Important: Limited Internet Access

I apologize for the missed blog post, but have had trouble accessing the internet. I will try to keep up with my two weekly posts, but the place I reside has terminated their internet because of expense. I have bought my own, but will only be able to use it a few times per week. Thank you all for keeping up with my African experience. It has and continues to be a wonderful one. I hope to blog on Wednesday. Stay tuned!

Thank you for understanding and, as always, thanks for reading!

The African Witch Trials, A Chief's Power and How to Pass School

As I continue my time here in Katibunga I learn more and more each day about the people and the culture that make up this area of the world. Two aspects that I mentioned in past posts were about the African school system and village chiefs and this week I learned about the people’s belief in witchcraft. I would like to touch on each and clarify a few things now that I have a better understanding of each one.

The African school systems are varied. Unlike the United States where each state’s school system is very similar, the African countries each have their own way of going about things. For instance, in Zambia a passing grade is from around 30% and up. In Tanzania it is closer to 20% and up. I remember getting an 85% in high school and being upset. As you can see, the grading scale is very different and much more relaxed here.

Furthermore, the Zambia system is based on a pass – credit – fail system. The Tanzanian system mirrors the United States with a letter-grade system (A, B, C, D, and F). In Zambia, this means that you either 1) receive a passing percentage, 2) a percentage that will give you credit, but is not very good, or 3) a failing percentage. A system such as this one makes failing difficult considering the passing percentage is extremely low making it easy to achieve. The problem is that many students end up moving on without the proper knowledge. Then, when they enter secondary school they are ill-prepared and are unable to excel.

In Tanzania they have a letter-grade system, but have even a lower passing percentage. In the U.S. a 70%-80% is considered a C which is known as ‘average’. This is not the case in Tanzania. Receiving a C means you most likely received a 40%. What is interesting is that students don’t even have to know half the material and they will still pass with a reasonable grade. This doesn’t mean that some kids don’t do well; however, this does mean that the kids who have missed multiple weeks of my class will still have a good chance of passing.

Additionally, language is a problem in countries such as these. In Zambia, the local language (there are 73 languages in Zambia) is taught from a very young age. Then, in 2^nd grade English is introduced. This is positive considering English is becoming the universal language and that learning a language is best done at a young age. In Tanzania there are even more local languages – 120. Some are only spoken languages meaning that there is no written translation which makes communication even more difficult. In addition, Tanzania does not teach English. The students are taught Swahili which is a very popular language in East Africa (Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania…)

Countries such as Tanzania and Zambia are rivaled by countries with better education systems such as Uganda and Kenya. It’s no surprise, then, that Tanzania and Zambia are two of the poorest and undeveloped countries on earth. In fact, I just figured out that instead of $1 equaling 11 kwacha (currently) it actually equals 11,000 kwacha. This is how devalued the currency is in this area. They drop the three zeros to make buying and selling easier. The Tanzanian Shilling is similar.

With a poor education many different ideas and beliefs are thought to be real and feared. One is the belief in witchcraft. Many people fear witches and believe that some have the power to control others. This is such a strong belief that people who claim to be “witch doctors” advertise themselves in the newspaper. What happened in the Salem Witch Trials long ago is happening here. People who are accused of being witches are usually isolated and cast out of the community or killed. 

Tricks are used to condemn people. They may ask a group of four people who are believed to be witches to shake a bottle of water. If the water turns to blood then this means they are a witch. What’s really happening is that one bottle has a red powder inside the cap. When shaken, the water mixes with the powder and turns red. Unfortunately, when you are dealing with an uneducated group of people these types of tricks work and create great fear. To us, this seems bizarre. However, think about how impressionable and believing a group of 8 year olds is. If you were to do this same trick to them they probably would be blown away. Now you know why witchcraft is a popular belief here and that education is extremely important.

Now, to clarify a bit about the village chiefs and their responsibilities. Considering many villages make up Zambia and much of Africa, chiefs are put in place to run them. There are many villages in the area I live. A few of them are called Machaleta, Mwila, Kashite, Katibunga, Mukongole and many more. Mukongole is where the chief resides. The chief has power over many villages including the ones I mentioned. The chief then appoints a ‘headman’ in each village. I mentioned this before in an earlier post. The headman is like the mayor of the village. The chief, in a sense, is like the governor.

Chiefs have lots of power. Politicians and other leaders must consult with them before making any decisions that may affect their land. In fact, the bishop that helps run the diocese of Mpika and, therefore, Katibunga Monastery must report to the chief rather than the monastery itself.

It’s a good life when you’re the chief.

So, I hope that helps you understand a bit more about some of the major pieces of society here in Zambia.

As for me, I have begun to look into jobs for the month of December. I think I will focus my time on helping with farming considering its planting season. Father Pacificus is beginning to plant some vegetables as well as banana trees. I am sure I would be able to help there. Also, Br. Cyprian runs the farming for the monastery and he said I could help out. Finally, some of my students will be spending their time off from school farming their own land. I know I could help them out. I think that would actually be quite fun because I have grown close to many of them. Additionally, I would be able to meet and get to know their families and learn more about the way they live which is what I am most interested in.

When it comes to farming or manual labor it can be hard to find work because the monastery sees me as a guest and the villagers see me as an educated man. What I mean is that the monastery highly respects their guests (this is why I am seated next to the superior at each meal) and wouldn’t want to give me a job I may dislike. In fact, I offered to clean Prior Nzota’s office in order to organize it a bit and he told me that a guest shouldn’t have to do something like that.

Furthermore, I am educated so rather than work jobs like farming the villagers think I should be teaching or doing something else. Of course, I tell them I am able to do both and so hopefully I can begin to work in the fields too.

I finally had some agree to allow me to help and they all respond the same way. They say “I appreciate, I appreciate appreciate!” meaning that they are greatly appreciative for my help. It’s funny and nice.

As I mentioned last time, bananas are back at each meal. I am not sure if my taste buds are shot or if I’m just really weird, but I have learned that mixing rice and bananas is delicious. It’s really good. It’s also a safe bet when there isn’t much to eat or if you don’t know exactly what you are eating ha.

Additionally, every once in a while we will have juice at our meals. Pineapple and orange juice is most popular. This juice is labeled “high juice” to signify its high concentration of sugar. If you were to drink it straight it would be too much to handle. This is why we mix it with water. Even when mixed with water it can almost be too sweet. I am guessing this is because it’s been so long since I have eaten anything super sweet. It’s nice to have, though.

Finally, I tend to use the phrase “Sounds good” quite a bit. This is super common in the U.S. but is unknown here in Africa. Whenever I say it, which is often, they will laugh and try to mimic the phrase with an American accent. I am beginning to think they are just jealous of my accent haha J

The rainy season is beginning to show itself more and more. When you are dependent on the weather for so much it becomes hard choosing your favorite kind. When it is sunny it is easy to exercise, do laundry and the water for bathing is somewhat warm, however it’s hot as all Hell inside and out. When it rains it cools everything down which is super nice, but then it becomes muddy and hard to do laundry. So, you are in a constant fight between rain and shine. Overall, I don’t mind the rain that much. I like cooler weather.

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving in America. Not many know what that is here so I hope you all enjoy and are able to eat a little more for me. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading!

Hydration, School Term Coming to a Close and Pros and Cons of African Life

My hair is the longest it has ever been. It’s a cross between my Uncle Tom’s mullet back in his high school hockey days and Orlando Bloom’s long locks in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. The reason I am growing my hair out is so I can donate it once it reaches 8-10 inches. The one drawback to having all of this hair is that is causes me to be really hot. With how the temperature is in Africa it’s no wonder why Africans keep their hair short.

I have now come to just deal with the all-day every day sweating. Even meal times have become hard because all of the food and beverages must be warm so they are clean. You know how you sometimes begin to sweat when drinking hot chocolate or eating a hot bowl of soup…yeah, that happens at every meal. However, the rain that is supposed to come this week should help with the temperature. I find myself saying that a lot. I hope it works this time.

Even with the extreme heat, there is something that is worse - dehydration. Okay, super cold and hot temperatures suck, but there is truly nothing worse than dehydration. It will cause a person to go crazy. I take long walks and always make sure to bring a bottle of water, but even with the extra water the heat causes me to become dehydrated. I have noticed that some of the monks don’t drink much water at meals. I don’t know how they do it. I would down the entire pitcher of water if they would let me. Ha, seriously I don’t think there is a physical challenge worse than dehydration. I will have to remind my brother of this before he heads to Air Force survival training. You may be cold, hot, or hungry, but as long as you are hydrated you can make it.

My resting spot which is 8 miles away from my room.

Every once in a while I will walk 16 miles. When I do I tend to stop and rest at a small spot next to the creek. There is a big tree that provides shade and it’s nice to just sit and relax. I tend to walk only 10 because of the heat, but when I do have time for more miles this is the spot I walk to.

With the review week coming to an end I have officially completed my teaching here in Zambia. I still have to administer the final exam in December, but I don’t have to teach any more classes. I actually really enjoyed teaching. I taught in South Africa and enjoyed it, but found it difficult because I wasn’t teaching something I liked. Here, in Zambia, I have been able to teach biology and that has made a world of difference. It was a lot of fun.

My students told me that they thought I was a very good teacher. This is because I made sure to summarize and repeat myself many times. When you know something very well it can become easy to skim over important information or to go too fast. This is why I make sure to repeat myself (like 15 times) so that they can understand it. Furthermore, explaining the information in a way that will help them understand is important. If you use examples and easy vocabulary the students will be able to pick up on the information much more quickly.

My parent’s second package finally arrived even though it took 3 months to get here. It contained school supplies and creative items such as markers. I will have to make sure to get the supplies to my students. I know they will love using all of it. I am still playing Frisbee with my students after school so it shouldn’t be too hard to get the items to them.

Some of my students with their new toothbrushes!

With the term coming to an end, my students have asked if I would stay and teach them next term. I told them that I must move and head to Tanzania. It’s hard to leave them and they told me that they will miss me. You never expect all the emotions and feelings that moving on brings, but now that the time is approaching and things are coming to an end it is pretty sad. The connections I have made with all of these people are strong and I have become great friends with them. It is hard to leave that.

The clinic has been fairly quiet recently. Not many patients which is okay. There are a few older women who come in for blood pressure readings every so often. I have found that many have high blood pressures. Besides dealing with the patients, baby Grace is getting close to walking. She is around 8 months I believe. With breast-feeding being very common I asked Violet when it is normal for a baby to stop and she told me around 1 year. I think I will give some of the markers and paper to Grace and Violet. They will enjoy them and it will give Grace something to do while hanging out in the clinic.

Many of the monks have now discovered my last name and find it difficult to pronounce. I don’t see how Kerber is that difficult, but with the different letter sounds it is funny to hear them say it. Rather than use my last name some just tack on Br. Joseph or Saint Joseph for the fun of it. I don’t mind and think it’s funny too. When living at a monastery you have to expect these kinds of things.

Some of my students after the Kerber Games! Some still have some maturing to do haha :)
Also, it is common not to smile in pictures here.

As I was speaking with some of the monks yesterday they asked me what we call Africans in the U.S. I told them that we say African-American. They thought this was interesting. They asked if we classify them as ‘colored people’. I told them that term is somewhat of an offensive one in the U.S. which they couldn’t believe because it is very common in Africa, which is true. If one of your parents is black and the other is white then you are considered colored. So, there are whites, blacks, and coloreds. I have heard this term in South Africa as well as in Zambia and Tanzania.

Sister Agness’s time here is quickly coming to an end. She has been on retreat at the Katibunga Monastery for a month now and will be heading back to her convent this Tuesday. She has been on retreat because she will be taking her final profession/vows on Saturday the 28^th. She said that she is nervous, but also excited. She even invited me to the ceremony which will be held in Mpika. I have enjoyed having Sister Agness around and think that I may attend the ceremony. If there is one thing Zambian’s know how to celebrate it is religious milestones. I guess that is expected when you live in a Christian nation.

Lately, there have been bananas at each meal. They had been missing from the meals for about a month so I am glad that they are back. The bananas here are fantastic. I have never eaten so many in my life. They are fresh and picked directly from the banana plantation that is owned and run by the monastery.

With the 23^rd of November quickly approaching people are getting excited for the small market that comes to town. The 23^rd of every month is when vendors will come and sell items to the people of Katibunga. Considering Katibunga is located so far from the city people from Chinsali and Mpika head into Katibunga once a month to sell clothing, food and other items. There isn’t too much a guy like me needs, but it is nice to walk around and check out the market.

Recently, I was asked about the pros and cons of volunteering in Africa. One of the biggest pros I would have to say is the freedom that is given to volunteers. I am able to do what I want, when I want. There is no assigned job for me to do like most other volunteer sites. I enjoy the freedom of being able to teach, work in the clinic or even farm which I will be helping do in December.

However, one of the biggest cons is trying to keep busy and learning how to spend your free time. It can be difficult to hear about how your friends were able to go out and celebrate Halloween or seeing them enjoy a nicer and more elegant lifestyle. Yet, this is just something you have to face. It is a blessing and a curse.

This is because I feel as if I am receiving a more authentic and true experience. Knowing that I will have the rest of my life to do the things that they are doing now helps with not doing those things during this year. It strengthens you mentally. I have become more creative and patient with the ways I fill my free time. Additionally, it teaches you to be thankful. I hear many of my friends complain about the smallest things that truly don’t matter. It’s quite sad actually.

Volunteering in Africa has allowed me to see what really matters and all of the things that we need to be thankful for. So, rather than wasting time on going out into town or watching TV, which are two things I’ll have the rest of my life to do, I am able to focus on learning new skills, building new friendships, learning a new culture, being active and understanding the importance of giving to those who are in need.

It’s all about learning from your experiences. 

*I want to congratulate my brother Thomas on his graduation from the United States Air Force pilot training. He is one person that truly knows what it means to learn from your experiences. He always gives it his all and by his graduation yesterday we are able to see that it has paid off. Enjoy the C-130!

Thanks for reading!

Swahili, The Excitement of Soap and Creating Peace in Times of Violence

I was unable to make it into Mpika this past week; however I just found out that Fr. Joseph makes the trip often so I should be able to get to town next week. I thought I would have known this by now considering I’ve been here for a number of months. You’d think I’d have everything down ha! I sure thought I did.

One thing I have noticed about Katibunga and the surrounding villages is that they are all very homogenous. In many areas things run the same; family incomes, age, race, religion, occupation and many others. Africa, as a whole, is very diverse and this can be seen by how different Zambia is from South Africa even though the two countries are quite close. However, village life is consistent. Katibunga’s population is mainly made up of young undereducated Africans who identify as Christian and have jobs as farmers and construction workers which do not provide much of an income so they are considered poor.

In Lakeville, Minnesota you can find many similarities, but you are also able to find a wide range of differences as well. Some people are extremely wealthy, some are not. Some people are Catholic while others identify as Jewish, Mormon, Lutheran, and others. Some people are young and some are old. I mention this because I found it interesting. It is a different experience when living in a place where everyone is very similar, especially when you are the odd man out. A good experience, that is for sure.

While out walking the other day I fell victim to the rain once again. I swear the weather changes on a dime here. I was out walking and it couldn’t have been sunnier. I was about 8 miles out and looked down to check the time and when I looked back up the sky had changed to a melancholy haze and thunder could be heard in the distance. The weather forecast said the rain would come the next day, but it was wrong. I almost made it back before getting poured on, but had to walk about a mile in the rain. It wasn’t getting rained on that upset me it was the clothes I had drying on the clothesline that I knew were getting soaked again.

When I returned I ran to where I hang my clothes and couldn’t find them. I was relieved. One of the novice monks had taken them inside so they would stay dry. I was very happy not to have to do my laundry all over.

Some of my many wonderful 11th graders!

While walking I now bring my Swahili phrasebook with me in order to learn some words. I have mastered some of the introductory and basics such as hello, see you later, please, thank you, sorry, this is my friend…, I like…, I want…. It is nice to be able to get a grip on at least a piece of the language before actually having to use it and it’s kind of fun. When I arrive in Tanzania it will be Swahili overload. So this is my way of getting a head start. The rain soaked my little book, but I have been able to dry it out fairly well. Well enough to be able to continue using it at least.

The words aren’t super difficult but the spellings and pronunciations are a bit confusing. For example, the word ‘please’ in Swahili is ‘tafadhali’. Just by looking at it you’d probably pronounce this toff-uh-doll-ee, but that would be wrong. The letters sound a bit different in Swahili. It is actually pronounced taff-a-thaw-lee. The ‘a’ makes the sound it would in the word ‘pat’, the ‘i’ makes the ‘ee’ sound similar to the word ‘seen’ and then there are letter combinations that make you think what the hell like ‘dh’ which makes the ‘th’ sound. There are other sounds, but once you learn how the letters are pronounced then the words come a bit easier.

You are able to see how Bemba branches off of Swahili by the sounds of the letters and what seems to be a strong overuse of ‘m’ and ‘n’. Ha! Seriously, though, there are many words that begin with the letters ‘m’ and ‘n’. When using ‘m’ you usually are speaking to or about others. When using ‘n’ you usually are speaking about yourself. Bemba’s words are completely different, but the sounds are similar. Confusing, but interesting.

The difficulty I have in pronouncing Bemba and Swahili words also troubles many Africans when they try to speak English. I was teaching my students about how our body controls our balance which is by a fluid called endolymph which is found in our semicircular canals. When saying the word ‘fluid’ they were all very confused. This is because I pronounce the ‘i’ in fluid differently. So, now I must think about how I pronounce some words in order for them to understand me. To them, fluid is pronounced “floo-eed” which made me laugh. Now when I try to correct myself they all laugh. It’s a good time.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow I have and am working on reviewing the entire term’s material with my students. I now teach for 2 or 3 hours because nobody comes in after me so I just continue to teach. It seems as if the end of the term has made the other teachers lazy. In the end I don’t mind and the kids need the review so it works out.

Who knew soap could be so exciting? :)

I brought in pens, pencils and some markers to give away when the students answer the questions correctly. It’s amazing how much participation has increased. Today we played ‘Kerber Games’ (jeopardy) and the winning team members all received bars of soap. This probably seems like a strange reward, but some are unable to buy soap and considering I have been teaching them about the benefits of using soap I thought I would give them some. Tomorrow everyone will receive a new toothbrush. It’s like Christmas up in here. The kids seem to enjoy it and I think it’s fun too.

While working at the clinic the other day we only had a few patients so to pass the time Violet went out and picked some fruits from the nearby tree. We then snacked on them while waiting for patients. I mention this because in America I don’t think anyone would just walk out and grab some berries and start eating them. Most would probably assume they are poisonous.

Additionally, like clockwork, each day around noon you can hear and see a bunch of cows crossing the road to their grazing area. The clinic sits right next to this field so all these cows walk right by the windows. I just thought this was worth mentioning because it’s a bit funny and cool.

While in the clinic many people come in with pain in their mouth resulting from toothaches and cavities. This is obviously impossible for me to treat except for giving something to ease the pain. Br. Jerome who is in town until Sunday brought one of his medical books and I started reading random stuff. I found a section on cavities and teeth and learned that it is the breakdown of certain carbohydrates, sucrose and starches that cause organic acids to form on the teeth. When the acid’s pH level drops below 5.5 then it begins to damage the enamel (water sits around 7.2). Additionally, protein is known to help slow the drop in pH making it good for your teeth. So, eat your eggs, meat and nuts! Of course, you who are reading this understand that acids and sugars damage your teeth, but it’s nice to have some additional information to help with the patients.

Speaking of acids and sugars, we recently had pop at dinner. This never happens. Like never ever. I still have no idea what the occasion was, but when God gives you pop in the middle of Africa you drink the pop. The bottles are all glass which is funny because I don’t think America even makes glass bottles for pop anymore.

Each day around 3:00pm and 4:00pm (15 and 16 o’clock) there is siesta time. It is a time when you can go and grab a piece of bread and some milk and just sort of hangout. I usually take advantage of it for two reasons. The bread here is amazing and I usually am getting back from my walks around this time so it’s nice to be able to snack on something.

I recently told some of the monks that there should be some rain coming next week (it has been fairly hot and dry so we need the rain). They were amazed that I knew this. I told them that I am able to check the weather on the internet and that my parents in America can easily know what the weather is like here in Katibunga. This made them laugh. So, even though there is a small amount of internet here it is still a foreign concept to most. They don’t know all of the things that it can do.

Furthermore, many kids around the village ask me things such as “Joseph, can you ride a bike?” or “I heard that in America you only have to take one or two subjects.” There is a lot of confusion and obvious miscommunication that has taken place and so I am working to clear it up. I am very capable of riding a bike or driving a car (which they think is cool) and I make sure to let them know that I had to take all the courses that they had to. Ha, I didn’t do all that hard work for nothing. Sometimes I laugh and say “You think America doesn’t teach their students mathematics?!”

On Monday night as we were leaving dinner I heard Sister Agness scream. I'm fairly certain her scream could have jumped started a car because of how shocking it was. There was a large snake outside the refectory. It was 4 feet in length with a 4 inch width at least. This isn’t massive, but definitely the largest snake I have seen. The monks came running out and started throwing rocks at it. Simply put, this snake was pissed. It outstretched its neck and hissed which is actually pretty freaky. Finally, one rock struck the snake and another monk smacked it with a stick to kill it. I guess its snake season in Zambia!

Finally, the news about the Paris terrorist attacks has reached this part of the world. I have also noticed it being the main topic talked about on social media. There have been many good and positive things spread, but some I have read are so hateful, ignorant and sad it is has become discouraging. Many people have rushed to condemn the entire religion of Islam and the people who identify as Muslim. Why? Did every Muslim take part in the terrorist attacks in Paris? No. So why would you think to judge and hate them all.

The problem is generalization. People quickly group everyone together. For example, all Minnesotans are nice or all Asians are smart. Trust me, I know many Minnesotans who aren’t very kind and, of course, not all Asians are Einstein’s. So, why would you jump to group the innocent with the guilty? If I was mean to you would you go ahead and write off all red-haired people? No, you wouldn’t.

Now, what ISIS has done is terrible. Beyond terrible. It shouldn’t happen and I hope it doesn’t ever again (even though it probably will). However, we must use our brain and stop to think before judging an entire religion made up of over a billion people.

I believe there are no violent religions, just violent people. Many people have committed horrible acts  in the name of religion - even Christianity. Yet, you do not fear or judge all Christians because of this so why do we do it to those who we do not know? It’s because they are different. Psychologically, we grow closer to people who are similar to us. Use this knowledge to understand your feelings and fears of people who are different and know that just because they are doesn’t mean they are bad.

Dialogue is the avenue to peace. Dialogue and conversation have the ability to create peace among people. I strongly suggest listening, opening your minds and discussing your thoughts with others before coming to a conclusion. You never know what you might learn.

Remember, if you only have love for your own race then you only leave space to discriminate and to discriminate only generates hate.

Hate breeds anger and anger breeds shame.

Spread kindness, love, peace and understanding.

Some words from Pope Francis that we should think about…

Pope Francis, in 2013, wrote that when “faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalizations… an attitude of openness in truth and in love must characterize the dialogue with the followers of non-Christian religions, in spite of various obstacles and difficulties, especially forms of fundamentalism on both sides. Interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world…”

Additionally, he writes “…Often it seems that God does not exist: all around us we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty. But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit. On razed land life breaks through, stubbornly yet invincibly. However dark things are, goodness always re-emerges and spreads. Each day in our world beauty is born anew; it rises transformed through the storms of history. Values always tend to reappear under new guises, and human beings have arisen time after time from situations that seemed doomed. Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize are instruments of that power.”

Thanks for reading!

Kerber Games, Fr. Nick's Visit and Carrying Objects on Head

When at my Frisbee study group on Monday I found out that the school term is coming to a close much sooner than I thought. Well, it still ends the first week of December; however they spend two weeks on final testing. In America we spend one. You probably are wondering why I didn’t know this and that is because they made the final/closing schedule this week.

I spoke with the head teacher about this and he told me to just push everything up a week. I hadn’t finished teaching all of my lessons on the nervous system so I had to cut out this unit’s test. My students didn’t seem to mind. With the unit test gone I was able to spend this week teaching the last of the material. I then moved my review week to next week.

This coming week should be fun because I have created what I call the ‘Kerber Games’, great name, right? Okay, so, it’s just jeopardy, but these kids don’t know what that is so in Zambia it will be known by a much cooler name. I have purchased bars of soap and toothbrushes as well as still have some pencils and pens my parents sent. I will be handing the pens and pencils out to the students who can answer the questions and the members of the winning team for Kerber Games will receive the bars of soap. Everyone will receive a new toothbrush. The prizes are supposed to remind them the importance of what I have taught them this term. I think they will like them.

Matamule and me. She has a long walk
home from school so we usually
walk together. (Mot-a-moo-lay)

Fr. Joseph, a priest who lives at the monastery but is not a monk, will be traveling into Mpika on Monday. I asked if I could catch a ride with him so I could see if the post office has received any more packages (with supplies I could use and give to some of the kids) and to go to the bank and exchange my kwacha. It will be painful exchanging kwacha for dollars because kwacha is much less valuable than dollars and therefore I will receive less. However, it doesn’t matter too much because I receive a lot more when withdrawing it. Also, it will be nice to have currency I will be able to use back home.

I will be exchanging my kwacha because I will be moving to Tanzania fairly soon. Tanzania uses the schilling as currency and I won’t need the kwacha for anything else so I might as well get back some U.S. dollars.

Fr. Nick Kleespie, OSB and Fr. Will Skudlarek, OSB will be traveling to meet me in Katibunga, Zambia on Monday, December 28^th. I am sure they will arrive on the 29^th, though. We then will stay in Zambia until the 4^th of January when we will board a bus and head to Tanzania. They will drop me at Hanga Abbey in Hanga, Tanzania where I will continue my service. Both Fr. Nick and Fr. Will will leave Tanzania on the 11^th of January and head back to the U.S.

Fr. Nick is now in his 30’s, however when he was my age he also volunteered in Hanga, Tanzania. Fr. Will is the Secretary General of the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue which means he is best friends with Pope Francis. No, seriously. He met with Pope Francis last week for a meeting and does so often. Pretty cool! I am looking forward to seeing them both.

At dinner the other night we had a new fruit brought to us – infungo. Infungo looks like a cross between a grape and a cherry. It’s purple/red and is a little bigger than a cherry. The infungo is quite good. It is very sweet. You are able to suck on them, but you cannot eat them because the pit (seed) in the middle is very large. Children aren’t supposed to eat them because if they swallow them they could choke.

Two women carrying buckets on their heads.

Every morning for breakfast we get hot milk. The milk is brought in from milking the cows. Fresh cow’s milk is actually very good, but we must heat it to a very hot temperature to make sure it is clean. We know when it is ready when the milk begins to turn a brownish color.

While out in the village it is very common to see women carrying buckets of food and water on their heads. This is true throughout all of Africa. They begin at a very young age. I am always so impressed when I see it. They become so good at carrying things on their head that they usually don’t even use any hands to hold it there. I have been hoping to try myself so one of these days some of my students will help me do so. I bet my head is too pointy, but I think it would be fun to try. The women can walk for miles with these buckets on their head and it allows their hands to remain open in case there are other things to be carried. Also, I think it is better for their backs (I could be wrong), but rather than always being pulled down by the heavy buckets they maintain a straight back to carry it on their head.

Lately, as you know, many migrants have been fleeing Africa and the Middle East because of the recent attacks in the area. The migrant crisis has become overwhelming for Europe and they are beginning to worry that they won’t be able to contain all of the refugees. They have begun to discuss this problem with African leaders and have offered them millions in aid if they are able to isolate the situation and keep as many people in their countries’ as possible.

Hopefully the wars end or something works out.

We were without electricity for about 24 hours yesterday and today, but it has just come back on. The rain has ceased for this week which has allowed the temperature to skyrocket again. It is now back into the 90’s and I am back to constantly sweating. Some rain is supposed to come this week so hopefully it will bring the temperature down with it. Usually during the rainy season it continuously rains however there has been a drought for the past couple of years which has stifled some of the rainfall. This is also why Zambia is in an electricity crisis. They receive most of their electricity from hydro pumps. So, let’s hope the rain begins to fall.

* I have just learned of the terrorist attacks committed in Paris, France. It is hard to believe that some can carry out such horrific acts, especially in the name of religion. God bless and be with France! 

Thanks for reading!

Sunburn, Cheapo's House and Cultural Norms

It finally happened…I have been burnt by the African sun. I knew it was only a matter of time, but I have been doing well so far. It was due to my 20 mile hike last week. I had the day off from the clinic and teaching so I thought I would test myself physically and walk 20 miles. I completed it, but have some sunburn because of it.

I always remember to put on sunscreen and I never leave my room without my hat. However, I forgot to apply the sunscreen to my legs. My legs never get burned, but when out in the African sun for that long I suppose I should have guessed that it would cause a problem. So now I have two red hot tamales for legs. You should see the contrast between my pearly white thighs and now red calves – it’s hilarious. Anyways, it will get better soon. I just will have to walk in pants this week in order to let them heal.

This picture is a bit blurry on here, however if you look closely you can see
huts of some of the villagers in the background.

You may be wondering why I take so many walks and it would be a valid question. I do so because of three reasons. 1) I enjoy being active, 2) the scenery and view are beautiful and 3) I am able to meet and see the village and its people; the third reason being the most important. In the bush of Africa there isn’t too much to do. I can’t hop in a car and go to the grocery store, buy a coffee at Starbucks, go to a Vikings game or really anything that is available to us in the modern world. So, instead of sitting in my small room and wasting my time and experience I go for walks to take it all in.

When I am not working at the school or clinic, walking is the best way to spend my time. I meet people, speak Bemba, see animals, get exercise and visit the homes/huts of the village. It’s nice and many people know me because of my walks. It also allows me to help in small ways too. The other day a car passed by and became stuck in the mud because of the recent rain fall. I was able to assist the other men in getting it unstuck.

In fact, I walk for such long distances that the monks have begun to comment on how far I go. They can’t believe I can walk so far and say to me “Joseph, you are strong man” which I think is funny. Violet, the woman I work with at the clinic, said that her baby Grace saw me running one morning and started to cry because she thought I was running away or in danger ha so I guess she likes me.

Baby Grace and I hanging out
in the clinic.

While in the clinic the other day Violet had to leave for a bit so she just handed me baby Grace. I think it’s great because now it’s just normal to hang out with Grace and hold her. When I first started at the clinic Grace, like any baby, was a little scared or skeptical of me. However, now she is totally fine with me holding her. She has warmed up to me.

When on a walk the other day two very nice German ladies pulled up in a car. They were on vacation and travelling Zambia together. They saw me (a white guy) and pulled over to offer a ride. I told them that I lived in the village and was volunteering. They thought that was great and then were on their way.

Br. Jerome who is studying medicine has come home for a small vacation. He will be here until December. I have worked with him and Violet in the clinic. He has brought his computer to the clinic and I noticed Violet looking at it the other day. I began to teach her the basics because she has never used one before. Just moving the cursor and clicking buttons on the keypad made her laugh and smile. She laughed and said “Oh, the modern world!” Small little things like this make you realize how different our countries are. In America, you can find 3 and 4 year olds playing on iPhones. In Zambia, most people don’t know how to use a laptop. It reminds me how advanced and, like Violet said, modern our world is. Wow!

I tend to speak with a few of the younger monks because we can relate on some topics. Many of them enjoy speaking about their experiences with monastic life and the challenges they face. Some enjoy it and some are considering other options. I think they speak with me because I am indifferent. I am not a monk and I am of a similar age. It’s interesting to hear what they have to say.

One is concerned about whether he should stay or leave. He was explaining to me that by 25 years of age most people are married so he was contemplating marriage life and monastic life. He told me that if you aren’t married by 25 people will think you’re mad or crazy. That something is wrong with you. I thought this was interesting because it’s very different in America. This also explains why my students continue to ask me if I have a wife, girlfriend or children.

Cultural norms are so curious, aren’t they? The way things differ from one society and culture to another is intriguing. Psychologically, violating cultural norms can be very hard on a person because of the emotional toll they usually face. Embarrassment, shame, discomfort, and awkwardness are feelings we all try to avoid. This is because we know them to be bad. Violating our cultural norms can cause feelings like this which is why we are so amused or annoyed when we see someone or something out of place.

Our cultural norms act as boundaries and some are so strong or set in place that we cannot get ourselves to violate them. If you are playing truth-or-dare, think of a cultural norm and dare the person to break it. It most likely will be too much for them.

For example, when someone is talking on their cellphone during a movie or mowing their lawn at 5:00 in the morning you would notice. You would find it to be rude and annoying. That person would also probably feel shame and discomfort. This is also why it rarely happens.

For a more extreme example, imagine a guy walking around your neighborhood in just his underwear. Weird, right? Yes, because this isn’t what we would consider to be normal. Rosa Parks stood up to the cultural norms during the Civil Rights Movement and, as we know, it gathered much attention. (Way to go, Rosa!)

The reason I mention cultural norms is because I constantly break them here, but feel no shame. This is because psychologically the cultural norms of Zambia do not apply to me. I walk around in shorts all day every day which is something adults don’t do. Many people laugh and stare which I could do without, but it doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable like violating a cultural norm in America would. This is also why not being married by the age of 25 isn’t concerning to me in the least.

As I said in an earlier post, I was going to visit my friend Cheapo. I went last Friday, but found no one home. I was pretty bummed, but was able to meet with him on Sunday instead. His wife and kids have gone to Lusaka to visit some relatives. He accepted the cookies I brought and told me he would give them to his kids when they returned. I also gave him some paper and a pen.

Inside of Cheapo's house. This is the entire house. 4 people
live here.

We spoke for a while about his housing situation considering he is renting out his small home at the moment. He is building one nearby, though. This got us talking about the economic situation of Zambia and he said it is very poor. I could have guessed that, but he said that Zambia isn’t considered much of a developing country like South Africa is. He also blamed much of the economic problem on corruption within the government. This I believe for two reasons. 1) I have lived in Africa before and this is very evident, especially with countries like Zambia and 2) because every government has corruption. Yes, even ours. If you don’t think so then I’d advise you to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor. We have a very good government and we are extremely developed, but, in the end, money talks. Are we a democracy or a plutocracy?

Anyways, back to Cheapo…

I asked Cheapo to show me the home he is constructing and so he did. It is located close to the monastery so it wasn’t too far of a walk. It has two small bedrooms and a sitting room. He said that he hops to be moved in by mid-December. Cheapo is a man that enjoys his liquor (like most of the people here) and has asked me multiple times to drink with him. I have always said no, but I told him if he was able to move in by mid-December that I would buy him and me a beer or two to celebrate his new place. That made him happy and I think he is actually more motivated now ha!

Outside Cheapo's new house that he is building.

When people speak about drinking in Zambia they don’t say “Do you drink?” Instead, they say “Do you take?” The word ‘take’ is used in place of the word ‘drink’. So, in Cheapo’s and my case I said “I will take with you in mid-December if you finish your house by then.” Additionally, instead of asking "What time is it?" they say "How do you make it?" - yeah that one is confusing.

I want to mention the small tribal village located east of where I stay (I literally just used my iPhone compass for the first time ever to figure that out). It is called Mukongole (pronounced: Moo-cone-go-lay). It has been westernized a bit which isn’t much of a surprise considering its 2015, but there is still a chief that is in charge. I thought this was interesting.

A student in my class named James also told me that his dad is the headman for this area. He told me that a headman is like the vice-chief or the second man. So, James will inherit some land because of this I believe.

Sister Agness whom arrived a week ago will be spending a month with us in Katibunga. She is a very nice lady and is fun to talk with. The other night at dinner she was speaking about how one of her sisters is 101 years old. She is an Irish woman who lived in Zambia for some time and during it she came to enjoy caterpillars very much. Sister Agness said that she is always happy when she can snack on some. Prior Nzota leaned over to me and said “See, she eats caterpillars and is 101! They are very nutritious,” to which I responded “See, she is Irish and is 101! I’ll take my chances with my Irish heritage rather than the caterpillars.” We all had a good laugh J

Thanks for reading!

Caterpillars, Elephantiasis and Biopsych

I have been here alone for over a month now and I am getting by well. It is tough not having an English speaker around or someone that can relate to me on things, but I do enjoy my own space. I can have things the way I want them and being the organized person that I am this is nice.

For lunch on Wednesday we had something called polony (yes, with a p) that I think was sausage. I was skeptical at first, but it was actually quite good. I would put it up there with bean day which is saying something. However, my luck with food turned when dinner came around. The main dish was cow intestine again. Then, to go one step further, they unveiled something new. It was a bunch of fried caterpillar. Yum. (Can’t a man just get some beans up in here? Ha!)

I knew caterpillar was a popular meal in this part of the world but I didn’t plan on chomping down on any. However, I am one who has to experience everything once and Prior Nzota was joking about me not having any so to put an end to the comments and curiosity I threw one down the old pipe. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be, but that doesn’t mean I will be going out to search for some caterpillars to eat any time soon. I also couldn’t seem to compare it to anything else. It was a new taste.

Kids following me while on my walk.

When on my walks I noticed many of the kids climbing trees in search of caterpillars. Many of them will show me the biggest one they caught. I suppose you should eat what you have available to you.

Then, to make the nights far-from delectable meal a bit more interesting Br. Gardens (yes, Gardens) got up to make an announcement. Br. Gardens is a dentist in Chilonga which is about 250km away from here. He has returned home for a short visit. With him he brought some medication for the entire monastery. The government has issued medication to many of its citizens in order to vaccinate them from a new disease that is beginning to spread through Zambia. A mosquito or fly that usually lives in the jungle has now been spotted throughout Zambia. The disease it carries is called elephantiasis (elephantitis). If bitten, it can cause a limb to grow very large and permanently stay that way, hence the elephant part of the name. So, rather than take my chances with that fun-sounding disease I popped the Zambian administered pills along with the rest of the monastery.

They told me that this would vaccinate me for 6 years. I hope they are right. The Zambian government contacted France because they make the drug. France has sent aid to Zambia and now the drug is being administered at the border too. The drug is called diethylcarbamazine or Notezine for its shorter name. Along with these three pills that you swallowed was a pill you chewed. The one we chewed was for worms. I don’t believe I, or any of us, have worms but if we did this was supposed to help kill them. So, I said what the Hell and popped that one too.

The pills

Now, this stuff probably doesn’t sound fun and, well, it isn’t. However, this is a part of life here and you have to go along with it. Many of us are unaware of these things because we have become used to being taught through movies such as Disney’s Lion King and Tarzan. Now, there are parts of Africa that simulate these movies and, yes, there are lions here, but I have friends who literally think I am living out the Lion King movie. This is problematic because when movies are all we see it becomes all we know and think about (in some cases, I suppose ignorance is bliss). Africa is massive, beautiful, rich in culture, extremely diverse, and magical but it is also very real. I love learning and accumulating knowledge so this is why I am saying this. I want this blog to be as informative and educational as possible. So, yes, some things aren’t fun to deal with, but that is just how life is. You should be thankful for never having to worry about diseases such as these back in the U.S.

As for other food related stories, it seems to me that whatever I enjoy Prior Nzota dislikes and whatever he enjoys I dislike. This has been noted by us both and it’s actually quite funny because now we joke about it with one another which make meals more fun. For instance, he doesn’t like beans (I don’t know how this is possible), the polony/sausage stuff or cabbage and I do. Then he likes the cow intestine, caterpillars and a green vegetable that I am still unsure of what it is exactly. Ha! I am a man that loves vegetables. Honest. However, there is this certain one here that is dipped in a really gooey and slimy sauce that just throws my taste buds off. I think it’s the texture that I don’t like. Anyways, this is Prior Nzota’s favorite stuff so whenever it’s served at a meal he will jokingly offer some to me and we will both just laugh. It may not be funny to you, but it does make for a funny joke for us.

The aftermath of the rainstorm

So, as I have mentioned before, rainy season is in full-swing. Let me tell you, when it rains - it rains. The past two days we have been drenched with downpours. It has made doing things outside a bit difficult. I have to hustle my way over to the school but thankfully I have my raincoat to help. Additionally, I was out for a walk the other day and when I started it couldn’t have been sunnier. Unfortunately, it must have been the calm before the storm because on my way home I was caught in a massive rainstorm and because it was sunny out when I started I was foolish enough not to bring my raincoat. By the time I got back I looked like I had taken a shower with my clothes on.

Lesson learned. Now, for walks I always pack my raincoat just in case. It came in handy yesterday. It’s much nicer having something to keep you dry.

The intense cloud coverage has made for some beautiful scenery. With all the rolling hills in Katibunga the clouds sit atop them like a tablecloth. It’s really cool. Another thing that is cool is the temperature. With all the clouds the sun hasn’t been able to breakthrough so the temperature has dropped into the 60’s. It feels like fall. However, the feeling will be short lived. It is supposed to be sunny and humid the next coming days.

Photo of some kids that I passed while
on my walk last week. I really like this photo.

Lately, there are a few things that I have noticed and forgot to mention. So, I will do so now.

When walking around the village many of the little kids will trail behind me. I can catch them trying to mimic me. If I cough they’ll cough, if I clear my throat they’ll clear their throat, and they enjoy trying to copy my posture when I walk. It’s funny.

Also, with all the walking I have developed some blisters on my feet. My sandals are great and I wouldn’t blame them. I think it’s just because I have been walking for such long distances. Good thing I have some hydrogen peroxide to help clean them out.

Something that is very common here is two men holding hands. If you walking with your friend and you two are men it is very common to hold each other’s hand. This isn’t unusual, just something that differs from our culture. Many times a man will come up to me as I am walking around and try to grab my hand while he speaks with me.

Also, shaking hands is different here. I may have mentioned this before, but I can’t remember. When you shake someone’s hand you do the traditional shake which is followed by moving your hand up and grabbing there hand in a different position (like you would see when two 22 year old males greet one another in America) and then moving your hand back into the traditional position. So, a three step process.

Now that I have begun teaching about the nervous system I have been able to introduce neurons and all the other cool biopsychology terms and parts of the body. Biopsych was my favorite psychology course in college so it’s fun to be able to intro some of the stuff to the kids. They are finding out how cool and important our neurons are and all the cool things they do. Our body is pretty amazing.

Considering a main dish at meals is rice I have begun to experiment a bit. After meals, if there are any extras they sometimes leave it out if anyone gets hungry. One day I grabbed a bowl and tossed some rice in it while adding some milk. Then, for some taste I added some sugar. Boom! Masterpiece and delicious combo all in one! (Shhhh…I am just figuring out that this is literally the rice crispy cereal just with actual rice, but just let me have this alright). I was a happy camper.

Lately, I have noticed some big bugs hanging around. The rain must have been the signal for the bug-party because dang these suckers are huge. I think I have quarantined my room well enough, but there is a big spider hanging out right outside my door. I told him if he stays where he is then I’ll stay where I am and we will both be happy. If not, I will be pushed to use lethal force. The bugs prior to these guys showing up were like McDonald’s happy meal toys…and they were still big. I’ll be watching my room closely.

There is a professional footballer (soccer player) that plays for Zambia whose name is Joseph Makonda (I think). So the villagers have begun to call me by this new last name. I think it’s funny, but in the end, I do prefer Kerber.

Finally to wrap things up, I was reading Pope Francis’s exhortation he wrote back in 2013 titled Joy of the Gospel. I found this quote in the first chapter and really liked it. I feel as if it fits well with what I am doing.

“Life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort. Indeed, those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others.”

Thanks for reading!

The Magnificent Monster and its Lesson in Humility

This week I have begun teaching about the nervous system. I always enjoyed learning about it so teaching it is also quite fun. My students have never heard of it so the information I am teaching them is completely new. I plan to test them on this unit in the middle of November (two weeks from now). This may seem like a quick turn around, but with the end-of-term exams fast approaching I don’t have much of a choice. The 11^th graders will be taking their exams on December 3^rd which is now less than a month away. So, my plan is to teach them about the nervous system, test them and then review the entire term’s material the last week of November. This should prepare them for their end-of-term exams.

Mr. Nakondle, the head science teacher, has approached me and asked me to prepare the end-of-term biology exam. I am happy to have been given this assignment. It feels strange to be preparing the final exam when it felt so far off when starting to teach at the beginning of September. I think I will create a 30 question exam that is made up of two sections. The first section consisting of multiple choice questions to test whether or not they can identify the correct answer and the second section being a fill-in-the-blank format. I am thinking 20 multiple choice questions and 10 short answer/fill-in-the-blank questions. In the second section I will be looking for explanations and descriptions to see if they truly know what happens within the body.

On occasion, while teaching I go over my allotted time. Another teacher is supposed to come in after me to teach the students a new subject, but this doesn’t always happen. My class is then left without a teacher for the next 40-80 minutes which is a large amount of time they could be learning something. So, I have begun to push my time a bit each day just to see whether or not I will be followed by another teacher. If not, I just continue to teach and reviewing the lesson for that day. This gives the students more time to comprehend the material and I think they would prefer to have something to do rather than just sitting around.

Two male students of mine came to me after class one day and were asking if I could help them get some food. They told me that they weren’t able to go home for a few days and they had already spent all of their money. So, I walked with them to the market and asked them what they would like. I find this is better to do than just giving money. You never know what it will be spent on so to ensure they actually get food I go with them.  It seemed as if they truly just wanted food because we walked to a shop that was selling little baggies of small fish which I believed to be sardines. I, too, have eaten these with the monks, but I am not a big fan. Anyways, sardines are a popular food around here so I bought them two bags. They seemed very thankful and then were on their way.

When working in the clinic the other day I had a man come in who was extremely drunk. It is always difficult communicating with a very intoxicated person and it is even harder when that person speaks a different language. I was also all alone because Violet had to take her baby, Grace, back to her house. I told the man as best I could to come back when he was sober. After fifteen minutes I finally succeeded in getting him out of the clinic. It’s never easy to send someone away, but it was best considering his current state.

When out in the village the other day a kid who I would say was 20 years old asked me to help him in biology. He told me that he had finished 12^th grade, but hadn’t passed the certification exam. The certification exam to them is a diploma to us. So instead of saying “I have my high school diploma,” they say “I am certified.” I told him that I would tutor with him on Tuesdays at 11. So far, it seems to be helping him learn the material.

Now that I have been here for several months many of the locals have taken note of me. They know I work in the clinic, teach biology, and enjoy exercising. However, that last part has been difficult to explain. On a daily basis I am asked at least ten times why or where I am walking. I continually explain that I am exercising and that exercise is very good for the body. I also explained this to my class during the health unit which has seemed to help because when I pass one of them they usually ask “Joseph, you exercising?” or “I see you improving your body” ha. So, at least they are beginning to grasp the reasons behind my long walks and runs. Exercising is uncommon here. They would never walk to a certain point just to turn around and walk back. Also, the looks I get while running are interesting. Many people laugh, try to run alongside me or question where I am going in such a hurry or if I am running from something. I just respond with “exercise” which I think is beginning to make sense to most of the villagers.

Even though I know they do not understand or have any sense of why I do what I do it still is tough to be constantly laughed and stared at. I call this the ‘misapprehension effect’ because all of these things are caused by misunderstanding or misinterpreting the reasons for what I am doing.

This has led me to learn another life lesson; the one of humility. To them I am like the Grand Canyon – a sight that never gets old. I would have thought after being here for some time the novelty would have worn off. However, when a white man with long red hair walks by in shorts and a t-shirt with a hat that has a neck flap attached many people just can’t get over it. It raises many questions, stares and laughs.

Still, I must take into consideration these people and what they know and where they come from. They have never seen anything like me and all the things I am wearing are foreign to them. Adults aren’t supposed to wear shorts, they don’t have long hair and the small amount of hair they do have is black, they don’t wear hats and don’t understand the purpose of having a neck flap, they don’t know what a raincoat is and most have never seen white skin. Also, I have grown a beard which most people cannot do here and I have an accent. So, I am a magnificent monster – both fascinating and terrifying. Ha!

Now, being laughed and stared at sucks in any situation. However, I could let this ruin my time and prevent me from doing what I want and love or I could embrace and learn from it. I am learning that it is better to be humble and modest rather than arrogant and proud. This lesson is a tough one, though. It interferes with what many of us have grown accustom to – our thick-skin. This doesn’t mean being thick skinned and standing up for yourself is bad because it’s not. However, the lesson of humility teaches us when it is best to stand up for ourselves and when to step off our soap boxes and be the reasonable one.

What I mean is that I could react in a selfish and superior manner and talk down to the ones who are staring and laughing and, quite frankly, I feel like doing so sometimes. Yet, being insensitive and cold only would hurt me and the ones around me. Rather, I take into consideration what they know and then act in a way that will help them better understand why I do what I do. So, I aim to explain myself and what exercise is. Additionally, I hand out crackers to anyone on the road throughout the village. Hopefully this shows that I am giving person and not just thinking about myself.

For we all have a sense of who we are and because of this we contain power and influence. Though, we must be careful because this power can breed arrogance. The stares and laughs of their misunderstandings can make me resent them and build anger, but that would do no good. Additionally, many fear humility because they feel it will cause them to be meek and submissive. It’s not so much a lesson of becoming fearful and gentle but rather one of not becoming arrogant.

(Hopefully that wasn’t too hard to follow…)

Anyways…

To wrap things up, my students recently taught me a Bemba proverb.

“The bearded man tells no lie.”

I laughed. I guess it’s good that I have been growing out my beard. I suppose this is a good proverb for a teacher. I hope they know that what I am teaching them is not a lie.

Thanks for reading!