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A thunderous shout of gratitude to those who have helped achieve this goal!

You are now all part of a research project that will be based in South Africa...And as backers, you are highly encouraged to give your comments, thoughts, and input throughout the process! I'm looking forward to it!

If you haven't jumped on board, there are still three days left. Spread the word!

And prepare to research the conservation of one of the most diverse and intriguing ecosystems in the world.

A few bits of background trivia as the journey rises into view:

1) South Africa is 6 hours ahead of EST (my time zone currently).

2) South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so seasonal transitions are opposite those in the northern hemisphere. (Hello, second winter!)

3) South Africa has 11 official languages. Although English is the most common language in government, business, and media, several other languages (e.g., Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans) are more often used in other circles.

4) A flight to Cape Town from Boston, USA, including layovers, takes about 24 to 36 hours. So while you are sleeping, I will be...eating airport food?

5) The (2011) population of Stellenbosch is about 157,000 and that of Cape Town is about 3,740,000. Compare that to your town!

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