My Birthday

When I mentioned to one of my teachers that my birthday was coming up he informed me that his was the same day. I told him that in America we celebrate birthdays by eating birthday cake. I told him that I would try to make him a birthday cake, without having an oven it would be somewhat difficult but I ended up putting a smaller pot with a cake batter inside a larger one and putting it over the fire creating a make shift oven and it turned out fairly decent.  We decided to have a joint celebration at my house. I got my hair braided by a local girls in my community then,  I invited a few teachers, some neighbors and some friends of mine from the community. My friend helped me cook a rice and meat mixture and we ate, drank and listened to music. I was surprised by the amount of people that came and was overjoyed by the kindness they showed me. My neighbors along with some of my friends bought me presents; clothes, food, and a woven basket. I was surprised by their generosity and kindness to buy me something when they have next to nothing. Everyone ended up dancing toward the end of the afternoon and fun was had by all. I think the most important thing that touched me about the day was the realization of the friends I have made in this small community and how many people have opened up and invited me into their lives and families.

Lake Kivu at sunset

In-Service Training

After the first trimester of school, we had IST (in-service training). Our training was held in Kibuye a town located in the west of Rwanda, on Lake Kivu. Kibuye was a charming small town overlooking the lake. During training we reflected on our first trimester teaching along with the first couple of months at site. We talked about problems and successes, dealing with isolation, cultural differences, stress, etc. We got to share lesson plans, discuss coping strategies and help congratulate each other on completing our first trimester of teaching and living on our own in our villages.  Some members from the Rwandan Ministry of Education came and we got to ask them questions about some of the problems that we observed at our schools.  The Ministry of Education also outlined some expectations they have for us.   We also had different seminars on teaching, peer support and an introduction into secondary projects. The last day of our training we got to take a boat to Amahoro Island (Peace Island) and spend some time relaxing in the sun next to the water. 

Genocide Memorial

Genocide Memorial

Re-burials during the genocide memorial

Genocide Memorial

April 7^th- April 13^th was a week of mourning in Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. This year’s theme was “Remember the Genocide Committed against the Tutsi: Support the Truth and Restore our Dignity.” The mourning will last for 100 days to mirror the hundred days of mass killings that happened in 1994. During the genocide memorial week, everyone in my village attended memorials everyday. We meet in the afternoon for several hours to hold discussions, about the history of Rwanda and also the recovery process and how Rwandan is moving forward. In the evening we all met and had a bonfire and heard testimonials from survivors, listened to songs, prayed and remember the lives lost in the genocide. The first day of the memorial on April 7^th  we walked around the village and stopped at various locations that atrocities happened we ended the memorial at a river which was used to dispose of bodies of those killed in the genocide. The last day of the memorial genocide survivors whose family members were lost in Mamba Village ( the village I live in) were invited to come back to there hometown and pay respect to there lost family members. There was a church service at the memorial in Mamba, genocide survivors gave testimonials and a re-burials were conducted of bodies found in mass grave sites. During the genocide in 1994 the international community stood back and watched but did nothing to help prevent or stop the mass executions. The United Nations has now designated April 7^th as an international day of reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda. To remember the victims of the genocide reflect on the crime of genocide and other related crimes against humanity and resolve to “Never Again” allow genocide to occur.

(  For those who do not know the history of the 1994 genocide I suggest the following books The Graves Are Not Yet Full by: Berkley Machete Season by Jean Hatzfeld.  My Father, Maker of the Trees( How I survived the Rwandan Genocide) by: Eric Iruzumugable or movies  “Sometimes in April,” 2005 HBO, “Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda,” 2004 Frontline,  “100 Days,” 2001 Broadcast Feature Facilities Ltd. )

Women's Day

March 8^th was International Women’s Day.  It was celebrated in my community by the school children putting on a parade, singing songs, and different neighborhoods dancing for the community. It talked about the importance of education for women and the role of development for women. Skits were put on showing the importance of gender equality. It encouraged families to enroll both girls and boys in school, because in the past it was common for girls to stay at home to cook, fetch water and care for younger siblings (which their are a lot off). At the close of the speeches and dancing the celebration was ended with the community playing a soccer game and volleyball game. The school teachers competed against the hospital employees.  (The school, the market and the hospital are the three main establishments in my village.)