by JC Bowman

I will share more about my missionary journey in future columns, but I wanted to touch on the humanness and splendor of the continent of Africa.  I will also share some pictures, before moving to a new burden.  Africa was everything I imagined and more.  It is a land of incredible beauty, but also deadly diseases. I promptly fell in love with the people, who were among the kindest people I have ever encountered. 

The seclusion a visitor notices in Botswana signifies that you are really in untamed Africa. There is very little development and large concentrations of wildlife. Botswana was once possibly the poorest country in the world, if not Africa, and is now very solid financially and a very safe country in which to travel.  On my next trip there I hope to visit the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert in order to interact with San people commonly called "Bushmen."  Who is up for a trip to Botswana?  However, I highly recommend not taking a picture of the US Embassy--even if you are an American simply proud of your country.  The cursory body search is not that exciting, but at least U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana, Katherine H. Canavan has now heard of my name. 

Then it was on to South Africa.  We need to tip our hat to our friends in India for their big victory over Pakistan at the magnificent Wanderers Cricket Stadium.  India's bowlers dug deep in Johannesburg to lay its hands on the ICC World Twenty 20 crown with an emotional five-run victory.  The new sport for me is rugby:  South Africa took the 2007 Rugby World Cup and can proudly hoist the William Webb Ellis Trophy as the Springboks defeated England 15-6.  There is something about Rugby that captures my attention.  I guess it must be that interesting combination of professional wrestling and football.  I did not just lock myself in at my room at the popular Table Bay Hotel at the historic Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.  I also got out and explored cosmopolitan Cape Town.  Cape Town, South Africa is one of the most breathtaking cities in the world.

-J. C. Bowman, a native of Cleveland, is a well informed and outspoken conservative educator. Is a freelance public policy analyst who resides in Cleveland, TN. Prior to this, he was Director for the Center for Education Innovation at Florida State University.  He served as the Director for the Florida Department of Education Choice Office and as the Chief Policy Analyst of the Education Policy Unit for Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

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