The last days with my kids at Gisimba were so warm and heartfelt – I began to realize for the first time just how hard it was going to be to say goodbye...It was a week of exams, even for the five year olds!
I helped the teacher prepare the drawing for the "parts of a plant" exam, using the banana tree picture I had taught them earlier in the year. During their exam, I sat with a few of the kids who were struggling figuring out where on the paper to write their answers. I realized by sitting with them individually that they could indeed name the parts of the plant (leaf, flower, fruit, stem, roots) but just did not know where to write the answers. I got approval from the teacher to go ahead and write the answers if they knew them properly. One of the girls, Agape, was nearly in tears because she didn’t know where to write the answers. I called her over, sat her on my lap, and gave her exciting “great job!!” responses when she got each one right. I was so thrilled to see how her mood improved dramatically. Such serious young students! The kids were doing another exam to test their ability to form letters and had to make the letter E with clay. I was assigned the exciting task of walking through the kids and assigning them their score: excellent, very good, or good. :-) It was exciting to be playing such a role in their final week.
There is a really quiet girl, Rita, who I realized just sits mostly by herself during the recess break after their breakfast. One day the last week I sat next to her on the ledge and put my hand on her back. She looked up at me, smiled, put her hand on my leg, and we just sat there watching the other kids play. This lasted for only a few moments due to the other children finding an easy opportunity to jump on the teacher, but for those few minutes, I felt at such peace with this small, innocent little life...These are the quiet moments that make life worth living...
Thursday I began making paper hats for the end-of-year school party the teacher was going to have the following Friday. I folded five different versions of a paper hat for the teacher to select one. I proceeded then with 37 copies of that hat! We drew pictures and colored them to get them all decorated. We also worked on cutting out 37 pairs of paper eyeglasses. What a crazy fun party I am sure this was on Friday, which I had to miss!
Last Friday was my last real day to spend with the kids at the nursery school. Wanting to leave something special for each of them, I decided to make some certificates for them, each with a phrase as to why I loved their presence in my class. I spent an entire evening cutting, gluing, writing and stickering each one. For each of my teachers, I wrote a letter and gave a chocolate bar. For Jean Paul and Kharim, I wrote each a special note, trying to reinforce the importance of persuing goals and believing in yourself and working hard for that which you believe. When I exchanged my note with Jean Paul, he gave me a folder of beautiful necklaces made there at Gisimba and a short but sweet note thanking me for me time there. For Kharim, I decided I would read it to him to ensure he would actually understood it all (considering I was teaching him how to read). It was really challenging for me, and I found myself trying so hard to fight back the tears. I told him how proud I was of him and that I hoped he could learn from this experience that anything is possible if you work hard enough at it. I hoped, too, that he would be able to continue learning English after I left...You see, I have had this fear that my time there with him may not end up having any long term effect if he doesn´t keep trying to learn. I just have to keep hoping and praying that he will find the strength to believe in himself and to keep pushing himself forward. Some of these kids have their own internal discipline whereas others live simply day by day and plan little for their future. Kharim had fallen into that latter category, but with some of our talks, I hope he can change his perspectives...he sat there as I read my note to him and hugged me and told me he would never forget me...it is true that he will always have a special place in my heart. I think if I could have adopted a 16 year old child, I would have brought him home with me! We spent that afternoon reading a couple of books. He gathered some of the other kids together with whom he had taught some singing and dancing for other visitors and they sang for me. What beautiful voices from heaven...I was so very thankful for my camera to be able to capture such moments to treasure them for years to come. I played some foot-stomping and hand clapping games, too, with some of the other girls. It was so adorable because I had yet to figure out how one actually wins at this game and how they know what clapping pattern to have and when to put out their foot. It became evident to me that for the first time they were actually trying to teach me how to play instead of just laughing with me! :-) And by them doing this, I actually finally learned the point! Only took me three months!
So, although I was prepared for Friday to be my very last day, when I reconfirmed with my teacher, she asked that I come back on Monday. Little did I know at that time how little time I would actually have on Monday to spend with the kdis...when I did arrive after a long morning at the local police (that story will be explained below!!), I discovered that the teachers wanted to make me an African outfit! Anna-Marie took me to the local market to let me pick out a beautiful African batik. Returning to Gisimba, my measurements were taken and I realized I had to return the following day – my very last day in Rwanda – to pick it up. It was so beautiful, but more than anything, I was so moved that they wanted to do something so special for me! I went three months at Gisimba wondering if I was really bonding with the teachers and it wasn’t until my very last day that I realized just how much I was going to miss them, too! They kept joking, asking me to stay just a little longer. It made me feel so special and really touched my soul...
...and how my spirit has been forever shaped by the children at Gisimba....Gisimba is such a well-funded orphanage by the Belgiums that they tend to have a lot of visitors coming through to greet the children. It seems that these kids are so used to having visitors around that they do not necessarily need the attention and love of the visitors or volunteers. They always seem so independent and rely heavily on the house mothers and the older orphans for all their concerns and needs. Having spent three months there, it was evident that there were some kids who had become accustomed to my being there, but even so, it seems that they are so used to saying goodbye and letting people go that saying bye wasn’t so difficult for them. On my last day, for each hug I shared with these kids, I held on just a little longer...I love them all, each for their own unique charm! It was certainly much harder for me to let them go than the other way around. And not being able to share in English exactly what I was feeling, I did the best I could to keep my tears hidden....As I write this now, it is safe to say I am shedding more tears now than I did that day. Getting ready for my departure I was full of so many contradictory emotions. But now, as I sit here, just remembering their smiles and their laughter and their innocence, I cannot help but have a longing in my heart for them. I know they will all be fine. It is crazy how, as a volunteer, you enter into such an experience wanting to enrich the lives of these children and show them the unconditional love that you think they may be lacking. However, by the end you begin to realize just how much it may be more the other way around. These children have really taught me something about life and love and caring and what it means to truly overcome challenging situations. Their energy and enthusiasm and love for life are all incredibly contagious.........
After my emotional goodbyes, my final weekend I spent traveling to Gisenyi with two other volunteers. This town is in the northwest part of the country, boarding Goma in the DRC. Just at the northern tip of Lake Kivu, the views and beaches were to be incredible and would be a great way to end my stay in Rwanda...It was an exciting weekend, but was full of more rain storms than I would like to remember....little did I know that just 48 hours before my departure, there would be more excitment to endure.....
Returning from the weekend in Gisenyi, our volunteer group of seven decided to meet at a restaurant we had been to for so many other volunteer farewell dinners. After waiting for an hour for the other volunteers to meet us in town, we placed our pizza orders and I was so incredibly disappointed to learn that there was no spinach for my favorite spinach pizza!! From the exhausting and draining weekend, I was so disappointed. After about five minutes thinking of what else I felt like, the woman taking our order came to me and told me not to worry – she was going to the market to buy me some spinach! I couldn´t believe it! This is how life in Rwanda is. No other customers in the restaurant so their goal is to satisfy those that are there...it was so incredibly sweet! I was thinking to myself how I needed to get a photo with this woman when we were done with dinner...
Since the place was pretty empty, we had been storing our backpacks at the booth behind us. After placing the order with the woman, there was only one person who was serving our table; a young man who seemed to care little for the real comfort of his customers. I hadn´t thought much of it until immediately after eating, I went for my camera to get a photo of my new friend, and discovered my camera was missing. It was extremely apparent, although we took a lot of time giving him the benefit of the doubt, that the young man who was our server was the guilty party. Searching for two hours through every employee´s lockers, coats, pants, and cook line, the bar, everywhere, I began to outright accuse this young man of taking my camera. It seemed that the woman who found my spinach was also a bit suspicious of him. He continued to deny and told me that only God could judge him. What if some how I was accussing the wrong person?!
I was so incredibly emotional! I had been downloading photos to my jump drive throughout my stay, but the memory card on my camera contained all of the video and photos of my farewell with the children at Gisimba from that Friday. We tried numerous times to tell him and to just announce in the restaurant that if suddenly the memory card just appeared on the counter, we would leave and be fine...the camera was of little importance; it was all of the pictures on the card that were so meaningful and would be sorely missed...Nothing happened. By this time, the entire staff was helping us look. They called the manager who showed up and with whom we went through the same questioning. After a little longer, he decided to go pick up a couple of police officers and bring them by to help us solve the problem. As hopeless as it may have seemed, everything in Rwanda is about making guests feel comfortable. It was obvious, since no one else was coming or going, that someone on his staff took the camera, and he wasn´t going to just forget about it. After another hour or so with the police (four hours in total just looking and questioning and accusing...), they took the young man to jail to hold him overnight. I was to return at 8am the following morning to give my official statement.
Waking up the next morning, I felt incredibly hopeless. What incentive did this young man have to turn over the camera?! Another volunteer came with me to the station and thank goodness she did! It was over an hour wait of watching and listening to random prisoners before I was able to meet with someone and recount all of events from the previous night – how exhausting that was! I kept thinking that I was just wasting my time. I would have rather been at Gisimba trying to capture new photos of all my kids to try and replace those that had been lost...but I only had a few hours to get there to do it, and here I was filing a report for a missing camera...who was I kidding?!
After an interesting questioning session, they decided to go and see if the guy was still behind bars and to ask him a few more questions. It wasn’t long before he was out from behind bars, telling me he didn’t know what to say, and turned to my friend asking in French if he could speak with her separately. It ended up that he had spent the night in that holding cell and began questioning his life; what he was going to do about his job, his university, his family, and he realized he was sorry. He wanted to take us back to the restaurant to retrieve the camera if we would tell his boss we made an error and he could keep his job. After making a quick statement with the police that I had made a mistake and no longer needed the help of the police, we headed back to the restaurant with the kid´s identity card in my pocket – something so important to him that we could trust he wouldn´t run away on the walk...
The short of it is that I was able to get my camera back. Having been sitting in the bushes all night in the pouring rain, the camera no longer worked, but the memory card was saved! When it came time to talk to his boss, instead of telling the boss that we made as error, we told him the truth...we wanted the manager to forgive him as we did. And I did forgive him...I had been asking myself for the previous 12 hours why this was happening to me; that I had spent three months here contributing to the children in the country, helping a complete stranger sick on the road just days prior, and this was going to be the thanks I get?! It didn´t make sense. I really believe that things happen for a reason and I wanted to believe that something good could come from this entire episode. From this whole experience, if this young man could re-evaluate his priorities and perhaps change his mind about the type of character he wanted to be, than I would feel so much better about the whole thing. But when we sat with the young man in front of this boss and looked him in the eye telling him this was his chance to tell the truth, he sat there and looked at his boss and told the lie he thought we had shared. My heart sunk...I wanted so badly to believe that he was truly sorry...but lying for him in order for him to keep his job was not the right thing to do. He needed to actually apologize not just to us, but to his boss and his colleagues for the horribly long night that he caused for everyone. In the end, he lost his job and the boss made him tell his colleagues what really did happen. I want to believe that the humiliation will make him think twice in the future. I suppose I will never know what comes of him, but I can certainly pray that he will be shaped into a more honest person from having had this experience and that he can learn how telling the truth can truly free him.
Being back in the states, I have a new found appreciation for some random things: hot running water; vegetables; non-polluting vehicles; flat roads; the ease of our emergency response system.......I will forever be amazed by the incredible strength of Rwanda women and moved by the innocence of children...
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain
Finally home...but my last week in Rwanda was probably one of my most eventful and certainly the most moving...
Last Wednesday, I was walking home from Gisimba and had a sudden realization as I saw a man who was clearly in need of help: If I was laying on the side of the road, shaking with a wound on my head and foaming from the mouth, I would certainly hope that somebody, anybody, would stop to help me! Walking from Sonatube, there was such a many, laying on the side of the road, clearly injured and shaking. Yet, there was not a single person stopping to help. To be in need of help and having no number to call was very frustrating. I totally take advantage of our 911 system, to just know that help can be on the way when it is needed. I was clueless if there was any system like that in place in Rwanda. After trying to catch the attention of a few passerbys, one man did stop. He spoke only French, but he clearly understood when I said, "This man needs help. Where can I find help?" I walked to the small store I pass every day and asked the woman inside if there was an emergency number to call, that a man down the road needed help. Thank goodness the french speaking man came with me as he began explaining in kinyarwanda to her. As they tried to decide how I could find the police (who are actually posted at certain locations on the side of the road all around town, but just like at home, they are never around when you need them!), I saw the military truck driving by in the background, taking the soldiers to the placements for the evening. I asked them if the military would be able to find the police. They seemed to think so. I went quickly outside and back down the road, past the sick man who was still laying there with no help, but I didn't reach the truck before it was pulling away. I tried to stop a moto driver to ask him if he could bring a policeman to me, but he must have thought I was nuts and surly couldn't understand a thing I was saying. Just at that time, a second military truck was driving by. I followed it immediately to its stop and stood there waiting for the men to get out the back. I quickly asked, "English??" and one raised his hand. I proceeded to tell hiim that there was a man who needed help up the road and that I needed the police. He spoke to his boss real quick, asked another man to come with us, and they followed me to where the sick man was laying. I really could not believe how there was so much hesitation, as if they didn't really know what to do. This was the first moment I got close enough to the guy to see his face. He was clearly conscious at some level, but couldn´t hardly move other than the incontrollable shaking. Just looking into his eyes....I can still see him in my mind...this desperate plea for help....I reached down and just rubbed his arm, telling him we were trying to get him help, though he probably had no idea what I was saying....there is no telling how long this man layed there...the blood on his head drying and the foam or vomit on his face also nearly dried up....the military man reached down like he was checking his pulse and I asked him, is there an emergency number to call for help? he just looked at me. I said again, "we need to get this man to the hospital, what number can we call?" I gave him my phone and told him to call for help. Of course by this time there were many people standing around watching the muzunug with two military police - this surly sparked some curiosity - not the sick man on the street....I looked up and saw an ambulance from another town driving up the road and started waving my hands in the air. I cannot believe I got so lucky to find the help I needed just passing by. The ambulance stopped and a man got out to come look. We had found a piece of paper falling out of his shirt pocket. Upon further reading, we discovered the man had recently been released from a hospital of sorts, prehaps a mental hospital from the way the other men were saying he was not right in his head. I said I didn't care but that he still needed to get to a hospital now. Two men stooped down at his head and feet to lift him. I kenlt down with another man, each of us on either side of his hips, and the four of us lifted and carried him to the ambluance to load him inside. This little act had the crowd quite interested again in what the muzunugu was doing. I was a bit frustrated, to say the least. I am just so thankful that this man was able to get some help. We all thanked each other and soon went on our way. Walking home I was just so angry that no one was stopping to help this guy. I don't know if it is a cultural thing or just looking out for oneself or simply not paying attention to their surroundings, but it was really frustrating to think about at that time. Too much hatred in the world - we must really look out for each other.....but this was not the end of my run-ins with the Rwanda police.....
But more to come later today....
Last Wednesday, I was walking home from Gisimba and had a sudden realization as I saw a man who was clearly in need of help: If I was laying on the side of the road, shaking with a wound on my head and foaming from the mouth, I would certainly hope that somebody, anybody, would stop to help me! Walking from Sonatube, there was such a many, laying on the side of the road, clearly injured and shaking. Yet, there was not a single person stopping to help. To be in need of help and having no number to call was very frustrating. I totally take advantage of our 911 system, to just know that help can be on the way when it is needed. I was clueless if there was any system like that in place in Rwanda. After trying to catch the attention of a few passerbys, one man did stop. He spoke only French, but he clearly understood when I said, "This man needs help. Where can I find help?" I walked to the small store I pass every day and asked the woman inside if there was an emergency number to call, that a man down the road needed help. Thank goodness the french speaking man came with me as he began explaining in kinyarwanda to her. As they tried to decide how I could find the police (who are actually posted at certain locations on the side of the road all around town, but just like at home, they are never around when you need them!), I saw the military truck driving by in the background, taking the soldiers to the placements for the evening. I asked them if the military would be able to find the police. They seemed to think so. I went quickly outside and back down the road, past the sick man who was still laying there with no help, but I didn't reach the truck before it was pulling away. I tried to stop a moto driver to ask him if he could bring a policeman to me, but he must have thought I was nuts and surly couldn't understand a thing I was saying. Just at that time, a second military truck was driving by. I followed it immediately to its stop and stood there waiting for the men to get out the back. I quickly asked, "English??" and one raised his hand. I proceeded to tell hiim that there was a man who needed help up the road and that I needed the police. He spoke to his boss real quick, asked another man to come with us, and they followed me to where the sick man was laying. I really could not believe how there was so much hesitation, as if they didn't really know what to do. This was the first moment I got close enough to the guy to see his face. He was clearly conscious at some level, but couldn´t hardly move other than the incontrollable shaking. Just looking into his eyes....I can still see him in my mind...this desperate plea for help....I reached down and just rubbed his arm, telling him we were trying to get him help, though he probably had no idea what I was saying....there is no telling how long this man layed there...the blood on his head drying and the foam or vomit on his face also nearly dried up....the military man reached down like he was checking his pulse and I asked him, is there an emergency number to call for help? he just looked at me. I said again, "we need to get this man to the hospital, what number can we call?" I gave him my phone and told him to call for help. Of course by this time there were many people standing around watching the muzunug with two military police - this surly sparked some curiosity - not the sick man on the street....I looked up and saw an ambulance from another town driving up the road and started waving my hands in the air. I cannot believe I got so lucky to find the help I needed just passing by. The ambulance stopped and a man got out to come look. We had found a piece of paper falling out of his shirt pocket. Upon further reading, we discovered the man had recently been released from a hospital of sorts, prehaps a mental hospital from the way the other men were saying he was not right in his head. I said I didn't care but that he still needed to get to a hospital now. Two men stooped down at his head and feet to lift him. I kenlt down with another man, each of us on either side of his hips, and the four of us lifted and carried him to the ambluance to load him inside. This little act had the crowd quite interested again in what the muzunugu was doing. I was a bit frustrated, to say the least. I am just so thankful that this man was able to get some help. We all thanked each other and soon went on our way. Walking home I was just so angry that no one was stopping to help this guy. I don't know if it is a cultural thing or just looking out for oneself or simply not paying attention to their surroundings, but it was really frustrating to think about at that time. Too much hatred in the world - we must really look out for each other.....but this was not the end of my run-ins with the Rwanda police.....
But more to come later today....
Friday, October 22, 2010
L'Esperance.....hope
I must say, that the most incredible part of my entire time here was my trip this last weekend to another orphanage called L'Esperance. Maureen and I took a three hour bus ride to Kibuye and then embarked on a 90 minute motobike ride - up, down and around dirt and gravel roads, with rolling hills and views of Lake Kivu all around. I scheduled this trip after my visit with Manna Energy last month so that I could see one of their water purification systems in place. Little did I know what I would walk into. It is an absolute paradise...which seems crazy to say considering it is an orphanage, but it is truly magical. I could literally go on for hours about my experience here, so I will try to keep it brief.
First off, the Director - Victor. He is a Guatemalan who has been at L'Esperance for over five years after having spent 20 years in Germany. With an agricultural sciences background, not only has Victor worked to get the clean water system in place, but he has plans for the entire orphanage to become self sufficient in the next few years by creating income-generating projects. One such plan is to open an eco-lodge on the lake that will help fund scholarships for the older orphans to go to university. The plans are already developed with help from a university in Colorado. The goal - to make it the first Rwanda hotel to meet LEED standards! It will be hydro and solar powered and will use the fruits that are already growing by the orphanage to provide food in its restaurant. Fruit such as pineapple, banana, and mango are already being cultivated and will soon be joined with papaya and guava. From these fruits they will begin processing dried fruit and will eventually have it shipped to Europe. He is already working with NASA and Engineers Without Boarders from Boulder, Colorado to test out a few dryers this coming January. L'Esperance has already had cows donated to them to provide milk for the children. The cows have reproduced and the idea is that they will be able to sell additional supplies of milk to local markets for more revenue. With help from Manna Energy, Victor has already switched their cooking stoves to be 80% more efficient, only using .2 cubic meters of firewood per day for 127 children and staff! Remarkable! He has a plot of land that will be used to cultivate their own firewood so they will not have to battle rights to wood in the future, with a thought, as well, to eventually use some bio fuels. A mini agricultural school and community education program are ideas on the table, as well.
So besides all these amazing plans, my experience there with the children was truly magical, as well. We arrived and were greeted by numerous smiling faces and warm hugs. We were shown our room in the Director’s small yet cozy house. With no power and evening approaching, we spent a short time with the babies as they were enjoying their dinner of rice and beans.
Suddenly a huge storm began rolling in over the hills. The wind picked up, like you would not believe, and the children began screaming and ran for cover. We headed back to the house where the wind was blowing the rain in under the doors and in the vents above the windows. Victor told us that never in five and a half years had there been such an incredible storm! After a couple of hours, when the winds calmed, we were able to stand on the porch and look out at the horizon over the lake – the lights of Goma shown bright up north in the far distance...What a beautiful site to be seen!
After a standard Rwanda dinner of beans, rice and chips by candlelight, we went out to one of the orphan’s homes where they were singing and dancing some beautiful songs that they themselves had written in years past. Having produced two different CD’s, each having been taken to space, their singing truly moved my soul. To see all the children, old and young, joining together to share in simple pleasures; it was truly special. Later some of the teenage girls were dancing all around me, so I was able to join in, trying to shadow their moves - what rhythm they have!
Saturday morning Maureen and I went to spend time with the babies during their morning wash. The house mother and older girls were preparing the little baths after which each was placed on a small mat to await their drying. We helped to dry their little bodies and get them all dressed in worn, yet cleaned clothes. Sitting on the mats after being dressed, they were fed a handful of bananas each – again, it was incredible how they were so disciplined, sitting so still. What a contrast to the incredible energy they exhibited during the rest of the day. What great leadership this woman and the older girls have shown to them.
We enjoyed an afternoon hiking to the lake and were briefed here on how the eco-lodge would be constructed across the way. Other children from a local town were enjoying time just being kids, playing in the lake, in and out of the canoes they had there.
We came back and in the afternoon took some time to play with whiffle balls, tennis balls, frisbees and jump ropes with the kids. After a couple of hours with the older girls showing me up on the jump rope and playing some great ball with the younger kids, another huge storm rolled through. You would never believe the storms that could roll through this town. I think since it is up in the hills, right off of the lake side, the storms are incredibly intense. As we all ran for cover, I was in an orphan house with some of the older teenagers. We had a great time talking about my work, their studies, favorite foods, games, etc. Then, we began talking about song and dance! They tried to teach me a beautiful Kinyarwanda song they had made and then began to teach me the traditional Intore dancing. Wow...that was an awesome experience!! Juliet, Janet, Janet and Judy - how I miss those young women! I thought the previous night would have been hard to beat, but learning from these girls was so incredible.
Sunday was a beautiful time, touring around the entire orphanage, learning more about the chores the children have, including gathering water from the system, preparing the afternoon and evening’s food, cultivating the local fruits, gathering woods and running the cook stoves among many other things. This was the time that we were really able to get more information about all of the goals and practices of L’Esperance. The trip was too quickly concluded with another 90 minute motorbike ride back to Kibuye.
I must say that in all of the time I have spent here, I haven’t yet fallen in love with this country - it has really just been the children I work with, day in and day out, from which I have found the love this country has to share. My experiences with the kids at Gisimba have been so special, and traveling around the country side has been so beautiful, but until now I have not really fallen in love with anything here. However, after this experience at L’Esperance, I feel I have a stronger reason to come back to this country so that I can see how the programs that have been implemented have all progressed, not to mention to see these beautiful faces again...
L’Esperance means hope...and this place has truly given me hope for the welfare of these children. I see that they could perhaps find an inner strength here that so many other children never have an opportunity to experience.
First off, the Director - Victor. He is a Guatemalan who has been at L'Esperance for over five years after having spent 20 years in Germany. With an agricultural sciences background, not only has Victor worked to get the clean water system in place, but he has plans for the entire orphanage to become self sufficient in the next few years by creating income-generating projects. One such plan is to open an eco-lodge on the lake that will help fund scholarships for the older orphans to go to university. The plans are already developed with help from a university in Colorado. The goal - to make it the first Rwanda hotel to meet LEED standards! It will be hydro and solar powered and will use the fruits that are already growing by the orphanage to provide food in its restaurant. Fruit such as pineapple, banana, and mango are already being cultivated and will soon be joined with papaya and guava. From these fruits they will begin processing dried fruit and will eventually have it shipped to Europe. He is already working with NASA and Engineers Without Boarders from Boulder, Colorado to test out a few dryers this coming January. L'Esperance has already had cows donated to them to provide milk for the children. The cows have reproduced and the idea is that they will be able to sell additional supplies of milk to local markets for more revenue. With help from Manna Energy, Victor has already switched their cooking stoves to be 80% more efficient, only using .2 cubic meters of firewood per day for 127 children and staff! Remarkable! He has a plot of land that will be used to cultivate their own firewood so they will not have to battle rights to wood in the future, with a thought, as well, to eventually use some bio fuels. A mini agricultural school and community education program are ideas on the table, as well.
So besides all these amazing plans, my experience there with the children was truly magical, as well. We arrived and were greeted by numerous smiling faces and warm hugs. We were shown our room in the Director’s small yet cozy house. With no power and evening approaching, we spent a short time with the babies as they were enjoying their dinner of rice and beans.
Suddenly a huge storm began rolling in over the hills. The wind picked up, like you would not believe, and the children began screaming and ran for cover. We headed back to the house where the wind was blowing the rain in under the doors and in the vents above the windows. Victor told us that never in five and a half years had there been such an incredible storm! After a couple of hours, when the winds calmed, we were able to stand on the porch and look out at the horizon over the lake – the lights of Goma shown bright up north in the far distance...What a beautiful site to be seen!
After a standard Rwanda dinner of beans, rice and chips by candlelight, we went out to one of the orphan’s homes where they were singing and dancing some beautiful songs that they themselves had written in years past. Having produced two different CD’s, each having been taken to space, their singing truly moved my soul. To see all the children, old and young, joining together to share in simple pleasures; it was truly special. Later some of the teenage girls were dancing all around me, so I was able to join in, trying to shadow their moves - what rhythm they have!
Saturday morning Maureen and I went to spend time with the babies during their morning wash. The house mother and older girls were preparing the little baths after which each was placed on a small mat to await their drying. We helped to dry their little bodies and get them all dressed in worn, yet cleaned clothes. Sitting on the mats after being dressed, they were fed a handful of bananas each – again, it was incredible how they were so disciplined, sitting so still. What a contrast to the incredible energy they exhibited during the rest of the day. What great leadership this woman and the older girls have shown to them.
We enjoyed an afternoon hiking to the lake and were briefed here on how the eco-lodge would be constructed across the way. Other children from a local town were enjoying time just being kids, playing in the lake, in and out of the canoes they had there.
We came back and in the afternoon took some time to play with whiffle balls, tennis balls, frisbees and jump ropes with the kids. After a couple of hours with the older girls showing me up on the jump rope and playing some great ball with the younger kids, another huge storm rolled through. You would never believe the storms that could roll through this town. I think since it is up in the hills, right off of the lake side, the storms are incredibly intense. As we all ran for cover, I was in an orphan house with some of the older teenagers. We had a great time talking about my work, their studies, favorite foods, games, etc. Then, we began talking about song and dance! They tried to teach me a beautiful Kinyarwanda song they had made and then began to teach me the traditional Intore dancing. Wow...that was an awesome experience!! Juliet, Janet, Janet and Judy - how I miss those young women! I thought the previous night would have been hard to beat, but learning from these girls was so incredible.
Sunday was a beautiful time, touring around the entire orphanage, learning more about the chores the children have, including gathering water from the system, preparing the afternoon and evening’s food, cultivating the local fruits, gathering woods and running the cook stoves among many other things. This was the time that we were really able to get more information about all of the goals and practices of L’Esperance. The trip was too quickly concluded with another 90 minute motorbike ride back to Kibuye.
I must say that in all of the time I have spent here, I haven’t yet fallen in love with this country - it has really just been the children I work with, day in and day out, from which I have found the love this country has to share. My experiences with the kids at Gisimba have been so special, and traveling around the country side has been so beautiful, but until now I have not really fallen in love with anything here. However, after this experience at L’Esperance, I feel I have a stronger reason to come back to this country so that I can see how the programs that have been implemented have all progressed, not to mention to see these beautiful faces again...
L’Esperance means hope...and this place has truly given me hope for the welfare of these children. I see that they could perhaps find an inner strength here that so many other children never have an opportunity to experience.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Bits and pieces
A couple of postings ago, my dear friend asked me to explain a little bit about the challenges and implications of being in a country with three national languages - Kinyarwanda, French, and English - I am very happy to do so! It is safe to say that EVERYONE here speaks Kinyarwanda. If you travel to the countryside, most often no one speaks English, a few may speak French, but most business and daily interactions are all in Kinyarwanda. French was the national language until just a year or two ago. At the time, French was the language they spoke in schools and to conduct regular everyday business in the city. The switch from French to English was implemented by the president a year or two ago in order to conduct more international business and to attract more international investment as it is more widely spoken world-wide. When he did so, schools also switched to teaching in English, which is where there have been a number of children being left behind, and when it seems that reading and dictation became more important in schools than comprehension. At any rate, it is easy to spot billboards and signs that are newer because they are posted in English. Only old signs are still up in French. French tends to be more commonly spoken between people on the street but true business has been or is moving to English. But then there are many times you can see that messages are catered specifically to the locals because such things are posted in Kinyarwanda only. Of course, things like money are printed in all three languages, but there are not many things like that. Radio shows are often in Kinyarwanda with a word here or there in French...I hope that helps explain it a bit :-)
The last couple of weeks I have been helping the teacher with writing homework assignments. Math homework for instance came from me writing the numbers 9 and 10 and drawing nine triangles and ten stars in each of the 39 kids' homework journals so they could then go home and practice copying the number. I was also helping with classroom assignments during which I hadn't realized that people still use carbon paper...yep, they resort to it here when the copier is down. I had to trace stacks of 8 carbon copies, about five times each of a drawing of a Cat and letter C and then a drawing of a Dog and letter D. That was quite the chore!
When they are teaching letters, I have found it interesting how they have the kids learn the capital letter, lowercase letter and the cursive letter, all at the same time. I honestly think it confuses them a bit. The teacher doesn't actually show the kids how to write each letter, the are just expected to figure it out. I have so much enjoyment when I get to walk around and help the kids with their writing, holding their little hands and guiding their penmanship for a few times. Working on the letter b and d, there were a handful constantly getting it backwards. I tell you, it amuses me so much when I guide their hands, "ciiiircle, biiiig top, liiiittle tail," and then they repeat after me and actually write it correctly!!
At recess, the girls have been so adorable on the play ground lately playing with these yarn dolls. They take off their sweaters, bend forward, and put the doll on their back, wrapping their sweater around their chest - so freaken adorable just playing house like little girls will do!....I also had forgotten how entertaining a game of tag can truly be. It begins with just a few kids, but soon there are about 15 all shouting, "Teacher! Doh!" I stretch out to tag them, but goodness, they are always just out of my reach! :-) Apparently tag is so much more exciting when the teacher is "It." :-)
One day last week the teacher asked me to teach about parties, so of course I asked for some clarification. "You know," she said, "holidays that you have parties for, like New Years, Christmas, Easter, Weddings and birthdays." HA! As if I have any idea how people in Rwanda celebrate such holidays! I did the best I could, but it was a challenge trying to talk to five-year-olds who don't understand my English and can hardly comprehend what a month actually is, let alone that New Year's is the first day of a year! And don't forget no Santa Clause, nor Easter Bunny, nor "da-DA-da-da" for wedding...but we did have the Happy Birthday song :-) It was amusing, to say the least.
One thing you notice walking around here is that many children will greet you, "Good morning" but they do it when it is 5 in the evening, too! I decided to take it upon myself to teach morning, afternoon and evening by drawing scenes and acting out when they wake up, arrive at school, depart from school and go to bed, among other things. It seemed like they really had fun doing it! I don't know if they really will take it with them for now, but at least the concept is introduced! ;-)
I am really going to miss the hugs I get from some of the teachers here, but most of all, the older woman who I took of photo of pounding cassava leaves. She is such a lovable and powerful woman! Every week when I see her now, she gives me the strongest, longest hugs that I can remember. Her sincerity is incredibly moving...
I have some new insight now on what it must be like to be an incredibly proud "mother" who ends up just embarrassing her children! Another volunteer works at a school Gahanga, which I went and visited a week ago. While there, I met a teacher, Jerome, who is really into music and has even recorded two songs. He is only 19, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for him to meet Kharim, since Kharim is 16 and is a music and dancing junkie! The other volunteer and I arranged this visit last Thursday at the guesthouse, complete with juice, fruit and fresh baked bread! Jerome was so great and made a CD of music for Kharim - it was so sweet. But when we all sat, complete silence! Oh, it felt so awkward, so I started just asking questions about Jerome's music and telling/asking Kharim how cool that was....then I was so horrible that I started bragging about how Kharim had read TWO short books that day!! TWO BOOKS!!! If looks could kill, I would have be dead by Kharim LOL At that moment, I realized that a 16 year old boy could easily be embarrassed about reading two short books in front of this 19 year old teacher who is a cool music guy.....UGH! Actually, it was pretty hilarious and from that point on, I cooled my jets and let them take over the afternoon conversing. My goodness, my children are going to hate me one day! LOL
After my exciting week, I had quite an incredible weekend visiting an orphanage called L'Esperance, but that will have to be its own entry. :-) I hope you all are enjoying the welcoming of autumn! I know I am so looking forward to the cooler temps when I return. Hugs to all!
The last couple of weeks I have been helping the teacher with writing homework assignments. Math homework for instance came from me writing the numbers 9 and 10 and drawing nine triangles and ten stars in each of the 39 kids' homework journals so they could then go home and practice copying the number. I was also helping with classroom assignments during which I hadn't realized that people still use carbon paper...yep, they resort to it here when the copier is down. I had to trace stacks of 8 carbon copies, about five times each of a drawing of a Cat and letter C and then a drawing of a Dog and letter D. That was quite the chore!
When they are teaching letters, I have found it interesting how they have the kids learn the capital letter, lowercase letter and the cursive letter, all at the same time. I honestly think it confuses them a bit. The teacher doesn't actually show the kids how to write each letter, the are just expected to figure it out. I have so much enjoyment when I get to walk around and help the kids with their writing, holding their little hands and guiding their penmanship for a few times. Working on the letter b and d, there were a handful constantly getting it backwards. I tell you, it amuses me so much when I guide their hands, "ciiiircle, biiiig top, liiiittle tail," and then they repeat after me and actually write it correctly!!
At recess, the girls have been so adorable on the play ground lately playing with these yarn dolls. They take off their sweaters, bend forward, and put the doll on their back, wrapping their sweater around their chest - so freaken adorable just playing house like little girls will do!....I also had forgotten how entertaining a game of tag can truly be. It begins with just a few kids, but soon there are about 15 all shouting, "Teacher! Doh!" I stretch out to tag them, but goodness, they are always just out of my reach! :-) Apparently tag is so much more exciting when the teacher is "It." :-)
One day last week the teacher asked me to teach about parties, so of course I asked for some clarification. "You know," she said, "holidays that you have parties for, like New Years, Christmas, Easter, Weddings and birthdays." HA! As if I have any idea how people in Rwanda celebrate such holidays! I did the best I could, but it was a challenge trying to talk to five-year-olds who don't understand my English and can hardly comprehend what a month actually is, let alone that New Year's is the first day of a year! And don't forget no Santa Clause, nor Easter Bunny, nor "da-DA-da-da" for wedding...but we did have the Happy Birthday song :-) It was amusing, to say the least.
One thing you notice walking around here is that many children will greet you, "Good morning" but they do it when it is 5 in the evening, too! I decided to take it upon myself to teach morning, afternoon and evening by drawing scenes and acting out when they wake up, arrive at school, depart from school and go to bed, among other things. It seemed like they really had fun doing it! I don't know if they really will take it with them for now, but at least the concept is introduced! ;-)
I am really going to miss the hugs I get from some of the teachers here, but most of all, the older woman who I took of photo of pounding cassava leaves. She is such a lovable and powerful woman! Every week when I see her now, she gives me the strongest, longest hugs that I can remember. Her sincerity is incredibly moving...
I have some new insight now on what it must be like to be an incredibly proud "mother" who ends up just embarrassing her children! Another volunteer works at a school Gahanga, which I went and visited a week ago. While there, I met a teacher, Jerome, who is really into music and has even recorded two songs. He is only 19, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for him to meet Kharim, since Kharim is 16 and is a music and dancing junkie! The other volunteer and I arranged this visit last Thursday at the guesthouse, complete with juice, fruit and fresh baked bread! Jerome was so great and made a CD of music for Kharim - it was so sweet. But when we all sat, complete silence! Oh, it felt so awkward, so I started just asking questions about Jerome's music and telling/asking Kharim how cool that was....then I was so horrible that I started bragging about how Kharim had read TWO short books that day!! TWO BOOKS!!! If looks could kill, I would have be dead by Kharim LOL At that moment, I realized that a 16 year old boy could easily be embarrassed about reading two short books in front of this 19 year old teacher who is a cool music guy.....UGH! Actually, it was pretty hilarious and from that point on, I cooled my jets and let them take over the afternoon conversing. My goodness, my children are going to hate me one day! LOL
After my exciting week, I had quite an incredible weekend visiting an orphanage called L'Esperance, but that will have to be its own entry. :-) I hope you all are enjoying the welcoming of autumn! I know I am so looking forward to the cooler temps when I return. Hugs to all!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Do not inflict your will. Just give love. The soul will take that love and put it where it can best be used. ~Emmanuel
Walking to my first bus on Mondays, I cannot help but have "A case of the Mondays," :-) But by the time I reach Gisimba and I hear the class shouting, "Good morning teacher! How are YOU?!?!" all those blues just disappear and my spirit is immediately at the will of those adorable kids! :-) Aline is one of my sweethearts and she waits for me to finish what I am working on to walk outside with her at their recess time. All she has to do is just look up and smile at me and I am sucked in! This particular Monday, after their recess time, the other teachers wanted me to teach the Little Tea Pot song to their classes. As I finished with the 3 and 4 year olds, I found my class in the toy room up on the hill. As I entered, I found all these five year olds, already sweating from running in the HOT sun at recess, with their shirts off and tied around their waists, working on some teacher-led aerobics!! LOL I suppose there is no reason why P.E. wouldnt't be part of their curriculum here, too! There was the teacher, standing in front of the class, leading them through various exercises: raising their arms to reach the sky, touching their toes; standing with arms stretched wide and fanning down to the opposite toe, all while counting "1-2-3-4,1-2-3-4," and on and on!!! It was all I could do not to laugh out loud by the pure joy I felt at seeing how much fun they were having....
Tuesday Sara and Jordan joined me at Gisimba. Apparently all teachers were off for a teacher appreciation celebration day at the National Stadium. So although my nursery school was cancelled, the orphanage was as open as ever, so off to work we went. It was so nice to have a couple of new faces there with me to help provide more attention to other kids. As we walked through the gate that morning, my sweet four-year old Laurene just ran right over to me and gave me a huge hug! That girl has the most addicting laughter! You really cannot help but feel like laughing, too, when she is with you. I often do the horsey-ride chat with her sitting on my knees, and everytime I get to the, "whoooaaaa horsey dead" part and drop her towards the ground, she just throws her head back and the sweetest "hahahaha" comes floating right out of her. Gosh, I must find a way to get that on video! She is incredibly sweet - and what a great welcome for my friends :-) We had Jordan helping Kharim with math while Sara and I kept ourselves occupied by reading and coloring and playing with the kids.
On Wednesday, a day after the break, I walked into class and the few regular trouble-makers that I still just adore got up to come give me a high-five and do this fist-bump, chest hit, peace sign that I started with them :-) Then Billy, one adorable trouble-maker, grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it! He looked up at me with this smile that I cannot forget! :-) It makes my nose tingle just remembering... even the bads kids can be incredibly sweet when they really want to :-) Although toay he was stealing stickers from the teacher's drawer! LOL Kids will be kids!
That day I was asked to teach the kids the difference between a street, a road and an alley. Although a street and road seem about the same to me, they really wanted to differenciate between the paved and non-paved. So, the teacher decided that taking the kids outside and pointing out the paved street, versus the dirt road, and the people-only alleyways was the best way to highlight the differences. I think this was just one of those things you had to be there to see, but it was so nice for me to see the students really respect the rules for once, as they were told to be quiet and walk with arms crossed as they made their way to the side of the road. Buses and motobikes, a policeman and delivery trucks were going by and Aline and others kept shouting out what they were seeing...to see how proud they are of themselves to show us that they know what is there just warms me. So special they are! Then at recess I somehow got the "ooh eee ooh ah-ah, ching chang, walla walla bing bang" song in my head and started singing with the kids....so much rediculous fun.... :-)
I have been realizing more and more these days that I really have developed such a connection with some of the kids there. It would be rediculous for me to think that since I don't know all 140-some names of everyone at Gisimba that I somehow have failed. I realized as I tried to introduce the kids to my friends that I really did know more than I tend to give myself credit for. Coming to a place like this, as much as you try not to have specific expectations, you cannot help but judge your time and wonder if you really are doing what you wanted to accomplish. It is crazy how I think many times that these kids do more to nuture my soul with love than I do for theirs.....but hey, love does make the world go round, so in many ways, I suppose it doesn't really matter so much. What I do know is that as my final weeks are counting down, I have been filled with some mixed emotions. With just a few weeks left, I find myself missing them already, wondering what impression will be left on them when I leave. I have tried really hard to show them as much love as I can, and to nurture their gentle souls to help them simply believe in themselves, whether through coloring or playing car games or reading....I do know that I have forever been changed by them...
Tuesday Sara and Jordan joined me at Gisimba. Apparently all teachers were off for a teacher appreciation celebration day at the National Stadium. So although my nursery school was cancelled, the orphanage was as open as ever, so off to work we went. It was so nice to have a couple of new faces there with me to help provide more attention to other kids. As we walked through the gate that morning, my sweet four-year old Laurene just ran right over to me and gave me a huge hug! That girl has the most addicting laughter! You really cannot help but feel like laughing, too, when she is with you. I often do the horsey-ride chat with her sitting on my knees, and everytime I get to the, "whoooaaaa horsey dead" part and drop her towards the ground, she just throws her head back and the sweetest "hahahaha" comes floating right out of her. Gosh, I must find a way to get that on video! She is incredibly sweet - and what a great welcome for my friends :-) We had Jordan helping Kharim with math while Sara and I kept ourselves occupied by reading and coloring and playing with the kids.
On Wednesday, a day after the break, I walked into class and the few regular trouble-makers that I still just adore got up to come give me a high-five and do this fist-bump, chest hit, peace sign that I started with them :-) Then Billy, one adorable trouble-maker, grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it! He looked up at me with this smile that I cannot forget! :-) It makes my nose tingle just remembering... even the bads kids can be incredibly sweet when they really want to :-) Although toay he was stealing stickers from the teacher's drawer! LOL Kids will be kids!
That day I was asked to teach the kids the difference between a street, a road and an alley. Although a street and road seem about the same to me, they really wanted to differenciate between the paved and non-paved. So, the teacher decided that taking the kids outside and pointing out the paved street, versus the dirt road, and the people-only alleyways was the best way to highlight the differences. I think this was just one of those things you had to be there to see, but it was so nice for me to see the students really respect the rules for once, as they were told to be quiet and walk with arms crossed as they made their way to the side of the road. Buses and motobikes, a policeman and delivery trucks were going by and Aline and others kept shouting out what they were seeing...to see how proud they are of themselves to show us that they know what is there just warms me. So special they are! Then at recess I somehow got the "ooh eee ooh ah-ah, ching chang, walla walla bing bang" song in my head and started singing with the kids....so much rediculous fun.... :-)
I have been realizing more and more these days that I really have developed such a connection with some of the kids there. It would be rediculous for me to think that since I don't know all 140-some names of everyone at Gisimba that I somehow have failed. I realized as I tried to introduce the kids to my friends that I really did know more than I tend to give myself credit for. Coming to a place like this, as much as you try not to have specific expectations, you cannot help but judge your time and wonder if you really are doing what you wanted to accomplish. It is crazy how I think many times that these kids do more to nuture my soul with love than I do for theirs.....but hey, love does make the world go round, so in many ways, I suppose it doesn't really matter so much. What I do know is that as my final weeks are counting down, I have been filled with some mixed emotions. With just a few weeks left, I find myself missing them already, wondering what impression will be left on them when I leave. I have tried really hard to show them as much love as I can, and to nurture their gentle souls to help them simply believe in themselves, whether through coloring or playing car games or reading....I do know that I have forever been changed by them...
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ah yes - so I feel quite refreshed after having just had a small ice cream cup from a local supermarket! My ice cream addiction has been quite unsatisfied since I have been here, and I will be honest and say that I am looking forward to a big bowl with some chocolate syrup when I get home! ;-)
My week at school has been quite fun, though no incredible incidents have taken place. I have learned how to get their attention a bit more in class - "Muceceke! (Be quiet) Umva! (listen) Sipio? (understand?)" :-) .....By now it seems the kids have made huge progress on the months of the year and they all pretty much have learned the days of the weeks. They continue to point to my colored signs that I hung in the back of the classroom and it makes me smile and feel so happy when I hear them chanting away as a group - although I will keep working on their pronunciation of TH-ursday! I made some progress coloring the sheet of flowers that will serve as the cover for their art books. Other activities included reviewing letters I and B and coloring photocopies of my "work" drawings I made. I have really done well learning the names of all of my students, too, which is so awesome when I can just holler out to any student whose attention I need to get! :-) Such a cool feeling, too, when they look at me like, wow - she knows my name?!
Back at the house, we have been losing power a lot more than ever before and even went nearly 24 hours without. It isn't so bad except that it gets dark by 6:30 so you have a hard time finding a reason to stay up at night! :-) One night us three girls had quite the time trying to both avoid contact but chase and kill this massive cockroach around the living room! It was nothing I had seen before, which eyes that actually looked at you! Ugh!! I was finally able to get him down with y sandal but I will be honest in saying that we have spent the last few days staring at the corners of the living room, just waiting for his friends to come, too! UGH!
With the welcoming of October, we received five new volunteers on Thursday night, so we are now at nine. Three from Australia, one from England, and one from Canada. As before, it will be very interesting to see how the dynamics of the house change during my last month here.
Saturday while five volunteers went to Gisenyi, I took a day trip with another volunteer to Nyanza where the "Palace Museum" and art center are located. It is a small town that I sense does not get many tourists coming through. After the two hour ride, we walked for about 35 minutes and it was one of the more "modern" residential areas I had been in. The town was quite picturesque and the people were very kind but also kept to themselves. We had just a handful of kids that would briefly follow us on the walk, but other than that, it was simple, friendly "Muzungu, Amakuru?" greetings from strangers on the street.
When we arrived, a very friendly young man took us towards to house and acted as our guide for the afternoon. The first home we saw was the house built for the king during colonization in the 1930's and was lived in until the late 1950's. When we first approached, we were asked to remove our shoes - they really take much pride in the appearance and upkeep of this area. The house was a long building with doors for each room on both sides. The rooms were quite modern geometric patterns painted on the walls in dark shades of red, green, blue and yellow. There were historical photos all over the walls ranging from when the Belgiums first came to greet the king, dressed in very traditional clothing with a spear in one hand and his thatched hut behind him; to photos in the 1950's when the next king was visiting Belgium, dressed in a suit boarding a helicopter. These photos clearly demonstrated how just 25 years of colonization completely changed the livelihood of these people.
The first couple rooms were work areas for the king to finalize business for the various communities and tribes. There were three main common rooms, one each for greeting regular visitors, chiefs of various districts, and for Europeans. Some rooms were decorated with 120 unique spears that represent protection. There were fireplaces in two of the rooms and the bureaus and tables were constructed in very expensive looking dark wood. This house clearly demonstrated the effects of colonization on the daily living style for the king, even with modern bath tubs and sinks in the bathrooms.
As we were on the tour of the house, there were many local Rwandans also visiting the museum. It was so interesting to hear them as more detailed questions, obvious that they had studied their history and were pieces together other stories they had heard with the photos on the walls and the stories we were being told. It was a real treat, adding a whole unique dynamic to the tour.
From the back area you could look out across a deep valley to a hill on the other side and see a massive white mansion. This house was built by the king after he had traveled to Beligum and had seen homes in Europe. Returning to Rwanda, he wanted a house built more for a king and thus started work on this one. However, he died before he could ever move in. I am not sure what it used to be, but the last few years it has served as an art museum, which we also visited later in the day.
The next area we toured was the chief's traditional house that had since been reconstructed, but had been lived in until the Belgiums came to Rwanda. There was a tall straw/bamboo fence around the communal area into which all visitors had to be invited. The house on the outside is built in a circular fashion with a small entryway in front. In front of the entryway there was a red circular porch with a white ledge in the front which apparently could not be stepped over. Visitors would first be welcomed into this main communal area and then would be called to the front of the house by the king when he was ready to see them. They would have to walk to the left side of the porch area and approach the king from a break in the white ledge there. Once invited inside, there was a a second circular wall constructed from numerous narrow weaved panels. This divided the foyer area from the living area. Guests inside were divided - men on the left, women on the right - from where they had to further await to be called into the main room. The entrance of the main room had a hearth in the middle, used both for cooking and for heat. Only med could be inside this main area. The women had to go past this entrance, around to the back to meet with the king's wife there. The back of the visiting room had a break in the panel, behind which a ledge was constructed that the king slept on. He was surrounded by baskets that were used for storing clothes and one special basket holding a gourd used to drink banana beer before bed. His wife, since she could not be in the main room, had a separate entrance to the bed from the back of the house.
When exiting the main house, you walked behind and faced two other huts of nearly the same set up, only on a smaller scale. One to the left was used to store milk and had to be guarded by a young virgin girl so as to not contaminate their milk. There were gourds and wooden containers of various sizes that were used to store the milk before bringing out to the king. The hut to the right was used to store their beer, which was always guarded by a young virgin boy. The first thing you notice about this hut is the missing white ledge in front. Apparently, they did not have this ledge as all the boys guarding the beer would live in constant intoxication so the ledge was left off to avoid them tripping and spilling the beer as they delivered it to the king. Inside there were different containers to hold their various beers - sorghum, honey and banana.
One thing that really surprised me as I walked through all of these houses was how incredibly cool it was inside. They really knew how to use their local resources to construct a cozy and cool hut to call home.
When we left the king's palace, we walked around the valley to the house on the opposite hill to visit the art museum there. Most of the pieces inside were from 2004 and 2006 so we speculated there must have been some art competition during those years. The pieces were quite remarkable - many clearly inspired by horrific sights during the genocide, but others quite the opposite, depicting in 3-d the artists' impressions of modern development in Rwanda and its place in Africa. It was really quite fascinating and I cannot wait to share some of the photos I was able to capture.
My week at school has been quite fun, though no incredible incidents have taken place. I have learned how to get their attention a bit more in class - "Muceceke! (Be quiet) Umva! (listen) Sipio? (understand?)" :-) .....By now it seems the kids have made huge progress on the months of the year and they all pretty much have learned the days of the weeks. They continue to point to my colored signs that I hung in the back of the classroom and it makes me smile and feel so happy when I hear them chanting away as a group - although I will keep working on their pronunciation of TH-ursday! I made some progress coloring the sheet of flowers that will serve as the cover for their art books. Other activities included reviewing letters I and B and coloring photocopies of my "work" drawings I made. I have really done well learning the names of all of my students, too, which is so awesome when I can just holler out to any student whose attention I need to get! :-) Such a cool feeling, too, when they look at me like, wow - she knows my name?!
Back at the house, we have been losing power a lot more than ever before and even went nearly 24 hours without. It isn't so bad except that it gets dark by 6:30 so you have a hard time finding a reason to stay up at night! :-) One night us three girls had quite the time trying to both avoid contact but chase and kill this massive cockroach around the living room! It was nothing I had seen before, which eyes that actually looked at you! Ugh!! I was finally able to get him down with y sandal but I will be honest in saying that we have spent the last few days staring at the corners of the living room, just waiting for his friends to come, too! UGH!
With the welcoming of October, we received five new volunteers on Thursday night, so we are now at nine. Three from Australia, one from England, and one from Canada. As before, it will be very interesting to see how the dynamics of the house change during my last month here.
Saturday while five volunteers went to Gisenyi, I took a day trip with another volunteer to Nyanza where the "Palace Museum" and art center are located. It is a small town that I sense does not get many tourists coming through. After the two hour ride, we walked for about 35 minutes and it was one of the more "modern" residential areas I had been in. The town was quite picturesque and the people were very kind but also kept to themselves. We had just a handful of kids that would briefly follow us on the walk, but other than that, it was simple, friendly "Muzungu, Amakuru?" greetings from strangers on the street.
When we arrived, a very friendly young man took us towards to house and acted as our guide for the afternoon. The first home we saw was the house built for the king during colonization in the 1930's and was lived in until the late 1950's. When we first approached, we were asked to remove our shoes - they really take much pride in the appearance and upkeep of this area. The house was a long building with doors for each room on both sides. The rooms were quite modern geometric patterns painted on the walls in dark shades of red, green, blue and yellow. There were historical photos all over the walls ranging from when the Belgiums first came to greet the king, dressed in very traditional clothing with a spear in one hand and his thatched hut behind him; to photos in the 1950's when the next king was visiting Belgium, dressed in a suit boarding a helicopter. These photos clearly demonstrated how just 25 years of colonization completely changed the livelihood of these people.
The first couple rooms were work areas for the king to finalize business for the various communities and tribes. There were three main common rooms, one each for greeting regular visitors, chiefs of various districts, and for Europeans. Some rooms were decorated with 120 unique spears that represent protection. There were fireplaces in two of the rooms and the bureaus and tables were constructed in very expensive looking dark wood. This house clearly demonstrated the effects of colonization on the daily living style for the king, even with modern bath tubs and sinks in the bathrooms.
As we were on the tour of the house, there were many local Rwandans also visiting the museum. It was so interesting to hear them as more detailed questions, obvious that they had studied their history and were pieces together other stories they had heard with the photos on the walls and the stories we were being told. It was a real treat, adding a whole unique dynamic to the tour.
From the back area you could look out across a deep valley to a hill on the other side and see a massive white mansion. This house was built by the king after he had traveled to Beligum and had seen homes in Europe. Returning to Rwanda, he wanted a house built more for a king and thus started work on this one. However, he died before he could ever move in. I am not sure what it used to be, but the last few years it has served as an art museum, which we also visited later in the day.
The next area we toured was the chief's traditional house that had since been reconstructed, but had been lived in until the Belgiums came to Rwanda. There was a tall straw/bamboo fence around the communal area into which all visitors had to be invited. The house on the outside is built in a circular fashion with a small entryway in front. In front of the entryway there was a red circular porch with a white ledge in the front which apparently could not be stepped over. Visitors would first be welcomed into this main communal area and then would be called to the front of the house by the king when he was ready to see them. They would have to walk to the left side of the porch area and approach the king from a break in the white ledge there. Once invited inside, there was a a second circular wall constructed from numerous narrow weaved panels. This divided the foyer area from the living area. Guests inside were divided - men on the left, women on the right - from where they had to further await to be called into the main room. The entrance of the main room had a hearth in the middle, used both for cooking and for heat. Only med could be inside this main area. The women had to go past this entrance, around to the back to meet with the king's wife there. The back of the visiting room had a break in the panel, behind which a ledge was constructed that the king slept on. He was surrounded by baskets that were used for storing clothes and one special basket holding a gourd used to drink banana beer before bed. His wife, since she could not be in the main room, had a separate entrance to the bed from the back of the house.
When exiting the main house, you walked behind and faced two other huts of nearly the same set up, only on a smaller scale. One to the left was used to store milk and had to be guarded by a young virgin girl so as to not contaminate their milk. There were gourds and wooden containers of various sizes that were used to store the milk before bringing out to the king. The hut to the right was used to store their beer, which was always guarded by a young virgin boy. The first thing you notice about this hut is the missing white ledge in front. Apparently, they did not have this ledge as all the boys guarding the beer would live in constant intoxication so the ledge was left off to avoid them tripping and spilling the beer as they delivered it to the king. Inside there were different containers to hold their various beers - sorghum, honey and banana.
One thing that really surprised me as I walked through all of these houses was how incredibly cool it was inside. They really knew how to use their local resources to construct a cozy and cool hut to call home.
When we left the king's palace, we walked around the valley to the house on the opposite hill to visit the art museum there. Most of the pieces inside were from 2004 and 2006 so we speculated there must have been some art competition during those years. The pieces were quite remarkable - many clearly inspired by horrific sights during the genocide, but others quite the opposite, depicting in 3-d the artists' impressions of modern development in Rwanda and its place in Africa. It was really quite fascinating and I cannot wait to share some of the photos I was able to capture.
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