I would like to thank my friends and family for their unwavering support during the last two years as I worked to make this happen. For the last two years I could hardly talk about anything else and they loved me enough to endure it. 

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my sister, Chantelle Johnson, and my partner, Andrew Smoley. I would not be here without their continuous encouragement and support.

Chantelle endured numerous phone conversations when I just needed to hear someone say I could do this and to keep going. She was always positive that it would happen. She has been my biggest supporter throughout my life. What in the world do people do without amazing sisters?

Andrew proofread both of my Fulbright applications; applying wizard-like wordsmithing skills in order for me to meet particular character counts throughout the applications. He endured two years of listening to me talk about my project and all the roadblocks and barriers that I needed to overcome – always offering much needed advice and suggestions. He let me destroy his living room with piles of supplies and luggage. He weighed luggage (over and over) and packed my diplomatic pouch perfectly to fit as many books as possible (just ounces under the weight limit!!). He sent me off to do this work and be far away for a year. I will miss him so much. I’m lucky to have someone who understands why I had to do this and is supportive of it in every way.