My Spanish skills are not bad. I studied for a while before arriving in México, and I continue to work with a grammar workbook, read books in Spanish, watch Spanish-language television shows, and practice in daily life. I walk along the shore of Spanish, taking it in, but occasionally taking a step and finding myself… [Read More]
Blog
Category: Emerging Markets
Mexico: My upcoming trip, women and philanthropy, and other fun stuff
In March, I received word that I would be representing the University of Illinois at Chicago as the Fulbright-García Robles US Studies chair at the Universidad de Guadalajara for the winter semester. Along with escaping a Chicago winter, I will be teaching a course on business and American culture (FIN 435 in the UIC catalogue),… [Read More]
South Africa: Ivory from Paradise
I’m finally at the end of the African book project. It took a lot longer than I thought it would. The last country on the list is also the wealthiest in Africa, the Republic of South Africa. I read Ivory From Paradise, by David Schmahmann. It’s the story of a white family that scatters from… [Read More]
Swaziland: Without the King
Swaziland is the only absolute monarchy left in the world, and that status does not seem to be serving its subjects well. Mswati III has been king since 1986. GDP per capita is $9,800, and Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world. There are allegations that the nation’s wealth, which is also… [Read More]
Botswana: Cry of the Kalahari
Botswana is a small country, with 2.2 million people who would probably be in great shape if it weren’t for the high incidence of HIV/AIDS. It has a stable government, a literacy rate approaching 90%, and a GDP per capita of over $16,000. The nation’s big business is diamonds, but tourism generates a lot of… [Read More]
