Last week was the most professionally fulfilling week since I've been here. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, despite the drama and frustrations. But work is all I was doing since landing in Monrovia more than 3 months ago. I have accomplished a lot (according to USAID), and still felt I am not doing enough for Liberia. Well, now I don't feel lacking anymore.
Some of my friends know I like teaching. I was guest lecturing and assisting my friend/ colleague Christina in teaching a Masters level public health course at UIC before coming to Liberia. I never imagined myself being a professor (even a assistant or associate professor), but I enjoy teaching. Two weeks ago I mentioned to our Chief of Party (COP) that I miss teaching. Our COP is an Americo-Liberian woman, she was a practicing pediatrician in Monrovia before leaving the country many years ago. Besides running the largest US government health project in Liberia, she also teaches at the local university. A day after I mentioned to her that I miss teaching, she asks if I would like to give a guest lecture in her class. Imagine my joy when I resoundingly said yes!
Last week was my guest lecture. I was taken to Cuttington University by our COP. You should see the looks I got when she introduced me as the guest lecturer. I guess the students were expecting someone around our COP's age, not a young(er) professional. However, they were all eager to listen to what I had to say. I was surprised to find one of my staff members in the class. Even though I am her supervisor, I haven't been able to connect much with her (outside of work) because of our schedules. She commented "you are my supervisor and now you are my instructor as well". I hope that's not a bad thing!
The course that our COP teaches is titled "Primary Health". A perfect conduit to teach about public health. Since I don't believe in lecturing for more than 30 minutes, I made a short power point presentation. I then gave an exercise to work that lasted for an hour. I split the class in to teams and each team worked on identifying risk factors for a different health problem. I admire the tenacity of the students. Imagine sitting in a room with no air/ fan in a 100F humid temperature for 2-3 hours for each course. Some of them do it all day when they have back to back classes. I was soaked in sweat within the first 15 minutes of my lecture, I can only imagine how these students do it every day. I took encouragement from the students and kept on with the lecture even though I was dripping buckets of sweat. These students are my inspiration.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the exercise. Each team had arguments and discussions, but they all came to consensus in the end. In fact, when I asked what's the most important lesson of this exercise, their answer was "team work". You have no idea how happy that made me. We all know how important it is to work in teams, but team work has an added significance in a country like Liberia that has been torn apart due to internal differences. They really need team work here, at all levels.
I think the best sign of a successful lecture is when students ask you to come back. At the end of the class, when I asked if they have any questions, they all said "we hope you come back!". Yes students, I will be back. I will definitely be back now that I have found my favorite way to contribute to Liberia outside work. Just call me Professor Moominpappa and I will be at your service!
Some of my friends know I like teaching. I was guest lecturing and assisting my friend/ colleague Christina in teaching a Masters level public health course at UIC before coming to Liberia. I never imagined myself being a professor (even a assistant or associate professor), but I enjoy teaching. Two weeks ago I mentioned to our Chief of Party (COP) that I miss teaching. Our COP is an Americo-Liberian woman, she was a practicing pediatrician in Monrovia before leaving the country many years ago. Besides running the largest US government health project in Liberia, she also teaches at the local university. A day after I mentioned to her that I miss teaching, she asks if I would like to give a guest lecture in her class. Imagine my joy when I resoundingly said yes!
Last week was my guest lecture. I was taken to Cuttington University by our COP. You should see the looks I got when she introduced me as the guest lecturer. I guess the students were expecting someone around our COP's age, not a young(er) professional. However, they were all eager to listen to what I had to say. I was surprised to find one of my staff members in the class. Even though I am her supervisor, I haven't been able to connect much with her (outside of work) because of our schedules. She commented "you are my supervisor and now you are my instructor as well". I hope that's not a bad thing!
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| Students work in teams to identify risk factors for health problems |
The students thoroughly enjoyed the exercise. Each team had arguments and discussions, but they all came to consensus in the end. In fact, when I asked what's the most important lesson of this exercise, their answer was "team work". You have no idea how happy that made me. We all know how important it is to work in teams, but team work has an added significance in a country like Liberia that has been torn apart due to internal differences. They really need team work here, at all levels.
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| More student teams working on the exercise |
I think the best sign of a successful lecture is when students ask you to come back. At the end of the class, when I asked if they have any questions, they all said "we hope you come back!". Yes students, I will be back. I will definitely be back now that I have found my favorite way to contribute to Liberia outside work. Just call me Professor Moominpappa and I will be at your service!
The joy it is to read your posts! Especially this one. Continued successes and fulfillment professor!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I appreciate your support and encouragement.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Professor Moominpappa!
ReplyDelete