In Which I Freak Out a Bit

So... I have been looking at information on studying abroad in South Africa. It looks great and interesting and like nothing else I have ever done, but the I decided to check out the US State Department's site on South Africa...not so nice. The main thing seemed to be crime. I mean, there is crime in Chicago, but it is relatively easy to avoid it. I have never been the victim of a crime, so it all feels a bit unreal to me. I was also horrified by the percentage of the adult population affected by HIV/AIDS. It is amazing--and not in a good way. Is this worth it? I really hope so. I had a bit of a day dream the other day of browsing in a bookstore near the university, discovering contemporary African authors that I would never find in the US. There is a bit of uncertainty creeping into my well of enthusiasm... But I still think that it would be worth it.