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Into Africa

The first time I went to Africa, in June 2006 with my younger son, Kenny, I had no idea what to expect.

We were babes in the woods when it came to traveling in the Third World.

Somehow, we found our way to the city of Mwanza, Tanzania, on the southeast shore of Lake Victoria. My older son, Andrew, was a Peace Corps volunteer teaching at a secondary school nearby.

This time, I'm going with Andrew, and I know I'm in good hands.

Our destination is Lushoto, a small town in the Usumbara Mountains of northeastern Tanzania. Andrew finished his Peace Corps service there in November 2007 teaching at another school.

He promised his students he would return for their graduation, which is Saturday. He asked me to go with him.

We'll fly from Washington to New York to Dubai to Dar es Salaam, then take a bus in-country.

We expect a huge celebration Saturday, a full day of dancing, singing, feasting. It should be a blast, East African-style. Not many young people in Tanzania have the chance even to attend secondary school, much less graduate.

I hope to post something on this blog at least once, but access is iffy. So reports might have to wait until we get back Sept. 25.

Until then ...

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Posted by Doug Clark on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 3:29 pm

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Interested

September 15, 2009 - 4:05 pm EDT

Looking forward to hearing more. What a wonderful gift your son has given the world!

scharrison

September 15, 2009 - 4:18 pm EDT

Man, the N&R needs (you) to do a full spread on this when you return, with pictures and everything, Doug. You can talk about the school, the graduation, your son's experiences, even an overview of the Peace Corps itself.

I'd buy that for a dollar...fifty. ;)

Connie Mack Jr

September 15, 2009 - 4:20 pm EDT

Good luck! Don't be the main course should you be held hostage by group of mad Tea party protesters over Obama place of Birth.........

Dogwood

September 15, 2009 - 6:03 pm EDT

I believe you will hear karibu many times on your journey. Tanzania is difficult to get to. I like matatus travel the best. The Indian Ocean will be awesome this time of season for surfing. The highlands will be renewed and the wilderbeast will be heading back north. May you be blessed on your journey with good health and a writing pen to jot us a note. Pack pencils...lots and lots of pencils for the children. Amani

Doug Johnson

September 17, 2009 - 7:34 pm EDT

Have a good trip.
Connie, its was ABC, and they twitter it out. So as usual you are wrong.
Love the tea party people. Of course they are mad, they understand both parties are screwing them.
Makes me happy when they having flaming liberals screaming!
Of course liberals love ACRON nuts.

Doug

September 25, 2009 - 8:30 pm EDT

Returned today ... too jet-lagged tonight to post anything but will do so this weekend with something in print next week. But we had a good trip with many memorable experiences.