Archive for January, 2008
Date: January 10, 2008
Location: Home of Roo Dane, ‘61
On January 10, 2008, Sandra Lovell ’56, Dorianne Low ’66, Barbara Powell ’62, Libby Atkins ’46, Sydney Owens ’64, Erica Bernstein ’92, Judith Bernstein, and Cornelia Robat ‘61 met at the home of Roo Dane ’61 to discuss Monique and the Mango Rains, Two Years with a Midwife in Mali, by Kris Holloway.
Here is a fine memoir by a successful American woman about a successful Malian midwife woman read by successful women college graduates, and by what did we begin our discussion? By a generous bashing of the villain of the piece, Monique’s husband François. With the guiltless and blameless cooperation of his card-playing civil servant cronies, the selfish and immature François withheld most of Monique’s salary, permission to send their children to school or to use his moped for travel to get medical supplies, and even the fruits from his garden.
Current U.S. fact cited: 87% of college men want to marry a woman less smart than themselves. If the balance of power is changed in an unequal relationship, the dominant partner of, for instance, a couple, siblings, a government, may perceive a threat and react with hostility. Monique’s very success seemed to work against her: the more she achieved the more her husband resented her and worked to block her movements.
Monique, both wise and naïve, was a first-rate nurse-midwife and an excellent teacher, and we learn much about African village life through her story. But this book could also serve as a model for any long-stay travelers on how to survive far from home. The author, Kris Holloway, brought several gifts that Greg Mortenson, of Three Cups of Tea, also shared: a facility for language (although Holloway blurted out some howlers), basically excellent health, physical stamina, and, especially important, an amazingly open attitude. She mentally converted each setback, each obstacle into a learning experience. “So that’s how they do it here,” she would muse after a difficult confrontation with tradition or lack of equipment. She would work with the doable. She also knew when to keep her mouth shut and when it was a suitable time to present a suggestion or a complaint to her superiors. Like Mortenson, her parents had a strong service ethic and encouraged her to travel abroad in a service capacity.
The ability to escape colors everything, one of us remarked, and I thought of my time in Niger when it was generally agreed that the best doctor for the anasara, the Europeans, was an air ticket back home. Like Mortenson, Holloway was considered an honored guest who would return home one day. The dùgùtigi, or village headman, took her into his household, called her his American daughter, and subtly promoted her work with the village women. There are amusing sketches of how clumsy Kris was at planting, sorting, needlework, and how useful she was in the infirmary and birthing house. On a more personal note, she was able to manage any homesickness (aided by the courtship of another volunteer) so that her full energies were devoted to being of service to her African community.
There are eye-opening explanations of the different degrees of female circumcision, and an introduction to some of the details of foreign aid and village politics. The change of the seasons and their festivals and agricultural activities gives a lovely backdrop to Holloway’s memoir. Monique’s child, Basil, provides a calendar of days as he grows from a lovely burden on Monique’s back to a lively, curious toddler, stumbling around the courtyard to discover the household goods. A charming picture of how many ways he uses discarded flip-flop lightens the litany of health problems that Kris and Monique face every day.
January 10 2008 | Book group | No Comments »
Date: January 6, 2008
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Location: Home of Barbara Powell ‘62
One of the big hits of the Bryn Mawr Club of Boston’s Holiday Party for Prospective students on Sunday January 6, 2008 was the Bryn Mawr Intense Intellectual Commit-mints! In a tin that can fit in your purse. Clever and useful. Almost thirty people including 11 prospective students, their parents and alumnae Barbara Powell ’62, Margaret Hoag ’86, Jane Lifton ’76, Sharon Gershman ’00, Sarah Tan ’04, Bejay Ugale ’00, and host Kyoko Yamamoto ’01 sipped tea, sampled grapes and sweets and talked about Bryn Mawr. Research from the Admissions Office indicates that a personal relationship with an alumna is key to enhancing prospective students’ chances of enrolling at Bryn Mawr.
We used the same format as in years past: Tea from 2-4 on a Sunday. Alums spoke about “What surprised me most about Bryn Mawr.” Vignettes included: the international emphasis and opportunity to meet students from all over the world, the college’s receptiveness to starting a rowing team, the way acting at Bryn Mawr was unexpected preparation for being a lawyer, work study opportunities which turned into careers–for a math major and a linguistics major, and of course, the lifelong friendships.
The prospective students were a lively and articulate bunch. They attended small private schools (Commonwealth, Beacon in Newton), elite public schools (Boston Latin, Boston University Academy ), and good suburban high schools (Brookline High, Lexington High). Two were early admits—one Posse and one student who wanted to do East Asian Studies. After the alums spoke, the prospects asked questions. Their questions were specific; they had done their homework. How difficult was it to do a double major? How about a double major in chemistry and English? How does Praxis work? Can you tell us about Peace and Conflict studies? How easy is it to do Junior Year Abroad? Was it possible to do a Junior Year Abroad if you majored in science? How can you play a varsity sport and get your work done? How does the relationship with Swarthmore and Penn differ from the relationship with Haverford? How do the women of Haverford and Bryn Mawr get along? Is there competition or friendship?
The students who had been admitted loved the Facebook discussions with current undergraduates. They found them welcoming and informative and eager to answer questions. One student who had been telephoned by an alumna to come to the Holiday Party, left the reception fired up and determined to apply.
January 06 2008 | Admissions | No Comments »
Date: January 3, 2008
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Ligne Roset at Adesso, 200 Boylston St, Boston, MA
A lively group of Bryn Mawr alumnae and students gathered in Boston on January 3rd for Network Boston, the annual networking event for Bryn Mawr and Haverford graduates and students. The event was sponsored by the Career Development Office at Bryn Mawr and Haverford, the Career Development Representative of the Bryn Mawr Club of Boston, and the Haverford Career Development Representatives. A total of 40 BMC and HC alumni and students attended, including Mawrters Trina Arpin ’92, Emily Bell ’98, Carol Burns ’77, Leigh Carmody ’97, Anna Doherty ’97, Anna Dunbar-Hester ’03, Sharon Gershman ’00, Madaline Keros ’97, Phyliss King ’57, Abbey Mann ’07, Anh Nguyen ’99, Elisabeth Robart ’93, Praggya Rustagi ’01, Ursala Spont ’03, Amelia Taylor ’06, Bejay Ugale ’00, Angela Valenti ’99, Liz Vizza ’74, and current students Dena Feldman ’08, Ludovica Ferme ’10, Bethany Giblin ’10, Julia Keith ’08.
Despite the frigid weather outdoors, there was much warmth indoors as we lounged on beautiful contemporary furniture at Ligne Roset at Adesso, thanks to the generosity of Rick Grossman, Haverford ’66, the furniture store’s owner. A wide range of Mawrters attended; career fields represented included higher education, public policy, social services, finance, and investment management. Job and internship openings were announced, and many business cards were exchanged.
If you were not able to attend this time, plan to come next year. It’s a great way to meet fellow alumnae and current students, have conversations about all kinds of different work issues, and warm up in the middle of winter!
January 03 2008 | Career | No Comments »
