August 26, 2000

Today we took it a little easier. We did a little shopping around the hotel in the morning, then toured Soweto in the afternoon. It was great to relax a little.

Soweto was as striking and appalling as anything we have seen. Within a couple of blocks were home most Americans would refuse to live in, dormitories that housed working men, a squatter village that looked like a jungle of corrugated tin, and millionaire mansions. The conditions are appalling, the contrast is striking.

In the evening we enjoyed a dinner and reception at Dr. Buntman’s parents’ home. A recently retired presidential economic advisor was the quest speaker. He spoke of the challenges of building a nations economy from the ground up.

At the reception I had the opportunity to meet a number of people including the head of Tourism for Malawi. There may be some work for our student interns in Malawi if anyone is interested in living in a very beautiful country in the heart of Africa. Only coffee lovers need apply. I also meet the director of elections for South Africa. As a country, they are using satellite technology and GIS in ways that American political parties only dream about. I asked how we import this concept to the US and he said it is all American technology. It is amazing what you can learn when you share ideas with others.

I also had an academic debate with a historian over the definition of literacy, as if either one of us was an expert in the field. We ended with a laugh at our selves. That is what happens when two academics spend too much time talking to each other.

Rick Farmer