Bill Bryson’s African Diary

Bryson’s Africa.  

This super slim 50-page book is brimming with Bill Bryson’s usual mix of humor, interesting insights and information—this time about his 2002 trip to Nairobi, Kenya. 

While Bill saw beautiful green grassy stretches with herds of impalas, zebras, families of baboons, and thousands of pink flamingos, most of the trip was eye-opening for different reasons. One stop was at an enormous slum with 700,000 inhabitants living without running water in horrendous conditions. Another destination was CARE’s refugee camp where thousands of Somalis and others seek shelter, food, and work.  

A journey that was rife with danger and despair, this is one excursion I’m glad to read about without a twinge of temptation to undertake it myself.  It made me acutely aware of the blessings, comforts, and luxuries I take for granted—like running water.

Bryson’s trip was sponsored by CARE International, the leading poverty-fighting organization in the world.  “CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice.” 

In the book Bryson mentions a microfinance bank that offers small loans to women which make significant impacts in their lives. It allows them to expand their businesses, many of them market traders. 

My friend had told me about one microfinance corporation called KIVA for years. This microfinance organization helps men and women in third-world countries, loaning them money so they can purchase one more sheep for their herd, a computer, taro roots, etc. for their businesses. 

On the Kiva.org site you get to choose whose loan you will be contributing to in increments of $25, $50, or $75. You’ll see the total amount they’re aiming for, how long the life of the loan will be, and of course what they intend to use it for. Not all loans are for their businesses. For example, one family is hoping to buy a motorcycle for daily use. Another is trying to pay tuition fees for one of her children in the 4^thgrade.  I finally decided to help with a loan for a woman who needs a new sewing machine and other supplies for her tailoring business.  I’m just wondering what took me so long to do it.

More Bryson:

Bryson’s humor is addictive and I find myself going back to him even though I don’t usually like to revisit one author too many times. I have enjoyed A Walk in the Woods and Notes From a Small Island.

My husband has no qualms about sticking with one author and has read almost all of his books. Besides the ones mentioned, he particularly liked The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Neither Here, Nor There, and In a Sunburned Country.

Happy Reading,

Annette