Constructing a Science Building

Tumaini University's new Science Building sits at the top of the campus with a commanding view of the city to the west and the surrounding hills to the east. Dale and I wandered up to the building to get some pictures and see if it really was ready for occupancy. The building is 5 stories with the front of the first two done.

Construction is done one floor at a time. The concrete structure is formed with tree

branches holding up the next floor. Then the beams and floor are poured using concrete carried up to the top in 5 gallon buckets. They are just about ready for the top of the fifth floor.

The two large classrooms that are complete are in use.

The offices in the rear are still under construction. The rest of the campus is single story offices and classrooms. Here is one of the office corridors for the law faculty.

Anyway that is the short tour of the campus.

The fuel crisis continues as the roads are emptier and emptier. We may have enough diesel to make it to the end of the week, but after that, who knows. I know it is getting bad when the fellow who owns the tour company (Dennis Ngede) just parked his Lexus across the street and got picked up by one of his vehicles. Pastor Ilomo wants us to visit Lake Nyasa over the weekend and says that fuel is no problem. The amount of conflicting information easily overwhelms real information and leads to great confusion.

The Computer Science department head showed up on Monday. He is scrambling around trying to figure out who will teach and where the many missing classes are to be held. I was using a classroom that has only me on the schedule for the whole week. It appears that that room may be needed by others, but I said if I move it has to be into a room that seats 40. I held my tongue and didn't ask "where were you 3 weeks ago when classes started?" I plan to go back and use that same classroom today and Thursday so we will see what happens.

Today is Halloween and we are in a quandary what to carve to scare off the evil spirits. One has to be a little careful here as witchcraft and witches are still part of some religions and still practice their trade in some of the villages. I bought a sample of candy for the 3 trick or treaters we expect tonight. We told the Stiles kids that they will have to go "house" tonight (as opposed to house-to-house) for Trick or Treat. I don't know what to dress as but I can just not show up and go as an IT faculty member.

Our prayers go out to those affected by Sandy. All of our acquaintances on the East Coast made it thru without incident.

Be prepared for some frightening pictures tomorrow.