22/9
Yay for this week. Truly the best part of it has been spending a few hours with the women of the cooperative. I've learned to embroider. And Ma, if you read this, I'd love some embroidery floss to practice with and maybe a few patterns. (I realized this as soon as we got off the phone). Now I'm baking oatmeal cookies and prepping things to head off tomorrow to Kigali. I'm excited cause by complete coincidence, some of my favorite people will also be there tomorrow, albeit in transit, and we'll get to spend the night together. It's amazing to think about only seeing your best friends once a month or so. I never would've even thought of taking that for granted in the states, but everything seems like you take it for granted when you compare it to things here.
24/9
So I mentioned before how much the kids love to touch my skin. I've taken it to a whole new level and may have created a monster. I started instituting the high five as my incentive for right answers and participation in my pre-school classes. This seemed like a great idea at first. It was a great motivation. Pay attention...say things right, get to touch teacher. It has been very successful in Top & Middle classes. Of course, in Baby Class (3-5 yr. olds...things get warped. It's become a quest to touch me and my clothes whenever I'm anywhere near them and I have to dodge and bob and weave to get away from them sometimes...funny though. There are so many things they do that i have to try not to laugh at, cause it's hillarious, but it's usually things they are not supposed to be doing.
One great moment, luckily, sans rule-breaking was when I was teaching the kids how to make paper airplanes. It sounds really funny, but for them, it's like one of their 3 toys, if that. And when I told them they could decorate them any way they wanted, they died. They loved it so much and they're starting to learn to fold paper, which seems simple but they never really work on motor skills here so it's really great! But the other day, one girl was folding but had her hands full so she just took her cheek and slid it along the paper on her desk and I just laughed out loud. I could see her confusion and then her solution and it got me through the day. But the kids' reaction to my laughing out loud was equally amusing. I have a feeling they don't see it often. It's odd, and this is a very personal observation, but I have noticed a lot of reservation with that sort of thing. It's a high compliment here to be called a "serious" person. I'm sure you know how I feel about that...all very interesting. Still in the observation phase...still learning so much. I'm excited to get back together with my training group Health 3 in a month to discuss everything for a week at our In-Service Training! Just counting down the days and loving my time with my friends in the city this weekend.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Just singing in the rain...I'm laughing at clouds
Today, after I had finished all my clothes and sheet washing and after I had gone into town to buy phone credit and veggie fajita supplies, I was sitting by my window and I just watched the most delicious thunderstorm roll in. Above me and to the West it was still blue skies and white fluffy clouds but coming quickly in with the strong breeze were the most wonderful dark, heavy looking clouds. Here, rain is such a welcome change. The rainy season is my favorite (even though, granted, I've really only had one other to compare it to). BUT especially out East, where it's so hot and the sun is so strong that you just bake within minutes, the rain is the most exciting thing for me. It makes the temperature bearable and I can sleep to the rain dripping off the corrugated tin roof. It also means there's no pressure to go outside...because they all stay in anyway. It's the perfect excuse for tea and a book, even more so than in the states. Here, any time I stay in, it comes with a fair bit of guilt. I should be out greeting people. I should be out learning kinyarwanda. I should be doing a lot of things, but those things are exhausting and there are only so many times a day or week when you can pluck up enough everything to go out and face the confusion...but when it rains...no excuses necessary, enjoy your book.
With the rain came other good omens, granted, it was yesterday when I had this overwhelming feeling of good. (It was, of course, right after an overwhelming feeling of "what am i doing here?" "is this work enough to keep me here?") But I was working with these local women that are starting up a small handicrafts association and I was offering suggestions on the stake the women can play in the creation of it. Previously, most of the heavy thinking and logistics were being take care of by the nun whose idea it was. When I was talking with her about how the women would invest more in the work and everything about the association if they had more of a hand in creating it, I realized, this is what I'm here for. There has been some purpose to my training. I do have useful skills for them just by the nature of how we live our lives in the states. Seemingly unrelated experiences have contributed into this person that can be an agent of change and help these people live better lives. The best part is, you let them do the work, that's the point. I already know the things I'm trying to teach, and it's not like teaching English. That can be very one-sided. Here, they are learning things they can pass on and furthermore, they are learning things by doing them themselves, by making mistakes, by trying. I feel like maybe that's the biggest mistake you can make in development and it's sooooo tempting just to be like, "here, lemme show you" or "here, lemme do it." But we didn't learn like that and neither can they. It's certainly more difficult but infinitely more rewarding. None of this has even happened yet, but just imagining it happening with these women was enough to make me unbelievably excited and hopeful and motivated. So yay for that and yay for rain!
With the rain came other good omens, granted, it was yesterday when I had this overwhelming feeling of good. (It was, of course, right after an overwhelming feeling of "what am i doing here?" "is this work enough to keep me here?") But I was working with these local women that are starting up a small handicrafts association and I was offering suggestions on the stake the women can play in the creation of it. Previously, most of the heavy thinking and logistics were being take care of by the nun whose idea it was. When I was talking with her about how the women would invest more in the work and everything about the association if they had more of a hand in creating it, I realized, this is what I'm here for. There has been some purpose to my training. I do have useful skills for them just by the nature of how we live our lives in the states. Seemingly unrelated experiences have contributed into this person that can be an agent of change and help these people live better lives. The best part is, you let them do the work, that's the point. I already know the things I'm trying to teach, and it's not like teaching English. That can be very one-sided. Here, they are learning things they can pass on and furthermore, they are learning things by doing them themselves, by making mistakes, by trying. I feel like maybe that's the biggest mistake you can make in development and it's sooooo tempting just to be like, "here, lemme show you" or "here, lemme do it." But we didn't learn like that and neither can they. It's certainly more difficult but infinitely more rewarding. None of this has even happened yet, but just imagining it happening with these women was enough to make me unbelievably excited and hopeful and motivated. So yay for that and yay for rain!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
You get THE BEST of both worlds (yep, that's sung)
13/9
So I just got back from Kigali. Another trip to the big city, this time for health reasons, and to make sure all my banking stuff was sorted out after my ATM issue two weeks ago and my wallet issue last week. I'm back and all is well. I got all my documents and even my little LeSportSac back. I think the army units (that had never been seen around here in recent memory) and the presence of basically every important local figure played into its reappearance. I'm pretty sure that I only got my ATM card back because whoever stole it didn't understand it's worth. The majority of Rwandans are not a part of the banking system. It's makes sense, especially since so few of them have enough money to make it worth the bank's while and the limited access to the bank isn't worth their while. Another incentive that Americans have that Rwandans don't is access to credit. The bank's here because of the relatively few depositors, lack of financial help from the gov't (and a host of other reasons) securing a private loan here for any reason has an interest rate around 18%! This is crazy when you consider that that would be a pretty bad rate for a credit card in the states and is three times the rate on most of our student loans. No wonder they don't get involved. While monetary issues were not my initial intended topic, I think it is an interesting side note.
I was happily struck with many feelings in the past two days that were outside of my illness. I got a perfect example of the Peace Corps equilibrium on my way into Nyagatare on what was my least favorite moto ride. While I normally LOVE them, riding one on bumpy roads with an upset stomach will quell any desire for me to take one. However, on the way, my driver slowed down when we were getting near Nyagatare around the river. I didn't understand why until I looked over and saw a whole troop of baboons hanging out and munching on sugar cane. It may or may not be known that I have been recently been quite put out that I hadn't seen any of the baboons or hippos that are supposed to be around my region...just a lot of birds, cool birds, but birds. SO it was quite wonderful timing! (and just another example of the Peace Corps equilibrium).
Another example was the feeling that I got when I had to leave my site to head into Kigali to make sure that my stomach pain wasn't appendicitis. This was truly the first time that I felt like I was "having" to go into Kigali instead of "getting" to go. This may not sound big, but in making me feel like a functional volunteer, it was huge. Before, I would listen to the volunteers that had been around for a while talking about how they didn't really like Kigali, how they'd rather be back at site. I didn't understand that feeling for the longest time. Maybe it was because during training Kigali was the "forbidden fruit", maybe it was because Kigali has hot showers! Iced coffee! and free WiFi! I would look forward to the time when I saw my site as my home, where the Rwandan things would feel more comfortable than the muzungu things. (Remind me, I have to do a whole 'nother post on how often we use muzungu as a term for classification and the associated connotation). And today, as I was walking to the MTN center for my iced coffee, croissant and free wifi...all I wanted was some icyayi, a chapati and...well i still wanted the free WiFi. But it was a good feeling and I was happy to come back. When I did, I had the best of both worlds, the people I know to say "hi" to and leftover pizza to enjoy.
So I just got back from Kigali. Another trip to the big city, this time for health reasons, and to make sure all my banking stuff was sorted out after my ATM issue two weeks ago and my wallet issue last week. I'm back and all is well. I got all my documents and even my little LeSportSac back. I think the army units (that had never been seen around here in recent memory) and the presence of basically every important local figure played into its reappearance. I'm pretty sure that I only got my ATM card back because whoever stole it didn't understand it's worth. The majority of Rwandans are not a part of the banking system. It's makes sense, especially since so few of them have enough money to make it worth the bank's while and the limited access to the bank isn't worth their while. Another incentive that Americans have that Rwandans don't is access to credit. The bank's here because of the relatively few depositors, lack of financial help from the gov't (and a host of other reasons) securing a private loan here for any reason has an interest rate around 18%! This is crazy when you consider that that would be a pretty bad rate for a credit card in the states and is three times the rate on most of our student loans. No wonder they don't get involved. While monetary issues were not my initial intended topic, I think it is an interesting side note.
I was happily struck with many feelings in the past two days that were outside of my illness. I got a perfect example of the Peace Corps equilibrium on my way into Nyagatare on what was my least favorite moto ride. While I normally LOVE them, riding one on bumpy roads with an upset stomach will quell any desire for me to take one. However, on the way, my driver slowed down when we were getting near Nyagatare around the river. I didn't understand why until I looked over and saw a whole troop of baboons hanging out and munching on sugar cane. It may or may not be known that I have been recently been quite put out that I hadn't seen any of the baboons or hippos that are supposed to be around my region...just a lot of birds, cool birds, but birds. SO it was quite wonderful timing! (and just another example of the Peace Corps equilibrium).
Another example was the feeling that I got when I had to leave my site to head into Kigali to make sure that my stomach pain wasn't appendicitis. This was truly the first time that I felt like I was "having" to go into Kigali instead of "getting" to go. This may not sound big, but in making me feel like a functional volunteer, it was huge. Before, I would listen to the volunteers that had been around for a while talking about how they didn't really like Kigali, how they'd rather be back at site. I didn't understand that feeling for the longest time. Maybe it was because during training Kigali was the "forbidden fruit", maybe it was because Kigali has hot showers! Iced coffee! and free WiFi! I would look forward to the time when I saw my site as my home, where the Rwandan things would feel more comfortable than the muzungu things. (Remind me, I have to do a whole 'nother post on how often we use muzungu as a term for classification and the associated connotation). And today, as I was walking to the MTN center for my iced coffee, croissant and free wifi...all I wanted was some icyayi, a chapati and...well i still wanted the free WiFi. But it was a good feeling and I was happy to come back. When I did, I had the best of both worlds, the people I know to say "hi" to and leftover pizza to enjoy.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
sick...blegh
This'll be short, cause honestly, I don't have too much energy right now. I've simultaneously got a nasty cough, headache, and am so nauseated I feel like I wanna throw up or eat and can't do either. All I've had today is some pineapple and I'm trying to force down some oatmeal pancakes...making me feel nourished, but no less nauseated. My focus this week will be on making it better than last week.
I have a theory of Peace Corps (slash universal) equilibrium. It seems here when you have a bad morning, the afternoon is great. If yesterday was great, today won't be. It's just the balance of the world I guess, but it's brought into stark reality here. SO this week will be awesome! It'll be an exciting adventure that I feel happy to have. I've been working on the mentality that this is not different or difficult, it's unique. This is my conscientious focus and lens in which I'm trying to view everything. I'll let you know how it goes, but it seems like a great idea to me!
I have a theory of Peace Corps (slash universal) equilibrium. It seems here when you have a bad morning, the afternoon is great. If yesterday was great, today won't be. It's just the balance of the world I guess, but it's brought into stark reality here. SO this week will be awesome! It'll be an exciting adventure that I feel happy to have. I've been working on the mentality that this is not different or difficult, it's unique. This is my conscientious focus and lens in which I'm trying to view everything. I'll let you know how it goes, but it seems like a great idea to me!
Friday, September 9, 2011
why crime doesn't pay
9/9/11
so... my wallet got stolen today when I was at the market...but i'm actually really surprised at how little it's actually bugging me...I think it all has to do with how it happened and what has occurred since then.
I was shopping (and had luckily, gotten all i needed) when someone tapped me on the shoulder and said something, but all I heard was "stolen" in French. I looked into my bag, and sure enough, my wallet was gone. Of course today. i didn't take the bag i normally take to the market, i took the big open one with the broken zipper...my immediate reaction was just to look up and utter an obscenity. Then, everyone started looking around and yelling things, what i heard was "blabhblahblahumpupirablah" (translation: 'blabhlbhablahSHIRTblah') so they were describing who they saw and then, down the hill, away from my village, I saw someone running. Immediately, like 10-20 different people took off running after who we thought was the theif. I was of course, also gathering a rather large crowd so we made our way down close to where they were running into the banana forest and waited. I got 5749825 different stories from all the people around, "we caught him," "no one caught him," "we don't know where they went," "they went that way" so i'm just standing around waiting for something a little more definitive. I was being helped by my fellow PCV who lives nearby and came in to hang out and go to the market, and by a very nice nurse with pretty good english, from the health center. Eventually, I was too overwhelmed by all the people and stares and just wanted to retreat back to my house, so i gave my number to the nurse and she said she'd call if she heard anything. Now, this is where it gets very Rwandan....so I only called the Peace Corps office to let our security head know because that's the procedure, but didn't call any one else. Not long after, as I'm sitting drinking a fanta and chilling with my friend, I get a call from the woman in charge of our compound and i don't understand much, but i got that she knows someone stole from me. Not long after, I get a call from my supervisor (whom i hadn't yet told) letting me know that he's called the Executive Secretary of the Sector (top person for the area) and I thank him and let him know that I talked to Peace Corps about it. We carry on our business around town, and as we're about to head back up to my place we see this police officer in a car who stops in the middle of the road and calls us over. He says "I'm am Police, get in, we go home" so we think he's taking us back to my place and I'll give him the rundown. Then I get a call from one of my nuns (whom I hadn't told), telling me to come home because the police were looking for me. Obviously, they'd already found me, so I let her know. Then he drives us down the road and has us get out because he says they have already arrested people. First, I'm confused by the plural...but not terribly surprised with as quickly as news travels (this has been less than an hour...).
They take us to a crowd of people surrounding 6 men on the ground and then they ask me if i recognize any of them...I, of course, don't since I didn't see who took it. After a while of standing there awkwardly surrounded by my whole town, the crowd starts going nuts and yelling about something and pointing down the street, I look, and the local cops are escorting another 4-5 men down the street. My friend had to go home not long after this, and since I couldn't really help, we asked if we could just go. They took us and the Police Chief got my information and then assured us that they would find and arrest who it was.
All in all, a very interesting experience. Mostly I was laughing, because I told the cop it wasn't much, 2-3 thousand francs (which is less than $5) and they were thinking i was saying dollars. Cracks me up cause dude stole from me cause I'm white and therefore MUST have lots of money, when there were Rwandans selling their vegetables that had more than I did on them. Let that be a lesson to ya!
But of course then, word started coming back to me from my neighbors that it was 2000 dollars. First of all, hillarious. I've never even had 2000 dollars to my name. Second of all, why would I be so dumb as to run around a Rwandan market with that much? I just hope the criminal has learned that crime doesn't pay. Literally. Especially, trying to steal from a Peace Corps volunteer.
so... my wallet got stolen today when I was at the market...but i'm actually really surprised at how little it's actually bugging me...I think it all has to do with how it happened and what has occurred since then.
I was shopping (and had luckily, gotten all i needed) when someone tapped me on the shoulder and said something, but all I heard was "stolen" in French. I looked into my bag, and sure enough, my wallet was gone. Of course today. i didn't take the bag i normally take to the market, i took the big open one with the broken zipper...my immediate reaction was just to look up and utter an obscenity. Then, everyone started looking around and yelling things, what i heard was "blabhblahblahumpupirablah" (translation: 'blabhlbhablahSHIRTblah') so they were describing who they saw and then, down the hill, away from my village, I saw someone running. Immediately, like 10-20 different people took off running after who we thought was the theif. I was of course, also gathering a rather large crowd so we made our way down close to where they were running into the banana forest and waited. I got 5749825 different stories from all the people around, "we caught him," "no one caught him," "we don't know where they went," "they went that way" so i'm just standing around waiting for something a little more definitive. I was being helped by my fellow PCV who lives nearby and came in to hang out and go to the market, and by a very nice nurse with pretty good english, from the health center. Eventually, I was too overwhelmed by all the people and stares and just wanted to retreat back to my house, so i gave my number to the nurse and she said she'd call if she heard anything. Now, this is where it gets very Rwandan....so I only called the Peace Corps office to let our security head know because that's the procedure, but didn't call any one else. Not long after, as I'm sitting drinking a fanta and chilling with my friend, I get a call from the woman in charge of our compound and i don't understand much, but i got that she knows someone stole from me. Not long after, I get a call from my supervisor (whom i hadn't yet told) letting me know that he's called the Executive Secretary of the Sector (top person for the area) and I thank him and let him know that I talked to Peace Corps about it. We carry on our business around town, and as we're about to head back up to my place we see this police officer in a car who stops in the middle of the road and calls us over. He says "I'm am Police, get in, we go home" so we think he's taking us back to my place and I'll give him the rundown. Then I get a call from one of my nuns (whom I hadn't told), telling me to come home because the police were looking for me. Obviously, they'd already found me, so I let her know. Then he drives us down the road and has us get out because he says they have already arrested people. First, I'm confused by the plural...but not terribly surprised with as quickly as news travels (this has been less than an hour...).
They take us to a crowd of people surrounding 6 men on the ground and then they ask me if i recognize any of them...I, of course, don't since I didn't see who took it. After a while of standing there awkwardly surrounded by my whole town, the crowd starts going nuts and yelling about something and pointing down the street, I look, and the local cops are escorting another 4-5 men down the street. My friend had to go home not long after this, and since I couldn't really help, we asked if we could just go. They took us and the Police Chief got my information and then assured us that they would find and arrest who it was.
All in all, a very interesting experience. Mostly I was laughing, because I told the cop it wasn't much, 2-3 thousand francs (which is less than $5) and they were thinking i was saying dollars. Cracks me up cause dude stole from me cause I'm white and therefore MUST have lots of money, when there were Rwandans selling their vegetables that had more than I did on them. Let that be a lesson to ya!
But of course then, word started coming back to me from my neighbors that it was 2000 dollars. First of all, hillarious. I've never even had 2000 dollars to my name. Second of all, why would I be so dumb as to run around a Rwandan market with that much? I just hope the criminal has learned that crime doesn't pay. Literally. Especially, trying to steal from a Peace Corps volunteer.
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