'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.

Tuesday 28th September 2009
OH CRAP IT....I overslept...well...I say overslept...what I mean is that I woke up at 5.45am rather than 5.10am...and off to the education office. Only the education office looked somewhat different this morning...maybe as the grounds had temporarily been turned into a livestock farm...8 big horned cows (2 with calves) 2 sheep and a herd of goats...my word...what a noise...mooing...bleeting...baaaaing...and I had to sit in the office and mark 91 English papers while this was going on! I was lucky it was only that many...most of the papers had been marked the day before...that is probably the most work I have done since I arrived here!!! Once the papers were marked I finished and printed the P6 mock exams as requested (several times by Francois!!!) I put them on his desk...and he went to leave without them...I gently reminded him that the paper were finished and on his desk for him (as he hadn’t even looked at them) when he picked them up and handed them to Alexis before walking out of the office, presumably for his lunch. At 12 it was time to head back to the house for lunch...on arrival I found the land lord on the veranda, just watching the builders work. Ruairi talked with him, and it turns out that what we thought was refurbishment for our guard, is in fact a whole new house FOR HIM!!!! While the guard has been moved permanently to the super small outhouse on the end...it is just one room and we are not sure what he is doing for a toilet...it would be awful if he had a pit latrine in his room!!! But then nothing would surprise me anymore! I spent the rest of the afternoon in the district office...won my ongoing battle with Vodafone...although I have an awful feeling they may have done something to my phone as I haven’t had any text messages on it!!! Rubbish!!!! Yet another hot shower...clean clean clean!!!! I love it...it is maybe the best invention in the whole entire world!!!!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Monday 28th September 2009
Yep...it’s that time of week again...and world over, people are filled with a feeling of dread and foreboding as they open their sleepy eyes...only to realise that it is Monday morning...and there are another 5 whole days until the weekend! And none more so than my kind self...Monday morning can only mean one thing...the 2 hour weekly meeting at the district office which is held in Kinyarwandan...I therefore don’t understand a word of it...but this morning was different...it was far more painful than previous weeks...my boredom was however briefly punctuated by Ruairi nearly being pooped on by a bird flying around the room...oh and the announcement that Thursday is going to be a public holiday...AGAIN...I mean...I’m not complaining...but they do seem to have a day off for anything here! I spent the morning catching up on emails...which included sending an email to Vodafone...I was soooooooo very angry as I was writing it...it was barely coherent...not that even when I am not angry things are any more coherent...but I was truly furious!!! There had been some confusion about the meetings which were to be held...it had been arranged that the Affaire Social (not sure if that is how you spell it...but if you pronounce it with a French accent, it works!!!) from each of the 13 sectors in the district, would meet Ruairi and myself at the district office with all the English exam papers for their sector...we would then help them to mark them...however it was only following the 2 hour meeting and only half an hour before the meeting was due to start that Francois thought to inform us that a meeting was to be held at the same time, in the same place...for head teachers...and that they would be needing the mock exam papers that we were typing last week (which we were told were needed for Tuesday) we explained that this would not be possible and that they would be finished, as requested for tomorrow!...Text messages were sent out the Affaire social, and it was rearranged that we would meet them at Gisagara B primary school for the marking...Ruairi headed over first and I stayed in the district office to do some catching up, as these things NEVER start on time...as it turns out...several of the sectors were on 3 days training so sent their papers in to be marked, while one district still have their papers as they don’t have an affaire social at the moment. Ruairi was busy marking papers while I was informed that the head teachers who had written the mock exam papers I had been typing up the previous week would talk to me about any issues with the papers...they were due to arrive at 12.15. 1.45 and they still hadn’t arrived...rubbish...in the meantime, I managed to have a bit of skype time...and very nearly seriously offend one of the members of the district staff...he came in and was chatting away to me in English...when another man came to the door and they spoke in Kinyarwanda...obviously I had no idea what was said...the man in the doorway was still stood there...at which point the man who had been talking to me in English said (or so I thought...) ‘he has come to deliver a message, but he is a little deaf...’ (yes I think you might know where this is going...) at which point I giggled and said, ‘oh!’ still smiling...the man then said this several times...I continued to smile like a cheshire cat...it was only when after an excruciating minute later, when the man then said, ‘a deaf, in our culture, is never a good thing’ that I realised I had misunderstood the conversation...and he was trying to tell me that a message had been delivered to tell him that a member of his family had died...shit shit shit...crap it, crap it, crap it!!!! Why do these things happen to me!!! I managed to talk my way out of (just like Squirmers Maggie!) but I was so embarrassed!!! Well I waited a little longer...and the head teachers finally arrived...there was some discussion about the maths paper...as one of the questions , the working out on the answer sheet is completely wrong...even though the answer is right...they didn’t understand what I was saying so it was agreed that the paper would go out to schools as it was...and then came the English paper...oh my word...looking for opposites...ugliness, well that one was fine. Ever...well what is the opposite of ‘ever’? well of course it is ‘never’...we had changed that one to ‘always’ and ‘never’ and then the last one we had a problem with...’to study...’ well what is the opposite of to study...yep you guessed it...’to wonder’ WTF!!!!! I think they may have been getting at ignorance...but it just doesn’t make sense...the teachers laughed and agreed that we could use ‘hot and cold’ instead...but then there was something which was not agreed...Complete the sentence with questions tags... I am a boy...the answer...aren’t you? I tried to explain that that didn’t really make sense and should have been changed to You are a boy, aren’t you? But one of the teachers was adamant that that was wrong and was changing the philosophy and science of the language...he also turned to another head and said ‘you have a degree in the English language...’ and then something about me being wrong...finally after some discussion about it...and just one head getting very cross...while the others tried their hardest to explain that what was written didn’t work...it was decided that the questions would be I am a boy, aren’t I? I am still not convinced about that, but I am will to go with it...and let’s be honest...the English language is not my strong point! Later I was joined in the office by some other people...I started coughing...and they were worried that I was ill...I wanted to explain'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.

And following a relaxing week...was a VERY relaxing weekend...I have spent my first weekend alone in the house...well when I say alone...yes I still have my eight legged friends and Alexandre was still here...so I wasnt completely alone...I got up late on Saturday morning following a VERY early night on Friday as both of the kerosene lamps had some sort of problem staying on...as did one of the head torches...and I didnt think to use candles...I just went to bed...on getting up...I decided that today would be the day I tested out my culinary, domestic and DIY skills...so it started with dried beans...I soaked them over night...then I cooked them...and cooked the,...and cooked them some more...man, they tke a long old time to cook...while I was cooking the beans...I set off some eggs on the other stove...only when I went to blow the stove out...I nealry set myself alight...this happened several times until finally I think Alexandre took pity upon me and had to come over and blow it out for me...it took him a good few tries...and I think it either singed his face or else it was covered in a kerosene soot...as he had to go and wash his face afterwards...I dont think he trusts my blowing out of the stoves as now...whenever I cook and go inside...I can here him outside, blowing!!! ha ha ha!!!! The beans finally cooked and I made them into a sort of stew/sauce thing with tomatoes...check me out...I havent cooked for the best part of four years and now I am Rwanda's very own Delia Smith...Then it was for the domestic and DIY skills...I say domestic...really it was just setting up the solar shower...which in all fairness doesnt need that much setting up...but some DIY skills were required in order to hang it...so out I went to the shower room with the freaky child on the wall...armed with a washing line and a pair of scissors...as the beam I wanted to hang the shower from was too high...I had to make a loop of washing line over the beam and tied it...then got another piece...tied that around the handle and then through the loop...and it worked a treat...for the first time in several weeks...I had a hot shower...which also meant that I was able to get all of the shampoo out of my hair!!!! I love it...thank you so much Neil....it is awesome!!!!! SUnday was spent pretty much the same way...except...who ever heard of builders who work on a sunday...well they bloody well do here...and not just a Sunday...but 7am on a Sunday morning...there they were..decked out is shell suits (I really hope one of them wheres his again as it is super special and I want a photo of it...truth be known...I actually want the shell suit...you will see why if I ever get the picture!!!) HAMMERING!!!!! I was soooooooooooooo cross...actually, I wasnt at all...although I am not entirely sure why not!!!! I had another hot solar shower...and I feel nearly completely clean...it was only when using the solar shower...I realised the bits you avoid washing in cold water...mostly your back...no matter how much or how often you do it...you NEVER get used to having cold water poured down your back!!! But warm water....awesome...they onley bit of me that is still dirty are my feet...but I have resigned myself to the fact that that is just how they are going to be from now on...a kind of mottled, foot colour, orange (from the sand/dust) and green (from the bedding) Fun times!!!! So I can honestly say I am showered and rested.

Some of these picture will take a little more explaining than others as you will see...

This is me (obviously) with my pint of Ikivuguto (sour milk) the cakes were shared...

Melanie and Ken and the lady in the sour milk shop...they helped to eat the cakes....


This is the view on the way to work...I am still holding out for a clear day when I can take my proper camera as it is even more amazing than that!

and this is my room...it is huge!!!! but has very little in it...I am going to girlify it soon enough though!

This is a dark patch in the shape of a person which is on the wall in the shower room...bloody weird if you ask me!!!

This is my shower...I think you get the idea...

My new best friend...or so I thought...I had hoped that this little champ would sort out the smell coming from the toilet...but no...now the toilet smells like really bad nightclub boys toilets...mmmmmmmmm!!!

And the toilet itself...pretty isnt it?

the doors of doom...the open one is the toilet...while the closed one is the shower...

The building site at the back of the house...

The back of the house ahs become a building site.

this is where Alexandre lives and his are is being refurbished

And then the rains came...this was the day of the lightening strike in the district office...

and more rain came...

another Rwandan sunset...I dont think I am ever going to get bored of them!

Friday 15th September 2009
This does seem to have been a most relaxing week! This morning I had a lie in and didn’t get up until 6am! Again I headed for the shower with a ray of hope that the water would have miraculously warmed up over night and it would be like a warm bath...as you can imagine I was bitterly disappointed...it was bloody freezing as per bloody usual! I spent the morning pottering around while Ruairi headed into Butare to go to the bank...then it was over to the local secondary school, where all the teachers from the Ndora sector of Gisagara would be congregating to take their English exam. This has been set up by the Ministry of Education and all teacher throughout the country...all 47,000 of them from primary and secondary schools (and the heads) took the test to see what their level of English is...then based on the results, they will be put into classes for English lessons...but what happened to all the children I hear you ask...well, primary school children had the day off...and the secondary school children (there is only one secondary school in Ndora and that was where the test was being held) they just sat quietly in their classrooms and waited for lunch time...after lunch lessons would resume as normal...but until then...they just sat and talked quietly...AMAZING!!!!! Anyway...there is a point to this story...than just explaining what is going on here...I was in the staffroom (and everyone seems so nice!) when I came across a book...it was just an ordinary notebook but it had been covered in what appeared to be a old English exam paper...now, the front was pretty boring...comprehension questions (but the actual text wasn’t available) but turn the book over and it is a whole other world of fun!!! Written on the back (still the exam paper) was this question...

In which of the following situations would you use the phrase, ‘Look before you leap’?
a) Meaning I am about to jump
b) When there is a lot of noise in the playground
c) When you want to warn someone of the dangers ahead
d) When talking to a blind person at the river

Obviously the answer is going to be D...I love it!!! Anyway...On the way home I was asked the one question I have been waiting for the entire time I have been here...going four weeks without this question is very unusual...’do you go to church?’ although the answer is no...it can be very difficult to say that to people...especially when you don’t know the person who is asking you very well...I just made up some guff about how I do believe in something but I don’t go to church...apart from sometimes at Christmas to sing Christmas carols...and that seemed to go down quite well!
We walked home via the market to see if we could pick up some fruit...we did manage to find Papaya...there was a crowd gathered by the time we got round to buying it...lunch was bread...and a cheese triangle (I really maybe shouldn’t eat them as I did read on the back of the pack the other day that they went out of date nearly 6 months ago...they are a little on the sharp side...but generally ok!) and then out to the district office...where I am now!...this weekend is going to be my first weekend in Gisagara on my own...

Thursday 24th September 2009
This morning was back to the usual routine...only now I should have been able to put the photos on the page so you can have a better idea of what I mean! Myself and Ruairi headed for the district office...all was quiet...then Francois (whos name I have apparently been mispronouncing and using the girls version of!!!) arrived and the window was opened...but everything still seem frightfully quiet...that was it...no generator...actually...of course the generator was still there....but there was no diesel....after a substantial wait it was finally started...Francois then announced that there were four mock tests for the students in P6 to be typed up on computers...usually they would pay someone to do it for them (most often a university student from Butare) but there was no money in the budget so myself and Ruairi got to work. The science paper I was working on had pictures on it so I needed the internet to finish...for this I would need to go to the district office...so off we went...during the course of the day Ruairi managed the maths paper...while did science, English and social studies...god I was pleased to be finished...we finally headed home at 5pm...once home we started cooking...but one of the teachers from Gisagara B school (the one I was at yesterday) came round...actually it was a good thing as he was able to explain to Alexandre in Kinyarwanda that although we don’t mind having a few bananas...we really don’t want too many!!! Oh also...I have had a breakthrough...today a lady came into the office and asked how old I am...and rather than laughing and saying that I am old...and in fact laughing even harder as I am considered FAR too old to be single AND childless...but she just said ‘yes...you look young’...my word...I think the lady is going to be my new best friend!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
While I remember, I also forgot to mention that during the storm yesterday evening...while I was safely tucked up in the house...over in the district office...there was chaos...the lightening which I had missed as I had drawn the curtains...had hit very close to the district office buildings...sparks were apparently flying...but all was well...I guess there needs to be some sort of excitement once in a while!
Wednesday 23rd September 2009
Today was the day I was to make it out of the office and into the real world...This morning, unlike previous ones...was a little more relaxed...Ruairi had a meeting in the district office about the English exams which all teachers will be taking on Friday. I was therefore able to stay at home...I had a nit of a lie in...partly in the hope that the water would warm up a little before had to shower...unfortunately this was not to be the case and the water was as cold as ever! Having been here for 2 weeks I thought that it was time to start sorting out and settling in...particularly as I now have more than 2 pairs of pants to find a home for! The only clothes storage I have got is a bookcase which I am going to drape material over to hide the clothes...but before the bookcase could be used I needed to clean it...baby wipes are great, aren’t they! They can be literally used for everything...even cleaning bookcases! Anyway...I was scrubbing away with my baby wipes...everything which was still on the bookcase was falling on the floor around me...but it didn’t matter...because the bookcase WAS going to be clean...good lord it was filthy! Anyway...like any normal human I decided to check the underside of the shelves...and yes...you guessed it...there he was...sitting there...eight eyes...all looking in different directions...and of course...not forgetting the eight bloody legs...now...I have been very brave up until now...letting them stay in the bathroom...I make myself feel better by presuming that they are unable to see anything...I have trouble controlling and focussing with two eyes most of the time so what they do with eight...god only knows...its the same with the legs I guess but they do seem quite good at controlling them...maybe not such a good sign! Anyway...I thought that it was maybe time to call for backup...’ALEXANDRE!!!!!!’ (slight exaggeration as I was really very calm about it!) in he came...I tried to explain that there was a spider hiding out under one of the shelves on the bookcase...I made spider out of my hands and made it crawl a bit...now I knew what that meant...but apparently, Alexandre didn’t...he thought I was asking him to come in and pick up everything that had fallen from the bookcase and all the baby wipes which I had dropped on the floor following the ambush...I tried to explain several times and eventually he understood, found the beast and took it away...unfortunately, this was not where our communication difficulties ended...Wednesday is also market day...Alexandre went out shopping armed with a list written by myself and Ruairi...one of the reasons for Alexandre doing the shopping is because stall holders see a mzungu coming and up the prices...this does not happen when he shops...once again ‘fruit’ was written on the list...in the vain hope that one day there will be some there...but underneath this was written ‘Sinshacker umuneke’ (or at least something along those lines...I am taking no responsibility for any of this as it was Ruairi who wrote it)...but, maybe what we had written actually meant the complete opposite as we ended up with even more bananas than before...I am trying to eat them....but they go off so very quickly and fruit flies seem to swarm in from nowhere to hang out with the bananas! Bored of watching the fruit flis...I decided to see if I could spot any birds...I sat in the door to my room and left some bread on the stairs in the hope of enticing some beautiful tropical feathered friends to my doorstep...but 20 minutes later with nothing more than a picture of an ant, I gave up and headed back into the house. The afternoon was to be spent observing lessons at a local primary school, Gisagara B. Upon our arrival we were met but the head and all children and teachers from P3 – P6 (a bit like Years 3 – 6 in the UK, but some of the students are well over 11, in fact it is not unheard of to have students who are 18, in primary school) the children sang for us and did some dancing...then we headed into class...we started with P1...who greeted us with their best English and sang us a song...the same this happened in P2. Then it was to P3 where there was a maths lesson going on...fractions...taught in English...in fact all the lessons I saw were taught in English which is encouraging...I watched an Elementary Science and Technology lesson (EST) on the subject of the role of trees in our environment...and what would be the first thing to spring to mind...yep me too...unfortunately, burning, building houses and making furniture was to come before the fact that we actually need trees for oxygen...well they got there in the end! I spent about half an hour in each class, but I must admit that I did have a favourite lesson...it was a P6 English class...on collective nouns...now if one was going to talk to a group of students about collective nouns...what would be chosen...actually I cant think of any at the moment...as the example given was so good...I think it may have been the highlight of my day...actually...no, what came after the lesson was the highlight...anyway...the example...what is the collective noun for a group of Bishops? No, I didn’t know either...but all the children in the class did...it is bench of bishops...but what came next was without a doubt up there with listening to when a child is born in French in the car from Kigali to Gisagara when I first arrived here...anyway...the children started to sing...Mary’s Boy Child...do you know what...this country don’t need to celebrate Christmas at Christmas time...they just celebrate all year round! I loved it!!!!!!! After this we were met again by the head teacher and I thought she was going to show us her office...which was a mud hut in the middle of the playground...I couldn’t quite understand why it was full of rabbits in hutches though...but thankfully it turns out that that is not her office but the rabbit hutches, the school are breeding the rabbits to sell (for meat) to make money for the school...Ruairi told the lady that I had thought it was her office and she was quite amused...while I was just plain embarrassed! We then did go to her office...had a drink and headed back to the house...Ruairi went out for the evening while I stayed in...the days excitement was just too much for me!!!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Tuesday 22nd September 2009
It appears that the more one showers in cold water...the colder the water gets...honestly...I swear it gets colder every morning....rubbish! Due to yesterday being a public holiday...the pleasures of the 2 hour weekly meeting were saved for today..and to think only a few months ago, I struggled to make it through the morning briefing at school...and that was following a hot shower! We arrived for 7am as expected and the room was being set up...it appeared that the executive secretary had not yet arrived so the meeting was chaired by somebody else...after about an hour of discussion...none of which I understood...the executive secretary turned up...the meeting ended up going on for 2 hours and 46 minutes! I could have cried...Not only that, but I was nearly speared to death by a bird flying in through the window...following this I nearly fell off my chair...which the ladies sat in front of me found highly amusing! I sat in the office until 3pm...by which point I was more than ready to go home...most of the morning and afternoon had been spent trying to send a VERY cross email to Vodafone...who after 2 emails and 2 letters have still failed to do as I have asked! Not only that...but when I went to write the letter on the format they request online...their website was out of order...I don’t think I have ever been quite so cross in my whole life!!! I was bright red and VERY hot with crossness. I was just about to go home when Denise, who is part of a team dealing with family planning in the district came in looking for Ruairi...he had gone home to get something to eat before his English class...Denise however decided that I would be able to help her...she needed to translate a report from French to English...I tried my hardest to explain that I didn’t speak French and would therefore be unable to help her...but this was not accepted...and I found myself translating a report on programs running to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS...when Ruairi turned up I took this as my cue to leave...and flew out of the door...when I got outside...the clouds were gathering and large drops of rain were starting to fall...thankfully, they were not too heavy...but once the wind picks up, you know you only have a matter of minutes before the heavens open and you are soaking from head to toe...I was nearing the house when this happened...my skirt was blowing this way and that...I just needed a wicker basket and a dog called Toto...and I could have been Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’...the bit when the twister is coming and she is shouting ‘Aunt Em...Aunt Em.....!!!!!’ Anyway, you will be pleased to know that I made it safely home before the rains came and my beautiful Cath Kidston laptop case did not need to prove its waterproof staus! As I went through the door...I was nearly scared to death by Alexandre...I had completely forgotten that he was in the house...

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Thursday 17th September 2009
Like every other morning, this morning started once again in the education office...only this time myself and Ruairi had an agenda...we needed to show Alexis and Francois our plan for the coming weeks...if this is not done soon I fear I may shrivel up and become and office hermit! They actually took the suggestions remarkably well and if all plans go ahead, we should be visiting schools next week. I left the office feeling satisfied and headed over to the district office, where I spent the rest of the day...There was an English class at 4pm so I made my way home on my own...when I got to the football pitch, once again, I was followed home by a group of 6 children aged between 5 and 10. When I got to the house they were still there...I just walked down the slope and in through the front door. As I was walking away the children were approached by a well dressed man in shirt and trousers...he looked like he might have been a teacher (and teachers can always spot teachers!!!) Anyway, I thought nothing of it and went inside. Now, I have decided that even if I don’t have such things as electricity, running water or a modern toilet...I do have VERY comfortable PJ’s...and 4.30pm is just about the right time to put them on!!! I was in my room and had unlocked the back door (but left it closed) and just as I was slipping on my rather fetching bright pink polka dot pyjama bottoms...I could here children’s voices shouting mzungu, mzungu, mzungu...over and over...and it seemed to be very close by...but of course...it couldn’t have been coming from the back of the house as it is enclosed...but as I peered around the door...the little monsters WERE IN OUR BACK GARDEN!!! They had let themselves in!!!! Now I had a decision to make...do I get rid of them as quickly as possible (remembering that I am wearing bright pink pyjamas) or do I get changed and then try and get rid of them...I went for the second option as I wouldn’t have taken me seriously wearing those! They were very persistent and didn’t actually leave until Alexandre came home...I packed my bag for my trip to Kigali in the morning and had an early night.

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Friday 18th September 2009
I was up early and ready to catch the morning bus to Butare...we arrived at the district office just in time as the bus was dropping off the office staff...The journey was long and bumpy, but nothing that wasn’t to be expected...in town we headed first for the post office to see if the pants and lip balm posted 2 weeks ago had arrived...and of course they hadn’t...only the situation is a little more complicated than it first appears....as I may have given the wrong address to my dad...the pants will therefore end up in someone else’s post box (you can all rest assured that all the HUGE parcels you have been sending to BP 129 Butare...will go the right place....ha ha ha!!!) With the underwear situation just about under control, it was time to head to the bank to open my Rwandan Bank account...the problem being that the application form to open a bank account is in FRENCH...I don’t speak FRENCH!!!! Why oh why oh why???? I just about managed to fumble my way though...with a few minor mishaps...and I am now the proud owner of a Rwandan bank account with Eco Bank...apparently I will also be getting a new bank card...although I can only use it at the university campus...never mind...also...it could take 3 months to arrive!!! Now for the bus to Kigali, I decided to go with ‘Volcano’ bus company, which was probably the right choice to make...fast and comfortable...as usual, within minutes of leaving Butare, I was overcome with a feeling of sleepyness...and drifted in and out of sleep the whole way to Kigali. First stop in Kigali was the program office to collect my passport which also had my visa in, so that I would be able to collect my case from the airport tomorrow (previously I have had someone with me who has been able to explain that my passport was at the immigration office and didn’t want to risk it, being on my own) I bussed it there are back in record time...and headed for the blues cafe to use the internet...After managing to waste and entire day (which I have become incredibly good at) I met up with April and Portia before heading back to the apartment where Portia and Julie live...The apartment is amazing...it has electricity...TWO PROPER TOILETS!!!...and...hot and cold running water...I have forgotten what these things are like! After a quick tour and a drink (some nicer than others as the salt and sugar pot hadn’t been labelled and April had 2 ‘sugars’ in her tea) we headed into town for something to eat...we decided on Indian...Handee’s...where everything sparkles and is covered in sequins...it is amazing!!! And finally before bed...A HOT SHOWER!!!!!!...Just what the doctor ordered!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Saturday 19th September 2009
We were all up early...dressed and ready to go...we got motos into town where we had breakfast and a drink...Julie had decided that she was also going to come to Butare for the evening. A taxi was called and I was finally heading to airport to collect my long lost bag!!!...I collected my pass and went through to the baggage claim area...into the room of lost and found bags...and...there it was...sat on a shelf...exactly as I had left it!!! I handed over my forms...and headed for the exit...only to be stopped by a customs officer...he insisted that I open my bag and show him what was inside...as if enough people haven’t already been through it!!! I obliged..he prodded and poked...as predicted he found nothing...but in all honesty there could have been anything in there!! I walked back through...beaming from ear to ear...with my case trailing behind me!!...back in the taxi...at the bus station we had to buy an extra ticket for the suitcase...and try as we might to sit in the seats in front of the bloody thing...they were insistent that we sit next to it...thankfully the bus was not very busy...and was therefore reasonably comfortable! Back in Butare we met up with the others and settled into the ‘Africana lodge’ basic but clean. After a well deserved beer it was back to the hotel to change..the question was...WHAT TO WEAR!!!???!!! I couldn’t remember what having so many clothes was like!!! Just outside the main centre of Butare is a Chinese restaurant...you might have to wait 2 hours for your food, but it is about as like Chinese food as you can get...just before midnight we headed back to the hotel where I was sharing with Melanie...it was just like being back training!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Sunday 20th September 2009
I was going to have a lie in this morning...but Melanie had other ideas...she was awake...so I should be too!!! Lol We might have been awake, but that doesn’t mean that we did anything...just chatted until the others got up...but even then...we made no effort to get up...Unfortunately there was no water (although there usually is) so once again it was a bucket shower...man oh man...it is hard work...I think I must have got used to showering at home...I found it really hard...there was a little bit of swearing, as I stumbled and nearly fell out of the shower, but I was very aware that everyone was sat in the chairs just outside the bathroom...By the time I was finally ready...the heavens opened...it was just a case of waiting...the rain was over soon enough and we went to a cafe for lunch. Tomorrow is Eid, and obviously, as a predominantly Christian country, Eid is a public holiday! Now, I am not going to complain!. I left my case with Ruairi for the night as he was staying in Butare...while I got the bus with Melanie, to her house in Nyanza...I really think she needs to visit as soon as possible to see how the other half live...they have water (although not at the moment), electricity AND a proper toilet! Ken, the man she shares the house with had made pie and mash for tea, unfortunately for the first time in months, Ken had cooked with meat and it was a beef pie, so I just had mash...yes...you heard right...I had a whole plate of mashed potatoes!!! The evening was spent chatting and listening to music...which included a Christmas carols...I love Christmas carols!!!!


'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Monday 21st September 2009
We headed into Nyanza town at about 11.30am...straight for the market...there are fruits and vegetables galore and a selection of beautiful fabrics...I bought some more material to make another curtain, table cloth and to cover up the front of my book case where all my clothes are going to be kept and the windows in the cupboard in the living room where I also have some bits and pieces. Ken’s favourite drink is a soured milk...I cant remember what it is really called, but it is basically just soured, whole fat yoghurt. I didn’t not like it...but a pint is a lot!! I managed about a 5th before I handed it over to Ken, who had already drunk his own!! I would have it again, only I would have a much smaller class!! We went to see a friend of Ken and Mel’s who was very pleased to see me as she has heard all about my hair that doesn’t need brushing...good job really as I have no idea where my brush is...in fact...I I have only brushed my hair once since being here...and that was before I moved to Gisagara...ooops!!! I got the 3pm bus back to Butare where I met Ruairi with my bag and we got a taxi back to the house. While I was off having fun in Nyanza...Ruairi was busy photocopying the English exam paper for every teacher in the district...back at the house, by the light of a kerosene lamp we had to package the papers, counting them out to ensure that there were enough question and answer sheets for the number of teachers in each district...sometime later we finally finished...

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Thursday 17th September 2009

Today started much as every other day does...same routine as always...but after being in the office for a while...they informed us that the generator had run out of fuel...so they would be turning it off...oh well...we went home for a early lunch, to find our landlord there...I think he is doing up the rooms at the back of the house where Alexandre lives...I had my lunch...and went for a short snooze...I woke up in a mad panic, thinking I was late...only to realise that at the grand age of 21....I am unable to read the time properly...idiot! Anyway...the afternoon was whiled away in the district office...which is my new favourite place...purely for the fact that there is a 'proper' toilet...ok so you ahve to hold the door handle the whole time as the door doesnt stay shut..and you have to flush it with a bucket of water...but it is made of Rwanda's (actually it probably isnt!) porciline...so I dont care! When everyone went to their english lessons...and the generator was turned off...I decided to make my way home...when I got to the football pitch...I was followed by a group of children...aged between 5 and 9...they followed me home...when I got back...they were told off (I think) by a man in shirt and tie...I went into my house and thought nothng of it...I was just getting changed when I could here Mzungu being shouted over and over...and it sounded VERY close...I looked out of my window to find the little blighters in my garden!!! not the front garden...oh no...they had made their way through the gate into my back garden...I was cross!!!! I told them to go away and they just kept on...it wasnt until Alexandre came back that they finally went....grrrrrrrrrr...the rest of the evening was taken up pretty much with just being cross!!!!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Wednesday 16th September 2009
This morning we headed for the Education office once again. It is a funny feeling being the first in...not being the last one rushing through the door in a mad rush...but then again, no one here appears to rush anything at all...least of all to work (with the exception of the 2 hour Monday morning meeting) I managed to entertain myself for the best part of an hour and a half...then we were informed by Alexis that there was a very important meeting at one of the schools in the district to celebrate the beginning of the 9 years basic education, the minister for education would be there along with several other district officials...we however would be going to a local school for the celebrations, as would all the staff from the district office. We were to be leaving in a few minutes...so I packed up my laptop...and waited...and waited...after I had sat there for a considerable amount of time (well ok...15 minutes...but it felt like a lifetime!), we asked what time the ceremony was...10am, but it was a fair walk. We decided to drop off our things at the house and then make our way to the district office for 9.30am when all the people who were working there would be walking to the school. I left first, as I have decided that I need to start heading out on my own, the more I do it the less people will follow, stare and shout is the plan. Yesterday I was followed home by a group of children, there must have been about 10 of them...it was a rather uncomfortable experience...mostly due to the 2 slightly older children who appeared to be playing a game whereby they had to run in front of me, catch my eye and then run away again...anyway...I ventured out on my own back to the house where I collected a book and my camera; the camera for obvious reasons and the book because at such events there is often a lot of waiting around...not something I wanted to do with no entertainment at all. Ruairi caught up with me at the house and we headed out to the district off...when we got there...no one seemed to be showing any signs of leaving their work and getting ready to go...after a little investigation it was discovered that the meeting had in fact been cancelled...again this is quite a common occurrence...we headed back to the house. Today for some reason I was extremely tired, I dozed in a chair for the best part of 2 hours, before having lunch...a banana and 4 malted milk biscuits...I was feeling a little odd...not ill but also not quite right and decided that the sugar rush would be enough to get to back to the district office. I think Alexandre might think that I am slightly mad...he came in to find me sat at the table with a glass of passion fruit squash and 4 biscuits on a plate....I still have to have the pineapple...maybe lunch tomorrow! The afternoon was spent trying to update my antivirus...but the internet is very unreliable and had a tendency to cut out...so I haven’t actually managed that yet...maybe in Kigali at the weekend. We had a early dinner, Ruairi went for a drink with Enok, while I stayed at home and watched yet more LOST...I do love it but is does freak me out a little bit...I then had to watch South Park before I headed to bed!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.
Tuesday 15th September 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!! The day began with yet another trip to the cold water bucket shower...bread has not been delivered to the village for 3 days and we had run out so breakfast was 4 plain biscuits and a glass of squash...it is good to know that some things never change and I am about as good at keeping back up supplies in Rwanda as I was in the UK. There was a pineapple, which Alexandre had bought when there was no bread, but I didn’t have time to cut it as I was running late...some things will never change! We made our way to the Education office and were the first ones there. I settled myself behind the desk and decided that today WAS going to be a productive day. I used the template provided by VSO to write my letters to the directors of primary schools inviting them to participate in a project with myself, through which their school will become a ‘model school’ and teachers from other schools in the district can come and see. The letter and application form was written in both French and English and they were approved by Francois, the Director of Education. I tried to make out that I had written the letter in French myself (which obviously I hadn’t) but he didn’t seem to understand and the joke unfortunately was lost...boooo!! By half past ten the letters were written, approved, printed, signed and labelled...the only thing that was missing were the envelopes and they are kept by a lady in the District office...so off I went in search of the envelope lady. I knew which office she was in and that she was called Francois...which you would think would be enough information? Only the lady who was in the office didn’t speak any English...so it was time to try out my French...yep...I couldn’t even remember how to ask someones name...there were 2 other people in the office who find this very amusing and thankfully understood what I was trying to say! It was established that the lady in questions was in fact Francois and I proceeded to ask for the envelopes...again in French...only this time she seemed to understand completely!! As I came out of the office...I walked out of the office and straight into the Mayor of the district...who blurted in very rapid French..ooabdvkajblksadjbclkasjbdcliasbdclibdc....I don’t think that had I even spoken French I would have understood a word of it...I just stood and looked perplexed...while the man who was with him started to laugh...maybe as they then realised that if you are going to ask someone from the UK if they speak French...it might be an idea to do it in English...having realised this he then asked in English and was remarkably unsurprised when I said no I don’t speak much French...he shook my hand...turned and walked out of the building. I have also decided that the district office is my new favourite place...for the simple reason that it has a ‘proper’ toilet...I decided that it would be rude not to test out the facilities provided...(they even provide loo roll...now you don’t get that everywhere!) Anyway...to cut a long story short...I made the same mistake twice in a very short space of time...and ended up with wet feet for a second time...Basically, I went to wash my hands...scooped a nice big bucket of water...stood over the sink and poured it over my hands...only there is no pipe connected to the plughole...the water just poured straight onto the floor...thankfully I had my reasonably quick thinking head on and put the bucket under the plughole as a kind of damage limitation...I picked up my envelopes and RAN!!!!! I managed to find an office where I could camp out pretty quickly...but soon found that I was unable to use the internet. When it was repaired the previous day, a secured network was created so I headed to the IT office to get the code...2 hours later I was finally online...all it really would have taken was a little patience...but instead it was decided that there was something really wrong with my computer and I had a really bad virus...my computer was virus checked and needless to say...it was fine and very quickly connected to the internet...I headed home at 4 as the English lessons were being held and the generator and internet would be turned off...at home I set to washing pants/feet etc...and I then decided that it was time to sort out the water filter....I boiled a saucepan of water and decided to drain the water (because it is a new filter it is chalky to start with) wash out the bottom part and start a fresh...I stood there for a few minutes with a trickle dribbling into the saucepan...I took off the lid and had a look inside...put the lid back on and waited a little while longer...it was only when I took the lid off for a second time that I realised I could actually just pour the water out of the top...not my finest moment!!! Anyway...I cleaned it and put fresh water through...BUT IT STILL TASTES LIKE CHALK!!!!! I headed to bed at about 8.45 and once the light was out I managed to convince myself that there were GIANT SPIDERS in my room...when I turned my light on...turns out there was nothing there and I had imagined it all...ha ha ha...at about 10.30...I had a very nice surprise...a phone call from my grandparents...what a lovely treat...thanks guys!!!

'the views expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO'.

Monday 14th September 2009
10 past 5 in the morning is most definitely not the time to be showering in a bucket of cold water...but it was either that or turn up at the weekly meeting with all district staff and the Mayor looking a rather sickly shade of lime green...but after much swearing and shivering I was finally clean! The weekly meeting is held in the hall in the district office and lasts for 2 HOURS!!!! Although I am required to attend...I didn’t understand a word of it as it was all in Kinyarwanda. Fortunately for me Alexis was there to translate English, however this sometimes proved too much so he would translate into French for Ruairi (across me) and the Ruairi would translate the French into English...longwinded but it seemed to work. The meeting was actually remarkably entertaining considering how little I understood. The rest of the morning was spent getting more and more frustrated with the internet...it said it was working but after trying for 45 minutes to no avail, it was decided that maybe it was broken after all! I did some work which did not require the internet, was asked several times if I was married to Ruairi (apparently it is illegal for a man and a woman who are not married to share a house in this country...even just as colleagues!!) and if I was single before I finally headed home...dinner was avocado to start followed by stir-fried cabbage...yum yum yum!!!! (and for those of you who think I am joking...let me tell you...I most certainly...AM NOT!!!!...i love cabbage!!!!!)

Sunday 13th September 2009
Having been someone who is recent years has slept little and done quite a lot, I think this may be about to change! Now I know that traditionally Sundays are for relaxing before a busy week back at work...however, I slept for 9-10 hours on Saturday night...yet throughout the course of the day, seemed to sleep even more. In fact, I wouldn’t mind betting that I could become a professional sleeper...the day was spent in a state of semi-consciousness and I was tucked up back in my bed by 8.45pm.

Saturday 12th September 2009
Last night I went to bed very early, at about 8pm, and somehow managed to sleep until 8am this morning!!! Which by all accounts is unheard of...I never sleep that much!!! After a leisurely morning we headed to the market at around 10.30am. The market is literally right outside my front door...up the steps and if you are not very careful indeed, you are in danger of tripping over a mature Rwandan lady and her sewing machine! In fact there is a row of about 8 sewing machines and machinists, repairing and making clothes. There are some household goods and second-hand clothes, bedding and shoes...I wondered where all the shell suits from the 90’s went...and now I know...they are outside my house twice a week, and probably will be for some time to come! The fruit and vegetable section was somewhat disappointing...tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, sweet and white potatoes, cassava, onion, avocado...ok so the selection of vegetables is ok but fruit was nowhere to be seen!!! I managed about half an hour at the market, the novelty of having a Mzungu (or 2) at the market was too much for some, and there was much pointing and chatting as we passed. As it happens, the trip to the market was all too much for me and when I got back to the house I needed to have a nap! Amy was to arrive later in the afternoon...I managed to watch 4 episodes of lost and have another snooze before she arrived! When she finally arrived on the back of moto...I think it may have all been too much for the people in the village...and quite a crowd gathered outside our house...the timing could not have been worse as I was just coming in from outside, clutching a roll of toilet paper, to find a crowd of young people just staring...at this point I felt somewhat exposed and decided that the only solution was to hide the toilet roll...which I did before heading back inside...It was decided that beers were definitely required before dinner, partly ‘just because’ and partly due to the finding of the missing suitcase!!!!! It turns out that the bloody thing has been sat in Addis Ababa airport, Ethiopia for the last 2 weeks...I don’t really care all that much where it has been so long as I get it back!!! The 3 of us headed back for the bar in town (the one with no lights) had a beer and brought a couple back to have with dinner. The evening passed quickly, chatting over a couple of warm beers...

Friday 11th September 2009

At 6.30am it was time to get up and head once more for the cold bucket shower...however I am not sure that I am ever going to actually get clean...I seem to be covered in a layer of orange/red dust, which I had thought was the beginning of a tan, only to be bitterly disappointed when it washed off...adding to that the lovely shade of green I seem to be turning courtesy of my new ‘high quality’ bed sheets bought at the Chinese supermarket!... at around 8am myself and Ruairi headed for the education office. Once there we discovered that the office was empty and waited for Francois, the director of education and Alexis the Charge. Alexis was the first to arrive followed about half an hour later by Francois. We made our way back to the house in time for some lunch before heading back out the district office where we camped out to charge electrical equipment for the rest of the day. At 5pm we went back home again and managed to cook dinner just before the light went completely at 6.30pm. Dinner was rice again...but hopefully we will be able to get fresh fruit and vegetables at the local market in the morning...bed was very early today due to the exhausting nature of the days events!!! Ha ha ha.

Veiw from the house


View from the house

View from the house

Main road the the next village

Front of the house

View from the house

My favourite place...the toilet and shower room...hours of spidery fun fun fun!!!!

View from the back of the house

Sun Set

Traditional Rwandan Dancers at the 'Family Dinner'

Traditional Rwandan Dancers at the 'Family Dinner'

Traditional Rwandan Dancers at the 'Family Dinner'

Traditional Rwandan Dancers at the 'Family Dinner'

View own the road in Kigali

Sunday 6th September 2009
This is the first morning that we have not had to have Kinyarwanda lessons all week so full advantage was taken...although following my night of fun last night I still only managed my usual six hours of sleep, I stayed in bed and dozed for another hour or so...breakfast was missed and the morning was spent not really doing all that much. In the afternoon I ventured out to Cymironko market on the other side of town with Karen, Julie, Melanie and Ruairi. The market was full of the usual hustle and bustle; piles of flour, colourful fruits, beautiful materials and an array of second hand clothes...even second hand pants (which I managed to resist buying!..luckily!) I bought some amazing material to hang as curtains in my new house...when I get bored of it I might have my curtains made into clothes...awesome! At 6.30 Ruairi and I met with our landlord...fingers crossed, he will be coming to the house when I move in on Wednesday, moving his stuff from the bigger bedroom to a smaller one meaning I will be able to have the larger of the bedrooms! He also suggested that he may also install a ‘modern’ toilet...wooooooooo hooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not entirely sure how I am going to cope with a pit latrine (squatting toilet) and a bucket of cold water to shower in...the solar shower was also in the case which has not yet been found by Ethiopian Airlines! Rubbish!

Monday 7th September 2009
Happy Birthday Annabel! Wish I could have been to see Mama Mia too!!!! I am sure you had an awesome time though! The day started with my final Kinyarwanda lesson...needless to say, I am about as good at the language now as I was 10 days ago. No because of the quality of teaching (which was very good) but because it is a hard language to learn...however I would like to continue when I get to Gisagara. We then had a couple of other sessions and a shoping trip to buy equipment for our houses on placement. I have bought the most awesome towel in the whole world ever! It has spiderman on it!!! In addition to be incredibly cool, it was also 1/3 of the price of a ‘normal’ towel and cost only 2,900F which is about £3!!! I was tempted by nutella, until I saw it was nearly £15 a jar...admittedly it was a big jar...but still!! I bought a giant blue bin for the bathroom...some buckets and a jerry can...all very exciting! Driving home with the truck piled high...I misread a sign...Tracy’s Auto Pants...I think that maybe I have got pants on the brain at the moment...it was actually Tracy’s Auto Paints’ I think my version was more funny though! This evening we had a talk from the British Ambassador...which was very interesting...earthquakes, burping lakes and volcanoes...to name but a few of the topics covered!

Tuesday 8th September 2009
This morning all the volunteers were to meet their new employers and have a days workshop. Unsurprisingly some employers were unable to attend, due to last minute meetings, while others were just late. The charge from Gisagara district came down to meet me, I was unsure really as to what I should say to him, but most of the time was taken up with workshop activities run by VSO staff. Halfway through the morning Ruth, one of the Program Managers, took a phone call from the airport staff in Kigali. They wanted to know why I had not returned my receipt for lost luggage when I had collected my case, it was then explained that I had not yet received my case...so therefore, why should I return my form? Anyway...it turns out that it was the man from the lost and found baggage department, Ethiopian Airlines would not talk to him about finding my bag, so he asked me to go to the airport that afternoon. We finished the morning sessions and I was to be collected after lunch to go to the airport. Bosco, one of the drivers arrived looking extremely excited while exclaiming that he had had a phone call from Enias to say that my luggage had been located and I was to go to the airport and collect it. Thankfully I now know better than to get my hopes up about such matters...and as it happens...that was the right thing to do. There was sum confusion and the story had changed....At the airport I checked the last and found room again...still no sign of my bag! The man in the off, Musoni, was very helpful and took me to the Ethiopian Airlines offices where he was able to search for my bag on the computer system...no one from EA was available to see me...they were far too busy losing someone else’s luggage! Anyway...when the number for my bag was typed into the computer...it said ‘not found’ and the same thing happened when my name was typed in...I am now VERY cross indeed...they think that maybe the label fell off...who knows...I just want my things back! Anyway...I headed back to the guest house to rejoin my employer who must have been pretty annoyed that he had travelled all that way only to find that I had been gone for most of the afternoon. In the evening I packed my bags in anticipation for leaving the following day...I was to be collected at 10am by a district vehicle...

Wednesday 10th September 2009
I awoke early in the morning as I still had plenty of packing to do! I also wanted to have a very long, hot shower as it was going to be my last one for a while!...Needless to say...that as so often happens...all the rushing was for nothing. Ruairi was called at 9.30 to say that the vehicle I would be travelling back to the district in was being used by the district mayor, but they had no set off...however the journey from Gisagara to Kigali is 2-3 hours...midday was the new ETA. After making sure that everything was packed I headed out for a stroll to an internet cafe with Melanie (who has been my room-mate for the past 10 days) as she was not going to be collected until about 2pm. We made our way back at about 12.30pm to find that there was still no sign of my lift...so we waited...and waited....and waited....it was like the suitcase all over again! Finally a car arrived to collect Melanie and shortly after, mine appeared too. On the journey I tried my hardest to stay awake, but as most of you know...staying awake in cars, buses, planes etc is something I find VERY difficult...I would say that I was awake for most of the journey! We stopped in Butare, which is the nearest town to Gisagara, bought some groceries, checked the post box etc. then headed off again. The roads up until here had been great...smooth tarmac roads...but following the turn for Gisagara, the road became, albeit a very good dirt track, it was a dirt track all the same...on the way we met the director of education for the district, we stopped, said our hellos and then went on our way. 15km later...just before sunset, we arrived at the house. Our arrival caused quite a stir with the locals...having another Muzungu arrive!!! They children were very keen to help and brought in a lot of my things and then disappeared...And so I am here...The bedroom is huge, although for some reason the landlord and the guard (who was nowhere to be found) had dismantled the bed, so by torch light it was reassembled and I put on my new bed sheets...The house is actually very big...with amazing views from the side during the day and the stars are just incredible! The toilet on the other hand...is basically just a hole in the ground with a slightly raised area around it, in an outhouse down a set of very steep steps! Melanie will be pleased to hear that I don’t think there is any chance of me getting my head stuck if I am sick (long but very amusing story!). I had some bread and peanut butter for my tea and headed to bed at a reasonable hour. It is hard to say up late as it is dark by 6.30...and the day starts at 5.30-6am ish...I think this lifestyle will take a little getting used to...but will be ok in the long run!


Thursday 10th September 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICE!! I got up this morning at about 7.30am following a very restless night in my new house. The tin roof was creaking and there were a number of unfamiliar sounds coming from outside...then every time I woke I realised that I was in fact cold...but was too nervous to actually get out of bed to get the blanket to do anything about it! Breakfast was a slice of bread with peanut butter and a hardboiled egg...obviously not together!!! I then ventured out to the shower...when I say shower I don’t mean an actual shower...it is more like a concrete room...I took down the very steep steps; my half bucket of water, large basin to stand in to catch the used water, towels and soap, shampoo, sponge etc...Bearing in mind that the shower room is attached to the pit latrine and it is not coming to the end of the rainy season...there is an interesting odour in the air...that was the least of my worries though...the half bucket of COLD water was bothering me somewhat more! I started with my hair...my god the water was bloody freezing!!! But after a while you sort of get used to it...I then remembered that I had face wash...I promptly lathered it up in my hands and rubbed it all over my face...without giving a second thought as to how I was going to rinse it off again...oh crap it...there I was in a dark concrete room...with a face full of soap, unable to open my eyes...what do you do...well you lean your head back and pour the water...but the coldness was such a shock that I lost my balance...and started to topple...thankfully I was able to stop myself before I fell to the floor completely and it could have been a lot worse than it was. After showers and breakfast we headed to the district office where I met lots of people...but unfortunately I don’t remember any of their names...but in my defence there was a lot to take in! The Mayor was out of the office so I missed meeting him...everyone seemed very nice and we made our way back to the house for lunch...The views are spectacular...I really can’t believe how lucky I am! Walking in the village is a little unnerving as a lot of people stare...some will follow and others will just say good-morning or muzungu which roughly translates at white person however it was used in the past to describe someone who is rich. I spent the afternoon at the house...just pottering while Ruairi headed back to the office. While he was there many of the staff were asking who I was and was I living in the house. When the answer was yes they were we married...no...so when were we getting married...we are not getting married and that too seemed to be accepted. As the sun went down the lamps were lit...which I have discovered really isn’t that difficult! And we started to prepare dinner...I also managed to light on of the kerosene stoves without too much difficulty! After dinner we went to a local bar with a friend of Ruairi’s, Enok from Uganda. We walked with our torches along the quiet streets and there was not a light in sight. When we got to the bar was when I realised that the bar was also lacking in lighting. We sat down at a table in the dark with a rather warm beer...it was a rather pleasant experience. By the time we got back to the house I was desperate for a wee and I would have to ‘man up’ and use the toilet in the dark...only on the way I was ambushed by a rather large, flat spider...I stopped in my tracks and swore at it quite a lot...Alexandre, the guard, I think was quite baffled by this and came over to see what I was doing...of course by the time he was there, the bloody spider was nowhere to be seen. I had to make hand gestures as to why I was behaving in such a strange way, although I am still not sure whether he understood or not! I finally made it into the toilet...only to be greeted by a lt more spiders...the ones with the little bodies and the big long legs...crap crap crap!!!! So yeah...that was not a nice experience! When I got back to the house I realised that I still needed to wash my feet as they were brown and I had no clean pants for the morning....so in the light of a candle and a head torch....I set too...before I knew it, it was 11pm and I had to be up at 6am the next morning...

Hopefully if this work I will have uploaded a couple of the pictures from Saturday's 'Family Dinner'! I have written another couple of entries which are really quite boring ...but you will need to wait with baited breath to see what treasures those installments hold! Today I am moving to Gisagara...I was supposed to be collected at 10am...however, the town mayor decided that he needed to use the truck for something else...so I am therefore now writing this whiling away the hours before I am collected. Last night the realisation hit me that as of this afternoon I am no longer going to have access to running water or a toilet...I had a very long shower this morning although the water was only just not cold and will be going for as many wees as is possible before leaving for my house! ha ha ha! Unfortunately my solar shower was in the case which has not yet arrived...however we did buy the worlds biggest bin in the Chinese supermarket which I might just climb into...rather than pouring cups of cold water over me....the only thing is I have a feeling I may not have legs which are quite long enough and I may end up either falling in it or out of it...either way...it would not be good...maybe I will just stick to a jug and sponge after all!! Ok...so it looks like my pictures are not going to upload anytime soon...but I will keep trying all the same! I had better be off as it looks like my lift will be arriving shortly! woop woop!

Saturday 5th September 2009
Today was supposed to be a productive day, followed by a relaxing afternoon beautifying myself in preparation of the ‘VSO Family Dinner’. However, this was not to be the case...after another Kinyarwanda lesson, I decided that it was time to venture out on my own. So I walked to the bus stop to get the bus into town (I was also looking forward to having a little bit of time, just on my own) I was impressed that I was able to get the bus with relative ease and was even able to say bus in Kinyarwanda (bisi) to explain that I didn’t need a taxi as I was getting the bus into town. The bus is 180 Rwandan Francs, which is about 20p. I know that at the moment all of these prices seem really cheap but the reality of a volunteer allowance, although more than generous, compares little with a teachers salary in the UK. So...I got the bus into the city, and managed to find the shopping centre. My phone and Rwandan SIM will still not accept messages from the UK (but you can all still text my old number!) so I went into the MTN shop, they said there was nothing wrong, so it just looks like something I am going to have to live with! I was just about to head to the supermarket, Nakamat, when I bumped into Julie, another new volunteer and we then shopped and lunched together. I did try to find new pants as I only have 2 pairs with me, due to the lost suitcase! However, I draw the line at paying 5,800RF (£6) for 2 pairs of synthetic granny pants! I also had a look at the clothes, and no matter how desperate I am, I will not pay £32 for a top, which was yet again synthetic, and from a SUPERMARKET!!! I have decided that the way forward, if my clothes don’t turn up, is to either buy from the markets (clothes shipped over from UK charity shops) or to have the clothes made which is relatively cheap! Basically, my trip to the city was not very productive and seemed to take up a lot of time I didn’t have! I did some internetting an d tried (and failed) to skype and headed back to the guest house...again finding my way on the bus! Needless to say, my morning of ‘space’ did not go quite to plan! We arrived back with just enough time to have a shower and get dressed before heading off for the family dinner. The evening started with team building activities, followed by some incredible, traditional Rwandan dancing. It really was amazing!!! After everyone had finished eating the dancers came back and danced again, this time getting the audience to come and dance too...I did not get up to dance, although I do regret that decision a little bit now...I will just have to make an extra effort next time! At about 10.30 it was decided that we would head into the city to a club, by the name of BCK, where a live Reggae band were playing. The venue was small and dimly lit, and had a nice mix of people...lots of volunteers, others from Europe, America, Australia, etc and local Rwandans. After initially not wanting to dance and standing at the side, the night was danced away, and I finally fell into bed at 1.40am (I know that this is awfully early by my usual standards, but here that was very late indeed!)

This morning I missed my Kinyarwanda lesson, instead I went in search of my missing luggage...I walked to the programme office with Amy at 8.45am...the sun was already shining and it was so very hot...when we got there, we were advised to get a moto (motorbike taxi) to the airport to check that my bag had not arrived and I just hadn’t been informed...it is a very long time since I have been on the back of a motorbike...maybe 7 years...my little ‘wragg legs’ did have a small amount of trouble getting on the bloody thing...but I managed and put on my really attractive green old school style helmet...anyway...I held on to the bar at the back...by the time I arrived at the airport my hand was a strange shade of bluish white, from holding on so tight. I had to go and get a pass for the baggage reclaim area, there were some issues as my passport is at immigration office for a visa and work permit, but I was eventually given a security tag and once again I headed for lost and found...when I got there I was taken back to the room with all the unclaimed bags...and yet again they tried to give me a bag that wasn’t mine! But when I explained to the lady she knew about my bag and said that they were trying to locate it and to go back to the Ethiopian Airlines office...so...I went back to the man with the passes...and exchanged my pass for the baggage area for a pass to the offices...as I walked up to the office they recognised me...which I am not sure is a good or a bad thing! Anyway...after turning the computer off and on again several times the man was able to inform me that although they had requested it from London...my bag was in fact still there...only this time they realised that the names don’t match...they showed me a list of the contents...and it is in fact not my bag!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It turns out that Ethiopian Airlines have absolutely no idea at all where my bag is...I was asked to write a list of all the contents and an email will be sent out to all airports, as they now think it could be anywhere...I was also informed that I can get $50 to buy essentials but I would have to go to the offices in Kigali to get it...so it was time to head back to the programme office before getting the bus into the city centre. Back on a moto again...a little easier to get on second time round...helmet on and off we go...the only problem being that the helmet was caught in the wind...I reached for the strap to try and get it on again...only the strap came undone...the helmet was now at a very uncomfortable angle...one side was up about 4cm above the top of my ear and I had to pull on the strap to keep it at that angle...I must have looked bloody ridiculous as I was also pulling an array of faces at the same time...partly due to the speed of the moto and partly concentration so as not to lose the helmet completely...anyway...we were finally back at the programme office...I went to get off the bike only the floor was a lot further than I had anticipated...one foot was nearly on the ground while the other was still on the other side of the bike...needless to say...after shouting...”oh crap it...oh crap it...oh crap it....” I fell to the floor in a heap on the pavement...stupid bike!!!!and with my head held in shame (but laughing) and Amy laughing I headed back into the programme office. After getting the bus into town I arrived at the Ethiopian Airlines office...when I had explained what had happened I was asked to wait to talk to the area manager...nearly an hour later I was taken to his office...once in his office I had to once again explain what had happened with my luggage. Obviously a week after my arrival when I still only have 2 pairs of pants...my temper is starting to fray slightly...I explained that I was informed about the money to replace essential items, yet I was now being told that because I had one of my bags, I was not entitled to anything! The man was raising his voice...and in response I did get a little irate...and I was told to calm down...basically, to cut a much longer story short, he couldn’t understand why I was upset about losing my bag, however I did manage to get $75 for clothes...I will just have to wait and see whether my case ever turns up...I will get compensation when my case has been missing for 25 days...rubbish! Anyway...Amy and I went to bourbon (a nice coffee shop in town) for lunch and I was then picked up and taken to the Genocide Memorial Centre with the rest of the group. It is hard to believe that I country has been through so much...the centre was very moving and really puts things into perspective. All in all today has been emotionally exhausting...