Many good things

Burundi was good, but hot. However spending time with MCCers made for good conversation (open and honest about our life and struggles here), special food (they have soft serve ice cream in Bujumbura!!), and lots of learning (after discussing MCC values and evaluating our program in Rwanda/Burundi during the retreat, all 3 of us SALTers went to another part of Burundi to see their MCC peace programs and other important things in the region). That region of Burundi also had some amazing waterfalls, which made me feel like I was back in the US on a vacation with my family (except here they sent an armed guard with us). It was great to have a quiet place to relax, stick my feet in the cool water and feel refreshed from the spray of the waterfall.

Me, Annie and Janelle at the waterfall in Burundi.

I was happy to come back to Kigali, although it will take some time to get used to teaching English to the new group of students. After teaching the old students myself for 2 months I had gotten to know them and we were able to talk together. However, few of the new students know any English so it’s going to be a bit more difficult. Thankfully the other English teacher can help when my simple Kinyarwanda isn’t sufficient and we can enjoy other activities, like playing soccer or cards, without much language at all. Yesterday was great because a couple old students came back to visit and we all played soccer together. Despite the heat, sun and high school boys calling out inappropriate things to me as we played, it was a great game and we were quite happy (and tired) at the end!

Some other good moments this past week include…getting to “show off” where I work to a MCC education coordinator from the US -- Mwana Nshuti prepared a welcome for him which included students asking him questions in English and singing “God is so Good” which I taught them (I was so proud of their English!)…listening to 2 Rwandan colleagues/friends as they openly shared about some struggles in their life (it’s so rare here to show any type of pain/sorrow)…and having one of my English classes try so hard to pronounce my name the “American way” (the TH sound isn’t a part of the French or Kinyarwanda languages so usually I’m “bay-ta-ni”).

Welcoming the visitor and singing