My First Trip To Africa

A very long, but comfortable flight

2007-05-14T13:49:00.000-04:00

Our flight lasted anywhere from 16 to 17 hours. We were served by an all black crew of pilots and flight attendants, receiving three meals and one snack. Doren came very prepared for the long flight. Notice the blue bag on his lap as he sat waiting for take-off with Samantha. (Can you see the thrill and excitement in their faces? Maybe not, but it is there.) (Smile.) In the bag, he had a DVD player for movies and songs, batteries, and his gameboy, to go along with the in-flight movies and radio stations that the airline offered.

In the next picture shown are two gentlemen from the States going to the same conference. We met on the plane. When you are going to be far away, it is nice to see people from home. Walter Hall, who resides in Atlanta, was travelling with his son, Olajuwon Sailsman, from Orlando, Florida. Very nice people, they were fun to be

around.

During the flight we stopped in Rome, Italy to refuel. But since I did not get off the plane, I guess I can't say that I have visited Rome. Or can I?

The beginning of the journey

2007-05-14T13:25:00.000-04:00

We left Atlanta on AirTran to go to Washington, DC. From there we flew Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

I scheduled the AirTran flight in such a way to give us enough time to collect our bags in DC, then to check in with Ethiopian Airlines, make it through security, and to our gate on time. As you can see from the pictures, Samantha did not plan for all the walking necessary in both airports. Her feet tired quickly in her high heels, but she continued to smile.

I could not connect.

2007-05-14T13:19:00.000-04:00

I am so sorry. No matter which internet cafe I tried to use, I could not access this blog. So, my dream of giving an almost real time journal of my experiences were dashed. Strangely, I could access my email, but not this web site. Now that I am back, I will record my travel. Thanks to those who tried. Please follow my journey by returning to this blog.

Meet North Clayton High's Delegation to ATA's 32nd Annual Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2007-05-03T20:08:00.000-04:00

Samantha, Doren, and I are very excited about the trip to Africa. We are looking forward to meeting different people, learning about Ethiopia's culture firsthand, and sharing our experiences through this blog and in person when we return.

Thanks to Madame Kone

2007-05-03T19:24:00.000-04:00

Meet Madame Kone (pronounced ko nay). The daughter of a French Ambassador from Ivory Coast in West Africa, she teaches french at North Clayton High School.

Earlier this year, Dr. Kone invited Mrs. Tadelech Dalacho, State Minister, Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia to visit the school. In the second picture, Madame Kone, on the far right, stood next to the Minister, Assistant Principal Franklin, and other guests. Through that visit the Lord opened doors for a network, better yet, relationships to be built between Africans and African American students and teachers in College Park, Georgia. After Her Excellency's visit, she invited a teacher and two students to visit Ethiopia during the time of the tourism conference. I am so thankful to be the first of many delegates from this area to have this opportunitiy to attend.

Madame Kone hopes that as students experience Africa for themselves they will see a more true picture of Africa as compared to what they see in movies and on the news. I share her belief that if African American students truly learned about their rich heritage and the strengths and abilities of their ancestors and kinfolks, they would develop goals that would direct them to work harder in school and would more successful in high school and beyond.

As I surfed the internet about Ethiopia....

2007-04-29T21:18:00.000-04:00

I have just spent a few hours reading about Ethiopia and the Africa Travel Association. I will attend ATA's 32nd Annual Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Let me share something wild. As I surfed the web and read, I listened to Mr. Africa's radio program on www.ogosow.com. After awhile Mr. Africa, Mr. Ogo Sow, gave a shout out to his wife, Madame Kone, a french teacher at the school, and the teacher and two students from North Clayton High School going to the conference, referring to me and the two students, Doren and Samantha. This was very exciting to hear, considering this was the first time I listened to his program. I came across the site while surfing.

More will come tomorrow, especially about Madame Kone, through whom this trip was made possible.

A week before I leave

2007-04-29T14:56:00.000-04:00

I am so excited about the great opportunity with which I have been blessed. Next Saturday, May 5, 2007, I will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with two students from my school, North Clayton High School in College Park, Georgia.