Beginning a New School Year

Today was a special day at HAU, the beginning of a new school year. The annual schedule of classes at HAU is about the same as in our colleges and universities in the US. The only difference is that here, south of the equator, the spring (rather than the fall) semester is the first in the “school year.” The second semester is the fall semester (as we would label it), with graduation in December. As in the US, HAU also has a January interterm of three weeks, and a summer session.

Hundreds of new students were put through New Student Orientation. A shorter version is now going on for students in the “evening” program.

This afternoon Darlene gave away another bicycle to a Nursing student. Then, we were invited to the home of the first student to whom she had given a bicycle. That was quite an experience! We walked the streets to his house (in the company of two students from HAU), taking in a thousand sights, sounds and smells en route. We were graciously served cokes and bananas by people who themselves had nothing to eat. While we there, various members of the household, adults and children, came by to meet and greet us, as well as neighbors, children and adults alike. It was a very communal experience