My New House in Sinyea Village

February 27, 2014

My New House in Sinyea Village

After living in a hotel for over a week, The Women’s Organization of Sinyea located me a new house in the village. It has two bedrooms, a living room, bathroom, and kitchen; all rooms are bare walls including the kitchen. The floors are bare concrete. There is no electricity or running water.

After a few days, curtains are on the windows, a new mattress serves as my bed. There are some tables and chairs, and water barrel to store water for toilet and bathing. I have what they call a nurse, who is a local young girl to daily clean, wash, and haul water from a distant well. Here family cooks meals for me. The cost is modest, but it is nice to be settled.

The biggest adjustment is adapting to the continuous sounds of lots of people living outside and very close together. Children cry, pots clang, and adults argue from before dawn and continues into the night. It is an abrupt change from my campus house, but it excites me to be among those I hope to serve.

The native dialect is Kpelle which everyone speaks. People are trying to teach it to me which generates lots of laughter. It always amazes me how native speakers think you should just be told once about a word or phrase, then find it amusing when you can’t remember or mispronounce.

Some of my support group starting the morning with a buzz.

The homemade drink is called palm wine. People start to drink it early in the day, by noon many are looped. It helps to overcome the poverty and drudgery of your life. Those with more money buy beer. As the day progresses, slurred songs emerge.

Dr. Nick's

 February 22, 2014

"Dr. Nick's" with new roof, Oretha, her oldest son, and assorted children

Another project looms in my Liberian menagerie. This one is financing and advising the construction of a small store on the property of one of the organizers of the Wolekemah Women’s Organization. Her husband abandoned her five years ago after she worked paying for his schooling by selling donuts, leaving her with 10 children, no money ,a very sick child, and a partially completed shell for her dream business.  Although she has a third grade education and is illiterate, she managed the canteen at the university.  She still continues to get up at 4:00 am to make and sell donuts to pay for her kids education and keep them all in her barren and unfinished house. How can I refuse not to help?

Being the major financial backer, I have naming rights, thus “Dr. Nick’s”, a name I am known by around here. The slogan is “No Excuses”, my classroom mantra. Colors are red and lime-green. The store is to sell cold beer, soda and staples with tables outside for people to relax in a more private setting behind her house.

Phebe School HIV/AIDS/Family Planning Project

February 21, 2014

I am continually amazed with Liberian college students and their willingness to do good things, because it is the right thing. The student group, Developing Every Society to National (DES-N), involved with the mentoring project undertook to put on an HIV/AIDS/Family Planning program at a large private high school in the neighboring town of Phebe. They organized the entire program involving school administrators and the nurse from Cuttington University. They held over seven individual classroom sessions. Of course the highlight was the distribution of condoms to students with a reserve supply for later distribution.

Condom distribution and open talk about sex might seem strange to Americans. Yet Liberians relish the chance to talk about sex and related health problems. They recognize the devastating effects of HIV and early pregnancy. At times I am a little prudish about being the “Condom King” and wonder if I am promoting frequent sex or educating? I just have to let my Liberian students mentor me on what it is to be like a Liberian.

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Instruction with principal and community nurse

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X-eyed Larry

February 21,2014
Earlier I wrote about a cross-eyed boy of one year for whom life seemed to doom him to a life of being handicapped.
Maybe someone can forward his picture to someone who can give a diagnosis and prognosis of Larry's condition.

Larry with his grandmother

Depressing Days

February 20, 2014

This past few days have been difficult to get through. The main reason is finding a safe place to live, the other is the aftershock of suddenly being terminated without any warning and the disappointment in Peace Corps support during my entire stay in Liberia.

The biggest problem in finding housing, an apartment that is secure with iron bars on the windows and a steel entry door. Fortunately There are a number of people helping in my search, lead by members of the Women's Group in Sinyea. For the time being I am staying at the "Passion Guest House" in Gbargna. Expensive for around here, but it does have electricity and running water from 6:30 pm to 7:30 am, also A/C and TV. Rented a room until this Tuesday. After that I don't know what.

I don't need to bemoan Peace Corps for I still think it is a wonderful organization, but Peace Corps Liberia reflects the situation in the entire country, in over its head, promising more than it can possibly deliver.

What keeps me going is the desire to accomplish something for Liberians. In this effort the students I am working with are a wonderful inspiration and also have been mentoring me in the ways of Liberia.

Comment to "Letter to Dean Nicol"

February 18, 2014

Here is an anonymous comment posted to my blog "Letter to Dean Nicol".
As long as there are people out there, like that writer, there is hope for Liberia's future.
Writer, please remember my motto, "No excuses"

"Dr.Nick. it's all said, this letter justifise your technique which many students appreciated. .. administrators of cuttington must appreciate foreign methods, because with the coming of a lot of peace corps volunteers with different ideas, they should embrace such, and fight against... Dean Nicol, needs to see to amend his working relation with instructors, especially those that are educated, and older than him." 

Letter to Dean Nicol

February 17, 2014
Below is an email I submitted to Dean Nicol explaining my reasons for giving prepared written questions orally. Dean Nicol acknowledged seeing the email. He nor any other person at Cuttington responded to it.

Since I have never been told, seen in writing the reasons for my dismissal, or given the opportunity to explain my action, I can only surmise the reason is insubordination of the Dean's request to adhere to the University's final exam policy.

"19 January, 2014

Dear Dean Nicol,

Almost all questions in life, personal and professional, are spoken. The listener is expected to interpret and understand the questioner. The more important the question, the more responsibility is placed on the listener to respond correctly. University exams are one area where a person’s knowledge is directly tested. Yet since the questions to these exams are rarely spoken, this critical listening skill in life is rarely experienced or considered a part of a person’s education.

From the first day of my classes at Cuttington, my teaching method centers on oral communication of both the subject matter and the assessment of student’s comprehension. This method comes from the need to teach complicated subject material without a textbook, the desire to expose the students to a different teaching technique, and for students to learn how to orally phrase scientific questions. 

At each class a student is selected at random to prepare a written list of ten questions on that day’s material to be given to fellow students at the beginning of the next class. The selected student then draws names of students at random to ask a question from his/her prepared list. The student answers orally. This technique gives experience to the student in asking the question and for the students being asked. Students are exposed to questioners with varying styles of asking questions and patterns of speech. Students are both eager to be questioners’ and seem better prepared to answer questions correctly in front of their peers. 

This technique also provides the instructor with information which is hard to learn otherwise, outside of an exam, namely what part of the previous lecture did the questioner not understand. Omissions of lecture topics are good indicators that the questioner and probably other students are having difficulty, for students only ask questions of which they are sure of the answers.  Students can be coached on the exactitude of their questions and answers. This technique also gives the instructor exposure to students who otherwise are quiet in the classroom.

  

Asking prepared questions orally during critical mid-term and final exams puts added pressure on the instructor to make sure the questions are understood by the students. Each question is repeated twice, repeated again or rephrased if necessary to insure comprehension and obviate bad questions. This technique forces the student to listen carefully to the question. Students are told to concentrate on writing the answer not the question, although writing the question is not prohibited. All answers are submitted in writing, not orally. Before the next question is read, students are asked if they need more time. There is no time limit on answering any question. A student may ask that a previous question be repeated.

My experience is the method of testing, especially on final exams, usually varies depending on the number of students to be tested and the instructor’s direct participation. A standardize written test given at the same time is a widely used method to insure test integrity for courses with multiple sections and/or instructors. It is rare this method of testing is done for upper level courses and for students in a single section. Exams for upper level subjects and students are usually left to the discretion of the instructor at major universities.

As to my reticence to submit written questions by the university’s submission deadline and adhere to the university’s  written testing methods, all my efforts this entire semester are based on asking written questions orally. My students have been exposed to only written questions presented orally. They have studied and prepared accordingly. A departure from this testing method undermines my semester’s work to prepare them for the outside world of oral questions. To their credit, they are ready to demonstrate their listening skills and subject knowledge.

If submitting my written questions is what you desire, I am happy to do so, although do not see the point and may in fact increase the risk of premature exposure. I welcome you or your designate to sit in during my final exams to see if my examination method complies with the intent of university standards. If you so deem my testing method of presenting written questions orally are substandard, I shall be happy to conduct all my exams from questions given to students in writing next semester.

I hope you take my position as it is intended as a way to introduce new methods to Cuttington students and not as a challenge to your responsibilities as dean.

Respectfully yours,

Dr. Nicholas Shuraleff "  

The Fugitive

February 16, 2014

The Dangerous Dr. Nick

If you see this man, report him immediately to the U.S. Peace Corps for violation of yet unknown charges.
The Peace Corps is extremely nervous with having me on campus and is putting all kinds of pressure to get me off. The campus is deserted for not only the weekend but the fact that school is still on break.

Just why they need to take such action is as much a puzzle to me as my termination without any kind of warning or meeting. The simplest reason is just plain politics. The Peace Corps is at the bidding of its host country and organizations that sponsor Peace Corps Volunteers. Volunteers are expendable. Peace Corps staffers' jobs are on the line. I am not the first to experience this duopoly between stated ideals and reality. me.

So now I sit packed in my current Cuttington University apartment, curtains drawn. I am on the lam as I wait for my new housing as we try to locate the caretaker of my new residence of which I have yet to see. Whatever it may be like, it is good to get out of this place.

ET'd

February 12, 2014

ET in Peace Corps jargon does not mean Extra-Terrestrial, it means “Early Termination” and today I am ET’d. The Acting Dean of the College of Natural Science just couldn’t handle me anymore. He decided to terminate my “employment” as an instructor here at the university, effective immediately. His reasons are what he considers violations of university policies and have nothing to do with academics. When this happens to a Peace Corps Response person, immediate dismissal from the country is in order.

This notification from the Peace Corps comes without any hint. To say it comes as a shock to me and others is an understatement. The arrival of the Peace Corps Country Director along with 12,000 additional condoms left me unprepared. This is the way things work around this university; stated policies are ignored or overlooked. Any of my transgressions happen routinely for others. One can summarize as a conflict of personalities. I guess I took Peace Corps mantra that we are “Agents for Change” a little too literally.

In a few days, I shall be a private US Citizen in Liberia and leaving Peace Corps sadly liberates me to continue with my projects. Support for my projects is wide-spread and affect hundreds of students and villagers alike. This fact makes me confident I can make an impact. Within hours students have located off-campus housing for me, others are reassured of my continuing support, albeit less visible on campus. I can directly help those people who really are appreciative of almost any kind of assistance.

The Peace Corps concern is that I go quietly into the night on the next flight to America. Both they and the university fear I may start a student uprising for which they are rightfully concerned. Although causing a ruckus might be fun, it destroys my primary reason for being here, to help Liberians. Leaving at this time puts all my projects and efforts into the trash can.  

What lies ahead is going to be an adjustment to a life style, like the other Peace Corps Volunteers. Gone may be the conveniences and certainly the porch view I now enjoy at my apartment on campus, my shower and ability to bake bread among them, but I will be living with Liberians and that makes it all worthwhile.

The reason I can stay on is the support from my wife, Mary, and family. “Stay as long as you feel you are doing something”, and “This is your MO”, Mary says. “I am proud of you”, says my youngest daughter, Kim. I burst with pride knowing they understand me. How can a man so blessed?

I often say, “If it doesn't make you anxious, it is not worth doing”. Well, I am anxious, that is a good sign. Sleepless nights seem to accompany “brilliant ideas”. I am now filled with encouragement for the future.

The books I have returned to the library along with a visit to the dean to return his books, the Histology tissue slides I purchased during my Christmas trip, a computer copy of all my class lectures for the coming semester, and to wish him good luck. The students are forgiven who I failed for cheating in accordance with university policy along with the charade of the university’s final exam program. The lack of consequences continues as long as tuition is paid in full. Their education and Liberia’s efforts to pull itself out of its own self-inflicted spiral continues.

As a footnote, the dean walks by my apartment for the first time during evening stroll time. I cordially greet him and offer my support to whoever is the new instructor, as well as, inviting him to my apartment to share a beer. He responds to my invitation asking why I now in invite him for a beer.  I say, you were my dean, I have never had any faculty to my house, and this is the first time I have ever noticed by my apartment. Now I ask you as a friend to join me. He says, “You didn't ask me first, whether I even drink beer”. I reply, “It is customary in America to invite first, and then have the respondent say he does not drink beer”. “Well, I don’t drink beer”, he says. So it goes as it did all semester, a failure to communicate.

Crossed Eyes

February 10, 2014

What do you do when you see a child not even one year old with severely crossed eyes? You know that he is handicapped for life and there is no hope. He will never see a doctor, let alone any attempt to correct his malady. He seems loved and cared for by his young mother and the people around him, but still.

Meeting the Town Chief

February 10, 2014

My blood pressure is up as I sit and wait for the president and secretary of the student organization who are doing the mentoring program. A meeting is set up by the Sinyea Women's Organization to meet the town chief to ask his permission and support to conduct the mentoring program in his village.They are seriously late. Then I see them as they saunter down the road to my house. Can I ever get over this not being on time thing? I am soooo American. We catch a taxi and make it close to the scheduled time. The women are dressed and ready to go.

Chairs are setup with the chief and I facing each other. He is a gregarious guy whom I  met briefly before. We exchange Liberian handshakes which he is surprised I know, complete with the fist to the heart, signifying closeness. I explain I would like his support and help. Then the conversation turns to the Cuttington students about inviting them to the town council meeting on Wednesday for final approval. Just what I hoped would happen. Then the chief says a word in his native language, Kpelle, which means this meeting is over. I sit there like a duffus wondering whether he is expecting a gift. Fortunately he is not.

As I think about the whole meeting, I wonder if the women had not already done everything and I was brought along just for show? Whatever the project has taken a gigantic leap as we can get access to the village children we are to mentor. 

Wolekemah Women’s Meeting

February 2, 2014

 The Wolekermah (“love” in local Kpelle language) Women had their monthly meeting. Most of the women, if not all, are illiterate and do not speak English. I was surprised to learn that I was the guest speaker to ask for their support with the mentoring program between the students at Cuttington University and the neglected children of the village.

To be expected, things got lost in translation. What they thought was mentoring meant paying their children’s school fees and teaching their children at the same time. There was disappointment when they learned the program was only for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade children. Enthusiasm ebbed when they learned they would not get any money.

A video I made of their parade helped to ease some of the disappointment. This was followed by the gift I had brought, 700 condoms. Meeting ended on an up note.

Wolekermah Women's Organization

Watching video of their parade

Distributing condoms

Bush Meat

February 2, 2014

What is it?

The former Northwest Airlines used to serve what travelers called "Mystery Meat". Liberians have their mystery meat too. It is called "Bush Meat". It is sold by the pile on market tabletops by innocent looking women. At first glance it looks like "Jack Link's Beef Jerky".. The odor and taste, what should I say, is gamy. Chewing takes a while.

Just what it is, Liberians can tell by the hair left on many pieces. Vendors call it deer, but since I see freshly butchered groundhogs sold at roadside, your take out may like an American hot dog, which is mostly what you are told.

Peace Corps advises not to eat it because it may be harmful, tainted with parasites, or an endangered species. But like a natural casing Vienna American hot dog, Liberian bush meat goes well with beer and can be considered an endangered species by epicureans.