Saving the world

When I was 20, I thought I could save the world. That’s the beauty of being 20.

I have more modest aspirations now. Maybe I can do some good where I live.  I think I have a positive impact because I say “yes” to  unlikely or unexpected situations. Opportunity. You seize the chances that cross your path.

Enter Pierre Nzuah.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s very much a two-way street. Pierre joined us at the farm when he finished his first semester at SUNY Canton and needed a place to stay and work this summer. He joined us as a farm apprentice a few days ago. We’re trying to help him figure out how to continue at SUNY Canton. If we can help him even a little bit, it will make me feel really good…because Pierre, who is 26, has been trying to get a college education ever since he finished high school in Cameroon. Finally, he made it to Canton for the spring semester, thanks to a private sponsor.  That sponsor is no longer able to help Pierre.

I think Pierre would say he is grateful for the opportunity to come to Canton, and to stay at the farm. I am incredibly grateful to get to know Pierre. Listen to this: within three days of being with us, he has driven a tractor for the first time, driven a car for the first time, used tools like a weed-eater and lawn mower for the first time, eaten his first asparagus (Cameroon, of course, is an equatorial country…no asparagus). He may think it’s fun to drive a tractor but do you know how much fun it is to see someone learning a skill like this? Holy cow.

Billy McNamara, who just received his degree from St. Lawrence University, is also spending a month with us. He had the pleasure (it was a pleasure, Billy, wasn’t it?) of giving Pierre his first car driving lesson.

The things we take for granted: cars, college, lawn mowers…asparagus.

I’ll keep you posted on Pierre’s farm escapades…oh, by the way, Pierre did not much care for asparagus, but he LOVED driving a car.

Tags: Cameroon, Pierre Nzuah