Ode to One Month in Kigali (when written, 9/29/11)

I am sitting in my room with wet hair, cold hands, and a new(!) piece of African fabric wrapped like a scarf over my fleece…yes, I am cold. But I am also quite happy – I just came back from an amazing game of football (soccer) with the girls and teachers at Mwana Nshuti! We played so well, even in the rain, and I wish I had been able to document it. The walk home was also delightfully peaceful…I treaded gingerly down the hill on the rock/dirt road, watching the river that was forming in the ‘canyon’ in the middle of some parts, and not once was I accosted by curious children!

Kigali ode-

• One month ago I knew how to say “muraho” (hello), “amakuru” (how are you?) and “murakoze” (thank you), thanks to some friends at church in Chicago, but now I know many words and phrases and can occasionally even say complete, correct sentences!
• One month ago I met my host family and spent a slightly awkward first evening together, now I have been introduced by my host father at church as a member of his family!
• One month ago I knew no one in Kigali, now I have places I can go in the evening for weekly Bible study and music, or just hanging out, and I know some Rwandese people I feel comfortable asking questions about their culture!
• One month ago I wasn’t sure what I would be doing here, but now I know I’ll be co-teaching English, using my creativity and knowledge of another culture to teach the girls English and more about life, and capacity building (helping the staff with writing/website tasks and hopefully helping others develop the necessary tools to continue this in the future) at Friends Peace House (organization that Mwana Nshuti is under). Oh, and I have a desk of my own!!
• One month ago I was nervous about teaching and didn’t know the situation of the school/students, now I have met the girls and teachers, seen how easy going and pleased (with me being there) they are, and spent some bonding time with the girls playing soccer and singing songs together!
• Kigali is a beautiful city, and the people here are really great! Hopefully I will continue to have good conversations with the people I know, meet other cool people, and learn about the culture and how to navigate the city (man am I used to the grid and landmarks of Chicago!)

·         I have had so many moments of breaking into a wide smile and being so grateful for whatever little thing just happened to make me so happy…the only such memory I’m currently remembering is: Greeting a group of people sitting outside a boutique near my house – they (I  think) asked me to come over and shake hands rather than my “good afternoon!” as I pass by – so now they are my “regulars” who I will always smile and greet and their bright faces brighten mine each time!

So you want to be an African?

Here are some cultural knowledge I’ve been gaining…not that I’m anywhere near an expert yet!

• Greet people you know (handshake or “hug”) every time you see them upon arriving, or upon leaving (so maybe 4 times per day with people at work!!). If you see a friend when you are on the street but are in a hurry – still go greet the person and take time to ask how they are doing! (relationships are more important than tasks/time!!!!)
•  If you are going in the same direction as someone, wait a few minutes for them and then walk together
• Being old and fat (at least not thin) are valued (at least by adults with children!)
• Here you have to put up with regulations from the government (theoretically aimed toward “modernization” I believe) that don’t make a lot of sense – last week it was announced that everyone in Kigali must paint their tin roof red! (Not good for people who are struggling to provide food and medicine to their family…)
• Work/scheduling is pretty laid back – I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but it seems a bit weird being a co-teacher and not planning lessons with the other teacher (or even planning much at all!)

I’d appreciate your prayers as I continue to settle in at work and learn my place, for patience and the right words to say as I learn how to deal with the language barrier between myself and my students, and for courage to make a fool of myself as much as necessary in order to fit in, learn and grow!

Speaking of making a fool of myself, here are my best 2 language mishaps (and, in turn, laughs) thus far:

1.   Calling my arms “inkoko” (chickens) rather than “ukuboko”
2.  Thinking the words for one of the songs at the International Day of Peace celebration were “peace, beans and joy in my heart” because I was familiar with the word for beans (ibishyimbo) and not gladness (ibyisimo).

It’s your lucky day! I even have a few photos for you:

This is the office building of Friends Peace House, the organization that Mwana Nshuti is under.  I spend about half my time in the offices and the other half with the students.

At the peace march on the Int’l Day of Peace, 9/21/11...it wasn't too far of a march but we were actually walking really FAST so I was happy to arrive at the stadium for the program where we could sit!

Apparently in Rwanda the military are seen as a force for peace(!?) so the military was at the march/celebration and the famous “military band” lead some music in the beginning that made everyone get up and sing/dance along! - The program had many other artists and important speakers so it was a 4 hour affair! Not bad, but I couldn't understand much of it...

Here are the students having enjoyed the “presents” they received – Samuel, the sewing teacher, handed out some of the supplies I brought to each of the students!]

Peace!
-Bethany