Monday, December 26, 2022

Dear Rwanda

This is a bit of an exercise in nostalgia.  It's been 10 years since we were volunteer fellows at ASYV.  I found some writings in a journal from when we visited for graduation in January of 2016.

I had forgotten what it means to be in Rwanda. The smell of eucalyptus, burning charcoal, grilled meat, acacia blooms, greywater turning black, plumeria flowers, yeasted bread leavening and tropical lushness. I had forgotten the intensity of the sun, the haze in the air in the dry season.  I had forgotten the rush of air flying past on the back of a moto, weaving through Kigali traffic at night. I had forgotten the staring- of being an outsider. I had forgotten the quiet, warm, welcoming nature of Rwandan people.

I had forgotten so many words and the found them. Amakuru, nimeza, murakoze, ijoro giza, maramutse, ijana, amata, amazi, amagi, amahoro....

I had forgotten what it is like to be sticky and hot all day. The sweet bubbly taste of fanta citron whispered across my tongue with memories of visiting families, sitting in a bar with friends telling stories. I had forgotten the earthy bitter tastes of ibishimbo and inorgi. The rich and smooth taste of umuceri and isombe.

 

I delighted in seeing faces of friends. Of learning the joy, pain, successes and challenges from the past three years.  I am reminded of what it is like to have your heart, wide open. What it feels like to be living on the edge.  What it truly means to be a resilient human. To be strong, compassionate, adaptable, hopeful.  To love in this complex world.

The nostalgia I feel brings up many memories of friends and experiences we had here. I long to reminisce with many people who are now scattered to the wind.  I makes me laugh at the silly mistakes, at being pattern illiterate in a cultural context, of learning to have new eyes, new ears and a humbleness to explore the unknown.

Murakoze Rwanda. I missed you. I am happy to visit.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Some of my favourite pictures from the year

So this is mostly going to be photos from the year that I like or remind me of a particular moment.  Some of my favourite pictures I have already posted on this blog, so I won't repeat again here.

International Women's Day Celebration

International Women's Day Celebration at ASYV
ASYV intore group getting ready to perform

Backstage watchers


Sports Competitions

ASYV boys volleyball team

All the fans celebrating the boys football team victory

Boys football team and fans after their win!
ASYV girls football team with St. Aloys team

Girls from my family who are on the team

Farm Work

That's alot of beans

Nature Park during Saturday Service

Marie Curie, Steve Jobs families, and environment club at the Nature Park

Marie Curie Family

Peace out with my girls!
The whole Marie Curie family

International Theatre and Literacy Project at ASYV

International Theatre and Literacy Project at ASYV
ITLP at ASYV- Enrichment Students before they presented their sketch

Wedding

Local wedding for two of the lovely farm workers
 Enrichment Year Picnic
Enrichment Year picnic- with the local kids being enchanted with a very talented musical student

Preparing the veggies for soup

Making a fire for the soup

Helping prepare the soup- meat is a special treat for the ASYV students

Boat ride on Mugesera!

On a boat ride!


Baptism Event

Choir singing for the baptism

Baptism celebration at King Menelik family (Jack's family)

King Menelik family (most of the them)

Natural Building

Part of the Natural Building team

Mixing cement- photo by Nathan

Filling the earth bags- photo by Nathan

Sewing the earthbags shut

Cyprien making the roof

Nature Hut- Photo by Nathan

Jumping on the earthbags to compact them for the benches

Putting the chicken wire around the earthbag benches
Making a new trail to the Nature Hut

Mango Trees with the Environment Club
Mango tree planting with the Environment Club

Mango tree planting with the Environment Club
Girls Football Team
Girls football team after and friendly match with St. Aloys
More pictures from Akagera




The students are crazy for photos! This is why I love this picture so much...take a close look.  How many separate photo shoots are occurring at this moment? 

Nature Park
Chilling at the Nature Park
Saturday Service in the Kitchen 
Sir Ronald Ross and Marie Curie families doing Saturday service in the kitchen

Kitchen service
 Inter-family competition during Grading week in Term 3
Marie Curie family making up a song for this game in the competition
Potato sack race

Ben Guiron family in a human pyramid
Running race (speed walking race for the mamas)
Sporty Mamas

Winner's of the running race


DJs

Village Acheivements



 Staff Party

Staff party- there is a alot going on in this photo!

2012 IT team

 The Village