Tuesday, July 1, 2008

back from Kenya

Came back from the 10 day country discovery trip from Kenya. The objective of the trip was for the class to get a 360 degree understanding economical and social environment in the country. Met with the country's political, corporate, financial and social leadership ... a very facinating experience indeed! The safari gave some light moments, but a day spent in the slums was the highlight of the trip... no-one was left untouched by the misery all around. The continent has been screwed by the imperial powers of yore and by the corrupt puppet dictators braced up by the bigger powers for long... its sad to see how the common people still keep their spirits up and continue fighting for a better future, which may never materialize.

Coming back to Switzerland was a stark contrast. Reminds one of H.G. Wells' 'Time Machine' in which the protagonist finds himself in a peaceful, prosperous world inhabited by beautiful, happy people who spend their days enjoying the luxuries of life without doing much work... only to realise later that this pretty, sunny world is propped up by a very ugly, underground world inhabited by another class of people who live in disgusting conditions and do all the dirty work without getting anything in return, and without any hope for a better life. This is not ethical, and this is not sustainable!

Getting ready for my round the world trip starting day after tomorrow: Toronto - HK - Singapore - Mumbai - back to Lausanne!