Here's just a quick glimpse of my teasing my driving instructor. Incidentally, I presided at Mass at an outstation a few miles outside of town. I was accompanied by a Jesuit scholastic, Martin. We took a very rough road to get to the church -- filled with lots of very slick and deep mud; I was happy that he was the driver. I drove home, though -- and he told me I didn't need one more driving lesson. (I must say, though, that driving in the city scares me. Michel told me to get the rules of the road of the USA out of my mind: "Pretend you are the only driver on the road, and you'll be fine," he counseled.)
I won't bore you any more with driving tales.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Planting
The OLQP campus encompasses 500 acres. Yes, 500 acres! And the acreage is suitable for growing crops -- given sufficient water.
We've spoken of the importance of our growing as much food for ourselves -- produce as well as livestock (dairy cows for milk, goats and pigs for occasional meat, chickens for eggs). And we'd planned on having an agricultural program in the technical college to be opened in a few years. We hadn't planned on having an agricultural stream for the high school until we were recently asked by the government to consider it. We've considered it and are going to follow through with such plans. These programs will really affect the lives of many, many people.
At Christmas I had the opportunity to have a great discussion with my brother-in-law Denny Johnson's good friend, Mike Anderson. He shared with me just how big a difference education can make relative to agricultural production. Amazing, really. It makes me excited about what we might do.
We've spoken of the importance of our growing as much food for ourselves -- produce as well as livestock (dairy cows for milk, goats and pigs for occasional meat, chickens for eggs). And we'd planned on having an agricultural program in the technical college to be opened in a few years. We hadn't planned on having an agricultural stream for the high school until we were recently asked by the government to consider it. We've considered it and are going to follow through with such plans. These programs will really affect the lives of many, many people.
At Christmas I had the opportunity to have a great discussion with my brother-in-law Denny Johnson's good friend, Mike Anderson. He shared with me just how big a difference education can make relative to agricultural production. Amazing, really. It makes me excited about what we might do.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Driving Ndugu Malasi
Argh! We haven’t had Internet service for three days. It seems that we reached our account’s monthly limit re: bytes. There’s now an added person living in the community in the community who prefers reading the newspapers on-line than watching sports on television (me!), so something might have to give!
Last week I had my first lesson on how correctly to drive a manual transmission. It actually went better than I thought. My problem is that when I first learned 27 years ago, I learned incorrectly: I engage the clutch before the break all the time. Other than that bad habit and going into fourth by accident once (and stalling out), I’ve done pretty well. But oh, the things a driver has to attend to here, as I’ve noted. Malasi told me to “stay in your lane,” to which I snarkily replied, “You know there are places in the world where they actually paint the divisions.” He took it in good humor.
Folks have clamoured (a bit of an overstatement) to see pictures of me. Here’s a video.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Siwezi Kuendesha Gari Vizuri
I don't drive a car well. That's not exactly true. I've driven since I was sixteen and have had only one accident (within a week of getting my license and NOT my faulty) and two moving violations (rolling stop and speeding -- only slightly, on the highway). I have a reputation for being a good driver.
But I learned how to drive a stick-shift improperly many years ago. Malasi took me out to the road off which our building site is located. In most parts it is a very good road, though not paved. It's hilly, and there are some rough patches -- AND there aren't a lot of people on it. I thought it would be perfect, especially that last part (I'm too proud to be laughed at as I learn).
Well, I actually did quite well, though the bad habits that I learned when as a novice in 1983 I worked for St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center in Charm City (that's Baltimore to those not in the know), remain. The chief bad habit is applying the clutch before the break when slowing down, say for a huge puddle that you meet in third gear. I hope to break that habit.
What I'm not good at yet is city driving here. There are a thousand things to keep track of at once here: bicycles, pedestrians along the left side of the road, speeding buses passing on the right, dealing with these things as you are approaching a roundabout (called a kipilefti here -- Get it? "Keep Left" becomes kipilefti!). (I know that's not a thousand things, but the combination makes it seem like such!) Malasi was very patient and helpful.
Oh, the other habit: Driving on the left isn't so hard, actually. I've been a passenger here long enough to be accustomed to that. What I am not accustomed to is directonal placed on the right side of the steering column -- I kept on turning on the windshield wipers to indicate a turn.
I'll get the hang of it. In the meantime, my guardian angels will be doing extra duty -- as will the guardian angels of other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, etc. (I'd add cows and goats, but don't think they get the same angelic assistance.)
But I learned how to drive a stick-shift improperly many years ago. Malasi took me out to the road off which our building site is located. In most parts it is a very good road, though not paved. It's hilly, and there are some rough patches -- AND there aren't a lot of people on it. I thought it would be perfect, especially that last part (I'm too proud to be laughed at as I learn).
Well, I actually did quite well, though the bad habits that I learned when as a novice in 1983 I worked for St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center in Charm City (that's Baltimore to those not in the know), remain. The chief bad habit is applying the clutch before the break when slowing down, say for a huge puddle that you meet in third gear. I hope to break that habit.
What I'm not good at yet is city driving here. There are a thousand things to keep track of at once here: bicycles, pedestrians along the left side of the road, speeding buses passing on the right, dealing with these things as you are approaching a roundabout (called a kipilefti here -- Get it? "Keep Left" becomes kipilefti!). (I know that's not a thousand things, but the combination makes it seem like such!) Malasi was very patient and helpful.
Oh, the other habit: Driving on the left isn't so hard, actually. I've been a passenger here long enough to be accustomed to that. What I am not accustomed to is directonal placed on the right side of the steering column -- I kept on turning on the windshield wipers to indicate a turn.
I'll get the hang of it. In the meantime, my guardian angels will be doing extra duty -- as will the guardian angels of other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, etc. (I'd add cows and goats, but don't think they get the same angelic assistance.)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
No Half-Hearted Hellos
Among the things that make me most happy here are the two-handed waves that greet me wherever I go. It would be a great export to the rest of the world!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Iambic Pentameter
That's the meter for the school's anthem, which I composed somewhere over the Atlantic a couple of weeks ago. It's received the approval of the folks here -- now we're in search of someone who can provide some good South African beats to the words. We want something that stirs the soul -- I'll post an audio file when we have such.
We are students of Saint Peter Claver
Our motto is to learn, to love, to serve
Generous men and women for others
We are students of Saint Peter Claver
Daughters and sons of Peter Claver
Gathered in Dodoma to do God’s will
Learning to love and to serve all others
Following our patron; doing God’s will
Gathered together to learn, love, and serve
Nourished for life of the spirit and mind
From all corners of our beloved nation
Formed to be generous, competent, kind
Generous men and women for others
We are students of Saint Peter Claver
Generous men and women for others
We are students of Saint Peter Claver
Green, Green
You can tell that we've had a lot of rain in these dry lands.
Here is a pictorial update on the progress of the campus. As excited as I am whenever I see the progress, I cannot help at the same time but be thankful that I insisted on a January 1011 opening and not a January 1010 opening. Can you imagine what we'd be facing now!
In the first picture you see the work continuing on one of the dormitories -- a thir floor will be added in another phase of construction.
In the second you see the almost completed residence for the dormitory matrons and patrons -- it is, as you can see, situated between the two dormitories.
The third picture is a view from the second floor of the classroom building. The multipurpose hall is on the right and the dormitories on the left.
The fourth is of the girls dormitory, and the fifth is of the classroom building.
Here is a pictorial update on the progress of the campus. As excited as I am whenever I see the progress, I cannot help at the same time but be thankful that I insisted on a January 1011 opening and not a January 1010 opening. Can you imagine what we'd be facing now!
In the first picture you see the work continuing on one of the dormitories -- a thir floor will be added in another phase of construction.
In the second you see the almost completed residence for the dormitory matrons and patrons -- it is, as you can see, situated between the two dormitories.
The third picture is a view from the second floor of the classroom building. The multipurpose hall is on the right and the dormitories on the left.
The fourth is of the girls dormitory, and the fifth is of the classroom building.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Asante Sana, Jerome
Thanks so much, Jerome.
We have had a wonderful Jesuit companion here with us in Dodoma these last weeks: Father Jerome Manyahi, SJ. Jerome had served as a very successful headmaster at the Jesuit school in Dar es Salaam, Loyola High School, and is presently completing his doctoral studies in India.
We have had a wonderful Jesuit companion here with us in Dodoma these last weeks: Father Jerome Manyahi, SJ. Jerome had served as a very successful headmaster at the Jesuit school in Dar es Salaam, Loyola High School, and is presently completing his doctoral studies in India.
(In the picture to the right, Jerome is in the checkered shirt; on his left is 
Sossy, and on his right is the deputy chief zonal inspector of schools, who made an informal visit to the site in order to make suggestions regarding things we need to attend to now. He was impressed.)
The provincial of the Eastern Africa Province graciously provided us involved in the establishment of OLQP with the wise counsel of Jerome. But he did more than counsel: He dug right in and did amazing work on our behalf, including taking important steps like continuing the steps for the registration of the school. As it happens, many of the people who were headmasters of various schools at the same time as he are now serving in government educational offices here in Dodoma. These contacts will prove invaluable to us – already have in terms of the assistance that has been offered.
He was especially helpful to me at the time of my mother’s death, and for that I am so grateful.
Jerome has spent time here in Dodoma previously, so it’s been delightful to see him as parishioners' eyes light up when they see him. And not only parishioners but also other people in the area as well – his sincerity and winning smile draw people to him.
I’m Aristotelian in my outlook regarding virtue: It is something learned. If you want to become more virtuous, hang out with people who are more virtuous and watch them carefully and try to live as they live. I’m glad to have lived – even for such a short time – with such a virtuous companion from whom to learn.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Procession
Readers might be tiring of my posts of gift processions at parties; I'm fascinated by them.
Tonight we were invited as a community to join friends in a celebration for two folks among them who were married a month ago. My Flip ran out of juice too soon, but here is a brief clip of the procession with kitenge.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Colleagueship
Among the many things that have impressed me about the Jesuit ministries in Dodoma, one stands out: colleagueship.
The Jesuits here enjoy the company of those with whom they work. Let me share some examples. When during our breakfast someone comes into our dining room for keys (the keys kept in a cabinet there -- not as odd as it seems if you saw the set-up) he or she is invited to sit down with us -- regardless of the person's job. When I returned home on Sunday just before the evening meal, one of the lay teachers at St. Ignatius Primary School was just preparing to leave after visiting with the Jesuits. The foreign volunteers are always welcome in our home and stay with us at those times when there is only one.
The sisters of St. Gemma, a diocesan order that collaborates with us in the administration of the primary school, and we rotate months to host the other community. This month we hosted the sisters.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Almost Home
I arrived in Dar es Salaam just before midnight on Friday after a very nice sojourn in London. I spent Saturday visiting with Brady Howell and Veronica Sarungi. Brady is a volunteer who recently arrived for a two-year stint at Loyola High School, and Veronica is, among many other things, a mathematics teacher in the school.
I first met Brady just over four years ago when I was the Wesley Hager Lecturer in Religion and Life at Bayview, Petoskey, Michigan. My friends Tom and Jane George made certain I met this extraordinary young man who had just graduated from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. and was on his way to the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. I had never met Veronica before, but she has an amazing reputation for her hard work on behalf of the students at Loyola High School. She is an amazing colleague to the Jesuits, and I am very happy that she has agreed to be on an ad hoc advisory committee to advise me relative to the academic program of the school.
Before leaving London, I spent a great afternoon among OLQP's dear friends at St. Ignatius College, Enfield. The highlight was the chance to visit with two groups of students: one headed to Dodoma this summer and the other who were there this past summer. Extraordinary young men. The school's investment in the Jesuit works in Dodoma is inspiring. The situation has captured their hearts and imaginations and it shows in so many ways, among them prominence in their school publications. I hope that some of our schools in the United States might see their way to similar mutually advantageous relationships.
I understand there has been a great deal of rain in Dodoma, and that's a very good thing. I'm eager to see the green, as fleeting as it might be, and to see a month's progress at the campus.
As I anticipate my return, I find myself reflecting on all the friends and family I had a chance to see this past month. I left Dodoma before my mother died, expecting I might have the opportunity to say goodbye to her. (As I told folks, she was kind enough to be at my birth, I'd like to be there for her at her death). With that in mind, I was generous with my airline plans. I had no idea that I would receive a text from my sister Toni only two hours into the bus ride from Dodoma to Dar that she had passed. My friend Mary Jo summed it up nicely for me, "Your mom's last gift to you was one more Christmas home." It really was. It was an amazing time with my family, extraordinarily special. And I had a chance to visit so many friends. I told people that I think I am right where God wants me these years in my life; what I experienced was amazing support in that regard. Thank you all who were so kind in your welcome to me -- and apologies to those whom I didn't manage to visit. And to all: KARIBU TANZANIA (Just know that the Swahili saying isn't "guests and fish both smell after three days" but rather "after three days give the guest a hoe.")
I first met Brady just over four years ago when I was the Wesley Hager Lecturer in Religion and Life at Bayview, Petoskey, Michigan. My friends Tom and Jane George made certain I met this extraordinary young man who had just graduated from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. and was on his way to the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. I had never met Veronica before, but she has an amazing reputation for her hard work on behalf of the students at Loyola High School. She is an amazing colleague to the Jesuits, and I am very happy that she has agreed to be on an ad hoc advisory committee to advise me relative to the academic program of the school.
Before leaving London, I spent a great afternoon among OLQP's dear friends at St. Ignatius College, Enfield. The highlight was the chance to visit with two groups of students: one headed to Dodoma this summer and the other who were there this past summer. Extraordinary young men. The school's investment in the Jesuit works in Dodoma is inspiring. The situation has captured their hearts and imaginations and it shows in so many ways, among them prominence in their school publications. I hope that some of our schools in the United States might see their way to similar mutually advantageous relationships.
I understand there has been a great deal of rain in Dodoma, and that's a very good thing. I'm eager to see the green, as fleeting as it might be, and to see a month's progress at the campus.
As I anticipate my return, I find myself reflecting on all the friends and family I had a chance to see this past month. I left Dodoma before my mother died, expecting I might have the opportunity to say goodbye to her. (As I told folks, she was kind enough to be at my birth, I'd like to be there for her at her death). With that in mind, I was generous with my airline plans. I had no idea that I would receive a text from my sister Toni only two hours into the bus ride from Dodoma to Dar that she had passed. My friend Mary Jo summed it up nicely for me, "Your mom's last gift to you was one more Christmas home." It really was. It was an amazing time with my family, extraordinarily special. And I had a chance to visit so many friends. I told people that I think I am right where God wants me these years in my life; what I experienced was amazing support in that regard. Thank you all who were so kind in your welcome to me -- and apologies to those whom I didn't manage to visit. And to all: KARIBU TANZANIA (Just know that the Swahili saying isn't "guests and fish both smell after three days" but rather "after three days give the guest a hoe.")
Friday, January 1, 2010
Heri ya mwaka mpya!
Wishing all my readers only good things for 2010.
My friend Mary Jo mentioned something when I first arrived back to the US. She wrote that this trip home for my mother's funeral was in many ways her last gift to me. It's true. The time we had as a family just before Christmas was remarkable and grace-filled. I have a marvelous family; our marvels, unlike those of other families, are actually best seen in times of stress -- and that was certainly true this time around.
Special thanks go to Sheila and Denny for so much hosting. To my niece Megan for her assistance in getting me to LA, and my sister Julie for her kindness, too.
It was good to see Jesuit friends. Among the most significant visits was with Isaac Kiyaka of the Eastern Africa Province. Fr. Kiyaka just completed a term as novice director and is now enjoying some rest here in the States. I met him last night at Colombiere Center, north of Detroit, where the Detroit, Chicago, and Wisconsin province Jesuits in formation were gathering. My conversation with him confirmed for me what I've told people who have asked: I am right where God wants me at this time in my life. And it's a wonderful thing in life when the divine will matches your own!
I won't be posting any more before my return to Dodoma next week, but I think when I arrive there I'll introduce you to the wonderful people I live and work with over the course of the ensuing weeks.
One final thanks to all the thoughtful people who kindly made donations to OLQP as a memorial to my mother.
My friend Mary Jo mentioned something when I first arrived back to the US. She wrote that this trip home for my mother's funeral was in many ways her last gift to me. It's true. The time we had as a family just before Christmas was remarkable and grace-filled. I have a marvelous family; our marvels, unlike those of other families, are actually best seen in times of stress -- and that was certainly true this time around.
Special thanks go to Sheila and Denny for so much hosting. To my niece Megan for her assistance in getting me to LA, and my sister Julie for her kindness, too.
It was good to see Jesuit friends. Among the most significant visits was with Isaac Kiyaka of the Eastern Africa Province. Fr. Kiyaka just completed a term as novice director and is now enjoying some rest here in the States. I met him last night at Colombiere Center, north of Detroit, where the Detroit, Chicago, and Wisconsin province Jesuits in formation were gathering. My conversation with him confirmed for me what I've told people who have asked: I am right where God wants me at this time in my life. And it's a wonderful thing in life when the divine will matches your own!
I won't be posting any more before my return to Dodoma next week, but I think when I arrive there I'll introduce you to the wonderful people I live and work with over the course of the ensuing weeks.
One final thanks to all the thoughtful people who kindly made donations to OLQP as a memorial to my mother.
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