The Foreign Service Journal, November 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2022 55 and Washington, D.C. She now resides in Seoul with her wife and daughters. The Blaxit Effect: The African-American’s Guide to Relocating to Africa Noelle Ojo, independently published, 2022, $24.99/paperback, e-book available, 170 pages. The word “Blaxit”—a play on the term “Brexit”—describes the migration of Black people to Africa to escape racism or uncover their roots. In this guide, author and experienced Africa hand Noelle Ojo takes readers through the process of successfully relocating to sub-Saharan Africa. The guide offers tips on deciding where to move, finding employment and housing once you arrive, staying safe, and adapting culturally to your new location. “If you show up without a plan and a solid footing,” writes Ojo, “there is a good chance you will be packing up your belongings and heading right back home within a matter of months.” She encourages readers to consider everything from the broad question of “why” they want to make this move to the more specific “how”—how to budget for the journey is an important early step. USAID Foreign Service Officer Noelle Ojo is currently the division chief for development programming and partnership in USAID’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. She has lived in Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, and Ghana over the past 20 years, both as a young single woman and as a married mother of two. The book contains a “bonus” section on making the move with children. Maksud Lo? A Guide to the “Real” Indonesian Language Brandon Possin, Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2020, $34.99/paperback, e-book available, 74 pages. Like many tongues, the Indonesian language has more layers than meet the eye because of the combined influences of Javanese, English, Arabic, Sundanese, Chinese dialects, and modern Indonesian social media. Mastering the most useful, if not the most proper, terminology and phrasing is critical for anyone seeking to communicate effectively, and this pursuit steers Brandon Possin’s Maksud Lo? A Guide to the “Real” Indonesian Language . His manual for speaking “everyday Indonesian” helps the reader understand the definitions, purpose, and principles behind slang in order to “let visitors make deeper connections” with native speakers and avoid confusion or being perceived as baku , or “too stiff.” FSO Brandon Possin is currently a health, space, bioeconomy, technology officer posted to Embassy Tokyo. Prior to that, he served in the Venezuela Affairs Unit at Embassy Bogotá, coordinating humanitarian aid delivery to Venezuela. A Wisconsin native, he joined the Foreign Service in 2008 and has served in Argentina, Pakistan, and Indonesia. He became a dedicated student supporter of Indonesian culture following his experiences with the tradition of gotong royong , or “mutual self-help,” on his travels throughout that country. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book go to BASAbali, an Indonesian organization educating underprivileged children in local resource conservation, as well as Orangutan Foundation International, a bilateral nonprofit dedicated to conserving rainforest habitat in Kalimantan. Captain Dave’s Guide to the Pictured Rocks Dave Sliter and Karen Sliter, Paradise Point Press, 2022, $14.99/ hardcover, print only, 78 pages. For almost 40 years, Captain Dave Sliter has been entertaining the tour- ists who visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on the shore of Lake Superior in Upper Michigan. After years of pointing out the area’s unique rock formations from the helm of his boat, he decided to collaborate with his wife, Karen Sliter, a retired Foreign Service officer, to compile a guidebook of facts and photos about the region. This guide will entertain those who have visited this stunning area and remem- ber it fondly; it might also encourage new visitors to explore the area. The authors give pointers for staying safe while kayaking in Lake Superior, share photos of the area’s numerous caves, and offer suggestions for where to kennel your pets if you decide to join a boat cruise and take in the sites from offshore. Dave Sliter is a boat captain with Pictured Rock Cruises. He is married to Karen Sliter, DVM, a veterinarian and diplomat who, with her husband, four daughters, and numerous cats, horses, and dogs, served in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Foreign Service for nearly 30 years. Dr. Sliter retired from APHIS in 2021 as a Career Minister. n