Reading: The Shadow of the Sun

Ryszard Kapuscinski’s writing (in his own words) appeals to "people everywhere still young enough to be curious about the world" and explains why it gets an early mention for the ESHA Kenya travelers. As the only foreign correspondent for the Polish Press Agency in the 60’s, he traveled widely throughout the world and provided eyewitness accounts of the independence of many African nations. Clearly a great lover of literature and writers, his observations of war, politics, and geography read more like fiction than non. The Shadow of the Sun contains essays and vignettes from his journeys throughout the African continent from Ethiopia to Nigeria, through deserts and mountains, and represents the full range of human emotion from great joy and celebration in the shade of a tree to fear and disgust in the sitting rooms of politicians. Much of the material in this book first appeared in The New Yorker. Even if you can’t join us in Kenya this summer, you can experience Africa through the great lens of Kapuscinski wherever your summer adventures take you.

Laurel Seid

Reading: Bill Bryson's African Diary

In one of our many early morning video conferences to plan this trip, Laurel and I discussed her knowledge of Africa gleaned from several trips to the southern part of the continent and lots of reading. So I asked, what should I read? And what should we recommend to our fellow travelers? Her response: "Start with Bill Bryson's African Diary."

And so I did. The book records Bryson's observations during a one-week trip to Kenya primarily to visit a CARE project at a Somalian refugee camp in the north. In just 69 pages, Bryson gives the reader a taste of the uncertainty of traveling in a third world country, the profound poverty he witnesses, and the wide variety in the natural environment in different parts of the country. He accomplishes this with his usual slightly self-deprecating humor, making the read both easy and deeply thought provoking. A good start.

Claudia Daggett

Kenya trip begins to take shape

The possibility of an ESHA travel program was suggested at ESHA's first strategic planning meeting for members in October 2008. This idea was met initially with abstract enthusiasm and was then kept in the backs of our minds as we worked to expand ESHA services in other areas.

In October 2009, Joseph Lekuton -- teacher, author, and member of Kenya Parliament -- inspired many of the attendees at the Annual ESHA Conference with his personal story. And then he invited us to visit Kenya!

ESHA member Laurel Seid, The Little School (WA), took this invitation to heart and agreed to step up to coordinate ESHA's first travel program. As of this writing, Laurel has purchased tickets for four of us to travel to Kenya for a service project and safari -- an experience to take place from July 25 to August 11, 2010. Can't wait!

Claudia Daggett