Kitabu Kimependekezwa na Africa International University

Nimeona leo kuwa kitabu changu, Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences, kimependekezwa na Africa International University (AIU) kwa ajili ya wanafunzi wa kigeni. Chuo hiki kiko Karen, nchini Kenya.

Nimevutiwa na maelezo yaliyotolewa kama Information for International Students juu ya hali halisi anayokumbana nayo mtu anapojikuta katika utamaduni wa kigeni:

Moving to a different cultural environment is a very stressful experience – that’s why it is sometimes referred to as “culture shock”. You will likely go through a difficult period of adjustment and homesickness after the initial excitement wears off. This is normal. As you learn your way around the campus and its unique culture, you will be more comfortable at AIU. Soon you will be helping other new international students adjust to AIU and Kenya. If you are willing to learn, you will learn a great deal about yourself and others who are different from you. You will leave here enriched and transformed.

Still, it is wise to take time before coming to prepare yourself and your family for the cultural adjustments that will be necessary. By reading as much as you can about cultural adjustment and talking to other international students, you can learn what to expect. Then you will better understand the feelings and frustrations you deal with as you adjust to your new environment. Since academics will demand a great deal of you at AIU, any preparation you can do before coming will help all of your adjustments once you arrive on campus....Due to cultural differences, you may feel somewhat confused when talking with fellow students. “What do they mean?” Communication in Africa is inferential rather than direct, so you will need to become adept at listening for what is being communicated between the lines.... Students at AIU are coming from all over Africa and the world. They will appreciate the time you invest in learning about the uniqueness of their own cultures—e.g. what communicates respect.

Maelezo na mawaidha haya yanahusiana na yaliyomo katika kitabu changu, Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences. Ni masuala yasiyokwepeka, hasa katika dunia ya utandawazi wa leo. Yanawahusu sio tu wanafunzi, bali pia wafanya biashara, wanadiplomasia, na kadhalika, kama ninavyoelezea mara kwa mara katika blogu hii.

Tafsiri Yangu ya "A Time to Talk" (Robert Frost)

Leo nimetafsiri shairi fupi la Robert Frost, "A Time to Talk." Hili ni shairi nililolisoma kwa mara ya kwanza miaka mitatu iliyopita, baada ya binti yangu Zawadi kuninunulia kitabu cha mashairi ya Frost, Robert Frost: Selected Poems. Kama nilivyoelezea katika blogu hii, nilikuwa nimelazwa hospitalini mjini Minneapolis, na binti yangu, kwa kujua ninavyopenda vitabu, alininunulia hiki kitabu kinisaidie kukabili hali niliyokuwemo.

Shairi hili la "A Time to Talk" lina mawaidha mazito kuhusu maisha. Linatukumbusha umuhimu wa uungwana na ukarimu katika mahusiano yetu binadamu. Tuache fikra ya kwamba hatuna muda wa kujumuika na wenzetu, kujuliana hali, na kadhalika. Robert Frost anavyoelezea mambo katika shairi hili ananikumbusha maisha ya vijijini, ambayo niliishi tangu utotoni. Kusalimiana ni wajibu, na watu hutumia muda kujuliana hali.

Bila shaka, Frost anaukosoa utamaduni wa ubinafsi, na utamaduni wa kila mtu na maisha yake. Anaikosoa hali ambayo wanafalsafa kama Karl Marx na wafuasi wake wameiongelea vizuri kwa kutumia dhana ya "alienation." Anavyoongelea kuhusu kuwa na muda wa kuongea na wenzetu, ninaona kuwa Frost anaikejeli jamii ambayo imejiaminisha kuwa muda ni hela ("time is money"). Ninavyosema hayo mambo yanayohusu utamaduni, kama yalivyoelezwa katika shairi hili, ninakumbuka nilivyoyaelezea katika kitabu changu, Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences.

Kwa kumalizia, napenda nirudie jambo ambalo ninalitamka daima. Kutafsiri kazi ya fasihi ni shughuli ngumu yenye mitego na vipingamizi vingi. Nilivyojaribu kulitafsiri shairi la Frost, simaanishi kuwa tafsiri yangu ndio kilele cha ufanisi. Msomaji makini anayezifahamu vizuri sana lugha za ki-Ingereza na ki-Swahili, na sio lugha tu, bali lugha ya kifasihi, bila shaka ataona vipengele ambayo vingeweza kuboreshwa. Kwa mfano, katika mstari wa pili, utatafsirije "a meaning walk," ili uziwasilishe kwa ki-Swahili dhana zilizomo katika huo usemi wa ki-Ingereza?
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A TIME TO TALK (Robert Frost, 1874-1963)

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

MUDA WA MAONGEZI

Rafiki anaponiita kutoka barabarani
Huku akipunguza kwa makusudi mwendo wa farasi wake,
Sisimami tu na kuangalia huko na huko
Kubaini idadi ya vilima ambavyo bado sijalima
Na kisha kupaaza sauti pale nilipo, Vipi?
Hapana, hapana kwani kuna muda wa kuongea.
Nasimika jembe langu katika ardhi tepetepe,
Ubapa wa jembe ukiwa juu futi tano toka ardhini,
Na ninatembea taratibu: ninaelekea kwenye ukuta wa mawe
Kukutana na rafiki.

Kitabu Kingine: "A Goal is a Dream With a Deadline"

Usiku wa kuamkia leo, nimemaliza kusoma kitabu kiitwacho A Goal is a Dream With a Deadline, ambacho nilikinunua siku za karibuni. Mwandishi wake, Leo B. Helzel, amekusanya kauli za watu mbali mbali wenye ujuzi na uzoefu, ili kuwaelimisha wajasiriamali, mameneja, na watu werevu kwa ujumla, wenye mitazamo ya kimaendeleo.

Kitabu hiki ni tofauti na vingine kwani ni mkusanyo wa misemo ya busara kuhusu mambo kama kujiwekea malengo, kustahimili matatizo, kutafuta masoko au wateja, kujiwekea maamuzi na kuyatekeleza kwa dhati na bila kuchelewa, kuwasikiliza wateja kwa makini na kuwahudumia vizuri, kuzingatia ubunifu, kupunguza urasimu, na kujiamini. Hayo ni baadhi ya yaliyomo katika kitabu hiki.

Sura zote za kitabu hiki zina mambo muhimu. Kwa vile mimi ninashughulika na kutoa ushauri kwa jumuia, taasisi, makampuni, na watu binafsi kuhusu tofauti za tamaduni na athari zake, nimevutiwa sana na sura ya kitabu hiki iitwayo "Going Global." Baadhi ya mawaidha yaliyomo katika sura hii ni haya: "Never assume that business is conducted in a foreign country just as it is at home" (uk. 146), "Learn about your host's people by reading about their history and culture" (uk. 147), " "Always assume that time will be handled differently in a foreign country" (uk. 147), "Latin Americans may refuse to do business with you if you are too serious. So lighten up and slow down" (uk. 151), "In Asia, learn when "maybe" really means "no" (uk. 151).

Mawaidha haya yanafanana na yale ninayotoa na kuyafafanua katika mihadhara na warsha zangu. Yamo katika kitabu changu cha Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences, na pia mara moja moja katika blogu hii.

Nimejifunza mambo kadhaa muhimu katika kusoma A Goal is a Dream With a Deadline, na nakipendekeza kwa yeyote anayetaka mabadiliko yenye manufaa katika fikra, shughuli, maisha yake na ya jamii.