Saturday, December 31, 2011
Memory Dance has made an appearance in Rwanda!
We have received our new families! In a family there is a mother, a big brother/sister (counsellor) and us (cousins). I have 16 girls that are eager to learn and happy to be in a family. My girls are age 15 to 18 and come from all parts of the country. In this village, the family is really important because it is a way to know these girls deeply, it gives them a sense of belonging, a family (which many do not have), and to make them feel comfortable. This village is not a boarding school. They do not want to have a institutional feeling here because they think this would not help these vulnerable kids that have grown up feeling unloved, alienated and alone.
The girls think I'm kind of strange. Mostly they just giggle and stare at me when I talk with them. I'm not sure if this is because they think I'm funny, they are shy, or they don't understand. Some come to the village with pretty good English skills and some, barely any. Next week we are going to be doing an English intensive with all the new kids to help them out before they start school in January.
Their reaction to me is similar to many rural kids in Rwanda. They think seeing a foreigner is more exciting than an ice cream truck (if they had such things) and more entertaining than TV. Crowds of children will follow you and stare at you with wide eyes. The really brave ones might talk to you. When you speak in Kinyarwanda or in English they think it's hilarious. They are very curious about you and the kids/youth that speak English will often walk with you for way so they can practice.
Tonight we are having a New Year's Eve Celebration where they kids will be performing traditional dance, hip hop, comedy, music, drama and poetry. From what I've seen from peaking in on some rehearsal time and leading memory dance chain as a warm up for the hip hop group- some of these kids have mad skills! I'm really excited to see the performances and hopefully we can share some dance moves over the year... maybe I can trade some Michael Jackson moves for some traditional Rwandan dance moves. :)
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Patience is a virtue
....and also a requirement. So when we went through the application process for ASYV- there were several characteristics and skill sets that they was looking for in their volunteers. They were looking for adaptability, patience, for people who know have experience with handling different or unknown situations, communications skills, skills in working in stressful situations. There are likely more- but I cannot remember them all.
I know now why.
My patience and ability to adapt is being tested every day. I'm not sure if any of my yoga training and experience in consensus based groups has given me the patience for staff meetings at the village. I can't really explain how they happen... but it's very different from what I would consider efficient. Which is not to say they do not communicate ideas, make people feel included and address the issues at hand. They just do it in a way that gives me the opportunity to develop patience.
Patience is not only required in the village but also while travelling around the country. Last weekend we took a journey to the north of Rwanda to Lake Burera and around. I'm pretty sure Rwandans don't travel that far in a weekend- but we had a 3 days weekend and wanted to make the most of it. I won't go into all the details, but basically over the three days we caught a moto, van bus, van bus, van bus, moto. Boat, van bus, walk. Car taxi, van bus, van bus, moto.
Some of those transitions were pretty seamless- and some of the the transitions were waiting in a bus shelter for several hours while it poured rain, playing kick the water bottle with a little girl, and talking in English with some high school students. Most of the time you wait because transportation doesn't really go unless it is full to the brim, or you wait because of some unknown reason I don't understand. There seems to be a method to which people get on the bus and where... but I have not figured it out. (This might go into a series I'm going to call Rwanda's Greatest Unsolved Mysteries, or Why Rwanda Why?)
And when I say full, let me illustrate for you. One of the van buses we took had 22 people in it (full grown adult people). The van buses are kind of like the skinny japanoid vans you see in Vancouver. They had to tie the trunk shut with rope and the doors were shut tight to squish all the people in. Now imagine being four people on a bench in the back. Now imagine half the leg room you normally have because the motor is bulging up into your leg room space. The other half of your leg room is being filled with onions, potatoes, sacks of rice and miscellaneous parcels. Then imagine you are Jack, and have incredibly long legs. Imagine now that you have Melissa sitting on top of Jack (now there are five people in one bench). Now imagine that it is already 25 to 30 degrees Celsius outside, and the motor itself kind of burns your feet or shins. Fun right? Luckily we were only on that leg for about one hour, and half way through someone got out so we could be a more roomy four to a bench.
Despite waiting, despite squishing, despite not really knowing where we were going- we had an adventure and got back safe and sound. This is likely not due to our prowess as adventurers, but because many Rwandans are very helpful in telling us which bus to take, which road, where to eat etc. Whether it is because they want to practice English, because they are genuinely friendly and helpful, or because they feel sorry for us because we obviously don't know Kinyarwanda and are walking around looking lost.... I don't know. What I do know is that everywhere we go someone is trying to help us.
(I was going to have pictures for this post... but after 3 tries of loading pictures and the internet disconnecting each time... I think alas my patience is gone and I will try again the next time. )
I know now why.
My patience and ability to adapt is being tested every day. I'm not sure if any of my yoga training and experience in consensus based groups has given me the patience for staff meetings at the village. I can't really explain how they happen... but it's very different from what I would consider efficient. Which is not to say they do not communicate ideas, make people feel included and address the issues at hand. They just do it in a way that gives me the opportunity to develop patience.
Patience is not only required in the village but also while travelling around the country. Last weekend we took a journey to the north of Rwanda to Lake Burera and around. I'm pretty sure Rwandans don't travel that far in a weekend- but we had a 3 days weekend and wanted to make the most of it. I won't go into all the details, but basically over the three days we caught a moto, van bus, van bus, van bus, moto. Boat, van bus, walk. Car taxi, van bus, van bus, moto.
Some of those transitions were pretty seamless- and some of the the transitions were waiting in a bus shelter for several hours while it poured rain, playing kick the water bottle with a little girl, and talking in English with some high school students. Most of the time you wait because transportation doesn't really go unless it is full to the brim, or you wait because of some unknown reason I don't understand. There seems to be a method to which people get on the bus and where... but I have not figured it out. (This might go into a series I'm going to call Rwanda's Greatest Unsolved Mysteries, or Why Rwanda Why?)
And when I say full, let me illustrate for you. One of the van buses we took had 22 people in it (full grown adult people). The van buses are kind of like the skinny japanoid vans you see in Vancouver. They had to tie the trunk shut with rope and the doors were shut tight to squish all the people in. Now imagine being four people on a bench in the back. Now imagine half the leg room you normally have because the motor is bulging up into your leg room space. The other half of your leg room is being filled with onions, potatoes, sacks of rice and miscellaneous parcels. Then imagine you are Jack, and have incredibly long legs. Imagine now that you have Melissa sitting on top of Jack (now there are five people in one bench). Now imagine that it is already 25 to 30 degrees Celsius outside, and the motor itself kind of burns your feet or shins. Fun right? Luckily we were only on that leg for about one hour, and half way through someone got out so we could be a more roomy four to a bench.
Despite waiting, despite squishing, despite not really knowing where we were going- we had an adventure and got back safe and sound. This is likely not due to our prowess as adventurers, but because many Rwandans are very helpful in telling us which bus to take, which road, where to eat etc. Whether it is because they want to practice English, because they are genuinely friendly and helpful, or because they feel sorry for us because we obviously don't know Kinyarwanda and are walking around looking lost.... I don't know. What I do know is that everywhere we go someone is trying to help us.
(I was going to have pictures for this post... but after 3 tries of loading pictures and the internet disconnecting each time... I think alas my patience is gone and I will try again the next time. )
Sunday, December 18, 2011
The ghosts of Kigali
We went and explored the sites of Kigali this weekend. Big city- but very clean. There are people (mostly women) sweeping the streets and weeding the gardens and grass along the streets. I also suspect that some of the reason why Rwanda is so clean is the ban on plastic shopping bags in the country. You bring your own reusable bags or get a paper bag at the store.
I was mostly in the down town area of Kigali this weekend exploring and trying to get a handle on where things are. Buses, motos, taxi vans and taxis are everywhere. Moto- motor bikes that you ride on the back behind the driver. Helmets are provided, but you most say 'buhoro' (slow) -if you get a driver that wants to race through the streets. It's kind of like riding a really fast bike through heavy traffic- that you are not in control of.... Very strange feeling- I found I was still looking for the erratic drivers, the pot holes, the door prizes etc, but I was not driving... just holding on.
It was also very interesting trying the find stores, catch buses and buy items with very poor Kinyarwanda. I know some basic greetings, some numbers and some food names... but apart from that I'm pretty useless. Most people know a smattering of French or English or both so we got by pretty well.
Since we have been in Rwanda we have also had the opportunity to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This is a very moving memorial/museum about the genocide and also about other genocides that have happened in other countries. Very visceral, strong, moving exhibition.
Having read many books and accounts of what happened in Rwanda during the genocide I thought there would be constant reminders in the streets of Kigali. However, I found that apart from some bullet holes in the parliment building, and the presence of military men in the streets with big guns- the streets are full of life, of young people, of trees and gardens. The air is full of renewal and regrowth.
However, that does not mean that the struggle for reconciliation, for peace, for forgiveness does not live on in people's hearts. I am told that during April, which is the national remembrance and commemoration month, it's like ghosts are passing through the country.
Some scars are physical, some are emotional, some are spiritual. The absence of a brother, a sisters, a mother, a father are holes that may never be healed. Some scars are healed and filled with genuine peace against all odds.
I am looking forward to being a part of a community 'where tears are dried' (Agahozo) and peace (Shalom) is made.
I was mostly in the down town area of Kigali this weekend exploring and trying to get a handle on where things are. Buses, motos, taxi vans and taxis are everywhere. Moto- motor bikes that you ride on the back behind the driver. Helmets are provided, but you most say 'buhoro' (slow) -if you get a driver that wants to race through the streets. It's kind of like riding a really fast bike through heavy traffic- that you are not in control of.... Very strange feeling- I found I was still looking for the erratic drivers, the pot holes, the door prizes etc, but I was not driving... just holding on.
It was also very interesting trying the find stores, catch buses and buy items with very poor Kinyarwanda. I know some basic greetings, some numbers and some food names... but apart from that I'm pretty useless. Most people know a smattering of French or English or both so we got by pretty well.
 |
| pili pili- hot sauce that comes in a eye dropper |
Since we have been in Rwanda we have also had the opportunity to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This is a very moving memorial/museum about the genocide and also about other genocides that have happened in other countries. Very visceral, strong, moving exhibition.
Having read many books and accounts of what happened in Rwanda during the genocide I thought there would be constant reminders in the streets of Kigali. However, I found that apart from some bullet holes in the parliment building, and the presence of military men in the streets with big guns- the streets are full of life, of young people, of trees and gardens. The air is full of renewal and regrowth.
However, that does not mean that the struggle for reconciliation, for peace, for forgiveness does not live on in people's hearts. I am told that during April, which is the national remembrance and commemoration month, it's like ghosts are passing through the country.
Some scars are physical, some are emotional, some are spiritual. The absence of a brother, a sisters, a mother, a father are holes that may never be healed. Some scars are healed and filled with genuine peace against all odds.
I am looking forward to being a part of a community 'where tears are dried' (Agahozo) and peace (Shalom) is made.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Slowly into an oral tradition
We have only been here since for four days and it is easy to fall into a slower, rural pace of life here. North America seems like a long ways away from the smells, tastes, sounds and sights of rural Rwanda.
The sun rises and sets at six. The sounds of birds calling in the morning and through the day are delicious. Sometimes at eight in the morning I am already sweating as the sun is strong here. Rice, beans, potatoes (reg/sweet) are served every lunch and dinner.
The new family moms came on Sunday night. In the village, there will be 8 new families from the 125 new kids that will come this year (bringing the number of youth in the village to 500). Families are made up of 16 kids with one mom that lives with them in a house for the 4 years they are at the village. Each family will also have a big brother/sister (counselor) and a cousin (international volunteers).
On Monday, training with the new moms and all the people involved with the new students began. The training has been great- but long, primarily because it has to be translated both in Kinyarwanda and English. (The language taught in highschool and university is English because the Rwandan government decided in 2008 that education should be instructed in English. Before the language of instruction was French- and of course before that Rwandans taught their young people in Kinyarwanda). The seminars have been very thorough so far in relation to the history of Rwandan, history of education in the country, teaching and learning styles in the village and team building exercises.
We learned a whole bunch of Rwandan proverbs about education today. One that I liked was (roughly translated) ' The one who works with youngsters should carry bandages'. This is because young people make mistakes (as everyone does), but young people are more likely do make mistakes because of their inexperience.
Also there is one that says 'an educator is like a candle- you burn while giving light'. To say, being a teacher is not an easy job- but you give light/knowledge/hope to the people you teach. Interesting.....
The sun rises and sets at six. The sounds of birds calling in the morning and through the day are delicious. Sometimes at eight in the morning I am already sweating as the sun is strong here. Rice, beans, potatoes (reg/sweet) are served every lunch and dinner.
 |
| Looking down at the village from the school at ASYV |
The new family moms came on Sunday night. In the village, there will be 8 new families from the 125 new kids that will come this year (bringing the number of youth in the village to 500). Families are made up of 16 kids with one mom that lives with them in a house for the 4 years they are at the village. Each family will also have a big brother/sister (counselor) and a cousin (international volunteers).
On Monday, training with the new moms and all the people involved with the new students began. The training has been great- but long, primarily because it has to be translated both in Kinyarwanda and English. (The language taught in highschool and university is English because the Rwandan government decided in 2008 that education should be instructed in English. Before the language of instruction was French- and of course before that Rwandans taught their young people in Kinyarwanda). The seminars have been very thorough so far in relation to the history of Rwandan, history of education in the country, teaching and learning styles in the village and team building exercises.
 |
| The other side of the ridge from Mount Kigali |
We learned a whole bunch of Rwandan proverbs about education today. One that I liked was (roughly translated) ' The one who works with youngsters should carry bandages'. This is because young people make mistakes (as everyone does), but young people are more likely do make mistakes because of their inexperience.
 |
| looking at Kigali from the road to Mount Kigali |
Also there is one that says 'an educator is like a candle- you burn while giving light'. To say, being a teacher is not an easy job- but you give light/knowledge/hope to the people you teach. Interesting.....
Friday, December 9, 2011
Welcome to the land of one thousand hills
Muraho!
After a long set of flights and a two day orientation in New York City we have at last landed in a land of green hills. We came in after dark yesterday so had no concept of our surroundings until we woke this morning to blue skies and sunshine and a view of the surrounding hills and a lake/wetland. I thought is was a good omen when swallows (I'm pretty sure...) danced above my yoga mat this morning like they had on Salt Spring Island.
The Agahozo Shalom Youth Village is beautiful and everyone is really friendly. We went for a walk today to the nearest village because it was market day. Kids followed us everywhere staring at us. The flying black pigeons- the old, sturdy, steel frame black bikes were ripping to and from town loaded with people and racks of plantains. Kids walked around chewing sugar cane, woman with babies on their backs selling beans, tomatoes and sorghum.
After a long set of flights and a two day orientation in New York City we have at last landed in a land of green hills. We came in after dark yesterday so had no concept of our surroundings until we woke this morning to blue skies and sunshine and a view of the surrounding hills and a lake/wetland. I thought is was a good omen when swallows (I'm pretty sure...) danced above my yoga mat this morning like they had on Salt Spring Island.
The Agahozo Shalom Youth Village is beautiful and everyone is really friendly. We went for a walk today to the nearest village because it was market day. Kids followed us everywhere staring at us. The flying black pigeons- the old, sturdy, steel frame black bikes were ripping to and from town loaded with people and racks of plantains. Kids walked around chewing sugar cane, woman with babies on their backs selling beans, tomatoes and sorghum.
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