Before last week, I didn’t even know such a place existed. Okay, maybe I did (my junior high geography teacher was on the ball) but I didn’t really know. And then Louise mentioned all the great uses for dental floss while traveling in East Timor. And then, not two days later, I found this news article about the attempted assassination of its leader. Oh, East Timor, what an exciting place you are! Your president is hiding out in Australia while his BULLET WOUNDS heal! Crazy.

Anyway, before I interview Louise about her travels/work there, I want to hit you with some of the crucial facts about East Timor, you know, so you’ll know, if it happens to come up again in the news or random conversation. And won’t you look smart?

Its official name is Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

It’s in Southeast Asia on the (duh) eastern half of the island of Timor, about 400 miles from Darwin, Australia, where, incidentally its president José Manuel Ramos-Horta is hanging out recovering from being shot.

It’s mostly Roman Catholic.

The per capita income is something like, $800 a year.

Did I mention, its president got shot?

Okay, that oughta get you somewhere with the current events nerds in your social circle. If you know a little something about East Timor, I wanna hear it!

Monday, April 14, 2008 | geography lessons