As much as I love South Dakota (and I really, really love South Dakota), I’ve always fancied myself a travel lover, despite the seemingly always present, golden handcuff shackles of life. From my first trip around Western Europe right after my high school graduation to living in India briefly in 2009, my “Places to See Before I Die” list gets a lot of exercise (although mostly just additions). “So why not share these experiences with DakotaReaders a la (super crush) Bourdain?” I asked myself. Enter: A Broad Abroad.

I might not be as badass as Bourdain or have the “No Reservations” budget, but I feel like I’ve been pretty damn lucky to have been given some amazing opportunities that have taken me around the globe, both traveling and volun-touring alike. And I’m all about sharing the experience, especially that which intersects with our general discussion about women’s issues here at DW. I’m not sure how long this feature will last, but at least it will give me an avenue to share my current adventure and prevent me from total post-law school BS blog silence while I’m abroad.

That said…

Two days ago, I landed in post-conflict Liberia to work with UN Women for the summer. It’s my first time in Africa, my first time working around peace and security issues, and I came here all by my lonesome and with little research or preparation (thank you, law school). What should follow will be a conglomeration of “Idiot Abroad,” “No Reservations,” and the usual DW “trash talking” you’ve come to know and love. Stay tuned!