JOCV 50th year anniversary

Name: Hiroshi Onishi
Batch: FY1994-1 (Jul 1994 - Jul 1996)
Technical Field: Science and Mathematics Teacher
Host Organization: Magawa Secondary School
Hometown in Japan: Taishi Town, Hyogo

A Piece of Memory: "The Talking Desk"

"Does your desk really talk!?" When the Head Teacher asked me that with a straight face, it sent chills down my very spine. It all started in March 1996, when the Sorcerer Incident occurred at the school where I worked. About a month ago, a rumour spread among the students that the accounting staff member who had been transferred to the school was a sorcerer, and because of the commotion, this staff was being transferred again to another school. A week after this, Ken from the Peace Corps, who was working at the same school, came to my house to tell me. "There are rumours among the Malawian staff that you, Mr. Onishi, is under a spell and every evening you ride your bicycle around the house in circles and talk with your desk!"

My house was the closest to the house of the accounting staff, and I was apparently seen as behaving strangely due to witchcraft. It was so annoying that I went to the principal's house to explain the situation, as well as to lodge a protest. I told him that the reason why I rode my bicycle in the evening was to go to a nearby hill to watch the beautiful sunset, and I did not do so every day and did not ride in circles. I also told him that the reason why I was talking at my desk was because I listened to the regular communication from the JICA Malawi office that took place every day through the radio on my desk.

The quote at the beginning was uttered by the principal after hearing my explanation. Until then, I had assumed that the principal, an honors graduate of Chancellor College and a science teacher, did not believe in witchcraft. I froze when I realized that that was not the case. I then realized that the sorcerer that everyone around me believed in was here. As I continued to frantically explain the situation with a mixture of surprise and impatience, the principal said, "Calm down! The accountant is no longer here so you're safe!"

The electrification rate at that time was about 30%, so it was pitch-dark around us at night in the countryside. Aside from the occasional sound of drums coming from the village, it was quiet, and it seemed as if all sorts of mysterious things might exist there. When I returned to Japan, I felt lonely because there were few places where I could experience such a feeling. I still think that there must be many wonders existing in Malawi.

Radio lent by the office. Laptop type PC I brought from Japan. The OS is MS-DOS.

Next will be a piece of memory of Ms. Madoka Kurata (veterinarian), a JOCV member of Batch FY1993-3, who was (supposedly) eating chocolate at Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro.