Travel Update

Dear Carl, Jake, Laura, Laura, Meg and Serena,

I hope all your travel plans have gone as expected since I last saw you.  Meg and Jake, I hope you arrived in Rome with no further delays.  I can only imagine you were pretty bushed by the time you got there.  Assuming nothing else intervened, Rome is the reward in itself.  Just watch out for the pick-pockets.  Our experience a few years ago was a classic.  Lots of luggage, of course, we wer boxed in on an escalator by a team who frisked us as we got off.  We detected the attempt, but I know friends who had the same experience and weren't as fortunate with their fortunes.

Will and Laura, I hope you have found basking in the Zanzibar sun to be soothing and re-energizing.

Carl, Laura and Serena, I hope you arrived home without incident to loved ones and their hugs after your long journey! 

Now here are your assignments....  Just kidding.  Just so you don't worry, I gave you all A+.  I cannt understand why those other faculty members were thinking B!  Just kidding again.

You were all stellar.  We have had students two years in a row that really have set a high standard.

Well, I had a minor travel adventure.  After leaving the airport, I was Shanghaid, well not to Shanghai, but to the New Africa Hotel, where I was forced to live in the lap of luxury for a day.  Oh, the pain!  I could have been in any number of fancy hotels in the USA or Europe.  Except to go outside, I toally lost track of being in Africa, except for the poverty and street vendors, daladalas, buses, katangas, street corner beggars missing limbs and one or two other differences.

It was a relaxing time.  We got on our plane without a hitch, and though I was pretty relaxed and confident about it, this solo mzungu couldn't help but get a little twinge of anxiety.

Last night brought a couple of fortuitous events.  The lady at the KLM desk remained calm and kind throughout the experience.  When I understood that, I couldn't help but thank her for her courtesy and kindness, Meg.  Today, she was back and for us it was easy to be gracious and all smiles.  I thanked her again.  In Swahili.

The other is the acquaintance of Jim Dobbin, a consultant to big organizations who applies a comprehensive evaluation of business, social and cultural circumstances to give companies an integrated understanding of their potential business in a community, instead of the silos companies often have, limiting all concerned.  He taught me many things in a short time.  It was great!  I look forward to our paths crossing again in the future.

As I write, it is  AM at home and I am near boarding time for my flight.  Send me a note when you can.  I will be sending a group email about a couple things shortly after I get home.

I treasure the experience with all of you.  Each has unique gifts complementing your marvelous skills and knowledge.  See you all soon!