Ok, first chance to write / be on internet since getting to site. Which, oddly enough, I have been away from a decent bit. School doesn’t start until February 1st, so being at site is actually pretty boring.
When I first got there, I was greeted by my headmaster, Chaz and my landlord, Bosco. Bosco has been the biggest help at site, and an amazing friend and contact – but I’ll get to that. I’m putting it off because after less than 24 hours, I was on a bus back to Kigali to celebrate New Years with my mugense (coworkers). There were probably about half of us in Kigali, and the other half went west to celebrate and Matt and Mark’s lake house.
We learned, that in Rwanda, they really celebrate the New YEAR. Not, new year’s eve as we are all used to… so we were pumped for the count down and ready to party, and no one was there. Most of us were crashed by 1 or so, and returned back to the guest houses for the night (there were, 5 girls in my 2 bed room). The few that stayed said the party really picked up around 2:30 and by 3:30, it was packed. Most of the city was closed down the next day, but I managed to get some bread and water for breakfast for the room.
While I was in town, I checked at the office and I FINALLY got some boxes!! 2 from my parents and sean, and one from Union church. Thanks so much guys!! The brownies didn’t quite make it (too moist – got moldy) but the cookies are still going strong and the Tupperware is INDESPENSIBLE. I loved all my treats and I think my favorite was the card I got from the Sunday school kids. It said “Thanks so much for fighting for us. Keep it up.” Avery and I have decided it’s applicable because we’re fighting the PR fight. =)
I got back to site and slowly by slowly started settling in. my bed was installed the day after I got back, but the paint was still wet so I spent one more night with my mattress on the floor mat I was now uber thankful I had bought at the last minute before leaving nyanza. I got a peg board made to hang clothes from and bosco is helping me check prices on some shelves.
Turns out, I don’t have to cook very often because #1 - eating home-made peanut butter cookies (that counts as protein, right?), #2 – bosco feeds me Every night. Granted, it’s mostly potatoes and beans, or plantains and beans, or like last night we had grilled corn. With potatoes and plantains and beans. On Sundays we get meat. #3 – Scott is hosting weekend lunches on Saturday, also with meat, and beer. So right now, I’m cooking lunchish meals, but that will probably change when school starts. My food plan looks like this – something when I wake up. Probably bran cookies. (go to school) eat fresh veggies when I come home like green beans or bell peppers or carrots. Eat starchy foods at night with bosco followed by 2 glasses of warm milk with sugar.
Oh yeah, bosco is loaded by Rwandan village standards. He has 5 cows, 2 calfs, bunches of chickens, and 8 turkeys. In his yard. It’s pretty awesome. His daughters are 3 and 1 and terrified of me. I mean, they’re getting over it, but they still don’t like me. It’s ok, every night we’re busy teaching each other our respective languages, so they usually try and send the girls out of the room anyway.
So my cooking skills – pasta is easy, the sauces are not. Tomato sauce is ok, but often just tastes like tomato. And pretty acidic. I got some peanut flour to try and make a creamier sauce – like a gravy – but I didn’t listen that day of senior foods, and have somehow managed to not pick up on it for the years of watching dad. And I think it might have dirt in it. Or that could be because I dropped the spoon. But I wiped it off!! I dunno…
At my house, my cell phone has reception in the front of my house (where i never sit because people would bother me) in the back corner of my house (outside) or lying down in bed (sometimes). I have no electricity or water, but bosco is my superhero. He has a generator and every night it runs so we watch the news (in KR, Fr, and English) and charge my phone. He also recruited his cousin to bring me water every day. I leave the jerrycans outside the door, and he fills them around 5 am or so. I also have spiders. Big spiders. The fuzzy ones I can see the pincers on, the ones that look like dady long legs have bigger leg span. And their bodies are bigger than daddy long legs. My bathroom is infested, and I was smart enough to sweep out my room before the bed got put in it. Very discouraging for bathing though…
Ok, people are wanting to leave, so here’s a wrap up.
Have gone to visit Jen at her site and scott at his. Both have really nice schools and fun moto rides.
Bosco helped me go to the market, but I think from now on I will probably just give him a list when I want stuff and they will pick it up for me. Probably cheaper that way (they always overprice for white people)
Am proud to say I have mastered the bus system in Kigali and Rwanda on the whole.
Those of you who want to send me thigns still – go ahead and send them to my current PC address (see first or second blog posting). I want Shel silverstien books and poems, and nursery rhymes – even if you if you just print up a bunch on paper and send those. Or dr suess books – you could probably get some at goodwill.
happy new year!
