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UPDATE: 14.02.08

My beloved "fan" club,

My mouth is still dropping each day from seeing the numbers of members for "Where In The World Is Miss Roschaert" growing and growing and growing. It's a really unbelievable and inspiring sight.
As I go on my next journey of a lifetime to Nigeria, I am reminded by the names in this Facebook group, on my subscription list (tactilenigeria@gmail.com) , and through love from family and friends that I am truly loved and there's tons of support behind me as I make an exciting but difficult new chapter in my young life.

I am nearly packed, with three boxes full of stuff that a lot of people donated money for: ASL educational books, Deaf literature, DeafBlind education guidelines, autobiographies by noted Deaf and Deafblind authors, equipment for reading into large print, and visual stimulator kits. There's also my stuff - clothes, desert gear, vitamins&minerals, biodegradable soap&shampoos, and of course my fave foods and spices. Could not live without Canadian maple syrup & Canadian brand mac&cheese.

I realize that many of you are worried for me - especially with the violence and crisis in East Africa. I cannot tell you to be assured I will be just fine, but I can assure you that my volunteer organization has taken every step to ensure my safety. An emergency plan will be in effect, one that will alert me if there is a looming political crisis and I am said to have a good system in place.

I am excited. Nervous. Shaking. Dreaming all good dreams. I'm definitely looking forward to standing in the area that lies at the foot of the Sahara Desert, admiring its breathtaking sunset and the desert winds sending sand in my hair. I look forward to greeting the hundreds of children at the school as they run up to me with their beautiful white smiles plastered on their faces. I dream of that often, and know it will come true very soon.

My projected date to fly out of Canada will be on February 29th, landing in London then an overnight stay, then off to Abuja, Nigeria, on March 1st. The In Country Training at the VSO Nigeria Program Office commences on March 2nd for an entire week with several other incoming volunteers from Canada, US, Holland, Kenya, the UK and the Philippines.

Rest assured, my two Support Service Providers and friends - Erin Griffin and Zach Wineman will take good care of Miss Coco during their six weeks there and we'll all absolutely make sure that Miss Coco's transition from busy, McDonaldized and smog filled North American society to laid back, sandstormy and overheated Nigeria will be an easier one, not rocky.

Thank you SO much for signing up to be part of my group... it really does mean a lot to me, and if you know anyone who'd be interested in getting updates while I go through a challenging experience as a DB volunteer in a developing country, send them the way towards the group... it's open to all!

If you want to donate any sum towards covering the costs of stuff that remains to be needed for the journey, contact me - for information on paypal or home mailing address. Your name as a sponsor will show up on my website's sponsors list (tactiletheworld.wordpress .com)

Merci beaucoup, et au revoir bebes.
tactile love,
Coco xo