Updating

This is a vacation, so I'm using time to update.  But you can pretend these were posted at reasonable intervals over the past 3 weeks.

Zanzibar

Classes are over.  In the interval before exams start we are taking a purely-rest vacation in Zanzibar.  We're on the Indian Ocean at a beach resort.  I've read more books of the strictly entertainment variety during this week than perhaps in the entire past year.  I hope I'll be re-energized for the return.

Sunshine Hotel, Matemwe, Zanzibar

The Beach

Graduation

March 24 was graduation for the class of 2010.  After the academic year is over in August, students have an opportunity to take a make-up final exam in any courses they have not passed.  Since the final must count 60% of the grade (and passing is 40%), this is a real opportunity to change a fail to a pass.  The supplemental exams take place in November for both semesters.  This is all part of why graduation takes place in March – it still seems far from the actually completion of work, but I’m sure there are other reasons.

Graduation was pretty much like graduations everywhere:  full of proud parents and proud students.  There were various speakers, including a student speaker who was very good.  I enjoyed the music-and-dance interlude – something we don’t have. Kist supplied academic regalia for all faculty. 

Me in KIST-supplied robe

The processional

Dance interlude

Akagera

We went to Akagera, a national park in the eastern part of the country on the border with Tanzania, with others from the guest house.  As we got farther away from Kigali bicycles play a more important role in transportation – second only to foot.  

 First we went to a place near Akagera where a women’s cooperative produces traditional imigongo art.  These are made using cow-dung which dries on a board and is painted.  It was used to decorate the insides and outsides of houses and important buildings.

 

Then we went to Akagera where they have the animals we often associate with Africa.  It’s a really great park which would be wonderful for mountain biking except for the possibility of encountering an angry buffalo or irritated baboon.  You are required to stay in the vehicle and have a park guide with you.  Most of the time the animals leave as we drive up.

Ron and I stayed in the hotel; the others camped (I don’t know how to reconcile the camping area with the above requirement, but the guide said its totally safe).  In the evening I went to the lobby to read.  There were two books there.  Here’s one of them, and also Ron trying to read it (but it’s in Dutch) - and another picture of it next to some weaver-bird nests.

(Just so you know:  Linda Barnes is a Boston mystery writer)