Those are the first words to be heard upon arrival: Welcome to Tanzania!
On Tuesday night I arrived to Dar es Salaam. (Don’t know when I’ll have internet connection to actually post this, so better just to write Tuesday night than last night, etc.). I must seem suspicious because of all of the passengers at the visa stop, I was the only who was required to have his picture taken and a visa insert pasted in my passport with the photo stating that I must leave the country on the day stated, 29 May. My greatest concern was that Fr. Mnubi from Loyola High School, who was waiting to schlep me back to LHS, would leave thinking, “He must have missed his flight.” It was dark –and even more than might be usual because of some problems with municipal electricity on this end of town – so I didn’t see so much at all. I did see the dalla-dallas that I’d heard and read about. Along the way, I’ll get a picture of one of these well-used mini-busses filled with folks.
I thought of my Dad and Ted Demski and also about the folks over on Larchmont Parkway in Toledo. In the heat of the summer my dad and Ted and Rob Loeb’s parents and their neighbors would take their lawn chairs out on the lawn or sit on the stoop and listen to the Tigers on WJR (“the great voice of the Great Lakes) and solve the world’s problems in this way. You see, as we made our way back along a certain stretch of road closer to LHS, folks were out of their houses enjoying the company of one another (assisted with a little something, from what I could tell); there was a summer vibrancy in the air – though, of course, technically being south of the equator we’re headed toward winter.
The road to LHS is in bad repair. Not sooo bad, though -- for Detroit area Jesuits: It’s half as bad as the road going from Colombiere to Gargaros (sp?) in the spring. The ruts here have a lot to learn from those car-swallowing (at least tire-swallowing) outside Clarkston, MI.
Finally, we arrive to a walled compound and the gate is opened for us. Electricity has been out here, too, but comes on just after we arrive. The lesson is to have a torch with you at all times – to be ready like the wise virgins (and with my iphone application, I was!).
Mnubi kindly showed me to my room, but couldn’t decide whether I was assigned to “s” or “m.” That frightened me only for a second until I realized these designations were meant for the community’s Superior and Minister who suffer and inflict their own sorts of pain! As we opened one of the screen windows up, we noticed a slight hole at the bottom, with a little lizard peeking its head through. I didn’t shriek, but I did make what must have been a perceptible flinch. As I said out loud “might as well get used to them now,” Mnubi noted that lizards are our friends – they stay away from us and feast on mosquitoes.
Community Mass is at 06h15 Mass tomorrow, so I should get some sleep. In order for that to happen with so much on my mind (not least of which is my sister Marcia’s, who is in a very bad state healthwise) I’ve asked someone who might help to make an introduction to Mr. Morpheus: Dr. Ambien; calling Dr. Ambien.
Good night.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Karibu Tanzania
Those are the first words to be heard upon arrival: Welcome to Tanzania!
On Tuesday night I arrived to Dar es Salaam. (Don’t know when I’ll have internet connection to actually post this, so better just to write Tuesday night than last night, etc.). I must seem suspicious because of all of the passengers at the visa stop, I was the only who was required to have his picture taken and a visa insert pasted in my passport with the photo stating that I must leave the country on the day stated, 29 May. My greatest concern was that Fr. Mnubi from Loyola High School, who was waiting to schlep me back to LHS, would leave thinking, “He must have missed his flight.” It was dark –and even more than might be usual because of some problems with municipal electricity on this end of town – so I didn’t see so much at all. I did see the dalla-dallas that I’d heard and read about. Along the way, I’ll get a picture of one of these well-used mini-busses filled with folks.
I thought of my Dad and Ted Demski and also about the folks over on Larchmont Parkway in Toledo. In the heat of the summer my dad and Ted and Rob Loeb’s parents and their neighbors would take their lawn chairs out on the lawn or sit on the stoop and listen to the Tigers on WJR (“the great voice of the Great Lakes) and solve the world’s problems in this way. You see, as we made our way back along a certain stretch of road closer to LHS, folks were out of their houses enjoying the company of one another (assisted with a little something, from what I could tell); there was a summer vibrancy in the air – though, of course, technically being south of the equator we’re headed toward winter.
The road to LHS is in bad repair. Not sooo bad, though -- for Detroit area Jesuits: It’s half as bad as the road going from Colombiere to Gargaros (sp?) in the spring. The ruts here have a lot to learn from those car-swallowing (at least tire-swallowing) outside Clarkston, MI.
Finally, we arrive to a walled compound and the gate is opened for us. Electricity has been out here, too, but comes on just after we arrive. The lesson is to have a torch with you at all times – to be ready like the wise virgins (and with my iphone application, I was!).
Mnubi kindly showed me to my room, but couldn’t decide whether I was assigned to “s” or “m.” That frightened me only for a second until I realized these designations were meant for the community’s Superior and Minister who suffer and inflict their own sorts of pain! As we opened one of the screen windows up, we noticed a slight hole at the bottom, with a little lizard peeking its head through. I didn’t shriek, but I did make what must have been a perceptible flinch. As I said out loud “might as well get used to them now,” Mnubi noted that lizards are our friends – they stay away from us and feast on mosquitoes.
Community Mass is at 06h15 Mass tomorrow, so I should get some sleep. In order for that to happen with so much on my mind (not least of which is my sister Marcia’s poor state of health) I’ve asked someone who might help to make an introduction to Mr. Morpheus: Dr. Ambien; calling Dr. Ambien.
Good night.
On Tuesday night I arrived to Dar es Salaam. (Don’t know when I’ll have internet connection to actually post this, so better just to write Tuesday night than last night, etc.). I must seem suspicious because of all of the passengers at the visa stop, I was the only who was required to have his picture taken and a visa insert pasted in my passport with the photo stating that I must leave the country on the day stated, 29 May. My greatest concern was that Fr. Mnubi from Loyola High School, who was waiting to schlep me back to LHS, would leave thinking, “He must have missed his flight.” It was dark –and even more than might be usual because of some problems with municipal electricity on this end of town – so I didn’t see so much at all. I did see the dalla-dallas that I’d heard and read about. Along the way, I’ll get a picture of one of these well-used mini-busses filled with folks.
I thought of my Dad and Ted Demski and also about the folks over on Larchmont Parkway in Toledo. In the heat of the summer my dad and Ted and Rob Loeb’s parents and their neighbors would take their lawn chairs out on the lawn or sit on the stoop and listen to the Tigers on WJR (“the great voice of the Great Lakes) and solve the world’s problems in this way. You see, as we made our way back along a certain stretch of road closer to LHS, folks were out of their houses enjoying the company of one another (assisted with a little something, from what I could tell); there was a summer vibrancy in the air – though, of course, technically being south of the equator we’re headed toward winter.
The road to LHS is in bad repair. Not sooo bad, though -- for Detroit area Jesuits: It’s half as bad as the road going from Colombiere to Gargaros (sp?) in the spring. The ruts here have a lot to learn from those car-swallowing (at least tire-swallowing) outside Clarkston, MI.
Finally, we arrive to a walled compound and the gate is opened for us. Electricity has been out here, too, but comes on just after we arrive. The lesson is to have a torch with you at all times – to be ready like the wise virgins (and with my iphone application, I was!).
Mnubi kindly showed me to my room, but couldn’t decide whether I was assigned to “s” or “m.” That frightened me only for a second until I realized these designations were meant for the community’s Superior and Minister who suffer and inflict their own sorts of pain! As we opened one of the screen windows up, we noticed a slight hole at the bottom, with a little lizard peeking its head through. I didn’t shriek, but I did make what must have been a perceptible flinch. As I said out loud “might as well get used to them now,” Mnubi noted that lizards are our friends – they stay away from us and feast on mosquitoes.
Community Mass is at 06h15 Mass tomorrow, so I should get some sleep. In order for that to happen with so much on my mind (not least of which is my sister Marcia’s poor state of health) I’ve asked someone who might help to make an introduction to Mr. Morpheus: Dr. Ambien; calling Dr. Ambien.
Good night.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Window Wisdom
How's that for a good "thought for the day"? I saw it at as I was walking down a street here in Amsterdam, near the Leidseplein. In case you can't make out the script: "All political horror and social unhappiness comes from trading what we want most with what we want now." I'd say personal unhappiness, too. On the other hand, knowing what our deepest, holiest desires are and making choices based on them leads to happiness -- thank you St. Ignatius Loyola.
Window Wisdom
How's this for a good "thought for the day." I saw it at as I was walking down a street near my hotel.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., of Utah
Why would I be writing on this blog about President Obama's choice of Governor Huntsman as abassador to China? Because the governor's explanation for his affirmative response to the president's request rather captures what this journey has been about:
I encourage my doctoral students to do word substitutions with articles and books they read (something I learned from Jason Raley, my dissertation director). Some substitution can be done here; "a provincial of the Society of Jesus who knows you and the stirrings of your heart" for "the president of the United States," for instance.
“When the president of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge,”
I encourage my doctoral students to do word substitutions with articles and books they read (something I learned from Jason Raley, my dissertation director). Some substitution can be done here; "a provincial of the Society of Jesus who knows you and the stirrings of your heart" for "the president of the United States," for instance.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
How I Spend My Freetime
Studying Swahili grammar.
I arrived yesterday to Amsterdam; spent most of the day lying low -- a lot of thunderstorms rolling through. Tomorrow I visit the museums (the Rijksmuseum was closed when I visited last -- a chance to see the Vermeer paintings), and Monday I think I'll head out to Edam (cheesy, I know) at my friend Onno Kok's suggestion. He already won with his restaurant suggestion. On Tuesday, of course, I fly to Dar es Salaam, where I'll stay that night and then head to Dodoma. Fr. Sossy has arranged for me to travel with Fr. Damas, who used to work in the parish in Dodoma and was in on the early planning of OLQP; he is currently working with JRS (the Jesuit Refugee Service) in Western Tanzania.
Malkia wa Amani: Utuombe.
I arrived yesterday to Amsterdam; spent most of the day lying low -- a lot of thunderstorms rolling through. Tomorrow I visit the museums (the Rijksmuseum was closed when I visited last -- a chance to see the Vermeer paintings), and Monday I think I'll head out to Edam (cheesy, I know) at my friend Onno Kok's suggestion. He already won with his restaurant suggestion. On Tuesday, of course, I fly to Dar es Salaam, where I'll stay that night and then head to Dodoma. Fr. Sossy has arranged for me to travel with Fr. Damas, who used to work in the parish in Dodoma and was in on the early planning of OLQP; he is currently working with JRS (the Jesuit Refugee Service) in Western Tanzania.
Malkia wa Amani: Utuombe.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Day Trip to Santa Barbara
I had a full day on Monday. I headed up to Santa Barbara, where I was a guest in my friend Paul Orfalea’s class at UC Santa Barbara. I was supposed to go up on Friday, but a wildfire there (called the Jesusita fire after the trail it started near—which trail I used to hike when I lived in Santa Barbara) kept me here in Los Angeles. The dean emeritus of UCSB’s Gervirtz Graduate School of Education, Jules Zimmer, was a guest at the class as well. Paul’s very excited about my heading off to Dodoma and asked me to speak for a few minutes about Our Lady Queen of Peace Educational Centre. He’s keen on forging a relationship between the centre and the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies at the university. Mark Juergensmeyer, director of the center, and I had only a brief chance to chat – we discovered that we have a mutual friend: Fr. John Coleman, SJ, who taught me at JSTB and until recently held the held the Casassa Chair in Social Values here at LMU. It was an interesting class. Afterward we followed the custom and went as a class to Freebirds for the world’s best burritos (Mark Orfalea, Paul’s cousin, is the restaurateur).
I have to say, though, that for me Paul’s taking me over to the offices of Direct Relief International was the highlight of the day. They provide “medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world” and “work to strengthen the in-country health efforts of our partners by providing essential material resources – medicines, supplies and equipment.” The director, Thomas Tighe – a Bellarmine College Prep alumnus – was very generous with his time. He kindly introduced me to the folks most involved in their work in Africa, Paul Thompson and another of his colleagues (whose name – I’m sorry – I’ve forgotten) who had just returned from Tanzania. Thomas wants to help in any way they can. He suggested as we look forward to opening the two-year post-secondary program that we consider a program for health technicians (whose roles in Tanzania are very expanded), sorely needed in Tanzania. I’ll be in touch with these good folks when I return from my trip in June.
The day ended with a chance to spend time with my friends Jason and Carla and their daughters, Sela and Lilia. The trip back to Los Angeles provided me a chance to reflect on just how generous folks are.
Malkia wa Amani: Utuombe.
I have to say, though, that for me Paul’s taking me over to the offices of Direct Relief International was the highlight of the day. They provide “medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world” and “work to strengthen the in-country health efforts of our partners by providing essential material resources – medicines, supplies and equipment.” The director, Thomas Tighe – a Bellarmine College Prep alumnus – was very generous with his time. He kindly introduced me to the folks most involved in their work in Africa, Paul Thompson and another of his colleagues (whose name – I’m sorry – I’ve forgotten) who had just returned from Tanzania. Thomas wants to help in any way they can. He suggested as we look forward to opening the two-year post-secondary program that we consider a program for health technicians (whose roles in Tanzania are very expanded), sorely needed in Tanzania. I’ll be in touch with these good folks when I return from my trip in June.
The day ended with a chance to spend time with my friends Jason and Carla and their daughters, Sela and Lilia. The trip back to Los Angeles provided me a chance to reflect on just how generous folks are.
Malkia wa Amani: Utuombe.
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