WH Chronicle Groundhog Day 2011
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Feb 2, 2011 09:30:00am (GMT +3 Nairobi)
Happy Groundhog Day!!
As I write, Punxsutawney Phil still has a few more hours of slumber before the festivities begin…
But here, Machupa Meerkat, Seer of Seared, Beige of Beiges, Procrastinator of all Procrastinators, arose at 07:45:31 (GMT +3) from his mound in the middle of the Serengeti. Before poking his head out of the hole, he looked both ways to avoid being eaten by a lion. He emerged to an expected bright and sunny day, as all days tend to be. He calmly predicted more of the same as he suddenly dodged the arrow whizzing by his head. At that point, he angrily marched back to his personal trailer to have a smoke, inspect his contract for stunt double clauses, and then finish memorizing the script for this week’s ‘Meerkat Manor’. Soap opera stars and meteorologists—who would have guessed that we’d have papparazzied rodents on two different continents?
Seems too premature for any deep GHD reflection on our time in Tanzania--so I'll just keep tip-toeing through the puddles.
Classes and student body activities are back to what appears to be normal. Students wait for the promises and their money so they can buy food. The law students held seminars on conflict mitigation and the judicial system. The older students caution the younger ones against any radical actions resulting in expulsion. One of our music students singlehandedly promoted peaceful discussions between administration and the student population. However, his wife was not happy to see him on the evening news featured in a sea of irate students. He’s my hero—a real leader of people and problem solver. He can tap his 'inner preacher' to easily inspire a crowd, maybe a nice start to what could be a terrific biography. See? I told you my students are amazing.
While visiting with some of the European students after the riots, they mentioned the commotion was, “just like Texas”. I smiled and nodded in agreement.
We are hosting our first guests this week. Our house lady wanted to wash all the curtains. Last time the curtains were washed, they all shrunk to 3/4 the size of the windows and now no amount of yanking can hide our indecency. If we wash them again, we might be left with only fish net guarding our privacy. So, I told her to wash the bedding instead--at least if that shrinks, we can have new curtains.
We are safe in Tanzania; so, I'm glad we can 'breathe easy'. "Breaking Wind in Malawi--Read the full story.
More seriously, as the people in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and other countries begin to question their authoritarian regimes, and as global leaders tighten their grip on civil liberties in the western world, there is peaceful comfort in having a garden, chickens, and the strong sense of community that we've developed here in Tanzania. Our lives will not change drastically if there is no electricity, internet, cell phone, grocery store, or gas for cars. I suppose that when the infrastructure is so elementary, there is not far to fall, versus our home country being a towering 'house of cards', which could be subjected to any change of wind or government mind.
"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong." ~Voltaire
"Let yourself be seen because while vulnerability is at the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness; it is also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging and love." Dr Brené Brown - Research Professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
Wondering if they serve beans in Malawi prisons,
Daris
Wondering if they serve beans in Malawi prisons,
Daris
