Go Blue!

Are you ready for some life updates?? Here goes... I have finally made my choice for where to go to grad school. For those of you who didn't know, I was as indecisive as ever this past month trying to choose between Duke and Michigan (for a dual MBA/Master of Public Policy degree). After going back and forth many times (thanks to everyone for listening to me weigh my options over and over and over..), I finally buckled down and accepted my offer at Michigan! I am really excited now that I know where I'll be this fall (although I'm NOT looking forward to moving somewhere where is snows a lot! Especially since I'm in the middle of hot season here in Mali). I'll start my three-year program at the Ford School of Public Policy, then move on next year to the Ross School of Business (the third year will be mixed). I'm super busy here in Segou trying to squeeze in the last few projects of my Peace Corps service. I am hosting a three-day leadership training next week for all tourism and artisan PCVs and their Malian counterparts, and I just found out yesterday that I won't have the project funding for another four weeks! So now Mme. Koumare and I are going to have to convince everyone (e.g. hotels and caterers) to let us go through with the training without being paid right away. This should be fun... After that I'm flying to Milan! I'll be spending my 25th birthday eating gelatto in Italy en route to Croatia with my friend Emily. I can't wait! And as if that's not enough to look forward to....I just found out that my sisters Patty and Maria are visiting me this July! I just told Mme. Koumare this, and she is almost as excited as I am. I had already named Maria "Maimouna" when she was in Ghana, which is Mme. Koumare's first name. So she's excited to meet her. Patty will have to wait to see what Malian name she'll get... :-) If anyone wants to vote, let me know (some options: Fatimata, Rokia, Adiaratu, Mariam, Tata, Tene, Salimata, Korotimi, Aisha, Aissata, Aminata, Aoua, Oumou, Sira, Kadiatu, Koumba). Well, that about does it. I'll be back in Seattle in three months, and then I'll be driving cross-country with my sister Cindy in August. Hopefully I'll get to see everyone in between!