October 27 (Mombasa, Kenya)

Midterms have been taken, papers written, and we have arrived in Africa! Finally, my first real break since after Vietnam. We were given a day off this past week to celebrate crossing the equator (which actually happened a couple of days later) but I spent much of that time doing research for a paper and studying for another midterm. But that is now all finished and I am free to experience our first stop on a new continent.

After classes were finished yesterday the ship received a call from Sir Arthur C. Clarke - author of "2001: A Space Odyssey" - that was routed through the PA system so we could all ask questions and hear what he had to say. He lives in Columbo, Sri Lanka and has been a lecturer more than a few times on previous SAS trips. He had good wishes and kind words to share with us all and it was a pretty cool opportunity. We received confirmation the other day of another amazing opportunity. Bishop Desmond Tutu has agreed to come aboard to meet with us once we reach Cape Town. We're still waiting on word from Fidel but we're pretty confident that he'll agree as well.

Well, I have two more days in Mombasa before I head out to the Tsavo National Park for my safari. Today I spent on the ship relaxing and giving myself a long-needed break before heading out on the town tomorrow and the next day. So, I think I'll stop here for now and write more after I've done more interesting things than relaxing and taking some time for myself. Until then...


October 28 (Kenya: Day 2)

Today was amazing! I was semi-conscious around quarter to 9 this morning when an anouncement was made over the PA system that anyone who was deserted was to report to Purser's Square (a central meeting place on the ship) to meet Lloyd - our executive dean. Now, my closest friends had left the first morning for their week-long safaris to Tanzania and so I really didn't have anyone to hang out with. I was planning on spending some time with Lloyd at some point anyway so I rushed to get dressed and I went down to meet him. It turned out that one of the girls on the ship wasn't going on a safari at all and he decided that he would rent a driver and safari van from our tour company and take her on a game drive through a game reserve. It turned out to be one of the famous "Lloyd Trips" that are so much fun. And then he invited the rest of us along (there were 8 of us total including the driver). So off we went on our own mini-safari! He ended paying for our entry fee (not cheap) and a light lunch at the lodge over-looking a watering hole where the occasional animal could be spotted. When all was said and done we saw 6 giraffes, 5 elephants (including a bull elephant that was ready to charge the van if we got any closer), a herd of water buffalo, some eagles, and a bunch of antelopes here and there. It was a great time!

After our return I went out to the vendors that camp out at the ship and did some business. I bought some things to add to my collection of cups/bowls and utensils from every country and I traded my hat for a drum. All in all I was quite successful. I'm really enjoying Africa; and there's still so much left to do!


November 3 (Enroute to South Africa)

Kenya was amazing! I absolutely loved it and I will definitely try my best to go back some day. My safari was wonderful. We had two days of game drives and saw tons of animals and beautiful countryside at Tsavo East. The night before I left to go on the safari I watched "The Ghost and the Darkness" which is set in Tsavo. I thought the man-eating lions were an appropriate subject for pre-safari entertainment. Unfortunately, I didn't see any lions or rhinos or hippos but I saw tons of elephants and gazelles and giraffes and many others. It was really cool!

I can't think of much else to say at this point. Today is my one real day off until the Ambassador's Ball after S. Africa. While everyone is competing in the Sea Olympics today, I'm watching movies and hanging out with friends and basically just enjoying myself. I've shut my brain off for the day and so, I have nothing else to report for now. I'll update you all again after Cape Town on my adventures there!