Page 4
THE COMPASS
Tuesday, April 23,1991
FEATURES
Oat 0^
Two African students
find life in America
similar to back home
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Photo by Albeit C P. W004,
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By Renee Knight
Edde Traore and Mamadou
“Papy” Ka aren’t your typi
cal ECSU students.
Edde speaks five languages, for
example, and Papy speaks six.
Edde, a native of Mali in western
Africa, speaks French, English, Ger
man, his tribal language, Senoufo, as
well as his national language, Bam-
bara.
Papy, a native of Senegal, speaks
French, English, Spanish, Italian,
German, Arabic and his native lan
guage, Wolof.
Both students explain that in their
native Africa, learning different lan
guages is mandatory.
Although they’ve come from an
other continent for an education at
ECSU, the school’s two African stu-
! dents say that they find many similari-
; ties between this country and their
homeland.
“The clothes are basically the
same,” saysEdde. “Wealso wear Nike,
Reeboks and Levis.” The only real
difference, adds Edde, is that “clothes
are more expensive here.”
Edde, a freshman majoring in
business administration, said that the
foods are basically the same, too. “My
favorite foods include french fries,
rice, and beef.”
Papy, a freshman business major,
agrees that the clothes and food in
Senegal are similar to the U.S. But
Papy said he finds living in the U.S.
more boring than Africa.
• “At dances everyone is just stand
ing around,” he said. “I’m used to
people going to dances with a partner
and dancing. I also listen to more
reggae music, especially Bob Marley,
rather than rap.”
Papy said that ECSU students go
home on weekends and “there isn’t
much to do.”
Despite the similarities, ECSU’s
African students said there are pro
found differences between the U.S.
and their native Africa.
In Mali, the dominant religion is
Islam, for example, and there is a
taboo against drinking and eatingpork.
There is also a stronger emphasis
on tradition, and respect for auAority
in Mali.
“In Africa, you have to be respect
ful when talking to parents, and very
obedient,” said Edde. “But here, when
I hear students talking on the phone to
their parents, they say things like,
‘What’s up, mom?”’
Relations between the sexes are
also dramatically different, says Edde.
“In America, a girl can date lots of
different guys,” he said, “but in Af
rica, a girl has to date only one guy at
a time.”
This does not apply to men, how
ever, says Edde. “They can date up to
five at a time.” Men are less competi
tive with each other, too.
Before couples get married, they
must live together first, and act as if
they are married.
“If the man doesn’t want to marry
her, he doesn’t have to,” he added.
Men can have up to four wives,
said Edde. If a man wants to marry a
woman, he must obtain permission
from each set of parents.
“Wives are complimentary in my
country,” says Papy. “When you marry
Edde Traore, an ECSU freshman and native of Mali in Western Africa, sports fiis native clothes during a recent afternoon on campus. Traore, one‘
of two African students now attending ECSU, says his favorite foods include french fries, rice, and beef. Despite the differences between Africa
and the United States, Traore says he sees many similarities between the two nations. However, African students are more respectful to theiij
elders, and relations between the sexes are dramatically different. In Africa, a man can have up to four wives, with different wives being used to
different functions.Although he admires the U.S. Edde plans to return to his home after graduation. I
cool, but they love possessions.”
“I won’t stay here [in the U.S.]. It’s too
expensive. Also, American women are crazy.”
Edde Traore
“Americans are cool, but they love
possessions.
Mamadou “Papy” Ka
more than one you have them for
different duties. One can be used for
management, one for budgeting the
household, and so on. Personally, I
choose to have only one.”
Although he plans to get married
and have at least three children, Edde
said he doesn ’ t want to stay in the U.S.
“I won’t stay here,” he said. “It’s
too expensive. Also, American women
are crazy.” ,i
Edde said he is happy living in the
U.S. for now. Edde thinks that girls at
ECSU are generous but he doesn’t
have a girlfriend. Edde is quick to add,
however, that this works out for him
because it allows him more time to
study.
Papy said that he finds American
women “very attractive,” but adds, “I
don ’ t think I would want to marry one.
They’re too materialistic.”
Papy said he likes Americans in
general, however. “Americans are
Papy also praised his teachers at
ECSU. “I like the way they teach.”
Sometimes the Ajfrican students
have trouble with the English lan
guage since there are a great many
words they don’t know.
ECSU instructors have been pa
tient and understanding, however.
Both students said they liked the
way they could go to their instructors
and talk to them “one on one,” and get
help from them in understanding the
subject.
Both students said they admired
many things about America.
“I like the U.S. because it’s a free
country,” said Papy. “To succeed in
this country it’s up to you, if you have
the heart to succeed.”
The U.S. is also a much more po
litically stable country than many areas
in Africa. Mali’s leader, General
Moussa Traore, for example, was re
cently overthrown.
Edde said he thought die leader’s
overthrow is “a bad event, because
many people have been killed, includ
ing my best friend.” Hesaidhehasn'il
spoken to his parents since the over
throw of the government, and in'
doesn ’ t know a lot of what’s goingoi
in the country. Edde added, howevei
that the turmoil has created “mud:
trouble in the economy of the coiKl
try.” I
Edde said that although the peopl
of Mali may have considered Genera
Traore a military leader, he was acn
ally a peaceful man who was againi
war.
“The people have appointed a priiK
minister untilJanuary,” he said, “wlia
they select a president in Mali. Tk
people want a civilian leader.”
Despite the problem s in Mali, Eddt
said he wants to return to his homSi
land after finishing his education ji
America.
“There is a great need there fo:
educated people for the country tf,
prosper,” he said. “There’s enougl
intelligent people in this counliy,
Africa needs a lot of help.”
Faith in God a Vital part' of Reverend Charles Foster’s life
By Sharon Chappell
HHe’d been shot in the leg
and in the face. It was
dark and cold. He needed
to move but he couldn’t. The Chinese
were scrambling over the hill, all
around him. Whatif oneof them found
him—an American? He had to move!
But he couldn’t—all he could do was
wait.
Never before had he felt so alone.
Never before had his faith been so
low. God had always seemed so close.
Ever since he was a little boy,
growing up in the mining town of
Logan, West Virginia, faith in God
had been such a vital part of his life.
His grandmother and grandfather
lived about eight houses down from
his home. As a child, he spent a lot of
time with them. His grandmother’s
Christian example infused him with
faith and hope as well as love.
But on that hill near Seoul, South
Korea, all the lessons of childhood
seemed far away for Charles Foster.
In fact, the whole experience was
ironic.
Foster had enlisted in the Army,
the 3rd Infantry, in 1950 so that he
could receive financial assistance to
go to college. Just three weeks later
the Korean War broke out. And just
one year later Foster was lying on that
hill wondering if he would even make
it home, let alone go to college.
He did make it to college, how
ever, but not right away. It took one
year and two months in a hospital to
recover from the wounds he had re
ceived in Korea.
Upon discharge from the service in
1952, Foster started college at West
Virginia StateUniversity. He attacked
his educational program with zeal—
taking 22 hours most of the time and
graduating in three and one-hal f years.
With a Bachelor of Science degree
and a double major in business educa
tion and pre-law, he went looking for
work. All he could find was a job as a
dishwasher at the Charleston, West
Virginia Airport. Some of his friends
put him down; a man with a college
degree should not be washing dishes.
“I knew it was temporary,” said
Foster. “I always had faith that God
would later give me the type of job I
desired. But he went beyond that. I
had desired to teach on the high school
level but God took me beyond that to
the university level.”
But before Foster reached either of
these goals, he had two other jobs.
Finding out that he could make
twice the money waxing cars, he left
his job washing dishes. In fact, he
made enough money that he bought
himself a fairly new car. His boss took
a look at his car and his college de
gree—and fired him.
It was 1957 and Foster had no job
prospects. He needed to continue
supporting his family and yet he had
no idea what he was going to do. But
once again God came through with
help.
Foster’s wife. Ruby, was working
for a lawyer at the time and her boss
gave Foster a sealed letter. He told
Foster to take it to the posunaster in
Cleveland, Ohio. When Foster did
this, the postmaster immediately of
fered him a job, which Foster ac
cepted.
“It shows that it’s not what you
know, but who you know,” said Fos
ter.
Two years later in 1959, the place
ment office of West Virginia Univer
sity, Foster’s alma mater, contacted
him about a vacancy at a high school
in North Carolina. Foster applied for
the teaching position and fmally his
initial goal of teaching high school
became a reality at P. W. Moore High
School in Elizabeth City.
Twelve years later, at a car wash,
Foster just happened to talk to Presi
dent Marion Thorpe of Elizabeth City
State University. Thorpe asked Foster
if he would be interested in the posi
tion of Assistant Director of Financial
Aid at ECSU. Foster applied for and
received this position in 1971. He
held the position for four years.
Eighteen years later Foster applied
t
The Rev. Charles Foster poses on the ECSU campus during a recent
spring afternoon. Foster, Director of the University’s Career Placement
Service, counsels students on job opportunities, and helps them find
employment in their fields. He also helps students learn howto be inter
viewed and write resumes. TheWest Virginia native is known as a caring
instructor who is sincerely interested in the welfare of the University’s
students.
Photo by Uraula McMiUion
for and received the position of Direc
tor of the University Center in August
of 1989. Foster held that position up
until a little over a year ago. When the
position of Director of Career Plan
ning and Placement became avail
able, he prayed and asked God for this
new posiUon. At first it looked like the
answer to that prayer was “no” be
cause he received a letter saying that
he had not been accepted for the posi
tion. But, shortly after receiving that
notice. Chancellor Jimmy R. Jenkins
stopped him on campus and told him
that he did have the job.
This experience, as well as many
others, has caused Foster to say,
“Things that have happened are
prayers answered. ..I don ’ t look on any
day as a bad day. I take the bitter with
the sweet. I don’t complain because I
believewhattheBiblesays, ‘All things
work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.’ ”
This positive attitude helps Rever
end Charles Foster in his current posi
tion as Director of Planning and Place
ment Now he counsels students about
job opportunities and the future of
different majors. He also helps stu
dents prepare and apply for graduate
school and teaches them how to sell
themselves to future employers. And
he plans and sponsors job fairs in all
fields.
He has also sponsored seminars in
residence halls and the University
Center which help students learn how
to be interviewed and how to write
resumes. Foster’s office also puls out
a monthly newsletter which informs
students about career opportunities.
In between all these activities Foster
teaches World Civilization in the ex
tended day program at ECSU.
“He’s a very understanding per
son,” said Pauline Harris, an ECSU
student “Very calm. He takes time
with you, to help you. He cares whether
you get your work done or not and
whether you are doing well in class or
not He’s a good teacher.”
Foster isalsothepastoroftheHoly
Trinity Community Church in Eliza
beth City. And he has run for a few
political offices.
Having run once for County Com
missioner, he lost by only 44 votes.
And he has run twice for a seat in the
North Carolina House of Representa
tives.
“I’ve always studied politics. Ami
a lot of politicians did not win the firJ
time. It takes a while for a new namt
to become a household word.”
Foster added that he comes froniii
family of politicians. His grandfatte
was “Mr. Democrat” in his hoint
county.
“So many people think politics is
for crooks. But government was nfl
set up for crooks. Working for tls
government doesn’t mean compro
mising my principles.
“For instance. I’m against a stalt
lottery. There are other ways than
gambling. I’d propose another
But it would not be horse racing.”
Even though Foster is busy, hfj
tries to keep his life balanced.
“It’s all a matter of budgeting youj
time,” he said. So he carefully pla"®!
what he is going to do and when^j
even to laying out the clothes he will!
wear. And, of course, he budge'll
money, also.
“It’s not how much you make W'
what you do with what you make. ’t'fi
said.
Foster and his wife, the fon"®
Ruby Mitchell, have raised seveH;
children. Five are already universilj
graduates. Three of these graduated
from ECSU. His sixth child, adaugt>';
ter, is in law school. His youngest,
also a daughter, is a pre-med studeJi
here at ECSU. !
Foster has two master’s degrees
one in guidance counseling from Vii,
ginia State University and the other ii
divinity from Virginia Union Theo-,
logical Seminary. He has also donjj
work on a doctorate at Virginia Tec*
Foster manages to combine wof»
fun, and a strong sense of responsibi j
ity. ,1
“I'd like to say to young pe^P i
enrolled in college: God will enab*.
you to accomplish your goals.
must have patience and wait for Gw ,
liming, though. You will want tlu*'^*
to happen. But if you persevere ^ '
have endurance, you will acconipl*^ |
your goal. And you might even e*
ceed it,” said Foster.
J