Back in Minnesota

May 24, 2014

After the long trip back with a few delays to raise one's concerns about what's so great about United Airlines merger with Continental and seeing my family all smiling and healthy, I am trying to be what I was before Liberia. It is what those around me expect. It is the Nick with whom they are familiar.

Adventures come with their costs. Mine is leaving a part of me in Liberia, not experienced by my family, and returning to Minnesota, not experienced by my Liberian friends. I am bisected with emotions from both sides, a sadness for those left, yet a joy of seeing family anew. This is the price I know I would have to pay, but that doesn't make it any easier. As to the cost for others, the ones who patiently waited for my return and those who I had to leave, I hope they realize the innocence of my actions combined with the knowledge they too share the cost.  
Now it is time to continue what I started in Liberia and get back in step with what I left in Minnesota. This is the new adventure which awaits.

Final Days

May 20, 2014

After three days of waiting for hours in long lines to close out my bank account, only to be told the bank would only permit limited withdrawals due to lack of cash, I finally was able to close of the account my sending myself a Moneygram. This means I don't have to travel to the main bank in Monrovia and stay overnight before departing. This gives me an extra day to catch up on all the loose ends and goodbyes.

Liberia is very different from Samoa. Poorer yes, but more expressive in their emotions. I leave with the feeling that besides asking me for money all the time, there is a sincere appreciation of my efforts and a sadness about my leaving. I think I have had some impact on their lives, maybe even a legacy. That is what Peace Corps is all about.  As to Liberia's impact on me, I know it is there; how great I leave to others to judge. That also is what Peace Corps is all about.

Wolekemah Woman say "Thank You"

May 17, 2014

The Wolekemah Women's Organization held a nice ceremony to thank the student mentors and me for our service to the Sinyea Town. I was presented with a lapa (shirt) made from hand-woven country cloth (something I had been looking to buy) and kola nuts (a traditional gift of friendship). Tears came to my eyes and words difficult to say at their generosity and friendship.
After the presentation we all went to Dr. Nick's for drinks and beer. As in Liberian custom, the person who is honored picked up the healthy bill. The student mentors came first followed by the women who partied until after I went home to sleep.

Being presented with a bag of cola nuts (the nuts are bitter)

With some of the Wolekemah Women

Setting up for the festivities

Some student mentors enjoying a drink after the ceremony

Special Recognition

May 16, 2014

Abraham Stewart, Finney and Simeon Ojong of  Project HIV/AIDS Prevention

Some people just do things because it is the right thing to do. These three Cuttington University and former students of mine have undertaken a gigantic program of condom distribution, HIV/AIDS awareness, and family planning at local schools, high-risk populations, and at the university. They quietly act like an army of hundreds and have inspired others to do the same. They have bigger plans for the future. Presenting them with Certificates of Appreciation is all I could do to say "Thank You".

The Power of a Book

 May 15, 2014

There is an eleven year old girl living next to my who wants me to take her to America. I ask what she thinks America is like and she is quickly joined by several young mothers and relatives anxious to hear what I have to say. The young girl has no idea of what America is like, but that does not dampen her desires. I ask her what year she is in school. She replies she is not currently in school, but she went to kindergarten last year. Her father is a student at Cuttington University and so is one of her sisters.

I describe school as a place where you have to go every day. If you miss, the school calls your home to ask why. If your parents do not send you to school, they can be fined. Children do homework almost every day , and teachers correct what they do. This is as foreign to her as Liberian education is to me.

I tell the people sitting around that the young girl would have trouble in an American school due to her age and her inability to read. She responds that she can read.  I get her an entry level picture book about a Liberian girI, called ”Marpu Goes to Market”*. Of course, she cannot read it. I give it to her to take home with instructions to read it to me the next day.

The next day outside my door, she calls me, book in hand. She has the story memorized and can tell it by looking at the pictures. She is amazingly close with the written words, but really can’t read them. I say she can keep the book.

A few hours later I hear her surrounded by a group of younger children, as she recites the story to them. She is in her glory which is shared by other adults who pass by.

This morning I hear the little children talking about Marpu. Marpu is a popular girl. I am struck by the impact of a simple reader in a land where there are no reading materials in the homes and books are a rarity in schools. The drives me even harder to get these readers into the schools with the stipulation children can take them home to read to others.

I am hearing similar stories about the books handed out during the mentoring program. Peace Corps is interested in maybe extending the program after I leave.

*Marpu is a young girl who has some money and goes to the market. All the things she wants are too expensive. She goes into a bookstore and finds a picture book she likes, but can’t afford that either. Marpu decides to save her money until she gets enough to buy the book. 

Miss RB’s 30th

 May 10, 2014

Rebekah Schulz, a.k.a. “Miss RB”, is a former two-year Liberian Peace Corps Volunteer who has extended her stay in Liberia and is now an USAID employee teaching at Cuttington University’s College of Agriculture. She is going to continue with her fourth year in Liberia with USAID. She epitomizes the ideals of Peace Corps. Today is the celebration of her 30^th and her” Liberian son’s” 23^rd birthday.  Dr. Nick’s is her chosen venue.

Miss RB “adopts” talented Liberians who come from impoverished backgrounds. She mentors them, pays for their college tuitions, and has gotten full scholarships for two of her “sons” to universities in Costa Rica and now two to Arizona State University. This is a remarkable achievement.

Most students see her as a mild-mannered teacher who now is teaching five different subjects, but seems to always be available to work with any student who seeks her assistance.

Today is a time to discard “mild-mannered” and a time for others to show their appreciation. Her 30^th is truly a time to celebrate.

Time to let loose

Miss RB with her "Adopted Sons"

What is a birthday without a cake and speeches?

Mentoring Project…Done, Kind of

 May 9, 2014

Today is the final day of the Mentoring Project. The last group of 140 Sinyea primary school students is on their way home after receiving their certificates, story book, and a fine meal, followed by a presentation of Peace Corps certificates to 30 Cuttington University students and members of Wolekemah Women’s Organization, and ending with a cold soft drink at Dr. Nick’s.

One always hopes that your efforts have “sustainability”. I think this one does. Numerous towns’ people have come to me wanting mentoring to continue. The university students are meeting next week to try and determine what to do next. Local schools are requesting story books after mentored students bring their story books to class and want to read it to classmates. School officials want to meet with me, presumably to get books for their schools which lack any reading materials. This mentoring project is just a pebble thrown into the educational lake of this beleaguered country, but maybe the ripples will have ripples.

 Lorpu Doloyuwah, President of Wolekemah Women's Organization

Cuttington University student mentor, Ammens Walters

Cuttington University students mentors

Soft drinks at Dr. Nick's (Peace Corps grants do not permit alcohol)

The Facade of Education

 May 7, 2014

In my former Cuttington University office, a couple of Peace Corps teachers at the university were discussing typical academic subjects such as the world population, society’s role in helping families with too many children, and a university Chemistry student could not multiply by one when the Dean of Natural Science College came in and asked for the names of students graduating this semester who are enrolled in freshman level Math courses. He then inquired about a test one of the Peace Corps instructors was preparing which required the students to write out the answers. The Dean then said that he should be giving multiple choice questions because that type of test is considered to be more objective.

The Peace Corps instructor said that having the student write out the answer was a better way of determining whether the student actually knew the answer. The Dean repeated his assertion adding “True and False” questions to his list of questions students should be asked.

The Assistant Vice-President of Academic Affairs then entered the room commenting that having transcripts with graduating seniors taking freshman level introductory courses their last semester just didn’t look good on transcripts. The problem was due to poor counseling at the university.

 At no time was the issue about whether students are actually learning anything discussed. This was the endemic problem I faced when teaching which seems to be throughout the entire Liberian educational system. It reminded me of the old Cannon Camera commercial which stated that “Image is Everything”. 

The Last 500 Meters

May 2, 2014

As my departure from Liberia grows nearer, I feel like I am in a rowing contest, exhausted but still with 500 meters to go. Your body wants to quit and your mind says “good job”, but the coxswain is yelling at you to “Pull”, the race is not over. The finish line is the continuation of my major who are projects, literacy for people of Sinyea town, HIV/AIDS prevention and Family Planning, and Dr. Nick’s.

The mentoring project is a success beyond anyone’s dreams. Over 140 Sinyea primary school students have come in contact with 40 Cuttington University mentors. Most of the Sinyea students are from homes with illiterate parents who are unaware of the failed education their children are receiving, but who eager to learn and prove themselves to their university mentors. This success is only skin deep. There are deeper issues of simply not having any reading materials at home or school to improve reading skills and parents unable to negotiate the written world. Unfortunately, the student group who inspired the mentoring project (DES-N), seems to be unable to get itself together and is unlikely to undertake any other major projects without reorganizing itself.

A former Peace Corps Volunteer and now a USAID teacher at Cuttington coupled with gift from an American donor are helping to create a library to be administered by the town’s Wolekemah Women’s Organization in Sinyea Town. The books are mainly for primary-aged children and are excellent in that they are written by Africans and deal with their problems, such as, resolving animosities, death of a parent, misunderstanding, disappointment, gender bias, and HIV/AIDS/Child Exploitation. It is hard warming to see how both children and adults are reacting to our initial tests. Several Cuttington students have already asked to assist students and parents in the reading of these books and to act as human dictionaries.

To assist illiterate parents, a program is being established by former university student mentors to act as “Advocates” for illiterate parents. Their role is to assist parents understand the written world of their children’s school, teach how to write your name and address, and help in filling out forms, applications, etc.  This is part of obtaining N.G.O. status for the Wolekekmah Women’s Organization who are a organizing force and whose long-term goals are to build a literacy center for women.

The HIV/AIDS/Family Planning project is off to a great start. A group has Cuttington students have already formed a university accredited program and are active in acquiring funds and condoms on their own. Who would have known demonstrating condoms to my Immunology students would spark such a successful effort?

“Dr. Nick’s” is built and operating. How create a sophisticated business to be run by a single mother with 11 dependent children and who have survived by selling donuts for the past six years to understand accounting, marketing, and cost control is more than enough to keep one awake at nights. But when you are dealing with people who are smart, dedicated, survived wars and hunger, you have a chance. But the step is a big one.

I can sense the finish line. I just hope I have enough within me to cross it. Besides all that, it is HOT and the bugs are making a meal of me.