A 60-something year-old University President from Iowa heading to Tanzania to attempt to climb 19,340 feet to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro?

That's me. David Maxwell, president of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

I will be accompanying members of the Drake University Football Team to Tanzania as part of the Global Kilimanjaro Bowl — the first collegiate game of American football to be played on the African continent.

As part of this experience we will engage in service projects — including building a wing on an orphanage for children of AIDS victims, building housing for teachers at a school outside of Moshi, clearing land for school playgrounds, and working with a local organization that serves orphaned street children.

We will cap the trip with a trip to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with our partners (and competitors) the CONADEIP All-Stars from Mexico.

Monday, May 23, 2011

On Safari

We were on safari today in Tarangire National Park — an eight-hour round trip journey in a Land Cruiser — plus half an hour with a flat tire in the middle of Arusha at rush hour. It’s interesting to ponder the Masai people in traditional garb herding large bunches of cattle while talking on cell phones. The sights are incredible, as you can see. The landscape is ever changing, from lush, dense greenery to the savannah — all with mountains on the horizon. Kili was mostly hidden behind clouds today. I’m convinced she’s pulled a curtain over herself so she can prepare some nastiness for our arrival...








Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)