Travel With Reason

[Lagos, Nigeria] OK people, my off-time in Africa isn’t all spent on safari or touring the slums. Last night, at an elegant cocktail party with jazz pianists and singers, fabulous food and champagne, I chatted up Mo Abudu, the “Oprah of West Africa” (in yellow, at right, photo below). She’s for real – visit this [...]

[Nairobi, Kenya] I’ve got a lot more to say on the topic of my latest expedition through Kibera slum, this time a bit deeper into it all including time spent with a family, and yes, photos to post, but one thing that always strikes me, and humbles me, is the contrast between the worries of [...]

I’ll assume most people reading are Americans, and this one’s for you. The next time you get annoyed by service or delays at, say, the driver’s license office or a bank, consider this tale of the challenge of getting person A (American) from Point K (Kenya) to Point *** (Country to Remain Unnamed) in 17 [...]

For better or worse, the American abroad is often called on to be an ambassador of sorts, sometimes called on to represent our entire diverse nation. (Which reminds me: I should probably get better shoes.) People are curious, concerned, fascinated with the role of Americans in the world, and in our own country. Here are [...]