Hey everyone! Well it's the end of our second week in Kigali and it's been a busy one! We have done a lot more teaching this week - P1 right up to P6. We have sorted out our working hours though finally so we are only working between the hours of 8:45-13:00, but it still means getting up at 6am! BOKE!
Bad news first, I suppose - this week I got the news that I didn't get a place for the PGCE at Queen's this year, so I have to come up with a new plan! Maybe I'll be a nuclear physicist, a jazz musician, or maybe just some hobo sittng outside the City Hall drinking wine in a bag... can I come live with you???? On second thought, maybe I'll just hang around the Merchant when I get home and have a look for that Arab Sheik of my dreams!
Teaching-wise we have been having a ball. The children are so sweet and have started holding hands with us and giving us hugs as we are leaving at the end of the day. The older ones are so funny aswell, yesterday we cut out some pictures from magazines for one of our P6 lessons and one of them showed a guy and girl holding hands - that was met by verrry embarrassed laughter from the whole class.... it is bizarre because two guys will walk around holding hands ALL THE TIME, but girls are not allowed to do that together, and men and women would never hold hands with each other on the street here. It is sweet that friends do that here, but I don't know why it only applies to two guys! Something to share with us, fellas???? ;)
Since my last post I have eaten goat! I've got to tell you - it is DELISH! I'll definitely be having that again soon! I've also been continuing to sample the delights of Rwanda beer in the form of Primus... I intend to sample a bit more of that this weekend!
We had the craziest storm a couple of days ago. Suzi and I were on our way back from work getting the two mad bums-in-our-faces taxis and then DOWNPOUR! With the kind of roads we have here, we were not a pretty sight (and we have pictures to prove it!) When we were near the house we heard the loudest thunder ever - there were two big African guys walking near us and one of them just SHREIKED! That made us feel a bit braver... :)
Apart from a couple of isolated downpours the weather has been really beautiful... I MAY even be getting a tan! Then again, the "tan" I see is normally only visible to myself, but I live in hope dear friends!
I'm also getting a bit more used to the language of Kinyarwanda - not enough to have any kind of conversation but enough to bring hysterical amusement to the people in the village near the school who think we are just about the most hilarious creatures ever.
Another thing I am getting used to is a lessened sense of personal hygiene. It's pretty much impossible to stay clean because as soon as you step outside the dirt just sees feet and promptly jumps on them. We'll have to get out of the way of minger-mentality when we get home, but we may be bringing a whole new clashing fashion trend a la Rwanda!
I think I can now safely say that Rwanda is a lot different from what I expected. The people are not as extroverted as the people in Ghana, a lot of them are pretty confused as to why a bunch of white girls would want to come here, but they are also really appreciative and welcoming.
I also finished reading "Tuesdays with Morrie" this week - I cried every two or three pages up until the last, but it was FABULOUS. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone and every single one of you! I know that little trinket of info is not exactly Rwanda-based, but I loved it so much I had to throw it in!
Since last time we also had our first market experiences - pretty crazy! A lot of people see us and just see giant dollar signs so they can be quite persistant! It's been hard when we've had to deal with children begging on the street, too... I don't think we'll ever really get used to it, but there are times when we do have to separate ourselves a bit because there is just so much poverty, and getting emotional about it doesn't really help anyone, but that's easier said than done.
One of my goals for next week is to do more African things! There is a stadium close to us and it would be great to watch a football match or something there. Another thing I'm surprised at though is that football is not a huge thing here... they are into volleyball though! Who knew! Although there are loads of Arsenal stickers on taxis and stuff like that, so funny!
Well I have to dash but I love you all and I will update you on my adventures again very soon!!!
CIAO!
XXXX
Friday, 13 March 2009
Friday, 6 March 2009
Muraho from Rwanda!
Hello everyone! It's almost hard to know where to begin this blog because it feels like sooo much has happened over the last week! We flew out on Friday and from almost the beginning it was pretty eventful because our flight to Kenya was pretty star-studded! A bunch of celebrities are doing a Kilimanjaro climb for Comic Relief so it was pretty hilarious (but also highly embarrassing) seeing people going nuts over seeing Cheryl Cole, Gary Barlow, Denise Van Outen, Chris Moyles, etc. etc. However my opinion of Ronan Keating is FOREVER changed because just as I was about to hand in my boarding card I heard this huge "OUT OF THE WAY! MAKE ROOM PLEASE!" and it was some woman bringing in Ronan bloody Keating LATE! The git bumped into me and nudged right in front! FSBs haunt me wherever I go!!!!! haha.
The journey felt pretty long anyway, and we had a bit of a sleep in Kenya airport floor... also waited around where all the celebrities were for a bit, Cheryl Cole's loud Geordie accent is ANNOYING when you're exhausted, my friends! WHY-AYE MAN!
When we eventually arrived in Kigali we went straight to the guesthouse and sleptttt... then we had a bit of a walk around just to get our bearings. There are some little mini supermarkets and plenty of internet cafes but I think we are just going to stick to using the computers here at the FVA office because they have wireless.
On Monday we had orientation and we went to visit the Genocide Memorial. It was really harrowing, I don't think we could have been emotionally prepared for it at all. It's so hard to believe that most of the people I meet here are survivors of that... it has really made me think so much. We then had a tour of Kigali in a little taxi (which is an experience unique to Africa... it brings you probably pretty close to death, but it is hilarious!!!) By the end of Monday I feel like the three of us really bonded a lot, so all in all, great day! :)
On Tuesday we got our Rwandan sim cards! We also got driven to our new jobs and I got a pretty big fright because when I was ready to leave I had to call the director and he said he would send a car... I managed to get into the wrong car! I asked and the driver said Justus had sent him so when I found out this was some random car I was pretty scared! I had to be rescued by the actual FVA driver but thankfully nothing bad happened!
As a result of the ENCOUNTER and the fact that Suzi was going to be expected to teach English to the women in GBV, we are now going to be teaching together... so neither of us will be travelling alone to Gahanga and she can get some teaching experience. Not sure whether we will move to do more of the GBV program next month while the schools are off, we'll see!
We've now been to both schools together... we totally love Gahanga II - the headmaster is an Anglican pastor and he says he is now our Rwandan father! CUTE! We have also done the taxi experience on our own and have dealt with the staring and people making fun of us "muzungus" or however the flip you spell it... we are getting soooo sick of that already but we are brave now, starting to stare back!
We've been going to a lovely little Italian restaurant a little while away, it is lovely... although two nights ago we ordered a bruschetta between us and halfway through realised we were eating raw tomatoes in Africa!!! No problems yet though - thank goodness, because we share one very small bathroom!!!!
The food has been better than expected but up until last night it was beef, beans and rice for every meal... last night we had tilapia which was yum!
Not too many creepy crawlies, we've had a few cockroaches and we have a rat called Frank who likes to wake Martine up in the night... but we're all one big happy family! lol.
I think I have mentioned pretty much everything... I'll be back sometime during the wake to update you on all the adventures and happenings!
Love and kisses from Rwanda!
xxxxxxxxx
The journey felt pretty long anyway, and we had a bit of a sleep in Kenya airport floor... also waited around where all the celebrities were for a bit, Cheryl Cole's loud Geordie accent is ANNOYING when you're exhausted, my friends! WHY-AYE MAN!
When we eventually arrived in Kigali we went straight to the guesthouse and sleptttt... then we had a bit of a walk around just to get our bearings. There are some little mini supermarkets and plenty of internet cafes but I think we are just going to stick to using the computers here at the FVA office because they have wireless.
On Monday we had orientation and we went to visit the Genocide Memorial. It was really harrowing, I don't think we could have been emotionally prepared for it at all. It's so hard to believe that most of the people I meet here are survivors of that... it has really made me think so much. We then had a tour of Kigali in a little taxi (which is an experience unique to Africa... it brings you probably pretty close to death, but it is hilarious!!!) By the end of Monday I feel like the three of us really bonded a lot, so all in all, great day! :)
On Tuesday we got our Rwandan sim cards! We also got driven to our new jobs and I got a pretty big fright because when I was ready to leave I had to call the director and he said he would send a car... I managed to get into the wrong car! I asked and the driver said Justus had sent him so when I found out this was some random car I was pretty scared! I had to be rescued by the actual FVA driver but thankfully nothing bad happened!
As a result of the ENCOUNTER and the fact that Suzi was going to be expected to teach English to the women in GBV, we are now going to be teaching together... so neither of us will be travelling alone to Gahanga and she can get some teaching experience. Not sure whether we will move to do more of the GBV program next month while the schools are off, we'll see!
We've now been to both schools together... we totally love Gahanga II - the headmaster is an Anglican pastor and he says he is now our Rwandan father! CUTE! We have also done the taxi experience on our own and have dealt with the staring and people making fun of us "muzungus" or however the flip you spell it... we are getting soooo sick of that already but we are brave now, starting to stare back!
We've been going to a lovely little Italian restaurant a little while away, it is lovely... although two nights ago we ordered a bruschetta between us and halfway through realised we were eating raw tomatoes in Africa!!! No problems yet though - thank goodness, because we share one very small bathroom!!!!
The food has been better than expected but up until last night it was beef, beans and rice for every meal... last night we had tilapia which was yum!
Not too many creepy crawlies, we've had a few cockroaches and we have a rat called Frank who likes to wake Martine up in the night... but we're all one big happy family! lol.
I think I have mentioned pretty much everything... I'll be back sometime during the wake to update you on all the adventures and happenings!
Love and kisses from Rwanda!
xxxxxxxxx
Thursday, 26 February 2009
This time tomorrow!
Well it's now 5:45pm on Thursday 26th February and this time tomorrow I will be on my way to Africa!!!! We fly from here to Heathrow, then Heathrow to Nairobi and finally Nairobi to Rwanda, so I've got my flight pillow, books and earplugs at the ready! I have spent most of the last couple of weeks in a state of panic, trying to make sure I have everything I need!
Packing for three months is NO JOKE, guys!!! 20kg of luggage is all we're allowed for all that time, and that makes things quite tricky to say the least! I'm going to be such a pro at hand washing clothes by the time I get back!
I've got so many mixed emotions at the moment... it's the plunging into the land of the unexpected that gets me all jittery! The fact that I'm completely broke because of this means a part of me is actually really looking forward to getting back to normal life and making money, HOPEFULLY also getting another student loan for my PGCE!!!! Although more than that I'm so so excited because I know this will be the experience of a lifetime and I am so happy Suzi and I will be sharing it together.
For those of you who don't know, I am going to be teaching in a primary school as an assistant teacher, then after school hours I will be working with the teachers in improving their English. One day a week during term and during the school holidays I will be working with teenagers who don't go to school as a result of the genocide and the aftermath of that. I have no idea what to expect, I've been to Africa before so I know that although you can be given an idea of what you will be doing, it is often completely different! I am looking forward to getting back that African approach to life - CHILLED!!!
Finally I just want to say that I am going to miss all of you at home so much, but I will try my best to update this bad boy as much as I can to keep you updated with everything that's going on, and to remind you how much you're all loved and missed! :)
Lisa
xxxx
Packing for three months is NO JOKE, guys!!! 20kg of luggage is all we're allowed for all that time, and that makes things quite tricky to say the least! I'm going to be such a pro at hand washing clothes by the time I get back!
I've got so many mixed emotions at the moment... it's the plunging into the land of the unexpected that gets me all jittery! The fact that I'm completely broke because of this means a part of me is actually really looking forward to getting back to normal life and making money, HOPEFULLY also getting another student loan for my PGCE!!!! Although more than that I'm so so excited because I know this will be the experience of a lifetime and I am so happy Suzi and I will be sharing it together.
For those of you who don't know, I am going to be teaching in a primary school as an assistant teacher, then after school hours I will be working with the teachers in improving their English. One day a week during term and during the school holidays I will be working with teenagers who don't go to school as a result of the genocide and the aftermath of that. I have no idea what to expect, I've been to Africa before so I know that although you can be given an idea of what you will be doing, it is often completely different! I am looking forward to getting back that African approach to life - CHILLED!!!
Finally I just want to say that I am going to miss all of you at home so much, but I will try my best to update this bad boy as much as I can to keep you updated with everything that's going on, and to remind you how much you're all loved and missed! :)
Lisa
xxxx
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