For the past six months, former NH animal science teacher, Nathan Glenn, has been in Liberia, Africa, working with AgriCorps, a non-profit and non-governmental organization that brings professional American agriculturists to developing countries (in this case, Liberia) to meet the demand for experiential agriculture education. Currently living in Kakata, Liberia, with his wife, Anna, Glenn is educating the people of the small village in swine management.

The two were first introduced to the program while Mrs. Glenn was studying International Agriculture Development at Texas A&M University two years ago. “It was an opportunity that we were able to take advantage of because we are young and in a good life situation. We applied, were accepted, and now here we are,” Glenn commented on his situation.

According to Glenn, life in the small town of Kakata is very different from Harford County. “I live in the guesthouse on campus of the school for which I teach. I don’t have air conditioning, electricity is intermittent…” On top of this, Glenn must walk several miles a day since he does not have a car. He also has to haul his water from the community pump to his house, and then filter it before drinking. He buys most of his food supplies from the local market, many of the things he was used to eating in the U.S. not available there. Although, the fruit there is much better, “The pineapples here are so sweet they are like candy,” says Glenn. For one week he lived in a small village called Kamada Town which contained less than fifty residents. He experienced what life in a true village was really like: “…no electricity, no running water, and the village was made up of mostly mud brick houses (some had concrete) with tin roofs, a school, a couple wells, a church, and several farms.”

Teaching for Glenn is different, as well. “I don’t use a computer or projector and it’s hard to find a printer that will work and have ink in it. Most of my in-classroom teaching involves notes on a dry erase board and using any other materials I can get my hands on to do activities as much as possible,” Glenn comments on his new teaching adjustment. He teaches swine management on campus and the school has pigs to allow the students to have practical, hands on activities daily with the swine. “The people here are really friendly and fun loving. I have learned to understand them when they are speaking in Liberian English,” Glenn says. As it turns out, Liberian English can be rather hard to understand and may not even seem like English at all. The students of Liberia also love soccer, although there they call it football. “During the first game I attended, students from the building trades department were running around the playing field cheering on their team by chanting and holding up props that represented their department… when a goal was scored, the fans would yell and run onto the field to hug the player who just scored.” All of this was very exciting for Glenn.

Upon returning to the states in July of this year, there will be many things Glenn and his wife will have to readjust to after living in a petite African town for one year. “I am sure the food will cause us to have upset stomachs at first. Shopping will be amazing and difficult at the same time because of the selection and the choices…” Glenn comments. Driving will be something he has not done in a year, and the freezing winter temperatures are not something he is looking forward to returning to. “We will have to get used to the fast paced life of America compared to the slow and steady life of Liberia.”

“This journey has stretched me intellectually, spiritually, and culturally. It is developing me into a much more globally minded individual that has the ability to understand the different types of people, cultures, and living situations in the world,” Glenn reflects on his experiences, “This experience is improving me as a person and making me more valuable for my future career, no matter what kind of job I intend to pursue,” Glenn says that he hopes to pursue the agribusiness industry when he returns. From there, he is hoping to earn his Master’s Degree in business administration. Glenn also shared a piece of advice, saying, “I really encourage anyone to always make sure that whatever you are doing, it is stretching you, making you better, and making you more open-minded.”