off earlier, pointing to a bright red fruit one was eating and said … Continue reading →

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Today I learned Bonobos are Teases…

Posted on May 23, 2011 by

Being woken up by a thunderstorm around midnight is usually one of my favorite feelings: the wind blowing, the flashing of lights, rain falling on the rooftops and knowing I have several hours left of sleep. But on this particular … Continue reading →

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