Leroy's Art Blog

I talked with Maria at Fortas Safari again this morning. The family Safari is coming together quite well – I think we will have a memorable and fabulous time. We went over how many days we will need the two Land Rovers, where to stay on Zanzibar, whether the China contingent will be able to stay a couple of days longer as they would like, and other details. I will soon work with a couple of other teachers to plan out a “culture exchange” that will engage Nsumba students, staff, and my family for the days they will be in Mwanza.

This afternoon I have been sitting on my small patio, mostly reading and watching Hodie taunt her boyfriend – she really is a frisky tart and the would-be stud tolerates a great deal of teasing from her. In midafternoon the sun has moved west and the patio is in shade. It has been especially cool these past few days, very comfortable during the day and for sleeping under a blanket at night.

I got my camera to take some pictures of the playful dogs, and soon neighbors appeared insisting that I take their photos too. Tanzanians are just fascinated by seeing pictures of themselves, and if they see a camera they insist on posing. The problem comes later, when they want to see the pictures of themselves that I have not had printed.

After all that, two students came by and we fell into the usual discussion, beginning with comparisons of the USA and Tanzania, how to get to the USA, and why are Tanzanians so poor. By now my discourse is honed, and I do not pull my punches. Tanzania is a rich country with fertile land, water, minerals, peace, and a stable government, I say. I talk about the immigrants who come here from India to grasp the opportunities Tanzania offers. I have pictures of an Amish farmer with me that I now use to show what can be accomplished with animal-powered agriculture, to challenge them on why Africans still insist on farming using only hand hoes. In the background the Amish farmhouse and barn with silo look like palaces to Tanzanians. The picture is of a single Amishman plowing with a 6-horse team and 3-gang plow, and I ask them how much more land they think he can cultivate than 6 Africans working together with hoes. From there we move on to how much capitalization it takes to start a business. Of course they think it takes “much,” and I respond that “No, it takes very little, but it does require (1) a good idea, (2) hard work, and (3) knowing how.”

These students are in Form-VI, and they are taking the business course that I initiated. So I explored with them whether they thought their classmates are UNDERSTANDING what is being presented there, since my chemistry students do not seem to understand but only to memorize. In response, they really do think that understanding is taking place and that the students realize the program offers them tools to become self-reliant. I hope with all my heart that it is so.

Today I called the Director of USAID Tanzania at the US Embassy. Only reached her secretary, but she seemed moderately helpful. Sent a confirming email with attachment, inviting the Director to come to Mwanza as an honored guest for the graduation ceremony of the program. Sent a similar message to also invite the new Peace Corps Country Director who will be arriving in mid-August. What a boost to the program it would be if they say Yes.

UPDATE: Just read her email reply, with a nice apology she said that she will be out of the country from mid-Sept to mid-August. Oh well, it was worth a try.