Comments on: After 20 years, a former teacher returns to Tanzania http://boingboing.net/2012/03/21/after-20-years-a-former-teach.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Brian Connors http://boingboing.net/2012/03/21/after-20-years-a-former-teach.html#comment-1376927 Brian Connors Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=150513#comment-1376927 "After 20 Years" sounds so romantic and compelling, but he left Tanzania in 1997, and this is a report about something he did in 2011. 14 years, he even says. “After 20 Years” sounds so romantic and compelling, but he left Tanzania in 1997, and this is a report about something he did in 2011. 14 years, he even says.

]]> By: LikesTurtles http://boingboing.net/2012/03/21/after-20-years-a-former-teach.html#comment-1376722 LikesTurtles Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=150513#comment-1376722 > Unlike most people who travel to Tanzania, I had no desire to climb Kilimanjaro, which seemed like an overrun fundraising cliche. But Meru was different. Meru was difficult, unforgiving, temperamental, with an air of hard beauty and mystery. Why are so many unable to talk about their experiences without first disparaging the experiences of others? That aside, the area around Arusha is quite interesting. It reminds me quite a bit of the part of Alabama I grew up in the late 70s/early 80s (except for the cell phones). I don't know how much of the economy is from tourism and how much is from farming but it does appear to be a part of the country that's on a good path. It doesn't match very well with the stereostypes so many in the west have of Africa. The blend of indigenous culture and modern technology felt very cyberpunk. I'll be interesting to see what changes happen should the East Africa Federation come to be since Arusha would be the capital. > Unlike most people who travel to Tanzania, I had no desire to climb Kilimanjaro, which seemed like an overrun fundraising cliche. But Meru was different. Meru was difficult, unforgiving, temperamental, with an air of hard beauty and mystery.

Why are so many unable to talk about their experiences without first disparaging the experiences of others?

That aside, the area around Arusha is quite interesting. It reminds me quite a bit of the part of Alabama I grew up in the late 70s/early 80s (except for the cell phones). I don’t know how much of the economy is from tourism and how much is from farming but it does appear to be a part of the country that’s on a good path. It doesn’t match very well with the stereostypes so many in the west have of Africa. The blend of indigenous culture and modern technology felt very cyberpunk. I’ll be interesting to see what changes happen should the East Africa Federation come to be since Arusha would be the capital.

]]> By: Romeo Vitelli http://boingboing.net/2012/03/21/after-20-years-a-former-teach.html#comment-1375834 Romeo Vitelli Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=150513#comment-1375834 Arusha is a very strange blend of poverty and prosperity.  When I visited there 10 years ago, it seemed as if half the people I saw on the streets were talking on their cell phones while the other half were begging in the streets/selling wares to tourists (and some were doing all three). Arusha is a very strange blend of poverty and prosperity.  When I visited there 10 years ago, it seemed as if half the people I saw on the streets were talking on their cell phones while the other half were begging in the streets/selling wares to tourists (and some were doing all three).

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