My original internet home (philintheblank.net) is still online. I post every now and then.
Why this? Why here?
Taking ownership of my name? I don't know. I have had philpaoletta.com registered for a long time.
This is what prompted me to actually put something here
Who is Phil?
Formerly a middle school teacher in Washington, DC, I am now a semi-nomad based in West Africa.
I originally traveled to Ghana, where I studied abroad as a sophomore in college, because I liked highlife music. Once I got there, I found other things -- groundnut stew, Twi, mapouka (both the dance and the liqueur), orange-headed lizards -- that I also liked. In 2010, I quit my job to return to Ghana and to visit other countries in the region.
These days, I am one part of The Sleeping Camel hotel and restaurant in Bamako, Mali. You can also find me riding scooters around West Africa and collaborating with former tourist guides in Timbuktu.
In 2015, I got married in Mali. Bintou and I have two kids now, and as of April 2023, we have been spending most of our time in Senegal.
Current projects
Scoot West Africa
Postcards from Timbuktu
The Sleeping Camel
Wa Kelen 5000
Scoot Youtube Channel
Previous projects
How to Draw Camels
Yes, this is possible
SOS Democratie
Sick on the Road