In our final days at the Buea Cameroon HandsOn School (http://handsonresearch.org/), Catbird asked the international faculty what they most looked forward to in returning home. These eminent scientists had volunteered their summer vacation time, research and teaching expertise, passion for science, and grace under difficult and unpredictable circumstances for two-plus weeks of hard work in Buea, Cameroon. They traveled from India, Scotland, and various parts of the U.S.; and, in addition to those countries, represented Colombia, Canada, France, Germany and England.
Mt Cameroon from U. Buea Campus
Someone please pass Catbird a thesaurus so she can look for a variety of superlatives because this group rocked. With at least two extra days for set up at U. Buea, and no telling how much planning and preparation at home, these scientists maintained a grueling two week teaching schedule. Eight a.m. daily we departed the hotel by bus for the 15-minute ride to U. Buea, where the faculty then ran their labs, facilitated presentations and discussions, judged poster sessions, conducted tutorials, presented scientific demonstrations, organized round table discussions and supplemental sessions, etc. until 8 p.m. when we crammed back on the bus to return to the hotel. With no running water on campus (and not always at the hotel), power outages, intermittent internet connections, absent and delayed equipment, traveler's complaint, bee stings, and at least one case of full blown food poisoning, these scientists delivered finest quality science education with poise and good humor.
Some of these scientists have been with us since the first HandsOn school in India in 2008. For others, Buea was their first HandsOn experience. Whether they were veterans or novices, Catbird and my physicist absolutely trusted and depended on these people.
When Catbird and my physicist faltered under the stress of ongoing budget crises and sleep deprivation, and our tempers frayed, these folks buoyed us with their camaraderie, stepped up to take on additional tasks, and proved themselves repeatedly as professionals and as friends.
When Catbird and my physicist faltered under the stress of ongoing budget crises and sleep deprivation, and our tempers frayed, these folks buoyed us with their camaraderie, stepped up to take on additional tasks, and proved themselves repeatedly as professionals and as friends.
Ah, so, back to the question Catbird had asked them: what do you most look forward to in going home? As expected, top answers included leaving behind the hairy mildews of Cameroon's rainy season and returning to dry clothes, dry shoes, dry bedding. DEET-free skin was mentioned. As with most travelers anywhere, the return to routine diet (especially salads which we carefully avoided on the road) and one's own bed were mentioned several times over, as well as the ability to brush teeth with tap water and shower with one's mouth open. One young scientist described how his wife has taken a job in another state while he will stay to finish his graduate work, and he wanted to get back to spend as much time with her as possible before she moves...sigh.
Catbird was continually humbled by these people. Her own longings for home were more sybaritic: a soak in her own deep bathtub, a plate of cheese from Antonelli's cheese shop (http://www.antonellischeese.com/), and return to a sense of social order that includes punctuality, transparent banking, honoring one's commitments, traffic flowing in agreed upon directions, etc.
Catbird was continually humbled by these people. Her own longings for home were more sybaritic: a soak in her own deep bathtub, a plate of cheese from Antonelli's cheese shop (http://www.antonellischeese.com/), and return to a sense of social order that includes punctuality, transparent banking, honoring one's commitments, traffic flowing in agreed upon directions, etc.
***
So now HandsOn School in Buea is over. The 45 participants have dispersed to their 17 home countries. The scientists have returned to their home labs and academic responsibilities. Catbird has soaked in her tub, slept in her clean dry fresh-smelling sheets, eaten Fourme d'Ambert cheese and driven down Lamar with the assurance that most other drivers will obey the rules of the road. Her hair is clean, her skin no longer reeks of DEET. And she hasn't had to cram twice daily with 32 other people onto a bus more appropriately scaled for 14.
And, surprisingly, Catbird feels a sense of let down, of loss.
She isn't depressed exactly; she is too happy to be home for that. But Catbird does miss being around such superior quality people and hopes they all return for the next school.
In 2012.
In Shanghai.
So now HandsOn School in Buea is over. The 45 participants have dispersed to their 17 home countries. The scientists have returned to their home labs and academic responsibilities. Catbird has soaked in her tub, slept in her clean dry fresh-smelling sheets, eaten Fourme d'Ambert cheese and driven down Lamar with the assurance that most other drivers will obey the rules of the road. Her hair is clean, her skin no longer reeks of DEET. And she hasn't had to cram twice daily with 32 other people onto a bus more appropriately scaled for 14.
And, surprisingly, Catbird feels a sense of let down, of loss.
She isn't depressed exactly; she is too happy to be home for that. But Catbird does miss being around such superior quality people and hopes they all return for the next school.
In 2012.
In Shanghai.
It looks like a deadly nerve gas was released in Charles de Gaulle Airport,
but really it's just exhausted scientists waiting for their next flights.
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