As this is our first post, we feel we should establish a few things:

1) We do not own Manolos. In the life of an assistant there is little budgetary allowance for shoes such as Manolos. We prefer our friendly neighborhood Target. For everything. Including groceries.

2) Manolo is the term we often use for the following: Fabulous, Awesome, Indulgent and Expensive. Our life here in DC has been and continues to be all of those things. Ipso Facto our life is MANOLO.

3) Now that you know the "who," let us proceed to the "what."

4) On January 1, 2010 (1/1/10 - lovesit) we will be in Kigali, Rwanda (aka: The Bush - oh, get your minds OUT of the gutter) on our first day of a 3 month adventure volunteering with a humanitarian aid organization. This blog is going to chronicle our time preparing to go the farthest from home, comfort and civilization that either of us have ever been.

5) There will be shots. There will be tears. There will be very, very strict budgets. There will be worried, frantic, happy, sad, questioning phone calls from parents. There will be "Africa Wardrobe Preparation." There will be fundraisers and more good bye parties than either of us deserve. There will be subterfuge (one of us has not informed our employer). There will be advice. There will be smiles. There will be laughter. There will be recipes! As new budget allows for less eating out and one of us has finally caved and decided to learn how to cook. There will be stories. and there will be The Adventure.

6) How about the "why" now.

7) Because like many young people in DC, we think a lot about what's next. The all-powerful lease is up in November; we've gotten a Democrat elected President (over 1000 doors in Virginia BABY!); and we have had, in the last two years: amazing experiences, wonderful opportunities, and projectiles released from bosses towards our heads; and... exciting as all of that has been -- the time has come, friends, to leave this city in the dust (as much as its been amazing... no really... we mean that).

As I'm sure everyone has noticed, if you don't play close attention, this city will chew you up and spit you out. So, while we're young, optimistic and still have our figures - it's time to move right along. Where does one move when leaving the District? If they haven't given, gotten knocked up by a recently-promoted Hill staffer, and retreated to Virginia? Why- Africa of course!

8) Why Africa? We'd like to say, its because we're the kind of selfless people you read about, wanting only to bring good to the world with a song on our lips and in our hearts. But even on a good day neither of us can really carry a tune. So- we'll tell you the truth...

9) First, when Barack says Serve - You Serve girl. And as two young, very privileged women we TRULY do want to give something back. So much so that we will pay to give back. We're sure you'll hear more about the paying later. But we could just as easily give back by volunteering our time when we move to our next city after DC. However, as we're both young, single and fabulous and we're watching our friends become Less-single, Less-young and (unfortunately) less-fabulous at a truly alarming rate... we figure our number is close to up. We don't have our whole lives to drop everything and go to another continent: live, work and spend time in a place where it doesnt rain 6 months out of the year (1 asst is PSYCHED about this- I hate rain). Also, we have been watching the #1 Ladies Detective Agency (highly reccomend - go watch - Jill Scott, too awesome, no words) and it suggests we may see giraffes (asst 2 is PSYCHED about this... she doesnt mind rain).

10) So, with that, we kick off "Manolos in the Bush". A chronicle of two fabulous assistants planning and making their way to Rwanda with 9 months to say goodbye to friends, US Bank Accounts, cell phones, BLACKBERRIES, jobs and tap water. We hope you enjoy, laugh and have minor nervous breakdowns right along with us.

xoxo