School's about to begin!

Well today was the last day of orientation, and we will begin classes next week on Monday. Until then we the staff and faculty will meet to finish preparing for courses and the students... Last week we had the board meeting and then the official opening of the second year of school. It was a beautiful celebration and very good for me to see just how excited the students and the community are about going back to school. Ah if that energy and joy could be found in students who have incredible buildings and resources...

So what can I say about Beni? It's really nice here. I mean – there is extreme poverty everywhere… There is not a day that goes by in which I see women carrying water on their heads or on their backs alongside the road or even near to the Kasali's house. The roads are all dirt… And it's a type of dirt (which I can't remember the name, of course), anyway it is pretty red in color… And it dries very fast. So fast that even if it rains (like it did a bit today), it dries so quickly that the roads become dusty. Tonight on our way back to the house – it was so dusty outside it looked like a dense fog. I was shocked. And this dust sticks in your throat and mouth… It makes people cough when it's really dry and I bet it causes health problems as well. It can be really bad at times. But in spite of those things - the people amaze me with their happiness, their joy. People laugh, tell jokes, give - even though they have little to nothing, or have lost more than we can even imagine.

As I think some of the pictures showed you... the drive here was really gorgeous… And even the views that we have here in Beni can be breath-taking! The Rwenzori mountains are incredible. Oh but it was SO COOL to see elephants from the car! When Paul said – "look Bethany, elephants." I was in shock. Really? It was so neat!!!!! I wish I'd gotten better pictures… But none of the ones that I uploaded have been edited (you know cropping is amazing!), so perhaps if I ever have time to do that… I'll have some good pictures!!

Ah there are so many things lacking here that it's really miraculous that they were able to have classes here last year at all... Much less bring in a second class of students this year... God is incredible. Wow. Anyway, things are good!

But at the same time, things here are so far below what most (and I) think are necessary standards for education... And we have seven brand new teachers. And a new board of directors. All of those things and more added together equal a big opportunity for mistakes, and struggles... So we are working together trying to iron out the issues we're already facing (classroom space is where??), and growing together as a team. It's exciting, and challenging at thes same time.

We, UCBC, are doing something that isn't normal. Education for students... By faculty who care about the lives and futures not only of their students, but also of their country. It's something that the people even here in Beni say "Wow. You go to / work at / are involved with UCBC?" It's becoming a place that parents are asking if their son or daughter can attend here... People in the community are noticing a difference in the students and how they behave and what they do... Especially compared to students from other universities. This is something that could become (and already is) so powerful.

Here are some more photos... Just a few from the last week or so... I hope you enjoy seeing a little bit into life here...

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bethany.erickson/AFewRecentShots#

love,
Bethany