Southern Africa 2019
Is a game drive like a box of chocolates?
May 22, 2019 in the Johannesburg airport Carolyn insists that a game drive is “like a box of chocolates”, but after six drives at Sabi Sabi (not counting the ride to Skukaza airport which went through the Sabi Sands game preserve, which resembled another one), I’m not entirely persuaded. Her point is that “You never … Continue reading
“Africa is a great place to do business . . . if you can navigate the drama”
May 16, 2019 Sandton City “School” started again (loved that four day weekend), and we had a full day of business speakers. The overall theme reminded me of a comment a speaker in India contributed to my repertoire, “Whatever you say about India, the opposite is also true.” The same may be said about the … Continue reading
Dr.Livingstone, I presume?
May 11, 2019 Perhaps the most famous words in African journalism in the 19th century were Stanley’s quest to find Dr. Livingston [sic] , a medical missionary/explorer who was the first European to see Victoria Falls. Partly in honor of finding what is the number one tourist spot in Zambia, the grateful British renamed Constitution … Continue reading
There’s Gold in them hills
May 19, 2019 Sabi Sabi We spent yesterday exploring Johannesburg, and, in the process, learning about the history, which, as in many other countries, helps explain the present (and the challenges of doing business there). Johannesburg is a late 19th century city, founded on gold. As I’ve mentioned, that gold helped shape South Africa in … Continue reading
How Beer Saved the World
May 17, 2019 Sandton City, South Africa How Beer Saved the World was not a term paper turned in (year after year) by the Sigs, although I know several who might have penned the original. Instead, it was our introduction to “The World of SAB Beer” museum, belonging to the newest member of the InBev … Continue reading
Zim Zam Nam Bot, 4 countries, three days
May 14, 2019 I think I dressed appropriately today. My polo read “Grumpiest old man.” That’s because we had to wake up this morning at 5 am. My hat, however, is emblazoned, “Bring on the Adventure,” an old Canadian Scout motto I’ve made my own. Fortunately, the latter dominated over the former, and it’s difficult … Continue reading
Mum’s the Word
May 12, 2019 Livingstone, Zambia If you’re looking for a way to impress Mum on Mother’s Day, here’s what worked well for me today: First, select a four-star resort in an exotic location. Say, Zambia, a country of 16 million people, with 72 languages, 11 of which are considered major enough to be province specific … Continue reading
Scenery
Cape Town, May 8, 2019 The Chinese word for scenery combines the characters for mountain and water. In that sense, the Western Cape certainly has the two, which help explain both the allure and the history of the Cape Colony. The Cape of Good Hope was first rounded by the Portuguese explorer, Bartholomew Diaz in … Continue reading
School Started Today
May 6, 2019 School started today when we officially gathered the 30 faculty who are on this trip for what was our (so first day of schoolish) introduction to the teachers, each other, and the topic of the course. Professor Rolfe, our host from the University of South Carolina spoke for about an hour and … Continue reading