2017-12-11 to 13 - Bagamoyo and Zanzibar

2017-12-11 to 13 - Monday to Wednesday

Monday - MARUCO (MARian University COllege)

Monday morning we walked over to MARUCO for a tour. We met and had introductions with the Principal of MARUCO and several faculty there. They were very gracious as we discussed where MARUCO is in its development. Professor Peter Msolla described that Tanzania's goal is to become a middle-income country by 2025, and that the keys that are education, science, and technology. MARUCO is in its third year. They currently have around 800 students and they specialize in science and science education. They are also starting a Research Institute that will emphasize local programs to reduce poverty and develop energy and food production in Tanzania.

Our team is not just working on developing the Maymester experience for our students, but also exploring how we can team up with MARUCO in its mission. Duquesne is working on ways to formally create a bond with MARUCO.

We met Professor Anare Kimaro, a chemistry professor, and Professor Stelyus Mkoma, the Deputy Principal. We toured the College. Plaxedes and I split off and visited the physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories and the library. This visit helped us visualize the education program at MARUCO, and ways we can help them.

MARUCO also helps us. We want to give our students a vision of serving others in a global context, and studying overseas in Tanzania will have a lifelong impact on them. Tanzania is a rich environment to teach our students about the challenges and opportunities here. All of us on our team pray that the Maymester will stir their hearts to make a commitment to serve globally.

We left Bagamoto and had an interesting drive to catch the ferry to Zanzibar. Part way there we hear a pop-whoooooosh, and the driver pulled over. The car with our luggage also stopped. We had blown a radiator hose. It took some time, but Tanzanians know how to fix cars. Somehow, they got it fixed. The traffic in Dar es Salaam was very congested, but Michael Wright had planned for contingency time, so we made the 4:00 PM ferry. Both ferry terminals were chaotic, but the ride was relaxing, and we and our luggage arrived at our hotel safely.

We had dinner with the Bishop of Zanzibar. He is on the Board of MARUCO. He filled us in more on the mission and state of the college. He is a very gracious person. As we ate a wonderful dinner under the skies of Zanzibar with a view of the sea.

Tuesday

In the morning we took a walking tour of Stonetown, the old part of the city, then tour of a spice farm in the center of the island. It was amazing to see how many of these spices are grown and taste them fresh off of the plants.

We checked into the Gold Zanzibar Hotel and Spa. It is one of the most beautiful beach hotels I have ever seen. There is a wide white sandy beach sloping into a peaceful green sea. I swam and waited in the ocean for about half of an hour, then Michael, Ryan, and I bobbed in the beatiful pool until we had leave to get ready for the evening. The Gold Zanzibar is operated by an Italian company. Michael said that Italians love “natural” pools and food, so the swimming pool was salt water. In a salt water pool you don’t need to add chlorine, so when I came out of the pool, I felt clean. It was cool.

We will probably plan for our students to spend the day at a similar place including a late night astronomy observing session.

Michael, Plaxedes and I met before dinner to go over and make a day-by-day outline of the Maymester. Dinner was at a large outdoor restaurant with great Italian food. We dined and talked about Tanzania and the trip for a couple for over two hours. Since dinner is not even served until 8:00 PM, it was late before I got back to my room. I went back out, dragged a lounge chair to a dark place on the beach and looked at stars for another half hour.

Wednesday

Today we have the morning to relax (I am blogging and listening to Van Morrison) before we start our trip home.

It has been a very productive trip and I can’t wait for May.