We're here!!!.....Sort of... We're still in the capital (Dar es Salaam, aka across the country from my site). The flights all went relatively smoothly, and we got in Saturday morning as planned. We have been in a wonderful Benedictine guesthouse ever since. There are so many stories to tell, but I am at an internet cafe, and Simon (a Johnnie going to the other Tanzania site in Sumbawanga) gets my computer in 5 minutes. Don't worry though, I've actually been doing pretty well at writing in my journal so far.
The title is from our most recent story/hero. A monk named Br. Francis just arrived from a visit to South Korea. It turns out he studied for three years at St. John's School of Theology. After a weekend of the busy guestmaster hoping to avoid eye contact so as to not be asked if we could be taken to internet, this man has swooped in and taken over! We finally got to have a great conversation (he speaks pretty good English) about the politics and state of Tanzania and Africa (something we've all been craving after all the conversations consisting of awkward silences with smiles, giggles about their broken English, and hearty laughter at our attempts at Swahili). It's been a very pleasant stay, but Francis brought back a little sanity, AND, he brought us to this very internet cafe! He's even bringing us to the Indian Ocean beach! There's that wonderful and worldwide Johnnie connection!
We leave for Hanga...sometime...by bus...or car...with Br. Patrick...or Br. Cassian. You see, we are learning firsthand that Africa time is quite different. "Later" means "anytime from now until a really long time for now" and "Monday morning" means "no sooner than Monday morning". We are also learning not to plan too much, because there are about thirty different plans that different people have for you, and one of them is bound to work.
I will try to have a better reflection up sometime (no plan), but now it's Simons's turn! I hope all is well!
Glad to hear it's all going well! sometime you'll have to post photos :)
ReplyDeleteNice...does this monk also go by gosbert shawa? I played soccer with him alot...and I think he was from a tanzanian abbey. He graduated the year before us from the SOT.
ReplyDeleteKeep living the dream!
ahhhhhh yes! No planning, forget planning... I am so happy to know you get to see a bit of this place that I love! Thanks for giving me a good laugh! I'm about to start reading Gaudium et Spes (cover to cover) and Redemptor Hominus in the next 24 hrs. I needed this! And I'll be following it for sure!
ReplyDeleteI send blessings! Send greetings to the Johnnies out there from all of us in Collegeville!
Glad to read that you arrived safely, Al! I wish you all the best in your African endeavors this year. It was great to see you this summer at my house, and I'm so glad I got to tell you goodbye in person.
ReplyDeleteTake care, and keep having fun!
Emily- working on it (technology and electiricty are not always the most trustworthy, so the photo-posting are slowly coming).
ReplyDeleteJoel- Yes! I just told him you said hi!
Chris- Thanks and enjoy that wonderful reading!
Angela- Thanks! It was great to see you one more time before we all headed off. I hope your treating young Corey well over there!