Geography in the Jungle

The catchphrase of Diitabiki’s local FM station is “You are listening to Radio Pakaati, the only station there is!” It’s true; there is only one on the Tapanahony. Baa Yotie, who runs the station came to my house one day with English books on African history with hopes that I would help translate the stories to make a radio program. Fortunately, I know something of African history. Our search for the bigger picture drew us to maps and the encyclopedia that came on my computer. Here we made an important discovery.

The encyclopedia contains profiles for every country of the world (except Montenegro and Kosovo, as I bought my computer in 2004). Baa Yotie was amazed at the wealth of information, and since then we have worked two to three hours every day, often six days a week, on the countries of the world, their geography, their people, and their history.

Skimming articles in one language and simultaneously translating them into another is no easy task. After a bit of practice, I rarely need to pause to read sections in English before deciding what is most important and translating it into Aucan. After longer sessions I catch myself thinking in Aucan. That’s scary.

Baa Yotie has been struck by the pervasiveness of wars and calculated unjust acts by powerful leaders in nearly every country we have studied. When I offered to focus more on culture and less on history, Baa Yotie remarked that it is important to hear of the wars and evil actions that have occurred in history, for then people might think twice about committing the same mistakes. Sounds Hillsdalian to me.

Perspective is narrowed by isolation. This principle has encouraged me to maintain a long-term outlook during my Peace Corps service. The reverse, however, is also true. Exposure to a bigger picture provides a more accurate understanding of both the world and yourself.

About a week ago, Baa Yotie told me that another thing the Ndjuka need to learn is how, when you save up for something, you can use what money you have to make more. Fortunately I know something of economics.