This trip was originally not a trip at all. The plan was to expatriate to India. Have a degree in South Asian Studies (from the University of Wisconsin, Madison) & for that degree spent a year in Kathmandu, Nepal. Loved it there. It was the hardest & best time of my life. And never been back because I know I’ll never be able to leave again.

Nepal is very similar to India... & I’d been weary of returning to India too. But broke down & went back to India December ’05. Sure enough, came back miserable because - exactly that - I came back.

But I’m in my mid-thirties. Have a career, perfectly decorated house & an extremely settled life in Los Angeles. Settled as in boring. Settled as in stagnant. But still, just packing up & moving is not what someone like that does.

So, started looking for a job in India in my profession, consumer marketing for magazines. India is experiencing a huge boom in the industry & there’s great opportunities for someone with my experience. But after few months of going nowhere, got depressed & got on an Indian dating website. Figured I’d double my odds by also trying for a marriage visa.

I’m not attracted to many Indian men, so it did not go well. Until I met a South African of Indian descent that seemed nearly perfect. He whisked me off to South Africa to meet him. Used the free vacation to also explore Zimbabwe & Botswana. Although we did not fall in love, did however fall head over heals for Africa. Might even love it more than India!

Doubt now settled in... wondered if India was the right place for me...or maybe my place is somewhere in Africa. And that’s when I decided on this trip. My trip to find a home.

If I don’t find a place I love more than India & can legally be employed, then I’ll eventually settle in India. But right now, want to see what other options are out there. Ethiopia in particular... have this feeling about the country & know getting a work visa isn’t impossible there.

But it’s not just finding a place to live. It’s also the travel. I admit - I have the travel bug! Need to experience people, places & things I’ve never see before to refuel myself. Plus, want to start relaxing more. Want to loose as much of my over the top Western consumerism & buy less. Not to mention getting over Hollywood’s Botox & Restylane injection perfection. ...plus at least a dozen other things I’d love to accomplish...

Oh, & back to the story, totally ironic, right after returning from Africa, several perfect jobs landed right in my lap!!