I'll be heading over to the classrooms in a moment.
After a week's orientation, we're now ready to get down to business. I put the final touches on some things last night, managing to get a good night's sleep. And now a new chapter begins.
My only concern at this point is timing. No bell, no bell ringer sauf moi.
Other than that, all systems go (with the inevitable unknowns, of course).
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Alas
My internet connection here is soooooo sloooooow that I won't be able to post any pictures or video of our opening days until I (1) find the time to drive the 14 kilometres into town and (2) find the time to post them once there (the connection there is only slightly better).
Look for them!
In the meantime, I must say that these days have probably been among the most challenging in my life! At times I feel invigorated by the challenge and at other times -- to be honest -- I feel utterly overwhelmed. We are starting the school under-staffed which makes things more challenging than they should be. In part this is my fault, especially regards a secretary. I didn't want to hire a secretary when we were working out of the parish offices because there would have been no room -- and now I have to wait until February 13th!
I'm also struggling with being a boarding school. Who is responsible when for the children? I'm posting this now as a break. My day started at 5:30 a.m. to prepare for 6:30 a.m. Mass. I managed to eat lunch standing up and even managed a twenty minute nap and a twenty minute dinner, but other than that I have been busy with school business until 9:00 p.m. All the days have been like this -- and my companion Kizito has been just as busy and I know Sossy (who is splitting his time between duties here and at the parish) is equally busy. We pray that the pace changes before it kills us.
What is keeping me going is having met our students. What a wonderful group they are, full of promise. And how much I am enjoying being with these young people!
Today we chose student leaders, following a talk by me about leadership. I asked students to share examples of leaders who led with the interest of others in mind -- the answers were telling: Nelson Mandela; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Julius Nyerere; and Jesus Christ. After some talk about the characteristics that distinguished these leaders, I announced the dorm prefects and the classroom captains. Young Sixbert, who is not so confident with his English, came up to me with another student complaining of his unworthiness (and the other student was pushing his own candidate). I assured Sixbert that he was chosen because the obvious qualities of leadership were apparent and that he had the support of all the adults -- I added that the fact that he didn't feel up to the job was itself a commendation!
More stories to come. Thanks for all the support.
Look for them!
In the meantime, I must say that these days have probably been among the most challenging in my life! At times I feel invigorated by the challenge and at other times -- to be honest -- I feel utterly overwhelmed. We are starting the school under-staffed which makes things more challenging than they should be. In part this is my fault, especially regards a secretary. I didn't want to hire a secretary when we were working out of the parish offices because there would have been no room -- and now I have to wait until February 13th!
I'm also struggling with being a boarding school. Who is responsible when for the children? I'm posting this now as a break. My day started at 5:30 a.m. to prepare for 6:30 a.m. Mass. I managed to eat lunch standing up and even managed a twenty minute nap and a twenty minute dinner, but other than that I have been busy with school business until 9:00 p.m. All the days have been like this -- and my companion Kizito has been just as busy and I know Sossy (who is splitting his time between duties here and at the parish) is equally busy. We pray that the pace changes before it kills us.
What is keeping me going is having met our students. What a wonderful group they are, full of promise. And how much I am enjoying being with these young people!
Today we chose student leaders, following a talk by me about leadership. I asked students to share examples of leaders who led with the interest of others in mind -- the answers were telling: Nelson Mandela; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Julius Nyerere; and Jesus Christ. After some talk about the characteristics that distinguished these leaders, I announced the dorm prefects and the classroom captains. Young Sixbert, who is not so confident with his English, came up to me with another student complaining of his unworthiness (and the other student was pushing his own candidate). I assured Sixbert that he was chosen because the obvious qualities of leadership were apparent and that he had the support of all the adults -- I added that the fact that he didn't feel up to the job was itself a commendation!
More stories to come. Thanks for all the support.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Mwanzo ni Mgumu
The beginning might be difficult, but it is satisfying.
Today we began our week's orientation. I was up late last night waiting for power to return so I could get some important items taken care of -- it didn't return. Today I woke up a little after four, hoping it would be on, but it wasn't. That was the least of the snafus, but we managed to recover from all of them.
The students have been very patient, indeed -- and I hope to match their patience with my own understanding as they deal with starting their education at a school still underconstruction.
In any case, it is almost ten at night and I am very ready for bed. As difficult as the day was, it was satisfying. Will post pictures soon.
Today we began our week's orientation. I was up late last night waiting for power to return so I could get some important items taken care of -- it didn't return. Today I woke up a little after four, hoping it would be on, but it wasn't. That was the least of the snafus, but we managed to recover from all of them.
The students have been very patient, indeed -- and I hope to match their patience with my own understanding as they deal with starting their education at a school still underconstruction.
In any case, it is almost ten at night and I am very ready for bed. As difficult as the day was, it was satisfying. Will post pictures soon.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sneaking Away
Came to print something in anticipation of our students arriving in one hour. Ready or not (in some ways ready, in some ways NOT), here they come.
In fact, some have been waiting since ten this morning -- registration does not begin until 2.
That's the word from these parts.
Whew. Pictures to follow!
In fact, some have been waiting since ten this morning -- registration does not begin until 2.
That's the word from these parts.
Whew. Pictures to follow!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Nipo Ihumwa!
I am now a resident of Ihumwa! We moved tonight. Mind you, I haven't moved all my things -- I packed as if I were going on a long business trip. There are books and clothing still remaining in town.
But here I am. When I arrived I raced around to all the workers, exclaiming to them in Kiswahili: "I am no longer a guest, I'm a citizen of this place!" (Sasa si mgeni; mimi ni mwenyeji)
It is very relaxing here right now as the sun sets. The birds are singing beautifully, and it is very peaceful. The only downside so far? Bad Internet -- we'll see if I can manage to post these words.
But here I am. When I arrived I raced around to all the workers, exclaiming to them in Kiswahili: "I am no longer a guest, I'm a citizen of this place!" (Sasa si mgeni; mimi ni mwenyeji)
It is very relaxing here right now as the sun sets. The birds are singing beautifully, and it is very peaceful. The only downside so far? Bad Internet -- we'll see if I can manage to post these words.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
It's Looking Good
Our friends the deputy chief zonal inspectors returned today -- at the request of the chief zonal inspector of schools. They themselves left content after their last visit, but the CZI was not entirely satisfied.
They returned today to find everything they had seen earlier but in better order (simply because we're that much closer to the commencement of school). They also saw a "Potemkin laboratory," set up with benches and stools and some chemicals in the preparation room. (The set will be struck tomorrow.)
Long story short: One inspector asked where he might acquire a nifty bunk-bed like ours and the other was absolutely giddy (her son will be a student). I'm hoping it is not another false start.
They returned today to find everything they had seen earlier but in better order (simply because we're that much closer to the commencement of school). They also saw a "Potemkin laboratory," set up with benches and stools and some chemicals in the preparation room. (The set will be struck tomorrow.)
Long story short: One inspector asked where he might acquire a nifty bunk-bed like ours and the other was absolutely giddy (her son will be a student). I'm hoping it is not another false start.
Falling...
...into place, many things. As Sunday approaches, I am actually feeling more comfortable with our situation. Will everything be in place? Absolutely not. Will it be a dire situation, though? I don't expect so, and in fact I think generally we're on top of things -- or at least no most of what we're not on top of!
As I recall, there's a Donald Rumsfeld quotation about knowing what you don't know. I realize that the nature of a surprise is that it cannot be anticipated. At the same time, I think one of the things I do pretty well (at the expense of sleep) is to imagine various possible scenarios and design programs and structures to meet as many different eventualities as possible.
We've had meetings the last two days among Kizito Busobozi, SJ (have I mentioned his arrival? a great assignment by the provincial to our place for which I am very thankful), Sr. Maria, the director of boarding; and Sr. Beatrice, the matron -- and today we were joined by Sr. Immaculata, the nurse, and Mr. Thomas Warema, the patron. The meetings were meant to plan the arrival of the students on Sunday and then also the schedule of events during the following orientation week.
The arrival of Kizito and St. Maria, et al., poses one challenge for me, however. After working on so many things alone, I am out of practice re: delegating to others things to be done. I had to remind myself of that today and turn over the orientation week plans to the folks, who will plan it with the teachers and divvy up responsibilities.
Other good news is that the details of my trip to the US are coming together. So far, three different friends/family have agreed to host small gatherings of folks, which gatherings will provide me the chance to introduce/update folks about our project.
In other news, tomorrow night will be my first night at Ihumwa. Our provisional residence is not quite ready -- but given that there are so many here who have so much less, a few nights with just a bed and no other furniture should not be so very difficult to manage (I hope).
As I recall, there's a Donald Rumsfeld quotation about knowing what you don't know. I realize that the nature of a surprise is that it cannot be anticipated. At the same time, I think one of the things I do pretty well (at the expense of sleep) is to imagine various possible scenarios and design programs and structures to meet as many different eventualities as possible.
We've had meetings the last two days among Kizito Busobozi, SJ (have I mentioned his arrival? a great assignment by the provincial to our place for which I am very thankful), Sr. Maria, the director of boarding; and Sr. Beatrice, the matron -- and today we were joined by Sr. Immaculata, the nurse, and Mr. Thomas Warema, the patron. The meetings were meant to plan the arrival of the students on Sunday and then also the schedule of events during the following orientation week.
The arrival of Kizito and St. Maria, et al., poses one challenge for me, however. After working on so many things alone, I am out of practice re: delegating to others things to be done. I had to remind myself of that today and turn over the orientation week plans to the folks, who will plan it with the teachers and divvy up responsibilities.
Other good news is that the details of my trip to the US are coming together. So far, three different friends/family have agreed to host small gatherings of folks, which gatherings will provide me the chance to introduce/update folks about our project.
In other news, tomorrow night will be my first night at Ihumwa. Our provisional residence is not quite ready -- but given that there are so many here who have so much less, a few nights with just a bed and no other furniture should not be so very difficult to manage (I hope).
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