Radio Interview for Mentoring Program

April 25, 2014
The local radio station, Radio Gbargna, sent a person to interview mentors, students, and the President of the Wolekemah Women's Organization. He seemed very impressed with the impact of the program and the dedication of the college student mentors. The interview airs this Monday.

Mentor Clifford C. being interviewed by Radio Gbargna

Mentor Rhoda K. with students who have completed the program

Grand Opening Disappointment

April 26, 2014

Everyone was primed for the Grand Opening of "Dr. Nick's". Coolers were stocked with beer,the shelves sagged with little bottles of cheap booze, and the loud speakers blasted at maximum volume and bass. Pricing showed discounts on all drinks. The expected crowd of college students never materialized. 

Yes, a number of the older locals showed up to enjoy some beer and to dance, but all around was the blaring of private parties..The occasion was the nursing students received their nurse's cap, and what student can pass up a private party with drunk nurses?

The good things is beer and booze don't spoil and a funeral this week proves to reduce inventory stocks.

Bike Transport

April 24, 2014
Motorbikes are the primary mode of carrying people and goods for relatively short distances. Here are two bikes bringing the following to Dr. Nick's:
5 cases of bottled beer
6 cartons of canned beer and soft drinks
3 cases of whiskey
5 gallons of gasoline
and me

Easter

4-20-14

Easter is the most sacred day in Christendom.  The passion of Holy Week and the suffering of Good Friday are its prelude. Yet here in my area of Liberia, the passion is in the partying until 3:30 am and the suffering is from the terrible beating my religious neighbor gave her daughter. Easter morning is another wash day as children are not in school on Sunday. If there is an Easter Bunny, he is going to be served over rice for my noon meal. There is no candy, no special clothes. Cuttington University, sponsored by the Episcopal Church, suspends classes and closes the dorms and cafeteria from Thursday to Sunday in observance, but not much else is different.

All this is in such a contrast to my own experiences. In Samoa the whole country comes to a halt, dresses in its finery, and eats special foods. Even in commercial United States, you know it is Easter. My recollections of a Russian Orthodox Easter, Lutheran youth, and being part of an Orthodox Easter service in Minneapolis remind me of the importance of pomp and circumstance to mark what is special in life.  

It is hard not be critical and judgmental. I am not surprised by today, but it is disappointing, even as an agnostic,  to find another instance of the country’s disjointedness.  

A Banking Tale

4-17-14

Banking in Liberia is an adventure in long waits and discourtesies. I have waited as long as 4 hours in line, and never less than one hour to withdraw money. Depositors have a special express window. It is often you find your withdrawal line moving backwards, as people in front of you are holding places for others who chose not to stand in line. In the bank’s defense, it does have a DVD which shows movies while you wait (I can never see “Hitman” enough times).

Well, my Peace Corps friend who is now the sponsor of the Peace Corps grant for the mentoring program goes to the bank on Wednesday to withdraw the grant money for my use. The bank manager grills him as to why he wants to withdraw such a large sum, $2,000 USD. The manager says he does not have that much money and to come back the next day. He may have some money at that time.

The next morning we both go to the bank. Since it is dangerous to carry any cash here and since I have an account at the same bank, I suggest we do an internal bank transfer. I then can withdraw some funds to pay people I owe money and he can be off the hook.

Not so easy for him as the bank manager calls him into his office and again grills him on what, why, and to whom he is transferring the money. He points to me and comes steaming out of the manager’s office, mad as hell. He says the manager wants to talk to me. My mind immediately fills with disparaging words like, “It is none of his God Damn business what I do with the money” as I slam the glass door entering his glass-walled office.

The manager extends his hand Liberian Style and warmly greets me, as he offers me a seat. He expounds on the great time he had at the bachelor party he attended at “Dr. Nick’s”. He really likes the place, a smart investment, and he plans to come back. We are instantly “Buds”. My Peace Corps friend stands in the lobby in disbelief as he watches the office proceedings. It is truly amazing what a few beers and loud Liberian music can do.

"Dr. Nick's" Exists

April 14, 2014
It's official. The lettering is on the marquee, the store is blessed, surrounding shrubbery has been peed on, and trial events are done. I am told that Liberians like signs with lots of descriptive words, like Entertainment and Business Center. Sorry, it is just "Dr. Nick's". Now it is time to plan for the Grand Opening and mark this project as DONE.

Chewing gum is used to hold the fine lines in the Algerian script stencil

After waiting several days and many hours for his arrival, the artist and his masterpiece

Bachelor Party Liberian Style

April 11, 2014
What happens at bachelor parties,seems to be universal. This one at Dr. Nick's lasted until dawn the night before the wedding. The men generally get really drunk, began dancing with each other and the next day regret their actions.

Groom is in center with blue and white shirt and cap

No caption required

Cooking for 140

April 10, 2014

The mentoring program just keeps expanding. It is now at 140 students and almost 30 university mentors.

Women's group preparing rice

A mentoring group

Computer by Candlelight

April 10, 2014

Here I sit writing an entry into my blog, connected to the internet via a cell phone modem while lit by candlelight. There is no electricity or running water. Everyone seems to have a cell phone, although they often call and quickly hang up to signal you are the one to pay for the return call. A text message is rare since many cannot read or write.This is what is happening in the third world, gigantic steps in technology while education and services we take for granted await arrival. 

Wild Night at Dr. Nick's

April 6, 2014
The Wolekemah Women's Organization had its weekly meeting followed by a visit to Dr. Nick's for some homemade eggnog (sans eggs), laced with native-made, natural, organic cane juice. Wow, that is some egg nog!

Some egg non, ladies?

White men can dance too.

Some of the crowd

Mentoring Program Expands

April 6, 2014
The second group of Cuttington University student mentors are now matched with primary school students in Sinyea village. The program now has 120 primary school students and over 20 university student mentors. Meals are served to all students after they meet with their mentors.

Students with notebooks and pens after registering.

With some university mentors, all of whom were my students.

I have a group to mentor too.

Dr. Nick's Update Report

April 6, 2014
Painting is almost complete and wooden tables are being built. The woman who will operate Dr. Nick's and her family are active participants in its construction. Merchandise is on the shelves and in the cooler for sale.Several Cuttington University student are active in making business and promotional decisions.

The Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th. Cuttington University students are back from visiting their families during Easter Break and hopefully flush with cash.

Painting almost completed. Note ladder.

Taking and bringing wood from wood shop 1/2 mile away. Another job women do. 

Dr. Nick's Dedication

April 2, 2014

Having a new business blessed is a good way to start. Tonight a group from the nearby Pentecostal church came for Dr. Nick's dedication. It is a beautiful sight to see church ladies wind their way in procession down the hill with their flashlights shining. Lots of signing and dancing, all seeming going well until the doors to Dr. Nick's were opened reveling its contents of beer and whisky.

Undeterred, the pastor continued reading the 23rd Psalm, took the donation and soft drinks.

Dr. Nick's dedication participants

Mentoring Lessons

April 3, 2014

Martina W. Kohn with students

Scenes like this of Cuttington University student, Martina Kohn, mentoring 60+ Sinyea primary school students are in the second week. Demand is great from town residents who seem happy that someone is paying attention to their students educational needs. The mentors are feeling great satisfaction for their efforts. This Sunday marks the establishment of matching a second group of Sinyea students with mentors.

Some early observations highlight the problems mentors, students, and parents face. Their seems to be a great disconnect between the perceived level of education and actual skills. Students take classes far in excess of their actual skill levels. They pass from grade to grade without ever mastering basic reading, writing, and math skills. To some extend this is due to the students who see little relevance in what the lessons to their daily life and are so far behind in skill level they simply sit in class unable to understand the lesson. Another reason is that the educational level of the parents is so low that they lack the education to assist their children with their lessons, are intimidated by teachers whom they respect, and feel that if their child is enrolled in school, they are advancing. A final leg of this problem is the educational system itself which permits students to advance in grades if teachers are paid or students provide sex. There is little wonder that no applicant to the University of Liberia passed the entrance exam, yet the school is full of students. Cuttington University is no different..

When in Samoa, I was critical that the only book in people's homes was 'The Holy Bible". But, Samoans could read and understand it, giving the country a very high literacy rate in both written Samoan and English. Liberian churches and church schools don't even try to have their followers read. Everything is just oral.

Get Free Condoms Here

April 3, 2014
"Get Free Condoms Here" signs are appearing everywhere on campus, at departmental offices and kiosks at Cuttington University. This is due to the student group "HIV/AIDS Prevention and Family Planning's" to not only distribute condoms but to establish places where students can get additional condoms as needed.

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