Departure

Togo Visa

I'd like to update the last sentence of my first post and say, today is finally May 14th and departure is only several hours away!  We depart from Detroit at 9:50 PM, arrive in Paris at 11:30 AM, depart Paris at 1:50 PM, and arrive in Lome (the capital of Togo where we will be staying) at 6:05 PM (not 6:00, 6:05).  I just googled "time difference between Michigan and Togo" and found this awesome website called happyzebra.com (coincidence?  I think not) that says Lome, Togo is 4 hours ahead of us.  So, I will be in Africa tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6:05 PM our time or 10 PM their time.  I hope that means I can go right to bed when we get there after trying and failing to sleep on a plane.
Packing and planning has been quite the process.  You have never seen so many lists, trips to Target/Meijer/Walmart, or lists.  Did I say lists?  I have packing down to an art, but I'm glad to finally be on my way!
I would attach my pre-departure essay on what I will be researching while in Togo, but I'm not sure how so I'll spare you that and give you the thesis: "I hope to explore the influence of Togo's participation in the International Organization of the Francophonie through the politics, language, and culture in order to broaden the insight and perspective of Africa as a whole."  Basically, I'm observing Togo as a French speaking country.
Well, the next time I write, I'll be in AFRICA!  I don't know how good service will be, so don't be worried if I don't respond right away.