Ki Kati, Oli Otya?

IT skills in use in the office later that year.

 

(What's up, how are you?) It occurred to me yesterday that I should probably learn something about Uganda, what with going there and dating a Ugandan fella and all.

I trawled Wiki and learned all about the War of Independence, Idi Amin, Museveni, Obote, the Bush War, the Lord's Resistance Army and the demographics.

And, of course, the languages - of which there are about 40! So, which one does D speak? I did a quick Google search and came up with a common central Ugandan language - Luganda. I picked a couple of words and gave them a go. They worked lol 

D's right, Luganda is soooo much easier than Kinyarwanda. I want to try and get him to teach me, but it's tough. If people speak Luganda they mostly also speak English, so why bother? Well, I think it would be kind of cool. It's that or Swahili. Both are easier than Kinya, but Swahili is more widely spoken here... but not by D. lol The advantages of an in-house language tutor would be important. I'd rather change the language than the boyfriend ;)

We're both swinging into the holiday mood big-time today, but things always happen at the worst time. Today, the IT teacher told me that teaching Deaf people was a lot harder than teaching hearing people. He wanted more money for the preparation time. I patiently explained that funding doesn't work like that. We were granted the money for the original quote. Whereas I appreciate his efforts, I do find his attitude a little unsettling. Perfect thing to happen the day before I go on holiday :(

So, emergency meeting with colleague (who had to scrape me off the ceiling). We think we've got a Deaf guy, Emanuel, who was at JAM with me. He's a qualified IT guy, and also Deaf, which would help with the language issue. I reckon he's both capable and committed. Question is, can I get hold of him this evening and work it all out before I go to Uganda? 

Our current teacher has agreed to keep going for another week, but I'll be away when he finishes. *sigh* I've also notified VSO and said that I think we need to keep Betty (our interpreter) on. Although she won't need to interpreting anything in an all-Deaf environment, she's a valuable supervisor and would be helpful to Emanuel. It wouldn't be at all fair to cut the time she's already committed herself to.

Handed my office keys over to Betty this morning. I feel like I'm almost relaxed now lol Léon's on holiday too, in the run-up to the wedding. I received a load of parcels today - no arguments at the Post Office this time. Some wonderful clothes from home, and chocolate. The world is a wonderful place (thanks Aunty Jean!) :)

Can't wait to get away and spend some quality time with D. Shake the dust off my passport. Two more hours dealing with the IT issue, then I'm officially outta here!

Mushanana

Yay, my mushanana arrived yesterday :) It's beautiful! Rose has done such a great job. Really excited about the wedding now. Martine's got hers too. We're going to get ready at mine and go together. Need to find some shoes first.

Not much to report. Just having a really lazy weekend. Well, I am. D's mentally running around after people, trying to write interviews and articles for this editor he's hooked up with, and looking after Steve and everyone. I think the bus journey to Kampala will be the longest time we've spent in each other's company, awake, since we got together lol Who can mind though, he's so damn sweet.

I've got myself a new hobby. I joined a writing scheme called Suite101 (actually D. found it first and I hijacked it :op). It's run by Google, and the idea is that you write x-amount of articles for them (min. 10 every three months between 400-600 words) and you get paid by the adverts clicked. I'm not supposed to be taking on other work, but I figure that taking advantage of corporate greed is nothing much to lose sleep over. I doubt it'll make any money, but it is quite good for getting your work out there and noticed; builds up a portfolio.

If anyone's interested, I think you can find all my articles there and even subscribe to my article feed. Plug, plug :op

It's quite good fun and passes the time.

Not really been up to much else to be honest. Catching up on sleep after Friday, preparing my 'to do' list for Monday - then off to Kampala Tuesday - eeeeeeeeeppp! :op

Midnight Oil

The VSO Office

Holy baloney Batman. Pass the fizzy-make-feel-good.

Friday, 6pm, a soirée for our new Country Director who is starting at the end of May. Me thinking 'casual drinks at the bar' - boy am I glad I wasn't wearing jeans! Huge marquee, reminiscent of carol singing at the Ambassador's house, almost all 40 volunteers, many of their bosses, and the new British Ambassador. Quite a turn-out. Rivers of free booze, mountains of - mightily delicious - free food. Total decadence. Had fun, but was tired pretty quick. I had a long day between writing documents, the Capacity Building meeting and IT training. I'd been asleep until 20 minutes before I arrived, but I was looking good - appropriate for the occasion - and it was nice to see everyone.

Afterwards, we all hitched a lift with the outgoing Country Director to SoleLuna for Geert's leaving do - another volunteer cutting short and running. Happening a lot here. About a 50/50 split between those ending early and those extending. Life is tough, even by VSO standards apparently. They have trouble keeping people and I think money does become an issue after a while. It's too tempting to go for the big salaries with the UN or Ministries, rather than tough it out with no running water as a volunteer. *shrug*

SoleLuna was okay. I shared some wine with Viv. Not quite as sweet when you're paying for it, though ;) Didn’t stay long. By half-nine I was on a moto to Drew's as he was having a BBQ. It was Regis' 25th birthday. Again, more free booze than you could shake a glass at. He'd even filled the bath with ice. Where the hell did he get that!? Some other VSOs appeared: Cathryn, Epiphanie, Judy, Loona, Eastern Alicia (rather than Kigali Alicia) and her sister Jenny. It was fun. Packed with Rwandese guys, including Christian, who looks sexier every time I see him.

After that, they headed to H20, and the VSO contingent took a cab to One Love to re-join the SoleLuna crowd. We danced the night away. I found myself a dancing partner, Michael, who was very cute and excellent to dance with. Unusually for me, we actually swapped numbers. But I was direct about 'nshuti, si umugabo' (friend, not husband ;) ). He understood, and it would be cool to see him again for more dancing.

Ezra is flying out on a Canadian tour today.  He wanted to record something last night, so I hadn't heard from D, who had gone to help. I rolled home exhausted around 2am but I have no idea when he got back. I have a vague recollection of hearing the lock going and the birds singing, but could be confused. It's half-ten and he's still sleeping, so maybe not...

But, anyway, a girl's got to dance.

It's been a long week. I haven't done tons, but I feel shattered. Thursday was long. I had a text at quarter-past seven in the morning from Augustin saying 'meeting, VSO, 9am - go'. I had no idea what the meeting was about. It turned out to be a really important one for planning the last year of DFID funding. I was there from 9-4pm. Then from 4pm I was at the IT workshop with Lauren, an American teacher who wants to get involved in our organisation. She signs well, and is totally lovely, so we went to Chez Lando for drinks and chat. All going well, but overdue a holiday and can't wait for Kampala. Bring it awn.

Urgent Appeal to Save School

[NB 2013: Just to let you know, this project is still going strong. The 'Meg Project' (AKA Kinamba Project) has achieved so much since then.]
 

I can guarantee you this is a trustworthy project. The people are well known here:

Hello everyone,

As you know, I don't usually do this kind of thing - but here goes! I'm emailing you either because you might have a bit of spare cash, or you might know someone who has, or you might know an organisation who gives grants for this kind of thing.

This is happening right on my doorstep, it's real and it will affect a lot of lives. Existence is so precarious here, and places like this school make a massive difference.

I'll let Steve, my friend who is trying to co-ordinate the project, tell the story:

"A retired English Primary School Teacher, Meg Fletcher, came to our organization recently to ask for help. Meg helped to start a Primary School (which also doubles as a 'College' for young girls who are trying to make a life for themselves after quitting street prostitution). She needs to buy the building they are currently renting, as the landlord has a debt with the bank and he needs to sell the property – and he has a buyer who has made a firm offer. We need approximately $80,000 which would at least secure their immediate future.

The children are very young but they represent the future. There are many projects supporting secondary schools in Rwanda, which is very important, but there is an urgent need to get the foundation right also. Meg has been supporting this project for 2 years now with funds, materials and training. She is a retired Primary Headteacher and is supporting this on her own and with family and friends back in England. She has enough money for the general running costs at the moment, but the school is in difficulties now because of the proposed sale. Accommodation is so difficult to find here.

Once we get them secure, we can help Meg and the team to plan to develop their project for children and young adults. There is so much potential and they have so many ideas to enable people to live with dignity and take control of their own future.

On behalf of Meg I have negotiated with the Landlord to delay the sale to the customer who has offered to buy the property until 30th April. At that point he will expect $40,000, the balance of which ($40,000) can be negotiated. We have about $22,000 at the moment and need another $18,000."

Is there anything any of you can do?

You can email Meg on [e-mail address]. Or get in touch with Steve who has already helped raise more than half the money - [e-mail address].

Thanks!!

Music Post: Reggae & Ragga

Okay, I said I’d do a post on this. Get your music downloader at the ready lol

Music tracks that define a stage in your life, don't ya just luv 'em :)

Problem is, a lot of the music I’m listening to now are by Rwandan and Ugandan artists who aren’t easily found online or internationally. Songs like Nze Akwagala by Morris Mohasa (one of D’s mates from Uganda) and Second Chance by Arlain (sp?) which are constantly playing in our house.

Some things that made me laugh were the blast from the pasts that D has in his music collection. Two which have been playing constantly the past two days are UB40's Bring Me Your Cup and Aswad’s Dance Hall Mood. Love both of these songs muchly. The first is special because it reminds me of D, the latter just makes me insanely happy and want to dance about the room :)

Another that I’ve developed a real penchant for is Richie Spice’s Earth a Run Red which I know you can listen to free online through Rhapsody if you’re in the US, or someone said it’s also on YouTube.

Obviously, you can’t mention reggae without Bob Marley. Everyone has their favourite track. Drew’s is Small Axe, mine was Stir It Up but I’m afraid, since D, it’s fast become Do It Twice (baby you so nice, I’d like to do the same thing twice - hell yes) Pass the sick bucket? I also love Riding High and African Herbsman.

I still play a lot of Macka B, which a friend at uni used to love. One in particular: Conscious Woman has a similar effect to Dance Hall Mood in that it makes me silly happy.

I sometimes throw a bit of West into the mix with things like Sting’s Love is the Seventh Wave, but it’s getting rarer. I’m receiving my edumercation ;) For instance, this song called Soda by GNL Zamba, the chorus of which apparently stems from a childhood song kids in Uganda sing? I like this for two reasons – I like the fact D can translate the meanings for me, and I love it when he sings along in Luganda, because it’s an incredibly sexy language lol I’m easily pleased.

Occasionally there’s a track that could almost be considered white bashing. ‘There’s blood on your land,’ kind of thing. He just smiles at me and says ‘political reggae’ lol That’s fine, I can dig it. I ain’t about to sit down and watch Mississippi Burning with him, though. 

We had this discussion once. He said "Why do you feel bad for slavery, it wasn’t your fault?" Which I found really refreshing. I was so naive. I thought, coming to Rwanda, I’d be scowled at because of the slave trade. Instead, people love me for my money and hate the French *shrug* I honestly think that we learn more about the slave trade in schools in England than people ever formally do here. I think, for most people here, awareness of it comes through the music. I may be wrong. Benin might be different, because the Slave Gate is such a big a part of the culture and tourism industry there.

Anyway, happy songs :) Blessing Darling by Half Pint. So much good music here, but so little of it on the international scene. I guess because of the language thing. D has a favourite song (forgotten the title) – he adores it but doesn’t understand a word as it’s in Kinya :op

IT Training Begins :) *Cheer Goes Up*

Amandazi

Wharra Monday lol

Hugely productive! Started in VSO, where I set up a Capacity Building folder for all the vols to share presentations and files. There was one before apparently, but the computer crashed and it got wiped. Jo has back-ups, so I will re-do it all eventually. Updated the main 'file of all knowledge' and Terms of Reference to include missing slides and new volunteers, then e-mailed an inventory of everything we currently have to all the CB members.

Left a 'suggestion' in the box that VSO don't sit on parcel slips, after what happened the other week. I'd also sent a narked text to Heather, the wonderful lady who's here to sort out the admin problems. She saw me and we had a talk - she's great. Apparently they'd cleared out the store cupboard on Friday, hence I received all the parcel slips. They'd just been sitting there, or in someone else's pigeon hole. Seems the way to go may be to set up a PO Box of our own between a group of vols. She's going to try and find out how much it costs.

Anyway, did that and a heap of other small administrative things, including lodging my holiday form for Kampala! Huzah!

I came back and did some e-mailing and general work-related admin. Bought a stack of 10 notebooks for the IT training. Someone (thanks Miss E. King) had very, very kindly sent out a whole box of wonderful goodies, which arrived Friday - including 40 biros, which has saved us some cash :)

At 2pm Rose arrived. I'd told D that I needed to get a mushanana made for Léon's wedding. He said he knew someone who could do that. She's E's ex-wife, but he didn't tell me that part ;) She is totally lovely. We headed into town as I'd seen some fabric I really liked, but it turned out it wasn't suitable for mushananas. How glad am I that I had a personal shopper!? 

She showed me what I was looking for and we went down to the cloth street where all the shops are. We found a really lovely one - brown with satin flowers, really tastefully done. That cost me FRW 29,000. Then we bought the lining for the skirt next door - FRW 3,000 (1,000/£1 per metre). She said that because I'm a friend of D's she will make it for 5,000 (£5!) but I think I will add to that. I already have a little black vest top that you wear underneath. I need to get some kitten heels, too. You have to wear heels with mushananas, apparently.

I was running late for the IT workshop, so hopped a moto and agreed to meet her again later in the evening. Got to Exfod, the venue, opposite my house just in time. People weren’t too late. Alain, the teacher, was already there and everyone was in by twenty-past. Augustin came and delivered the money to me for volunteers' transport etc.

It was brilliant. Alain is such a lovely, patient man. With four languages (French, English, Kinyarwanda & AKR) flying about, it was slow going. We did have one member who wanted to argue about everything. He already knew a little about computers, and he's the kind of guy who wants to do everything yesterday. But there were some volunteers for whom it was their first time on a computer. It was great to see people nodding and learning. I learned something too: that you should always turn the computer screen on first before turning on the computer - it's better for it apparently :)

I have to admit to getting a real glow of pride just sitting there watching this whole thing that I made happen. Like I said before, I'm so used to seeing the paper side of funding, but to actually see the money being spent and something really happening from that... It gave me a really big boost of pride for project building. I was getting a bit cynical about development work, wondering whether it achieves all that much sometimes. Sometimes it doesn't, but this is the other side of the equation: small, local projects that give people skills they want to learn, that will benefit them in the future. I was dead happy :)

I was rather tired when I got home. I'd been on the go all day. Beeped Rose, who came over to collect the fabric. She asked me if I'd shown D, but I said that I wanted it to be a surprise once it's finished. I hadn't actually seen him since that morning, but Rose told me something incredibly sweet on the bus. She's known D for many years. He used to share a house with her and E. Apparently, when he found out I needed a dress making, he'd gone to her and said 'please, make her something really beautiful'. It had really mattered to him. 

He really did pick the right person, too. She's absolutely lovely. We were having a really good talk when D came back with Steve. He's trying to write some articles and reviews for a magazine that's trying to branch into Rwanda. (Thanks Dad, the voice recording MP3 player is worth its weight in postage!) D was off to review a very, very expensive new club that's just opened in Kigali (B Club). Everyone says it's novel, but not worth the money. No one reckons it's going to last long before everyone heads back to KBC.

Anyway, Steve and Rose aren't the best of buddies as she's his ex-sister-in-law, so me and she headed out for a drink at La Planet when they left for the club. It was just really nice to hang out and chat. She took my measurements before we left. I gave her the other fabric I'd bought ages back, and she's going to make me a skirt, dress, and a couple of tops. She has a diploma in Fashion Design, so I think I'm in safe hands. She reckons I'll look good in African designs/fabric but I'm nervous. I know other volunteers who have made the switch, but it's difficult the first time because all the colours and patterns are so bold, and the styles so different. I'm asking for simple, Western cuts. No puffy sleeves for this woman, I'm afraid :)

We did have a really good chat, actually. She's an interesting lady with a tough past. She knew D from way-back. She has two kids by E - one three and one three months. I gave her the books Aunty Patsy sent out, which are perfect for little readers. Sometimes people’s lives are very complicated here, and many people's upbringings can be really, really tough. She told me a lot of things that made me think. D's told me little bits about his life before, but not everything. She really helped me to understand some things that I'd never fully grasped before. I feel like I've glimpsed a little bit of his world now, and it is very different to mine. I get it just a little bit now; I'm a lucky lady for having met him.

D and Steve met up with us later, and Rose took her leave. I think Steve was a bit troubled that we knew each other, but I'm sure he'll get over it. Complicated family.

I was quite tipsy by this point. I had eaten one somosa and one spring roll for breakfast, then one amandazi before Rose arrived. Basically, nothing all day. The Mutzig went straight to my head. I wandered home. The water was on, so I spent a good half-hour scrubbing saucepans and cleaning up our disgusting kitchen, which was festering in the water-shortage. D walked Steve back and had another drink with him. He phoned to say 'wait up' and returned with brochettes and ibirayi again.

The cats ended up eating most of it - we got a little distracted ;)

Gisozi Evening

One Million Dead

 

Friday night I spent at home, pretty tired after a long week. I had a wonderful chill-out, and was just about to turn in when D phoned to say that he was on his way home and to wait for him. I was dead tired by this point, and it was only about half-nine, so I was wondering 'why?' It soon became apparent. He brought me take-out lol Goat brochettes and ibirayi (like crispy baked potatoes). It made me so happy :op

I must have over-slept, about ten hours! Woke feeling a bit grotty. The cats have got the squits again. I think I've worked out it's the corned beef, or one of the preservatives in it. Not as bad as last time, thankfully.

On Saturday evening, D and I headed up to Gisozi Memorial Centre. Loona had e-mailed us about an event a few days before, and we decided to go along.

It was a really interesting night. It began with a survivor of the genocide telling his story. All the guys who work at the centre are survivors. This guy explained a bit about his life before the genocide. He was about six when he first started noticing things. In school the teacher would ask students to stand up by ethnicity, but he didn't really understand, so when his best friend, a Hutu, stood up, he stood up too. They were on the soccer team together, so he thought you could choose which team you wanted to be on. The teacher told him to sit down. Some years later, he was walking home with his dad from their shop when some young thugs started throwing rocks at his dad. His dad just ignored it, like it was expected. He couldn't work out why.

When the plane went down and the genocide started, they hid in their house with the lights off. Eventually, the militia broke in and found them. They made his mum and dad kneel and start praying whilst they loaded their guns. They said that if they paid enough money, they would come back in two days and not kill them now. This is what they did - they paid - and managed to flee to a neighbour’s house. They were found again and the men and women were forced to separate. The women were going to be killed later, once the men were dead. He managed to get some girl's cloths and disguised himself so that he could stay with his mother and sister.

They fled to a church. The priest was a member of the militia. He would let the Interahamwe in occasionally, to choose one or two people to kill outside the church, and to take girls to rape in public places.

Whilst there, he learned that his father and brother had been shot, but 'not in the right place'. They had survived for two days in the street before they finally died. He said that all of this time in the church, he was thinking that if they came to take his sister he would go up to the militia and ask them to kill him too. It was such unimaginable horror.

Eventually, they managed to escape and fled to the UN protectorate zone at the stadium near my house. As more refugees arrived, the Red Cross pulled out. He said that people were starving and dying of disease all the time. You got used to talking to someone, then, in the middle of a conversation, they'd literally fall over and die. He said they had fled from their homes originally because they wanted to die with other people, not alone.

One of the overriding memories he has is of a pregnant woman who had either been macheted or hit by shrapnel. She had been split open and you could see into her womb. She was covered in blood and screaming. After ten minutes she finally died.

Eventually, the RPF liberated Kigali. His mother and sister survived. His mother suffered mental trauma, but managed to get a job and pay his school fees. His sister is now married.

It was a very difficult story to listen to.

Then we watched the Panorama documentary by Fergal Keane: Into Darkness, documenting the genocide. I had already read his book Season of Blood and it was interesting to see pictures of the things I had read about, but harrowing.

After the lights came back on, and after a long pause, we had an open discussion about what we'd seen and people asked questions. It was a really good event. Apparently they run it every Saturday, but we only knew when Loona sent the e-mail. It was almost all VSO there.

Afterwards, D went to Gikondo to see some friends and I went to Stella for a drink with everyone. I had a wonderful evening with Mel and her partner, Dirk, at SoleLuna. It was really lovely. We drank a whole litre of wine! Dirk's treat.

Today, both D and I were nursing hangovers. We had a really lazy morning. I've been getting an edumercation in Reggae. I'll devote a post to it some time.

Busy week ahead. IT training starts tomorrow night :) I need to get a mushanana made for Léon's wedding. Capacity and Disability meetings on Friday, then getting ready for Kampala. Hope I can fit it all in!

Presenting...Me! :)

Road from Amani to the local bar.
Much travelled route.

Thursday was one of those really really rare 'great days'. You know, you have plenty of good days, some average, quite a few bad ones here and there, but every now and then you have a really really great day where everything is brilliant. You get home, sit down and just think... aaaaaahhhh.

It was my grand presentation to ICT2 (In Country Training). When volunteers arrive (except me, coz I was late) they get a week's intensive training before shipping out across the country to their placements. Then, three months in, they all come back to Kigali for another intensive week - ICT2. Sessions include 'coping strategies', Kinyarwanda lessons, introductions to the HIV/AIDs project, Disability, Global Education, Gisozi Memorial Centre/genocide history, and so on.

I arrived right at the very beginning of ICT2 last November. Jo (she of the kittens) ran our Capacity Building workshop back then. She was also heading the monthly Capacity Building meetings. Incredibly efficient, lovely lady.

Who has just left.

Ho hum. I inadvertently came to take over her role as anchorwoman for the meetings. When VSO sent round an e-mail asking for volunteers to take over Jo's presentation at ICT, I stuck my hand up and spent the next couple of weeks bashing together some funky graphics (some nicked from Jo's old presentation) on Capacity Building.

I was still a bit nervous, though. Jo's a hard act to follow. As much as I tried to time myself talking, I couldn't get away from the notion that, if I kept hitting 'enter', I could go through 49 slides in less than 60 seconds.

I had one hour forty-five to fill. A good, meaty length of time. Capacity Building is also a huge umbrella term for lots of different things. I had to pick and choose whilst trying to give a nice broad angle, appealing to everyone. I picked up on the main themes of 'gleaning information' (how to get basic information out of people - big frustration here), managing personality types, running effective meetings, managing projects, and monitoring and evaluating. Suddenly, one hour forty-five doesn't seem all that long after all...

Like I say, I was a bit nervous. Then it was happening. I was really at ease by the end, job done. It was dead hard because my Programme Manager was sitting in. She's been here for over seven years now, so she's seen it all. It's a little intimidating after Jo had been at it for so long. Would I live up to standard? Also, all the vols were at the end of an intensive week's training where they'd been going from morning 'til night on so many topics. Things like 'coping strategies', which also touch on similar themes as managing personality types. Plus, it was the dreaded after-dinner slot when people are renowned for dozing off.

All of this was put at ease later, though. I stepped out with my Programme Manager, who said she wanted the chance to say thanks for stepping in, and that it was a really good presentation! Three people, including a member of staff, asked for it on their flash disks. Later, over lunch, one vol said they'd had a feedback session that afternoon and my presentation had scored really highly. I was totally chuffed. Thumbs-up all round :op

I stayed on after my presentation to hear Morley speak. He works up at the Genocide Memorial. He was talking on that topic as an open debate, to let people ask any questions they wanted to. When he was leaving, that's when my Programme Manager and I stepped out too. We talked a bit about what happened with the attack the other day. Apparently, a taxi driver at another site had ploughed his vehicle into a group of mourners. He told us that 18 survivors had been killed in the past month in retaliation attacks, but it's not publicised. I thought that was so tragic. You survive the genocide, then fourteen years later you are still killed. Really sad. Lot of work still to be done here.

Anyway. I stayed on a bit longer as Martine was talking. When she finished, she and I escaped to a bar just up the road. We had a bevvy and a really decent catch-up, then wobbled back to eat the free lunch. Most excellent.

I returned home glowing but shattered. I had a natter to Dad on the phone, made myself a cuppa, and went to bed early. D had phoned to say that he'd be late home as he was seeing someone about filming something.

It was a most fantastic day. Now I know that I can give the talk, I can do it again if they need me. I feel like one of the proper long-termers now. Part of the facilitation team of vols. It feels good.

Today was mostly a good day too. I'd arranged to meet the British contingent from Bourbon at the office at 10:30. I'd sent a text out telling some of my colleagues, and was quite stunned that the office filled up to bursting. Around 20 members turned up to welcome them! Power of the Deaf Community!

We had a brilliant hang out in the office, then I took them to VSO. Oddly, Antonia and Karen were in town too. The visitors were particularly interested in going to Deaf schools - which both of them work at. We went to La Planet for lunch. A really good day, indeed. Very strange coincidence. Still finding it hard to revert back to BSL.

Then things took a bad turn. I had a ton of parcel slips in my in-box, so I hopped on a moto to mumuji to pick them up. The parcels cost about FRW 270 each (30p) but they levied a 'late tax' of FRW 4,700 (£4.70) for not picking them up quickly enough. The total coming to around 21,000 (£21). 

I absolutely lost it as I'd been in only two days earlier to ask them whether I had any parcels. They told me they didn't think so. I'd spent 20 minutes scouring their illegible record book before giving up! F*ckers (pardon my French). I was livid. I was more livid with VSO because they had obviously sat on my parcel slips and not put them in my pigeon hole - VSO are bankrupting me! 

This is like the fourth time this has happened, but never this much money. I couldn't pay that much on the spot, so I got really angry with them. Suffering PMT, too. I pulled the whole righteous attitude, made a huge scene, then gloated when they realised, actually, I didn't owe them 21,000 because five of the slips had already been collected weeks ago! Swivel on it mate. He made do with one late fine and gave me two parcels instead of seven. I was mad at both their non-existent customer care, fiddle-you-out-of-a-quick-buck attitude, and VSO's incompetence landing me in that completely avoidable situation in the first place. I came home and ranted at D solidly for about ten minutes without drawing breath. His afro was straight by the time I’d finished. Then he opened the chocolate, gave me a smouldering kiss, and I completely forgot what I was talking about...

I think I'm in love. Sometimes I have to go into his room just to smell his cologne.

Anyway. All good, but very tired. It's been a long week. D's met a London-based African magazine editor who's trying to branch into Rwanda. He's going to try and write some articles for him. I'm helping with proofreading and suggestions. He's out at the moment, and I've been invited for Ethiopian as it's El's birthday. There's a whole bunch going. It's close, but I think I'm just too tired. I want to chill-out and see'f I can filter enough water for a cup of tea. The water's just come back on, it's been off all day and my domestic, Kazai, used pretty much all of the reserves. It's been a hot day and I was reduced to drinking the dregs from the kettle earlier.

Apparently, the reason we don't have any water is because it's the rainy season. This is what my Programme Manager told me the other day.

Yes, I gave her that look too.

The reasoning is that the heavy rains bring down mud, which blocks the pipes. It makes sense when explained, and possibly why we get water three hours after rain falls.

I'm now going through the process of filling every bucket, bottle, jerrycan and saucepan I can find...

Deaf-initely a Coincidence

Weeeeeiiird.

Went to Bourbon to meet Paula and Kirsty for a catch-up. Halfway through, we're waiting for coffee, when I notice three people signing... BSL!

Wooow! I have to go say 'Hi' - so I did. It just got weirder from there. One hearing Christian Minister called Hazel, a very nice lady who lives in Remera (up the road from me), a hearing signer called Ruth, and a Deaf lady called Susan.

"Where are you from?" I ask Susan.

"Wales."

"Really? Where?"

"Neath."

Nooooooooooooooooo waaaaaaaaaayyyyy... I used to frequent the Deaf Club there! Weird or what?

They're visiting Hazel for the next couple of weeks, so I've arranged to meet them on Friday at the office to introduce them to some people, and the Deaf Church. Totally random.

I found it really hard to sign, though! It keeps coming out as a horrible mixture of BSL/AKR! 

At one point I signed "Friday office deaf women meeting" - BSL, BSL, BSL, AKR, AKR. 

English translation: "tomorrow I'm kissing Deaf women at the office." 

The AKR for 'meeting' is BSL for 'kissing'. It was a real jumble :op

Then, sadly, I tracked down the tailor, André. Only, he's done a runner after not paying the bills. The trousers I dropped off a couple of months back have gone with him.

I texted Jo to tell her how peeved I was and she said not to worry, he'll resurface - he's her next door neighbour. So, you never know.

Going to look for a tailor in Kisimenti if I can find one. I can't be arsed trudging back and forth to mumuji all the time.

Dangerous Liaisons

Republika

Slapped wrists.

I went out for a drink last night with Roald 'eyes-meet-across-the-room, let-me-help-you-with-your-French-application-forms' guy from Immigration. I was supposed to be at Dinner Club with Alicia and Drew eating Ethiopian, but Drew had a work do and Alicia's on In-Country Training (ICT) all week, so we've moved to next week. I told Roald about it last week and he called to see if it was still on. When I said it wasn't, we agreed to go for a drink anyway, at Republika. I'd promised him a drink in gratitude for helping me get my green card application sorted.

He's a very easy-on-the-eye tall, sandy blond, stubbly, blue-eyed Dutch man. Bad move, huh? It was the cliché handsome stranger scenario, it really was. He's so full of energy, too. So much fun to talk to. We ordered sambaza (little fried fish with dip - speciality of Republika) and drank and talked, and drank, and maybe drank a little more. He's here as a researcher for a private sector investor, extracting minerals from the Congo. He's also got a side-line interest in fair trade tourism. Kind of a mismatched set of interests, but hey. Major background in ecology - essentially an ecologist.

We started drinking at 8pm and left the joint just gone 1am. By which time, we were the only people left and the temperature was rising fast. He walked me back down to the main road and invited me back; offered to sneak me into the monastery he's staying at! As tempting as it was to cop a peek up a monk's cassock, I decided that my curiosity was satisfied. Nice as he is, he ain't D, and D's gorgeous.

Sometimes you have to step out with someone fresh just to reaffirm where you're at. I was just craving a bit of spark. D's currently got a complete shut-down on mzungu social events at the moment. Since the other night when we went for dinner with Martine and Viv, then ended up with Drew at Republika and his oh-so-very-American ex-Peace Corps Cameroon buddies, discussing real estate for two hours. He just doesn't feel he fits into conversations, taking no comfort from the fact that neither did Christian, Drew's Rwandese friend. So, I don't pressure him anymore to come out with me... but I'm not sure that's sustainable. 

I went out with him and Steve the other day and got a bit narked because I was expected to pay for Steve's meal. Steve isn't the greatest conversationalist, either. I guess I was just a bit tired of checking everybody was 'fine'. I just wanted someone to match my energy levels. But, as nice a time as I had at Republika, I just wanted to go home afterwards and see my man. D may be oh-so-very-serious sometimes, and not such a great social bunny, but he's got something going on which is more delicious than sambaza and a bottle (or five) of Mutzig. So, no harm done, but sometimes you have to satisfy your curiosity.

I was home by about half-one and woke at seven, surprisingly groovy. I was coming down with a cold yesterday, snot and everything. Today, I was still buzzing from my energy fix and singing into my coffee. Met the IT teacher, Alain, and showed him the rooms just after eight. Brought him back for tea. He's a friend of D's too, from the studio. He said it's a good training room. All looks really set for Monday, so fingers crossed!

I've got my presentation for In-Country Training tomorrow. Panicking about that a little, and making more funky graphics with PowerPoint. Might go into town and see about getting a mushanana made for Léon's wedding. Also going to see Paula for coffee and have a girlie talk.

Kazai, our domestic, started on Monday and the kid is a god-send. He's utterly brilliant. FRW 20,000 a month - good for him, good for us.

The cats seem better now. They worked out how to get out of the garden today! I thought we'd lost Shue over the wall, but he found his way back. I always said that when they're old enough to find their own way out of the garden, they can go there. I want to get them some collars, though. Might improve their chances if people know they're not feral.

Beautiful View

Citizen M

Mud roads and rain don't mix.

I picked up my green card today. I am now officially a citizen of Rwanda :)

Pretty cool feeling.

Got stuck on a moto in an absolute downpour on the way back to the office. I was supposed to meet my boss at 3pm but, due to the rain, he rearranged for Wednesday. No one goes out if it's raining here. I got home soaking and shivering, but my boss seems dead chuffed about the computer courses and he's approved my leave for Kampala.  He even suggested I can take part of it for work if I pop into the interpreting school whilst I'm there. Sounds like a good deal.

Kits have all got the squits at the moment. They had some kind of reaction to something and I've been mopping the floor every morning for about a week. The house had a thorough clean today, though. My new domestic's first day. The kid is utterly amazing, and so sweet. Eternally grateful to have him, although it's still a bit weird having someone wandering about your house and moving things. He dug up the avocado tree I planted when I first got here, but the garden does look amazing. Ahwell.

The weather here is utterly pants at the moment - cold and wet. The Minister declared the last official day of mourning on Sunday, so today wasn't another bank holiday. You never find out 'til the day itself.

Things ticking over nicely, but feeling a bit tired at the moment. Spending tomorrow polishing-up my presentation for Thursday. I'm not yet nervous as I haven't had much time to think about it, but it should be fun. Martine's also giving a presentation so hopefully we'll get fed and have a catch-up. I Was over in Nyamirambo again the other night. The new short-term volunteer, Viv, has just moved in with Martine, and is lovely. It's always nice to get over that side of town.

Gisozi Attacked

Gisozi Memorial Centre

 

D just came in and said there's been an attack on Gisozi. He overheard 'grenade'. I phoned Alicia and she was on a bus. They're having a meeting and she couldn't talk, but everyone is fine. It was last night so no staff around, I guess. Nothing on the Beeb and no text from VSO, so an isolated incident? High police presence at the moment. I counted four big guns between my house and the shop last night. Still quiet outside.

Just found news here: policeman killed.

Time to split. Just requesting a holiday from 29th-9th to go to Kampala with D for the Film Festival. Time for a holiday.

Sealed Deal

:))))))))

Just got back from negotiating my first Rwandan legal contract for the hiring of rooms at Exfod (Alexis' place) - went with Léon, signed the papers, handed over FRW 360,000 in cold hard cash and all was good.

I feel really excited about this IT training, and really proud. So, it was VSO who granted the funds for this but, still. I've never been there before, dishing out the cash I've brought in. I only get to see the paper side of things. It felt really good, and everyone's really enthusiastic about the training. I'm on quite a high :)

Happy weekend!

'The Boy'

My Avacado Tree

I never made it back to Immigration yesterday. We had torrential downpours all morning. Things just don't happen her when it's wet. So, I started work on my PRESENTATION (in capital letters because it's big and scary ;) ).

It's for the In-Country Training (ICT) 2 that I arrived during last November. It happens twice a year. When volunteers first arrive (except me, because I was late) they have an intensive week's training. Then, three months in, they do another week - ICT2 - once they've found their feet.

An appeal went out - and I put my hand up - to run the Capacity Building workshop in the now absent Jo's place. It's a one hour forty-five minute presentation on all aspects of organisational capacity building, and I'm bricking it lol Jo, as I've mentioned before, is so damn efficient and comes from a Business Management background. She gave me her previous presentation, which I received last November, but I’m not a business manager so I ain't presenting from quite the same angle :op I've taken it back down to basics and based it on a lot of what we do and discuss in our monthly Capacity Building meetings. I'm having a lot of fun playing with funky PowerPoint graphics. I have just under a week to pull it together.

I did that most of yesterday, and ventured out about mid-day for food. Bumped into my neighbour, who is a nice man - a doctor - off to Kampala to visit their radiology ward. He specialises in neck tumours, but they can't afford to pursue that treatment here, you have to go to Uganda or Kenya. He keeps inviting me for a drink, so I will have to go some time. I'm not entirely sure of his motives, so I keep delaying. But it's nice to know my neighbours and they've helped me out with working out the rubbish collection and things.

Anyway, Kisi was a ghost city - not a shop open, no food. Pretty frustrating.

The young lad that D brought back to do our garden left early to get the cup-cup sharpened for chopping the grass. He came back today with choppers for the hedge. The guy in the shop said it wasn't customary to sell them during this week of the year; how many people must have been killed by something just like that?

He did manage to buy them. Then, after doing my entire garden, he did my floors, spontaneously cleaned the kitty litter box (I was stunned) and then my entire kitchen! My house was gleaming. I felt horribly guilty - kept going up to D and saying "I think he's worked enough now!" but D just carried on reading his book and told me to let him get on with it. The other thing that impressed me was that the cats seem to love him. He's really good with them. I paid him well - 5,000 for the day and 2,000 the day before. D had originally said 2,000 (£2) would be enough, but he's a young lad and he worked his socks off! He earned it.

I told D that we have to hire him, so we've negotiated 2-3 days a week for 20,000 a month. That leaves an extra 5,000 from Fabian's guard wage to give him for cat sitting occasionally. I'd happily trust him to live-in when D and I go to Kampala or something. D refers to him as 'the boy', but I think his name is Kisenya. I'll have to check again, it's hard to remember. It's strange, though. For over five months I've done all my own housework, but now I'm a convert!

Actually, Kampala is proving a problem. D really wants to go for the Film Festival beginning on 1st May, but I just can't. He may go with Drew instead, and I'll go another time. Work is manic at the moment. One of my babies is just about to come to fruition: a free 5-week IT training course for up to seven volunteers, covering the basics of Word Processing and Excel. It's all coming together really nicely, I'm going to pay for the room today. Fingers-crossed. It'll be a major achievement to get the room, the teacher, the interpreter and seven volunteers all in the same place at the same time :) It starts on 21st April and I really want to be there for the first week, to make sure everything's running smoothly.

I've also been invited to Léon's wedding on 10th May, so even if I did go to Kampala (which I can't), I'd need to get back fast. It's a very long way to go (12 hour bus trip) to come straight back. Plus, I need time to go shopping with Martine for a mushanana to wear - traditional wedding attire.

I've also rescheduled Giterama YWCA for 22nd, and the American volunteer signing lady for around then. It's so difficult. After 10th May, I'm taking a fortnight off or something. I desperately need a holiday sooo badly, but every time I think about it something else comes up.

---

Just got back from Immigration. All went smoothly, and just met an intriguing gentleman. Dutch, called Roald, 'as in Dahl'. All the forms were in French. He was standing next to me at the desk and offered to help me fill them in. Rather handsome and full of life. He's here on a two month contract, but he's been before. I offered to buy him a drink to say thank you. Perhaps I'll invite him to our dinner club next week - we're going for Ethiopian. I've become a patroness of short-stayers looking for a social life lol

They reckon the green card will be ready by Monday! Rather fast.

D invited Drew over last night. We chilled here and then went to see if reggae night was on at the Black & White club behind Alpha Palace Hotel. It Wasn't. Everything is shut up tight. No singing or dancing for a week, so we ended up having beer and brochettes at Hoteltec up the road and watching a hideously depressing documentary about Romeo Dallaire, which the entire nation must have been watching as there's only one channel. We all left completely low. Tourists forewarned - give Rwanda a miss over April.

[NB 2013: I believe the venue in Remera that I referred to as Hoteltec, was in fact Hotel Tech. Three years later it would hit the headlines as they exhumed more genocide remains there.]