Hearty Congratulations!
Those were the words this morning of one of the sisters who attends daily Mass at the parish church. She was -- hard for me to believe -- complimenting me on my Kiswahili (I celebrated the Mass this morning). When I protested -- si kweli!, that's not true -- she insisted. I guess my reading and pronunciation are getting better.
I do in fact feel more and more comfortable using the language. I venture out more alone -- today to register my SIM card (a new law) and to get a haircut. I used to find these sorts of things difficult and would rely on Malasi's help, but I feel more and more comfortable on my own.
The phone registration, however, was a bit embarrassing. There was a long line, and I joined it like everyone else. After fifteen or so minutes one of the employees came up to me (who stood out -- white and about six inches taller than the next tallest person) and invited me to step into an office to get the registration done. I protested that there were so many people ahead of me -- but just for a moment.
On Friday folks from the education office at the district level (a district here is between a municipality and a region) will be visiting the site on Friday.
I'll get some pictures up soon.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Upendo
That's Kiswahili for charity. Today I celebrated Mass for the Missionaries of Charity -- the brothers. In Dodoma they devote themselves to the care of mentally and physically disabled adult men.
I knew the contemplative sisters in Chicago, and I have some friends here who are former sisters, and the brothers often are at the outstation for Sunday Mass. But this morning was my first visit to them. Why did I wait so long? It was a wonderful morning, and they do wonderful work. And as one would expect -- with a lot of joy.
It's hard to say "no" to Bro. Getacho, so I expect I'll be there again sooner than later!
I knew the contemplative sisters in Chicago, and I have some friends here who are former sisters, and the brothers often are at the outstation for Sunday Mass. But this morning was my first visit to them. Why did I wait so long? It was a wonderful morning, and they do wonderful work. And as one would expect -- with a lot of joy.
It's hard to say "no" to Bro. Getacho, so I expect I'll be there again sooner than later!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Excitement in Africa
World Cup Schmerld Cup!
I'm talking about the arrival of Loyola Productions, who arrived in Dodoma yesterday. Eddie Siebert and his crew were busy all morning interviewing folks. We then went to mnadani, the goat market for lunch. I was a bit disappointed because folks weren't so keen to have any filming done. But we had a nice time even so. In a few minutes I'm taking them out to the OLQP site.
Okay, okay; so the World Cup is causing a buzz, too...
I'm talking about the arrival of Loyola Productions, who arrived in Dodoma yesterday. Eddie Siebert and his crew were busy all morning interviewing folks. We then went to mnadani, the goat market for lunch. I was a bit disappointed because folks weren't so keen to have any filming done. But we had a nice time even so. In a few minutes I'm taking them out to the OLQP site.
Okay, okay; so the World Cup is causing a buzz, too...
Optus Secret Training Camp from Paranoid US on Vimeo.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A Lot of Help from our Friends
Today I received a report regarding the donations received last month, and it gave me occasion to review earlier reports.
How generous folks have been! We've received a very gracious gift for a statue of OLQP to welcome folks to our campus, assistance from two students at Jesuit high schools and a Jesuit community for the purchase of a school bus, and very kind contributions for our grant-in-aid program.
We're looking forward to fully sponsoring 1/4 of our students -- making a quality education available even to the very poor. We'll need about $20,000USD more in order to meet that goal. Please consider helping -- you'll find information along the right side of this page.
Asante sana, ndugu -- thanks so much, friends.
How generous folks have been! We've received a very gracious gift for a statue of OLQP to welcome folks to our campus, assistance from two students at Jesuit high schools and a Jesuit community for the purchase of a school bus, and very kind contributions for our grant-in-aid program.
We're looking forward to fully sponsoring 1/4 of our students -- making a quality education available even to the very poor. We'll need about $20,000USD more in order to meet that goal. Please consider helping -- you'll find information along the right side of this page.
Asante sana, ndugu -- thanks so much, friends.
Like Hot Cakes!
Our forms are now available for prospective students. And they're selling like hot cakes.
Yes, "selling." The tradition here is that forms are sold in order to cover the costs for the entrance examination (proctors --invigilators, as they are called here-- and correctors). Ours are on sale for TShs10,000. What is clear is that Martin Luther and Ignatius Loyola will come together at St. Peter Claver! Families from these two Dodoma primary schools -- the leading English medium schools in the area -- are racing to get the forms. We also have forms on sale in Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha/Moshi.
Our entrance examination is set for the first Saturday in October.
Yes, "selling." The tradition here is that forms are sold in order to cover the costs for the entrance examination (proctors --invigilators, as they are called here-- and correctors). Ours are on sale for TShs10,000. What is clear is that Martin Luther and Ignatius Loyola will come together at St. Peter Claver! Families from these two Dodoma primary schools -- the leading English medium schools in the area -- are racing to get the forms. We also have forms on sale in Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha/Moshi.
Our entrance examination is set for the first Saturday in October.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
As Promised
I think we have a stronger connection today.
Here are the dormitories -- the interiors of the top two floors will remain unfinished until we need them in a few years.
Below is the lab wing of the classroom block. It is the bottom of the U of the classroom block. We presently have one wing of classrooms done, and now the second wing is under construction. Students will gather in the courtyard everyday for attendance and announcements; we'll also sing the national anthem (actually, a lovely prayer asking for God's blessings on Africa and Tanzania that Christians and Muslims can pray together in one voice).
Here's the multi-purpose hall with mabati (iron sheet roofing).
Amazingly, it seems even bigger with the roofing in place.
Because the administration building will have several floors, a deeper foundation is necessary.
This worker is preparing rebar for the Jesuit residence.
Here workers are preparing the foundation of the Jesuit residence.
Now to get moving on provisions for drinking water and our ecological sanitation system!
Here are the dormitories -- the interiors of the top two floors will remain unfinished until we need them in a few years.
Below is the lab wing of the classroom block. It is the bottom of the U of the classroom block. We presently have one wing of classrooms done, and now the second wing is under construction. Students will gather in the courtyard everyday for attendance and announcements; we'll also sing the national anthem (actually, a lovely prayer asking for God's blessings on Africa and Tanzania that Christians and Muslims can pray together in one voice).
Here's the multi-purpose hall with mabati (iron sheet roofing).
Amazingly, it seems even bigger with the roofing in place.
Because the administration building will have several floors, a deeper foundation is necessary.
This worker is preparing rebar for the Jesuit residence.
Here workers are preparing the foundation of the Jesuit residence.
Now to get moving on provisions for drinking water and our ecological sanitation system!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Apologies
Sorry for getting so behind in posting here.
The trip to Nairobi was remarkable. I did no site-seeing, but I was engaged in an extraordinary meeting of Jesuits working in the Eastern Africa Province. We gathered at the request of our provincial to discern the apostolic agenda of the Jesuits in this part of the world. It was a marvelous experience.
That was followed by a few days in Morogoro, where I worked on some matters in my other capacity, assistant to the provincial for education and chair of the education commission. It was a good place to think and write.
I returned to Dodoma on Sunday. I was pulled over twice by the police. The first because the officer saw me go in one direction, turn around, and return an hour later. (I had forgotten my luggage in Morogoro and received a call an hour into the three hour trip informing me of that fact.) The officer was very pleasant and appreciated my attempt at Kiswahili. The second time, the officer asked where I was coming from, where I was going; asked to see the car's registration, etc. Finally, he said, "You know it is very hot out here. You could give us a 'jifty'." It took me a second, but I figured out he meant a gift. I had a 1.5 litre of water, unopened, so I gave it to them.
I just go back from our site and here are some of the sights -- you can see our progress!
(Well, after two hours of trying to upload, it seems you'll have to wait to see the progress)
The trip to Nairobi was remarkable. I did no site-seeing, but I was engaged in an extraordinary meeting of Jesuits working in the Eastern Africa Province. We gathered at the request of our provincial to discern the apostolic agenda of the Jesuits in this part of the world. It was a marvelous experience.
That was followed by a few days in Morogoro, where I worked on some matters in my other capacity, assistant to the provincial for education and chair of the education commission. It was a good place to think and write.
I returned to Dodoma on Sunday. I was pulled over twice by the police. The first because the officer saw me go in one direction, turn around, and return an hour later. (I had forgotten my luggage in Morogoro and received a call an hour into the three hour trip informing me of that fact.) The officer was very pleasant and appreciated my attempt at Kiswahili. The second time, the officer asked where I was coming from, where I was going; asked to see the car's registration, etc. Finally, he said, "You know it is very hot out here. You could give us a 'jifty'." It took me a second, but I figured out he meant a gift. I had a 1.5 litre of water, unopened, so I gave it to them.
I just go back from our site and here are some of the sights -- you can see our progress!
(Well, after two hours of trying to upload, it seems you'll have to wait to see the progress)
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