Mzuni - a university campus in the forest

Imagine a standard university campus: how would it look like?

Probably lots of tall grey buildings connected by pavements and some 'outdoor' spaces squeezed in between. A few benches placed on some concrete slabs next to busy roads for students to hang around. And wrappings from Greggs scattered around.

Mzuzu University - or Mzuni, for short - is nothing like it. Established in 1997 and the second largest University in the country since, it took over what was previous a teacher training campus. We deviate from the main road to pass a gate, and what opens under my eyes is a stretch of green. There are so many tall trees that it looks like a forest managed by National Trust. Scattered around, several little one-floor buildings - what in the UK you would call 'bungalows' - the size of a two bed flat. Around each of them, well maintained gardens with banana trees and exotic flower. Perfectly mowed grass. The paths are not paved, and this is where my romanticisation of Mzuni campus may end, if the rains start again. The colour of the soil, though, with it's reddish dark colour typical of African countries, is enough to fit into the romantic vibe for now. 

Everything is so quiet. Students are sitting their exams those days, and walk around in groups chatting about how the exams went. I feel like I am in some kind of holiday resort. Everything is clean. I lift my head and I can see only leaves. There are some very loud birds hidden in them, and I can't avoid thinking what a beautiful place this is for learning, teaching and intellectual inspiration.

Some of the students live in campus, accommodated in the 'hostels' - just some other small bungalows placed next to office buildings. Some have hanged their washing out - a luxury in the UK! - and I can't avoid smiling at this mingling between academic life and mundane human chores.

My office is small as well, almost like a little house with a few rooms with equally few people in. This cozy, familiar atmosphere makes me feel immediately at home. Everyone is friendly and smiling at me, but not with that insistence I experienced in Kenya.

Today, I had the most productive afternoon in a while with my colleagues and I wonder if the leaves and the green have to do with it!