Time Flies

I've been thinking about human nature; particularly that when a group of people are put into certain situations, they act in specific ways that aren't necessarily their usual behaviors. I guess it's group dynamics.

Take, for instance, the student teachers in TTC. Some of them have teaching experience, but when you put them in a classroom you can't tell the difference between the ones right out of high school and the ones who have been working for years... they fall into "student" behaviors. But when these same student teachers are out on teaching practice, then they start acting like "teachers". In fact, it's often the ones who are themselves the most troublesome in school who are in turn the most strict disciplinarians to their own students. But when they return from teaching practice, the whole class is often more difficult to manage than before.

Then there are the teachers in TTC. About a month ago we went to a seminar with other TTCs in the area about the changes in the curriculum and the final exams for all TTCs. While in the seminar, you could see the teachers acting like students (I'll even admit I did it too); there were those sitting in the back whispering to each other or doing their own things, those sitting in the front furiously taking notes, and everything in between. But when this same group of teachers got together a few weeks later to draw up questions for a joint exam, then they put on their "teacher"-hats and applied themselves much more seriously.

Maybe those who have studied psychology can explain it -- I never got beyond Psych 101 and that was almost 20 years ago.

On to other matters... we're just finishing the second term and we have two weeks of vacation. However, I'll be working during part of it. I have to re-shelve books in the library (should take a day or two) and get the computer lab ready for the GCE exams (should also take about a day). I also have to set questions for the promotional exams (should only take a few hours). Then for the weekend of Palm Sunday (Thursday to Sunday), I'm going with the Diocesan Youth team to Ako Parish for the Diocesan World Youth Day celebrations. Ako is located in the northern part of the diocese, fairly close to the Nigerian border. This will be my first trip to that parish. A friend of mine who works at the Pastoral Centre in Kumbo is from Ako and has invited me to visit in the past, but I didn't have a chance before.

A few weeks ago, I went to Jakiri with the Diocesan Youth team. They were supposed to be going to give some leadership workshops to the parish youth team, but it turned out that there was in fact no parish youth team in place. So instead they spent the weekend raising awareness in the parish and forming the parish youth team. Although it wasn't what was planned, it ended up working out well. At mass on Sunday, the new youth team was introduced to the parish and greeted with much applause.

This past Friday was the annual pilgrimage to Boyong Hill in Ndu parish, which is the next big town after Tatum. The roads are pretty good right now, so it's about a 30 minute drive or 2-3 hour walk from Tatum to Ndu. Many people walk from all parts of the diocese to Ndu, while others drive. They all meet at the grandstand in Ndu for a blessing before the official pilgrimage, which is from the grandstand to a hill outside of town. I think this is the third or fourth year they have been doing it. Stations of the Cross are said on the way to the hill. It took about 2 hours to walk including stopping for prayers at each Station. After everyone reaches the summit of the hill, there is a reconciliation service and Confessions, followed Holy Mass.

Last year, the bishop wasn't able to be there and the auxiliary bishop of Bamenda was there in his place, but this year Bishop George was there himself and walked the pilgrimage route with everyone else.

After mass, everyone heads back home. Some people bring their cars up to the hill and so drive back, but others (including us) walk the route back to Ndu. We were blessed that the rain held off until after the pilgrimage. We were still in Ndu when it started to rain, but most people had already left. I went with Fr. Paul and members of the Diocesan Laity Council, one of whom provided food for us to eat when we got back to the car. It was a good day, but I got a bit too much sun but luckily not so much as to get an actual sunburn. (I didn't put on sun block since the previous few days had been cloudy.)

So that's the latest news from me. I can't believe I only have 3 more months until my term officially ends at the end of June. I've promised Fr. Paul I would stick around until at least the third week of July for the annual youth camp and I may stay for a few weeks after that as well.

Wow! Time flies!