Wow!

It's been forever since I've posted anything here at CHoP. My apologies.

I am presently at Boston College, where I am a participant in a fascinating colloquium: The International Colloquium on Jesuit Secondary Education. It has given me a chance -- among other things -- to visit with my friends from the Eastern Africa Province, including Shete Wangira, Sosthenese Luyembe, Ahmed Andrew Omondi, and the provincial, Fr. Orobator.

On Thursday, I'll deliver a keynote address to the assembly (almost 400 people), which I have spent quite a bit of energy preparing for -- I am excited and a bit apprehensive about this. If there ends up being video of it, I'll share it with you here.

I spent a month in the Colorado Rockies. For those unfamiliar with the Rocky Mountains, they are a grand chain of mountains that stretch from north to south, continuing north into Canada and south into Mexico. My kind sister Colleen and her husband Tim let me use their vacation home in the mountains. I managed to exercise a lot, eat well, rest, read and write, and also catch up on some movies that I'd missed. It was just what I needed!

And thanks to some other good friends, I'll spend some days after this conference resting, too -- for a couple of days I'll be accompanied by some African brothers, which I am looking forward to.

I'm feeling a bit homesick for Tanzania these days -- but that is a good thing to feel, really.

Happy feast of St. Ignatius!  And I might add, that prayers for another more recent holy man's canonization are not out of order -- Solanus Casey, OFM, Cap.

Present Realities

The TED talk below rather captures my recent experience relative to my return to the US. It also captures what I learned from my three years in Tanzania.

Almost Two Months

It's been almost two months since I last posted. I apologize.

In part it is because of a lot of initial travel, and it part it has been because of a little grief. It hasn't been so easy to say goodbye -- certainly not as easy as I thought.

I am often asked about the cultural re-entry. Initially that presented some challenges. In my first days I had to do some shopping and found it extremely difficult to be in a shopping mall. Not so much because of the consumerism but because of the assault on my senses -- having to smell Cinnabun (sp?) and Pizza Hut all at the same time and all of the noises. It was too much.

I had nice visits with family and friends in Toledo and Detroit and Cleveland, where I also had some meetings at John Carroll University. My time here at Loyola University Chicago Jesuit Community has been good. I am especially thankful for the superior here, Fr. Brian Paulson, who entered the Jesuits with me in 1981.

For those who don't know, the main campus of LUC is located right on Lake Michigan. Its location has provided me with the opportunity to get more exercise -- mostly walking. I haven't yet taken full advantage of everything Chicago has to offer, but I will.

I have had a thorough check-up (including a colonoscopy), and everything checked out well -- though weight is an issue (I think I'm one of the few people who has returned home from Africa heavier than when he left!).

I also had the chance to reconnect with a number of Jesuits at a gathering of Jesuits of the Midwest in St. Paul, MN. It was my first visit to St. Paul. It was a great time for me -- my only disappointment was not meeting up with Mary Richards, Rhoda Morgenstern, Ted Baxter, et al.

Next week I will be making my way westward to Winter Park, Colorado. My sister Colleen and brother-in-law Tim are kindly allowing me to use their home for some r 'n r 'n r 'n r -- rest, relaxation, reading, and writing. Among the things I will be writing will be a keynote to be delivered the International Colloquium on Jesuit Secondary Education to be held in Boston at the end of July/early August. After the Boston meeting I'll spend a few days relaxing lakeside in Connecticut, thanks to the kindness of my friends John and Mary Beth.

How do I sum all all of this? Mungu ni mwema! God is good!

Go Forth and Multiply

There have been some additions to the animal population at SPCHS. Another shout out to all those who were were so helpful to us in obtaining the cows and pigs.

Just minutes old! Notice how brown Dodoma's become.

These were born after my departure.

10 piglets! Any less than 7 and mama becomes ham.

Loyola @ Loyola

Today, I had the opportunity to meet someone that I have been corresponding with for the last year: Fr. Pete Henriot, SJ, who is directing the development of Loyola High School in Malawi.

Fr. Henriot's story is an inspiring one and it was good to hear him share it with those of us who gathered for lunch at Ignatius House here at Loyola University Chicago. After starting the Center of Concern in DC and working for almost two decades there, he moved to Zambia to begin work. Among the fruits of his labours is the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection. Among the projects that has most impressed me is the basic needs basket project.

As I mentioned, we've been in email correspondence about how to manage to infuse a Jesuit ethos in new schools. With a vision like his, they won't have such a difficult time in Lilongwe, I'm sure. Not sure how it is said in Chichewa, but given common Bantu origins it can't be so different from Kiswahili: Mungu akubariki! God bless you, Pete.

My Kinda Town...

Chicago is. I arrived early this evening at O'Hare, where I was greeted by my novice classmate, Fr. Brian Paulson, SJ, the rector of the Jesuits at Loyola University Chicago.

A new chapter begins.

Transition

I am enjoying a week's sojourn in London as I make my way back to the United States.

The Jesuits here at the Clapham residence (Garnet House) have been very welcoming. On Tuesday night I had a chance to meet 3 of the 4 Heythrop students who will be visiting Dodoma this summer, and last night I had a chance to catch up with Martin Waweru Kamau, who had been a Jesuit regent at SPCHS and his now completing a degree in educational leadership here in London.

A lot of time just spent walking around. I did try to go to the Damian Hirst exhibtion at the Tate Modern but judged the crowds of middle school students from the Continent as not providing the best conditions for viewing, so I'll return there tomorrow.

Today I head to catch up with folks at Heythrop College.