Fun and not so fun

I’ve been desperately wanting to get to know the (Rwandese) people here better, and have deeper conversations about themselves, life here, etc. But with the language barrier (at least between myself and my students) and the fact that people in this culture are generally much more closed about sharing things (including even if they are expecting a baby –see below!), it’s not easy. However, this past week I’ve seen some people I know and care about here begin to open up as I have asked them some questions. In English class we talked about MLK and his “I Have a Dream” speech and then I asked them to write their own, and it was touching to hear some of their dreams for their lives and the country. And on the side after class one student told me about another vocational program she found to learn additional cooking and language skills, yet she couldn’t afford it (its only $8.50 for the year). My conversations this week showed me again how people here always seem fine on the outside, yet inside they are carrying so much weight as they struggle to provide for themselves and their children. I am glad they trust me to share some of their difficulties, but find it makes me sad inside, thinking about the things that they should be able to have – nothing extravagant, just food, education, medicine – that they can’t afford.
I ask myself: How can I help? Should I help? Why do they have to be in this situation?
(I told my student I could probably help her find the money to study next month, but realize I can’t pay for everything I think they should be able to have.)   

On a more upbeat note, here are some random fun things I’m learning/noticing here:

• Monkeys DO like bananas! I know that’s what everyone says, but I got to see it with my own eyes so now I truly believe it! The place we stayed over Christmas was a fairly wooded and uninhabited peninsula so there are monkeys that live there. One day they came close to our cabin! We brought them bananas and they would come within 30 feet of us to get them, although they were disappointed with the other items in our compost!
•  Use your hands! We mix the dough for chapattis (i.e. bread dough) with our hands and they seemed confused that I used a spoon at home to mix the flour, oil, egg, etc. 
•  If you want to transport eggs somewhere (on a road trip?), consider putting them in a pan with lots of rice! They were nice and secure and none were broken when we unpacked them.
• Avocados are good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Luckily we have a huge avocado tree in our yard which keeps us well supplied. (Once I even tried my host mom’s breakfast combination of a PB, honey and avocado sandwich, but usually I stick to plain avocado on my bread!)
• It is possible to cut anything without a cutting board – although for me this method of cutting is seriously slow and somewhat scary! I’m trying to practice their culture, but I don’t really want to repeat the process of finely chopping a big cabbage with a knife without a handle unless I find a makeshift cutting board! (I’m told Rwandan people would be slower with a cutting board than without one, which I have a hard time believing…)
• Public information vs. private information - - When introductions are being done, people typically say their marital status and how many children they have. (So I’m supposed to say that I’m single…) Their education or job may not be shared. (This is what I’d consider first for an introduction amongst colleagues or strangers.) Personal problems and health are typically covered up. Even women who are expecting a child don’t usually/ever directly say it. (They were shocked when Ruth, the MCC service worker, was proudly sharing how many weeks to go!)
• People love having their photo taken, but they are disappointed if you don’t include their FULL body (no cutting off their shoes in the bottom of the photo)! Also, don’t expect them to smile.

Off I go to the weekly Saturday bagels and donuts event (a café started by some Americans near my house makes bagels everyday and donuts on Saturdays only, which draws a large percent of the foreigners in Kigali). It’s almost more white people than I can handle…but the donuts are incredible so all us MCC folk go every week to talk and enjoy the food. And since I'm here in Rwanda and it's the hot dry season, we are likely to have beautiful weather to sit outside on a picnic blanket as we eat. Hope you are doing well! Enjoy the snow for me!!