Professor Spears

A few people have asked me how the teaching gig at Creighton is going thus far, and I thought I'd respond here.

It's been quite a few years since I read/reviewed cases, and had somewhat forgotten how much work it can be.  Every case that I'm teaching this semester is new to me, and while many of them have teaching notes (that help the instructor distill the teaching points, and develop a lesson plan), about a third don't.  So I'm spending quite a bit of time preparing for class.  Definitely more than I expected.  I guess there will be a payoff if I decide to teach the course again.

There are a lot of things to juggle during the class session.  Attendance, keeping track of class participation, making notes on the case opening, getting the next lesson ready (including the "teaser" questions), and finding volunteers for the next case opening.  I've tried to be very thorough in my prep, but it still seems like I forget something I wanted to do or say during each class.

The students have been fun to interact with -- most don't appear to be bored, and they are clearly learning new things.  This is the first experience with the case method for most, so I'm sure it is a little confusing and intimidating right now.

But I can see they (and I) am going to need a break here or there.  I've now lined up three top shelf outside speakers to come and address the class on some aspect of strategy that they've dealt with in their business careers.  I'm sure that will be a nice change of pace.

Overall, the jury is still out as to my long term interest in continuing to pursue teaching.

Teaching?

Just in case my plate wasn't full enough (and believe me, it was), I've agreed to teach a course as an Adjunct Instructor next semester at Creighton University's College of Business.

Many moons ago, when I began this career transition, teaching at the college level was one of the things I had on my list of potential jobs to explore.  While I must admit I haven't been super-diligent about following up everything on the list -- conducting more of a search for serendipity than a targeted and exhaustive exploration of all options -- when this opportunity basically dropped into my lap, I wanted to take the time to give it a real try.

The course I'll be teaching is one required for seniors called BU 471:  Strategic Management.  One of the other instructors in the department described the course as a "capstone" -- which means it is used to pull concepts together from a number of specific disciplines into an integrated subject.

The course is taught using the case method -- the same method I used during my MBA -- and I think that cases are a well-suited way to cover subjects that aren't particularly cookie-cutter.

So I'm excited about the opportunity, and also a little nervous as I've never tried this type of challenge before.  While I'm pretty comfortable with the subject -- Strategy -- I'm not so familiar with working in the University environment.

It should be...educational.  Both for me and the students!

Why help Ethiopia (or anywhere in Africa)?

This is a question I'm often asked.  Typically, it comes in a form that sounds something like this:  "Why would you spend your efforts and resources helping people in Africa (Ethiopia) when there are people in need in the United States?"

Here are a few thoughts along those lines -- some, I'll admit, may be a little politically incorrect, but they do reflect the reality I see both here and there.

1.  Poor in Africa does not equal poor in the United States.
In the United States, a single person under age 65 with no kids is officially below the poverty line if their annual income is below $11,702/year.  The poverty line for married couples and families with children is higher, for example a single parent with four children is below the poverty line if annual income is less than $26,434.  In the U.S. between 13% and 17% of the population  lives below this poverty line.

According to Oxford University, in 2010 78% of the population of Ethiopia lived on $2 per day or less.  That is a total of less than $750 per year.

While things cost less in Africa, at least things like services and food, there is no doubt that Ethiopians are in much worse shape economically than residents of the U.S..  There can be little debate that the degree of "need" in Africa, is much greater than the degree of "need" in the U.S..  If there is still a question in your mind, please, travel to Africa and see for yourself -- poverty there will certainly shock you.

2.  There is a huge difference in opportunity in Africa versus the United States.
While it is harder to quote relevant statistics, few would argue that free public education through grade 12 is available to all children in the United States.  There are few children in the U.S. that miss out on that opportunity because of poverty, lack of schools, or an inability to pay educational fees.

In Africa, many children receive little or no schooling because of the effects of poverty.  It is common for children to progress through a few elementary school years, barely attaining functional literacy, and then to leave school to help support their families.  Many others receive no  formal education at all.

The lack of educational opportunity translates directly into limited opportunities to start businesses, capture good paying jobs, or otherwise better themselves.  And because of these systematic deficiencies over many years, infrastructure and commerce are not developed to the point to properly utilize many of the people that do actually achieve a higher level of education.  The very reason that your African taxi driver may very well have a degree in engineering

I've often said that there are undoubtedly Nobel Laureate quality minds living in remote villages in African countries who will never have the ability to develop and contribute to their countries the way they can in the United States.  The same thing can be said for the areas of commerce, academics, and to some degree, the arts as well.

What a terrible shame it is to see so much potential wasted simply because there is little to no opportunity for it to develop.

3.  I have a personal connection to Ethiopia.  So could you.
There is an old saying that charity "...begins at home."  And there is no doubt that we all feel more likely to help and support those we are connected to.  Further to that, it is undoubtedly true that our connections are generally geographically centered around where we live.

During my career, I traveled extensively around the world.  Because of the two factors I listed above, I always felt a strong connection to Africans, whom I considered to be wonderful people with limited options to better themselves.  By visiting, seeing, interacting, and opening my heart, I already had a connection to Africa.

When Paula and I adopted three children from Ethiopia, my connection was further strengthened. How could I even think about these three beautiful children that have so blessed our lives, and not also feel tugs at my heartstrings over the plight so many of their family members and friends face with in their home country.  As a result, I developed a greater tie with Ethiopia specifically, and Africa, in general.

My connections have been further strengthened by the aid trips I've made with DOMA International, to actually help provide some direct assistance to people who desperately need our help.  I can't even begin to describe how humbling it is to realize that a small effort on my part can make all the difference in the lives of people around the world.  The expression of their thanks through song, dance and touch still echoes through me.

Please take a few moments to watch this video of our last trip to Bora.  You can find it here on Youtube.  Bora Video.  If you ever wondered if your help made a difference, or was appreciated by those receiving it, this should put those concerns to rest.

If you'd like to learn more, check out my series of blogs on my last trip with DOMA.  You can see the first entry here.  Ethiopia trip blog posts.

In closing, while I do agree there is need in the United States to help those who are less fortunate, it pales in comparison to the need in Ethiopia and other African countries.  In an increasingly shrinking world, we need to think of those in the Earth's remotest corners as "close to home" or "neighbors" and direct a portion of our efforts at helping to such places.

Back to Bora, Ethiopia Trip -- Day 10

A day of separating and returning.

Dawit and Israel play the drums at the Dejene home

We left Ally in Addis, along with Dawit and Million the prior evening.

Million stand at the headland on the Bora mountain.

Ally, Dan, Jamie, and I talk upon arrival at the airport.  Nice shot of the back of Million's head.

At the airport, Curt left us as he was returning to Ohio through Germany.

Curt with a couple of random boys on the Bora mountain.

When we landed in Washington DC, I stayed with the rest of the group for a while.  We ate breakfast (although we were served lunch food) in one of the airport restaurants -- the name escapes me.

Armin sitting at the Central Cafe in Chencha

After the meal, I left Dan, Armin, Jamie, Carrie and Kristen and headed to my gate.  I still had a long wait for my flight.

Jamie clowns for the kids in Bora

Kristen and Carrie pose at the Longono Resort

I reflected on two of the greatest lessons of the trip -- lessons of friends and family.  Those are the two things that carry the poor people we met in the Ethiopian countryside through their lives.  For them, family means everything, and as a result the families are close knit and spend tremendous amounts of time together.  Those families knit into the larger community that welcomes a group like ours.  While you can't assume all communities in Ethiopia are equally hospitable and open, I would guess the majority are.

Our little group of friends had become a community of sorts, as well.  We all knew each other pretty well after nine days together, and had gone well past just dealing with one another at that superficial level we all wear as a mask.  I would miss my travel companions, although I hope to meet up with a few of them on a future trip or some other event.

My own family laid ahead of me, at the conclusion of the flights.  We certainly don't have the same degree closeness that was evident in Bora or at the home of the Dejene family, but we are close.  The lesson from the trip was that we could be closer if we work at it a bit.

I caught my flights to Chicago, then Omaha, and I pulled into the garage not long after the sun had set.  After a warm greeting from my three littles and Paula, I was initially puzzled what to do next.

Then I remembered Bora, and it was all clear.

Back to Bora, Ethiopia Trip -- Day 9

My last day in Ethiopia was definitely the most laid back.  After the prior night's activities, the day for most of the Vision Team started a bit later.  And this time, we had to check out of the hotel -- from this point forward, all our luggage was with us in (or on top of) the van.

Our first stop of the day was the Hamlin Fistula Clinic.  If you're wondering what this is, I suggest you consider watching the extremely popular and informative documentary "A Walk to Beautiful" to become fully informed.  I offer this overly-simplified explanation:  a fistula is an injury women sometimes suffer during childbirth which can be readily corrected by surgery.  In a place like Ethiopia, however, where 98% of births are unattended by any medically trained personnel, the problem often goes uncorrected, and often with severe social consequences.  The Hamlin Clinic has been helping the women of Ethiopia get the physical problem corrected for decades.  They also helps the afflicted women re-enter society through physical rehabilitation, counseling, education, and even some job training.  Their work is truly inspirational.

After the Fistula Clinic, we visited a group called "Entoto Outreach," which is a new name for a somewhat older aid effort.  Many ill people, particularly women with HIV, come to Entoto because of the mountain's reputed healing properties.  Once there, they often end up living under very primitive conditions, and hauling huge bundles of firewood down the mountain to sell in Addis as a means of earning a little money.  It is a very difficult way to survive.  Entoto Outreach teaches these women a craft (in this case, jewelry making), helps organize production of products, and provides a marketing scheme.  They run a small shop at the site, which we visited.  During my last visit, there was more of a structured tour and commentary on the organization's mission.  On this trip, we basically ended up just shopping.

We ate lunch at the Lucy Cafe, which is adjacent to the National Museum.  For those who are unaware, a partial fossilized skeleton of one of the earliest hominoid progenitors was found in the Awash river area of the Great Rift Valley.  This skeleton, dubbed "Lucy" is quite famous, and also seems to indicate that mankind's early evolution began in present day Ethiopia.  While the actual skeleton is elsewhere (the USA, I think), the National Museum has a very nice display and replicas of the bones.  Worth seeing on your trip to Addis, although we didn't actually visit this trip.

Of course, the cafe is simply a restaurant which capitalizes on the Lucy theme.  The food is, however, quite good.

The Lucy Cafe, next to the National Museum

Next, we went shopping -- tourist souvenir shopping -- at the postal shops.  I've shopped here extensively in the past, and was only interested in a few items.  I did, however, find a bayonet that the seller claimed dated all the way back to the battle of Adawa, in the late 19th century.  It definitely looked like it could have been from that era, although the condition of the bayonet and scabbard was poor.  I eventually decided to pass, and instead drank a diet coke in the little cafe next to the shops while the rest of the team wrapped up their buying.

Scarves displayed at one of the Postal Shops

We returned to the Bier Garten for dinner -- this time without any hassles or incidents.  A little food, a little beer, and suddenly our time was up.  It was time to head to the airport.

In the parking long, we said goodbyes to our guides, driver, as well as Ally and her two boys.  After a week of togetherness, there was definitely a closeness that I miss back here in the USA.  I'm certain, however, that I will see Million, Dawit, and Israel again.  Ally has to come and see me, as I brought a suitcase of hers back to the US.  We can practice drinking Tej from a pitcher at my house, Ally!

The Addis Ababa airport can be a bit crazy, so I was prepared for long lines and plenty of delay, but much to my surprise, everything was easy.  I did outsmart myself with my seat assignment, however.  I have an Ethiopian Air gold card, and used it to get my seat changed, taking an aisle seat in the back row.   My logic: since the last row is seen as "undesirable," it was less likely that the middle seat next to me would be taken.  Unfortunately, the aisle seat on the other side of the middle was open, too,.  Moments before take-off, a couple moved to the two seats so they could be together.

Win some, lose some.

I had great ambitions to edit a substantial amount of one of my novels on the flight home, but we'd barely gotten off the ground before I was falling asleep -- plenty of fatigue from the trip catching up with me.

The two photos above came from Curt Good's Ethiopia album on Facebook.  See more of his Ethiopia pictures here:  Curt Good

Back to Bora, Ethiopia Trip -- Day 8

Again, I woke first the morning of our first day in Addis, and took a seat on the small fenced porch of the Addis Guesthouse, editing one of my novels while I watched people walk by.  The sun was warm, and air chilly as I downed a couple of delicious coffees.. The experience was pleasant and I was left largely unmolested until a few of the other started to drift downstairs for breakfast.

After an unremarkable meal, we headed off to the Red Terror museum, a small museum which traced the history of Ethiopia from the end of Haile Selassie's reign through the end of Mengistu period of terror (1974-1991).  During that time, close to 2 million Ethiopians were killed for political reasons.  This happened during my time as a teen and adult, and yet I don't recall ever hearing a single word about it.  The era was tragic, and the museum depicts it in a respectful and moving way.  Man's capacity for cruelty to his fellow man is always shocking, but the lack of international attention to these terrible events causes all of us to share a tiny measure of the guilt. This kind of horror simply should not occur in the modern world without notice and intervention.

I believe we visited the Mercato next.  This is main market area of the city, and is always (at least as far as I can tell) crazy with people.  Our driver took us directly to a spice stall, and I bought a bag of coffee there, while some of the others in the group purchased spices for Ethiopian cooking (shiro, berbere).

Typical traffic in the Mercato

This guy was carrying a few mattresses just outside of the Mercato

Then it was off to a barista, where I bought another bag of coffee, and everyone else loaded up on coffee, too.

They roast and mill coffee right here at the shop

We ate lunch at an Italian restaurant which was quite good, although I cannot recall the name.

This is where things get a little fuzzy -- I think we went to St. Mary's Church on Entoto Mountain next.  The Church was one of the first built in the Addis Area, and is quite a ways up the mountain.  It is not particularly large, but the attached museum is very interesting, displaying clothing and furnishing from the time of Mendlik II and Haile Selassie.  We skirted the Church, and did not enter, but behind it was a "palace" used by Mendlik which is nicely preserved, although unfurnished.

St. Mary's Church on Entoto

A view of part of the Mendlik Palace on Entoto

A view of Addis from St. Mary's Church

We went back to the hotel for a siesta afterward, and then set out in search of a cake.  The cake was intended to be a gift at our next stop, the Dejene home.  This is the home of two of our guides (Dawit and Israel) their sisters (two of whom traveled with the medical team) as well as their parents.  The visit was wonderful and moving, with the family pulling back the furniture in the living room, and singing and dancing.  We all could feel the love and warmth of this family, and It made me reflect on how the modern world tended to pull people apart, making this level of family closeness much less common.

We then went to dinner at Yod Abyssinia, a cultural (touristy) restaurant.  This was a little like the refined, city version of what we experienced in Dhorze.  We were served Habasha food (local Ethiopian fare), and watched as dancers performed cultural dances from various regions of Ethiopia.

Food at Yod Abyssinia

Musicians at Yod Abyssinia

While a few of out team went out to dance at clubs, I next went to bed.  Tomorrow was going to be our final day in Ethiopia, and I was hoping for a few new experiences to be the icing on the cake.

I'm afraid I have to confess becoming a little mixed up as to what happened on which day during our two days in Addis Ababa.  My apologies to those who traveled with me -- I may have the order wrong on some of this, or I may forget some items altogether.  Post to correct me if you find an error....

Photos courtesy of Curt Good.

Back to Bora, Ethiopia Trip -- Day 7

In the light of day, the Longono Eco-Resort was quite beautiful.  The individual cabins were carefully nestled in the trees and undergrowth with walking trails connecting everything on the property.  I roamed around, checking out the elevated hippo viewing hut, the beach, and the rest.

Our Cabin, partially hidden in the natural surroundings.

I wished we were staying the entire day.  The resort was connected to a reserve with walking trails, horseback riding, and game watching.  There was swimming, boating, and even massages.

The beach at Longono

It,  however, was not to be.

I had an excellent breakfast in the restaurant, while watching a baboon skirt the dining area.  Soon we were off, heading north along the Great Rift Valley and heading for the town of Mojo (where he stopped for a bathroom/coke break) and then on to Addis.

A baboon at breakfast

We ate a late lunch at Island Breeze, a U.S. style restaurant serving burgers, Mexican food, and pizza -- a place I ended up visiting almost every time I've been to Ethiopia.  I figured by mid-afternoon the notoriously slow restaurant would be empty and faster than usual (which is anything but fast).

I didn't, however, account for the kid's birthday party.

Didn't even put two and two together when we pulled into the parking area and saw the bounce house.  The restaurant was packed, but it looked like the birthday group had already been served.  We sat down, ordered, and then waited ninety minutes before our food arrived -- a new personal record, I believe.

Well, we did get a slice of cake from the celebrant's family out of the deal, a gesture which I thought very kind.

We dropped in at the Addis Guesthouse to check in and shower, then walked to the Bier Garten to reconnect with the Medical Team before they left for the airport (they arrived two days before us, and were departing two days earlier).

The Bier Garten is a great place for twenty-seven people to get together.  It is large, with an upper room that always seems to be able to accommodate a large group.  And they brew their own beer.  German beer, brewed by real Germans -- a very nice oasis after a few days in the back country.

I had a beer, having practically just eaten at Island Breeze.  We share memories and contact info with the Medical Team, and soon they were off to the airport to check in for their flight home.

The Bier Garten has a tent located outside of the restaurant, which is the perfect place to drink another beer and watch some soccer on the large-screen TV's.  Jamie went downstairs to reserve a table for us, and upon his signal we all left for the tent.  I was the first to arrive. and was directed to the table with the "reserved" sign on it.  Just after I sat down, the controversy started...

A tall Teutonic-looking man rushed to the table, claiming we had taken his table, the one reserved for his group.  As far as I knew, he could be right, but I did protest that we'd been directed here by the wait staff.  Then he turned on the wait staff and began to loudly berate them.

Armin, one of the members of our group, didn't like that one bit.  The whole picture appeared to be racist, this tall European poking his finger in the chest of a couple short Ethiopians and shouting.

I hadn't mentioned before, but Armin is a big guy.  Tall, and a former college linebacker who has carried on with weightlifting for many years.  He stood toe-to-toe with the man, and the argument quickly became loud.  I thought it might come to blows.

Dan and Jamie jumped in, as did Dawit.  There was a bit more of an exchange of words, but we abandoned the table, and sat down at one nearby.  Armin was still a little hot over the exchange, but to his credit, he had a beer and chatted with us, only occasionally looking over his shoulder at the other man.  The jerk seemed to be having some problems getting the rest of his group to come into the tent (go figure).

I thought it was all over, when the man approached our table, intending to say something.  He barely got three words out before Armin was on his feet, a fist clenched and ready to knock the guy flat.

Dan moved quickly, taking the man outside.  I don't know exactly what was said, but the guy never returned.  That was good, as I was beginning to contemplate Armin spending the night in an Ethiopian jail.  And maybe the rest of us doing the same, for good measure.

In a short time, the beers were finished.  We moved on to the inaccurately named "Piano Bar" next.  There is no Piano, although there is a bar.  The place featured live performances of popular Ethiopian tunes by a line-up of four or five singers.  In a tip of the hat, one even sang some old songs rock tunes in English.  It was loud and fun, but I was just about out of gas.  When we returned to the Addis guesthouse, I decided to go to bed while several of the others in the group went out to hit a couple of nightclubs.

I knew the next day would be a relaxed day of touring Addis, and was quickly asleep, anticipating new and interesting experiences.