Seanna and Nicole pass through customs and make their way outside to get a taxi. The heat and grime of the African city shocks the girls, neither of whom had ever been to a poor country before. They hire a taxi and Seanna asks the driver to bring them to the university.
"Where are we staying?" Nicole asks once they are underway.
"Well, I contacted a colleague at the Revolutionary University, which is supposedly the only university in the country. He sent me a very welcoming email." Seanna explains as she searches through her bag.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Basically I said who I was and who you were and that we were coming to learn about the country and its troubles firsthand." Seanna looks up from her bag with an irritated expression. "Shit. I think I forgot to print the email."
"What did he say?" Nicole asks.
"Well, he was very positive. He said something like, 'Things are very bad now. If you come here, you will learn a lesson you will never forget.'"
Nicole nods. "We are coming to learn."
"That's what I figured. Then he said that we would learn firsthand about the horrors of slavery. I figured that would be perfect for my thesis."
Nicole looks sad. "Slavery was sad."
"Yes, it was terrible what happened to these people at the hands of whites during the colonial period," Seanna agrees. "Finally, he said, 'If two young white women come to this country, there will be no shortage of takers.'"
Nicole looks puzzled. "What does that mean?"
Seanna smiles. "Oh, I think it's just bad translating. I think he means we won't have a problem finding someone to put us up!"
Nicole smiles. "Wow, they must be so friendly here."
Seanna nods in agreement. "I only wish I could remember the professor's name. It was 'Dinky' or something, but with more syllables."
Nicole looks over, amused.
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