Knowledge Gained at ASA Conference

One of the lectures I attended during African Studies Association Conference was : Women embracing creativity as a tool to combat violence and find healing. According to Sorensen,B (1998), naturally, women are creative, peacemakers, wise and good managers. Indeed if women embrace all these good values, there are so many ways they can use to combat violence. 

In addition, I think the theory of healing and reconstruction should not be based only upon roads construction and other infrastructural services, but also on healing and reconstruction of the hearts of the oppressed. This is because conflict cause both physical damages and wound in hearts of so many citizens, those who are abducted, who loose the beloved ones, missed belongings or displaced.  

However, this knowledge will gain importance in my community as I will try to meet with various women groups to a ware them of the prolonged conflict/violence and that we have a big role to play and so many ways to demonstrate our thirst for peace.  

Friends, what do you think about this idea?

Interesting Experience at the CIES Conference.

I really enjoyed one of the presentations I attended during the conference. The presentation was about "Intellectual Emancipation,"as a theory which entails "only individual humans are real and they alone have the will and an intelligence, and the totality of order that subjects them to human kind, social laws and diverse authorities is only a creation of imagination."  One of the focus was how can low-income Black high scholars benefit from this theory? According to my understanding, the theory is all about every body know something.  So people should stop depending on others with an intention that they are intelligent. Human beings are always ignorant of the fact that they are intelligent. For instance, families that are poor and illiterate can still teach their kids some skills and knowledge that are helpful in their lives. As according to Ranciere, J. (1991). all people are equally intelligent.  I like this theory of knowledge because it opens the eyes of those who believe they aren't intelligent to strongly realize that they are intelligent and can do extraordinary things happen!

Friends, don't you believe in this theory too?

Approach in Developing History Curriculum

Dear colleagues,

Sincerely, South Sudan in one of the African Countries that fought for decades and achieved independence but still is yearning for peace and unity among different communities across the country. 

I think South Sudan should design "Integrated Approach" in developing history curriculum and teach students in schools so as to address the issue of peace and unity. This approach is all about civic education which make connection across disciplines to life skills in real world context. 

I believe, this approach is so smart because, it provides a climate in which students are involved in co-curricula or extra-curricula activities (such as games, debate, projects etc) which bring the sense of collaboration. This will also introduce them to basic and positive politics of the country, learn the different societies and relationships/interdependency of individual within the society. They become civically educated in ways that empower then with healthy knowledge about the system of the government, their rights, responsibilities, skills, values and goals for unity as future leaders in a democratic state like South Sudan. 

Therefore, an integrated approach to teaching will yield into peace, unity and where diversity is seen meaningful!

What do you think about this approach?

My Experience in Indiana

Dear colleagues, 

I am so pleased and excited to share both my good and bad experience with you on how life is like in this foreign land known as Indiana. After taking a long hour of the our journey from Africa, we arrived in Indiana town at 2:30 at last and were shown our individual rooms in Pine apartment.

To start with, I have enjoyed and hope to enjoy more my stay here in Indiana.  Indiana is a nice, cool and welcoming place to live in. The people of Indiana have smiling face which shows the sign of peace. They can only say "Hi" and that's it. But with our professors, they are always good and kind to us. 

Further, my experience as far as my studies is concerned is just good. I always enjoy the pace at which our professors take us, which seems a bit challenging. I call this challenge a good experience because it is a motivating factor. And according to Kouzes,J. & Posner, B. (2012), challenging opportunities help people turn to a remarkable success in what ever they do. 

My first bad experience started with a very big confusion between day and night time. I realized that my country is head of Indiana with good 6 hours. So I had no option apart from adjusting my sleeping habit which took me couple of weeks to do so. In addition, coming from a developing nation with different cultures to developed nation like, results in a very big gape. I realized that this is a   "mind your own business" country. I really found it hard to socialize with students on campus. So this made me feel bad because in my community, it is possible to make new friends just in a moment. Not only that, another challenge is all about food. Honestly, the types of food here have confused my appetite. I always find it hard to make choice of what to eat.

All in all, my experience is similar to the experience of Dr. Duany in that both of us compliant about how Indiana people aren't social with people and the challenge faced at school. The difference is that she came for settlement and I am here on study basis.

Colleagues according to your observation, what do you think my next good and bad experience will be?

Excitements

Now in America!
A chance that I have been longing for.