The countdown begins...

Surprise!  A new blog post!  For those who still even bother to check out my blog, it has finally paid off!  I apologize for my absence and wish I had a good excuse but I’ve just been caught up in the routine of life here.  I’m going to make an honest effort to update more frequently though, I promise.

Well last time I wrote the last term was about to begin and now it is about to end.  It’s considerably shorter than the first two which has its advantages and disadvantages.  On one hand, it’s only 9 weeks which is great; get in and get out.  This however, has led to a lack of motivation from the teachers and the students.  It seems we’ve all been telling ourselves from the beginning “it’s almost over.”  Overall the term has gone well though.  I’ve been much busier teaching English to students, teachers and the employees at the health center, running the girls club and the English club, all in addition to my regular classes.  I’m also working with other PCVs to plan a GLOW camp (Girls Leading Our World).  The camp will take place at the end of November for 5 days and is for girls 14-18 years.  It has a focus on leadership skills, decision making, building self-esteem all in relation to HIV/AIDS and general well-being.  I’m working with an awesome group of volunteers so I’m happy to have the opportunity to help out.

We’re down to only 2 weeks of classes, a week and a half of exams and then we’re done for about 2 months!  I can’t wait!  A lot of my time will be spent planning the GLOW camp but I also plan to work on getting a library set up at school and some other small projects as well.  In my free time I hope to visit other volunteers and see more of the country. 

And for Christmas I will be in Paris!  I can barely contain my excitement!  I was going back and forth for a while about what I wanted to do and had pretty much decided I was going to stay here.  But then my friend Theresa brought it up again, ticket prices went down and the thought of Paris at Christmas is hard to resist!  We are going rent an apartment while we are there, which is what really sold me on the idea.  I love the idea of wandering around the Paris neighborhoods, going to the local markets and bakeries and coming home, cooking a meal and watching a movie (while drinking lots of wine of course!).  I’m not interested in a jam-packed sightseeing vacation.  I’m sure we’ll get to plenty of museums, but what I really want is to relax, celebrate Christmas with my friends and enjoy all I’ve been missing from the Western world.  And in my opinion, Paris is about the best place on earth to do that!

Well that’s really about all that’s going on here.  Check back again, I promise to write more soon.  If you have any questions about anything, please let me know, I could use some blog ideas!

And if you have any Paris tips please send them my way!

All my love,

Annie

It's a boy!

I saw my first live birth today.  It seems a little backwards since in America I was a nurse and here in Africa I’m a teacher but as it is I never had an opportunity to see one during school or since then; until today. 

We are on holiday now since the end of July and I decided I wanted to spend time in my community to find ways I can get more involved.  Today was my day to spend at the health center.  The heath center in my village offers a lot of great services with offices dedicated to malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, family planning, prenatal care, a laboratory for HIV and malaria testing, as well as inpatient beds and a maternity ward.   My goal is to spend time in each area to see what exactly it is that they do.  As I was on my tour in the morning there were quite a few laboring women waiting and it somehow came about that I would be able to watch a delivery.  One of the mothers was pretty well dilated but it was her first child so things weren’t moving too quickly.  I had my heart set on seeing the birth so I stuck around.  Finally at about 3:30 when things just weren’t progressing enough they made the decision to transfer her to the hospital in Rwamagana.  Thankful in the other delivery room there was another mother who was going to have her 5^th child who was also nearing delivery so I was a little more hopefully.  As the ambulance was about to leave with the first mother, the fetal heart rate began to slow and they worried about complications so she also was transferred to Rwamagana.  At that point it was getting late and I was tired from standing around all day so I decided to go home.  As I was literally walking out the door another mother was brought into the delivery room.  I decided to stay at least until after her exam to see how she was progressing.  I asked one of the nurses if she thought it would be soon in which she responded that yes it wouldn’t be long.   About 5 minutes later the baby was born. 

Now, like I said, I’ve never seen a delivery in the States, nor (obviously) have I had a child but I can assume with some certainty it’s nothing like what I saw today.  As a pregnant woman in the village, when labor begins you find a way to get yourself to the health center which means either walking or climbing on the back of a bicycle or a moto if you’re lucky.  I was told that most women do come to the health center these days to deliver but as I was waiting a woman who had just given birth in the morning at home came in with her newborn so they both could be checked, so it does still happen. Formally trained midwives don’t do home births though, so she probably had help from her mother or a friend who may have some experience. 

After arriving, a woman is examined to see what stage of labor she is in.  If she isn’t too far along yet she is put into a small room with 3 beds where all the mothers continue their labor until they are ready to deliver.  Today there were 2 women to each bed. They continue to be examined regularly and when they have progressed enough they move into the delivery room.  Many hospitals these days pour millions into gorgeous maternity suites decked out with flat screen TV’s, whirlpool tubs, big comfy beds, etc and rightly so, those mothers deserve it.  Needless to say though, that’s not what it’s like here.  There is a old metal examination table about 4 feet off the ground that requires a step stool to climb into, a cabinet with a few supplies, and a small table with a baby scale, no monitors, no oxygen, not even a working sink.  The only thing that is used to monitor the baby is a fetoscope which has a bell shape and is used by pressing the wide end down firmly on the mother’s abdomen and then placing your ear on the other end to listen for the heart beat. 

Even though they lack so many resources I was really impressed by the entire process.  When I was waiting and waiting during the day I was a little worried about whether or not I really wanted to watch the birth.  I was afraid I may be traumatized into never wanting to have children but everyone made it look so easy.  The nurses who delivered the baby (there are no doctors at the health center) were calm and collected the entire time and did their jobs very well and professionally.  The mother though, she was incredible.  I was in complete awe of her, she never had a drop of pain medicine, not even an IV and she was so strong the entire time doing everything she was told.  About 15 minutes after the delivery was over she got up, walked to the room next door where she will stay with her baby for the next 3 days.  The nurse brought her baby to her and that was it, it was all over.  After what I saw today, I don’t think I could argue that anyone has more strength than an African woman. 

I felt all those cliché things about the miracle of birth but to see someone take their first breath of life truly is astonishing.  The sweet baby boy was perfect and I feel so privileged to have witnessed the first moments of his life.   

It’s been awhile and I have to admit I’ve been putting off writing this blog.  About 3 weeks ago my grandpa died.  I’m heartbroken just like everyone else in my family and all the others who knew him.   He was one of kind.  All he had seen and experienced made him truly remarkable.  His wisdom was evident not by lectures he gave about how to live life but by how he lived his.  He was humble, generous, sincere and loving.  And of course funny.  He loved to make people laugh; the waitress at the restaurant, his neighbors or one of his many great-grandchildren.  He just wanted to make people happy.  There so many wonderful memories I have of my grandpa but I will never forget is this look he had.  Whether it was family, friends, or a stranger, it didn’t matter; he looked at you with his gentle eyes and just a small sweet smile and it was like you got a glimpse of the peace he felt in his life; the peace that can come only from 101 years of life.  I instantly felt calmed, like nothing else really mattered and overwhelmed with love.  Everytime.   

My life won’t be the same without him but it will never be the same for having him a part of it.  I’m so lucky. 

My grandpa and I

And so life goes on. 

I just got back from Uganda.  I went with 3 friends for the 4^th of July.  It just so happens that the 4^th here in Rwanda is also a holiday as it marks the end of the Genocide so we had a long weekend.  We visited Lake Bunyooni just over the Rwandan border.  It’s known for its beautiful scenery and islands.  When we arrived at the lake we took a dugout canoe to the island where we were staying.  On the way we passed a school on one of the islands just as school was finishing.  The kids all filed down to the dock and packed onto one of the canoes with one of the students in the back rowing them all to shore and home for the day.  Their version of a school bus. 

When we got to our island we climbed out of the boat and up the hill where we found an open air lounge with tables and couches where some visitors were reading, eating, playing games or just talking and enjoying the scenery.  We were greeted by the staff and shown to our rooms.  We booked the geodomes, which are hut-like structures made of bamboo and grasses.  They are circular but on one side there is no door or wall and it open up to a large deck that overlooks the lake.  Inside there were 2 beds with mosquito nets so it was like we were sleeping outside but still protected from the bugs and rain.  It was beautiful

So we spent our time eating (the food was awesome!) relaxing and talking.  On Saturday my friend Kerianne and I decided we would rent one of the canoes and take it out to explore one of the nearby islands.  Before the trip I had read about the lake in a travel book.  They talked about how visitors can take canoes out but often have difficulty steering the boats as they are not exactly built like the canoes we are used to and they often end up spinning in circles referred to as ‘muzungu circles.’  I unfortunately have to admit Kerianne and I did our fair share of ‘muzungu circles’  There was talk of me getting out of the boat and swimming it back to shore but thankfully we got the hang of it towards the end.  Needless to say though we never made it to the other island.  Later we took the boat out again and went swimming which is a pretty big deal because most of the lakes around here are infested with a parasite but this lake is at a high elevation and much colder so the parasite doesn’t live in it.  And let me tell you, that lake was cold but oh so worth it! 

After our 2 nights at the lake we went to Mbarara where a friend I traveled with has a friend living.  We stayed at his house and cooked a great dinner of grilled kabobs and even had s’mores for dessert.  It was a real 4^th of July celebration!  (minus the fireworks)  

Lake Bunyooni wait for our boat

Our geodome

The view from our deck

The canoes

Genevieve, Kerianne and I in our geodome 

Boat ride back to the mainland

Our 4th of July dinner

And now to my other titles, volunteer, teacher, nurse, etc. I can now add chicken farmer.  After hiring a local carpenter to build me a chicken house I have purchased 2 Rwandan hens.  I say Rwandan because there is another common breed that lay nice big eggs everyday called of course muzungu chickens, because according to Rwandans “white people love eggs.”  I opted for the local breed though because I really don’t need eggs every day.  After I got them I was telling a friend how things were going she compared me to a new parent.  I didn’t know what to do, how to feed it, how to even pick it up.  I’m learning slowly and they’re still alive though so I must being doing something right. 

The day I got the hens a couple weeks ago, I came home from church and I went out to use the bathroom.  My chicken house was built right next to the latrine and as I approached it looked different, the doors were latched shut the lock had some wire on it.  I began to open the door and a chicken started clucking at me.  The man who I bought the chickens from had dropped one of them off while I was away.  I was sort of stunned and just sat there looking at it for a while.  I went inside paced a little and then went back out and looked at it again.  I did this routine about 3 times.  I just didn’t know what to do.  People here just let their chickens roam around the village during the day which is what I planned to do with mine.  Everyone assured me that they will go out during the day but will always return at night. 

Now I wish I had a good excuse for what I did next but I don’t, it was nothing other than sheer stupidity. 

I concluded that I should let it out.  I decided I would open the door and just let it do what it wanted.  I stood there and watched it for a little while and it didn’t really seem to do anything so I figured I’d go back in the house and come back in a few minutes.  I didn’t really think it would fly down from its house (not true) and I figured if it did I would see it walk by (definitely NOT true).  As anyone can guess when I went back outside the chicken was gone.  I had a chicken for less than 1 hour and I had already lost it.  I went and looked around for a few minutes with no sign of her.  My neighbor came home and sheepishly I admitted that the chicken was gone.  We went to the neighbors asking if they had seen it and then across the street another neighbor pointed at a hen wondering about and asked if it was mine.  The truth is I looked at my chicken for a while but only in its dark house through the chicken wire and wasn’t really thinking about what it looked like.  I yelled yes that it was mine while in the back of my mind praying that it actually was my chicken.  So with the help of some neighbors we cornered her and snatched her up.  This is also quite a site to see, several grown adults stalking and chasing after a chicken.  After that entire fiasco and she was locked up safely in her house she laid an egg!  Now I was like a proud parent!  It also made me question a little more whether or not she was my hen but no one has said anything about any missing chickens so I think I’m in the clear.  It’s been a fun new challenge for me and hopefully I reap some of the benefits too.  

My chicken house, it is separated into 2 one for each chicken

Henrietta and her first egg (back in the corner)

My house with the sunflowers I planted

The terms almost over, we have exams next week and then a 3 week break.  I don’t have much planned just visit a few friends and relax.  I’ve been jealous of all those teachers with nice long breaks for years and now I finally get it too!  I may never want to give it up!

All my love,

Annie

It doesn't get better than home....

A few weeks ago I got call from my mom telling me that my grandpa was sick.  He’s a 101 so it isn’t exactly unexpected, but this time it was different.  He was really sick, uncomfortable and weak so the decision was made to take grandpa home and put him in hospice.  He was too sick to care for himself so everyone signed up to spend either the day or night with him.  And there I was 8,000 miles away, sad, lonely and heart broken.  All I could think of was how much I was going to miss my grandpa and how I couldn’t be there.  I began to think about the possibility of going home.  I initially dismissed it but as the week went on and I just felt more and more sad I decided I needed to go.  So with the full support of the Peace Corps I bought my ticket and 3 days later I was on a plane.

This was an extremely difficult decision to make, I was most hesitant because I was afraid of what the people in my village would think.  A day rarely goes by when someone doesn’t tell me how much they want to go to America.  I tell them how difficult and expensive it is and then I just pick up and go at the drop of a hat.  I struggled for a few days but ultimately I knew I would regret it if I didn’t go.  And so the decision was made.

I knew this trip wasn’t going to be easy and there were a lot of “what if’s" the most worrisome being “what if I can’t go back.”  While I was making my decision I never considered going home to stay but I really couldn’t predict how I was going to feel when I got home.  To prepare I had decided that even though I was going to potentially say goodbye to my grandpa it wasn’t going to be a sad trip.  It was going to be a trip to celebrate the amazing life of a wonderful man and how lucky we all are to be a part of it.  Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about any of that because there was no longer any reason to be sad.  With everyone rallying around my grandpa, he made a quick and full recovery, he may even be better than he was before.  The thing is, my grandpa isn’t afraid to die, he’s been prepared for quite some time, but when he’s healthy all he wants to do is live.  He’s been cooking, playing cards, going to the coffee shop and even (after fighting for it) taking his scooter out again.  He’s even making plans for Christmas dinner already.  I think he was about the happiest I’ve ever seen him.  I feel so lucky that now, no matter what happens, I will always have that memory of him.

So with no reason to mope around I enjoyed every minute in the States.  Of course much of my time was spent with grandpa, enjoying home cooked meals, listening to him play the accordion, and numerous walks up and down the hall of his apartment building.  Each day with him was a gift.  I also got to enjoy some of the best Minnesota has to offer including a Twin’s game, the arboretum, and even a day shopping with my mom at the Mall of America (talk about culture shock!).  There were also plenty of family dinners, sleepovers, movie nights, a spring concert at school, and lots of good food!  What more could I ask for?  It was perfection.

And before I even blinked it was over.  While saying goodbye was again difficult for me and my family, not once did anyone ever say “are you sure you want to go” or “why don’t you just stay here.”  If they had, I very well may have or at least it would have made leaving about 10 times harder.  My family is amazing.  To know that they support me and that they are proud of what I am doing is reason enough to complete my service.  Their encouragement keeps me going.  And even at 101 my grandpa gets it.  He understands why I’m doing what I’m doing and is one of my biggest supporters.  Before I left he told me he is so grateful to all my friends in Rwanda for all they are teaching me.  He knows that while I’m doing my best to help the people here they are giving me far more than I could ever give them.

Now here I am, one week back in Rwanda.  I was lucky because there was a marathon in Kigali the weekend I got back and a bunch of PCV’s ran in the relay so I was able to spend the weekend with a lot of my friends.  I was even surprised at the airport by 6 of them with signs and everything, it was wonderful!  Now at site my adjustment back has gone pretty well.  My students and friends in the village were all excited to see me as I was them.

I feel like I’ve come back to Rwanda with a new perspective.  I’ve realized that while in the next year and a half some things may change; the kids will get older and friends may move away, but the love, support and friendship will always be there.  I have new confidence to make the most of my time in Rwanda, to take advantage of the opportunities and not get lost in the everyday struggles.

I brought a book back with me called The Alchemist.  I had read it before and enjoyed it but this time I’ve earmarked just about every other page because there is something on the page that relates so closely to my life right now.  I just wanted to share a little excerpt that I found particularly relevant.  Check out the book too, it can inspire anyone at any point in their life.  

“A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world.  The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain.  It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man, though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity; tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world.  The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man’s attention.

The wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t have the time just now to explain the secret of happiness.  He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.

‘Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something’ said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil.  ‘As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.’

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed in the spoon.  After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.  ‘Well,’ asked the wise man, ‘did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall?  Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create?  Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?’

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing.  His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

‘Then go back and observe the marvels of my world.’ said the wise man.  ‘You cannot trust a man if you don’t know his house.’

Relieved the boy picked up the spoon and returned to this exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls.  He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected.  Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

‘But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?’ asked the wise man.

Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

‘Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you’ said the wisest of the wise men.  ‘The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.’”

All my love,
Annie

Beautiful Rwanda...

I fell in love with Rwanda this break.  It's such an amazing country!  I literally went from one end to the other and was in awe of the diversity and beauty in each place.  I traveled to the far East near Tanzania where the landscape is filled with rolling hills and savanna.  Then I went to the opposite side near the Democratic Republic of Congo where I was surrounded by green, lush mountains and beautiful Lake Kivu.  How could my vacation be any less than amazing! 

I started the break by making a trip up to the Northern Provence to visit some friends.  The North is known it's volcanoes and the mountain gorillas that live on them.  I didn't not go to see the gorillas, it costs about $500 but is worth every penny I've been told but did hike up a mountain that's literally in my friends backyard. There was a group of 6 of us and one Rwandan leading the way.  We Americans were of course huffing and puffing the whole way up while my friend's Rwandan collegue climbed in his traction-free dress shoes while carrying 3 bags and stopping often waiting for us to catch up.  I now understand why Africans  win all the marathons.  We took a break at the top to have a picnic lunch.  We sat overlooking the village in the valley and had a perfect view of three of the five volcanoes in Rwanda.  Going down was nearly as challenging as going up but thankfully we all made it back safely.  The funny thing is that while this was a difficult hike that went nearly straight up over rocks and uneven terrain, this is just the road to many people's homes and fields. 
After the hiking trip I headed back home.  It was actully seemed a lot quieter in my village without all the students which was nice.  I spent time reading, playing with the kids, visiting friends, and just relaxing. 

After about a week at home I had a few other volunteers come visit and then I went with a group of about 20 other PCVs to Akagera National Park.  All of us decended on a small town outside Akagera and then piled into a matatu which are small vans that are used as buses all over the country.  If we were in the states it would seat 15 comfortably but since we are in Africa we cram in 19 and for this trip we had 21 along with all our backpacks and supplies.  It was an interesting ride to say the least but we only broke down once and made it there safely.  When we got to the park we went to our camping site for the night.  It was dusk when we got there and they had already started a fire for us.  The site was right next to the lake and all through the night we could hear the hippos grunting and snorting in the water.  Apparently hippos can be quite vicious but the ranger assured us that as long as there was a fire they wouldn't go past it which thankfully seemed to work.  The next morning we were picked up by 1 van and 2 land rovers to drive us through the park.  The vehicles each had roofs that popped up so we could stand and get a good view of everything.  Periodically someone would shout "tree" and we would all quickly duck back down into the car to avoid getting hit by an overhanging tree and I still have bruises from being bounced around but it just added to the adventure.  I got lucky because I was in the car with the ranger so we had to go first so he could direct where to go. As a result we were able to see a lot of the wildlife before we scared it off.  We were so excited every time we saw a new animal and we really did see quite a variety.  There were hippos, crocodiles, lots of impala, baboons, monkeys, warthogs, and many of different birds.  Then when we were getting towards the end we came to an area of open savannah.  We could see in the distance there were giraffes and we thought this was the best we could do but the ranger took us right up to them.  We drove through the field where there were giraffes, zebra, impala, spring buck, and others just grazing and milling about.  We stopped about 50 yards away from the giraffes and they just sort of looked at us and kept doing their thing.  It was pretty amazing.  The only thing we didn't see were the elephants and of course we hoped to see lions but the ranger said he has worked there for 12 years and has only seen a lion 3 times.  Even if we hadn't seen any wildlife at all I would have been satisfied by the scenery alone.  It was absolutely breathtaking! 

So after Akagera I, along with all the other volunteers from my training group met in Kibuye for our in-service training.  It's the first time we were all back together since swear-in.  It was strange seeing everyone at first but then it quickly seemed as though we had never been apart.  We stayed at a beautiful hotel right on Lake Kivu.  Our days were spent in sessions talking about our challenges, successes and sharing ideas.  At night we sat on the beach in the moonlight listening to music, talking and just relaxing.  In the distance across the lake a volcano that's in the DRC (Congo) is visible and at night you can see a red glow from the lava.  On our last day we took boats out to an island on the lake.  We ate, drank, and relaxed in hammocks.  I could have sworn I was on a tropical island!  It was a great week and I came away from it feeling energized and excited with new ideas to start the next term.  It was reassuring to hear that other volunteers are having the same struggles and challenges that I have and learn some new solutions and coping strategies. 

Tomorrow the term begins.  I wish I had prepared my lessons a little bit more but I feel pretty good about things and look forward to seeing all my students again. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and is celebrating with those they love! 

All my love,
Annie

Here are some pictures, if you aren't already convinced you need to come to visit me here these should do the trick!

Break

A hard-knock life...

I received an e-mail a couple weeks ago from my nephew Henry.  In his class they read a book called Flat Stanley which is about a boy who becomes flattened when a filing cabinet falls on him.  Since he is now flat he is able to be mailed anywhere in the world (or in my case, e-mailed).  So Henry sent me his Flat Stanley and asked me to take pictures of him around my village to share with his class.  It was actually a fun little project for me even though everyone thought I was completely nuts making them take pictures with a paper doll.  Doing the project made me think about just how different my student's lives are from students in the U.S. so I thought I'd share what it's like to be a student in Rwanda (or at my school at least).

As I've mentioned before I teach at a boarding school so all the students live at school and go home only for breaks or the occasional weekend.   There are 4 dormitories, 2 for boys and 2 for girls. Each is a large (actually not that large) room that is filled with bunk beds each about 2-3 feet apart.  The students each came with a mattress pad and a small bag or trunk with all of their things and there really isn't room for anything more.  They use latrines and shower rooms outside the dorms and wash their clothes on the field in front of the school then lay them all out on the grass to dry in the sun. 

The students wake up each morning somewhere around 5am-6am, get themselves ready for the day then eat breakfast which is always the same, porridge. If they choose to purchase it themselves they also have sugar.  Classes begin at 7:30 so the kids head into their classroom to begin the school day.  The teachers move from room to room and the kids stay in the same classroom with the same students.  There are eight, fifty minute classes each day.  The students have English, Biology, Chemistry, History, Geography, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French, Computer Science, and Physics, Math and Entrepreneurship, but obviously not all in the same day.  They have each class a certain number of times each week, for example I teach Biology 3 class periods per week and English 5 times per week.  Resources of course are scarce.  The classrooms are bare with only desks and a chalkboard. We have a library but is really used just to store the textbooks that are provided by the government for each subject.  For some classes there aren't enough for each of the kids so they aren't allowed to keep them for more than a day or 2 so most often they aren't used because it's time consuming getting them in and out each day.  There is only one computer at the school which is used by the secretary so the students learn all about computers for 3 hours each week without even touching one.  There is no copy machine so when I give assignments or quizzes I write them on the board then the students copy their answers on a piece of paper.  There is some lab equipment but like the books it mostly just sits in storage in the library.  I'm hoping to find a way to incorporate what we do have into my teaching and hopefully encourage other teachers to do so as well. 

I'm so used to not having anything to work with I can't imagine having an endless supply of construction paper or an overhead projector.  It's a good challenge though to get creative, I've used a Tupperware container to represent the heart, a water bottle to show how the heart pumps blood and have discovered my inner artist by drawing models of the digestive system and heart on rice sacks. 
While there are clear disadvantages, the students here have the one thing that is worth more than any book or computer, which is motivation.  These kids know the importance of education and understand that if they want a better life they must go to school.  Last week we had exams for the end of the trimester and I went to give some make-up quizzes at night and all the kids were studying, not talking and goofing off but really studying.  Education here is considered free for 9 years but in reality each school has fees the student must pay to attend whixh are unaffordable for many families.  It's a real privileged for those that can go and their families have to make big sacrifices for their education. 

So anyway...after school it's always a mad rush to the water tap where they line up with their buckets to get water to bathe or wash clothes.  They also have chores they must do around school either cleaning the classrooms, dorms or the school grounds.  There are some clubs that gather to sing or pray as well.  Every night at 6 the students go back into their classrooms and study for 2 hours.  After that they eat dinner, which is always rice and beans (the same as lunch), then they go to bed.  On the weekends they fill their time doing chores, playing volleyball or soccer or just hanging out.  Even without T.V. and video games they seem find plenty to keep themselves busy and  out of trouble. 

Exams have finished and I'm left correcting them and entering grades.  So far most of my students did alright and nobody has failed the class which seems like a success to me.  All of next week is allotted for us to finish reporting grades and then the students will leave school on Friday when break officially starts.  I have a list going of things I want to accomplish during the break which most importantly includes working on lesson plans for next term.  I have also committed to giving English lessons to the employees at the health center and made plans to spend a day with one of the community health workers making visits.  For fun, a large group of volunteers including myself are going on a camping trip/safari in Akagera National Park.  After, we have almost a week of Peace Corps training.  I'm looking forward to this and dreading it at the same time.  After being on my own for about 3 months now I think it will be quite overwhelming to suddenly be back with 64 other Americans.  It will, however, be good to see everyone again and to get some fresh ideas and inspiration for next term. 

In general things have been going well the past few weeks.  I've been spending a lot of time at my site, for a while it seemed like I was going somewhere every weekend even if it was just for the day.  So the past few weekends I haven't gone anywhere and it's been a nice change.  I remember when I went to college my freshman year my mom told me that I couldn't come home on the weekends for the first few months.  This seemed a little harsh  at the time when I was homesick and just wanted to see my family.  She had her reasons though and it was not just because she finally wanted an empty house.  She said the weekends would be the time when I would really make my friends which proved to be true.  I feel like it's sort of the same here, I don't want everyone to think that I head to the city or to other Americans the second I get the chance and I want them to know that I'm here to really live here.  So this weekend instead of running off to Kigali to eat good food I made my own at home.  Last night I had fajitas with homemade tortillas and today chicken noodle soup (minus the chicken) with homemade egg noodles and focaccia.  It was the first time I've tried to bake bread here and it turned out surprisingly well so I look forward to experimenting more in the future. 

So while things have been going well here things haven't been so great back home.  I found out on Tuesday that my uncle Joe, my dad's brother, had passed away.  He was diagnosed back in February with lung cancer that had spread to his brain.  He underwent some radiation but only palliatively. Thankfully he spent the past 2 months at home surrounded by his children and grandchildren who brought him some much joy on a daily basis.  My uncle was a kind person who spread his love generously.  When I think of Joe I picture him with his grandchildren with a look of sincere happiness.  The love he had for his family was so evident.  While it has been difficult to be away from family now I think his loss will really hit me when I go back home and he isn't at holiday celebrations or at breakfast after church every Sunday.  He will surely be missed by many.  


As always, all my love!
Annie

p.s. I've included some of the pictures I sent to Henry

This is Lake Muhazi near my house where many people get water, these kids were at the lake filling geri cans to take back home

These are my Senior 1 English students and the classroom where I teach

Some of the students (with Flat Stanley) in the courtyard at school

The kids carrying their water back home

A Birthday to remember...

Well I knew my birthday would be nothing like any other birthday I've had but it was even more eventful then I could have predicted.

The day started out great. When I woke up my e-mail inbox was flooded. I had e-mails from so many people I never expected to even know my e-mail address let alone that it was my birthday. Turns out my mom had e-mailed everyone she knows to tell them it was my birthday. Since I've gotten here I've realized just how much support from everyone back home means to me and it was especially wonderful on my birthday! I told my mom it was like an electronic surprise birthday party! It was fabulous!

I didn't have to teach until 10 so I had a leisurely morning and made breakfast, drank coffee, did some yoga and prepared myself to have a wonderful day. I arrived at school to teach my 3 classes of the day back to back. Just before my first class the kids have a 15 minute break so they usually just wonder around the school grounds until class begins again. Often times they take their time heading back to class after the bell has rung (just to be clear, by "bell" I mean the student who bangs an old wrench on a piece of old rusty scrap metal) so some teachers have begun punishing them if they are late. This day the kids saw a couple students get into trouble so they all took off running to their classes. In the midst of the chaos 2 kids collided and one girl hit her head on the cement and was knocked unconscious. I didn't see it happen but came outside about a second later and saw 2 kids lying on the ground. Long story short, some students came and carried her to the health center nearby and she was then transferred to the hospital.

I've been afraid of something like this happening since I got here and knew it was just a matter of time. I'm in a difficult position because I have the background in health care but PC does not allow me to provide any medical care, even health volunteers provide health education only. I went with the student to the health center which was an extremely challenging experience for me. When someone is sick or injured I'm used to taking action and for the first time wasn't able to. I felt helpless. I wasn't sure of my role, I wanted to help and make sure the student was ok but I didn't want to seem like the know-it-all, bossy American so I found myself biting my tongue a lot. I ended up staying with her until she went to the hospital and did my own little assessments so I could at least tell someone if things started to get worse and for my own peace of mind. After spending the weekend at the hospital the student came back to school and is thankfully just fine but it was definitely a learning experience for me.

So after that whole ordeal I went home and began preparing dinner. I had invited some of the other teachers from my school over and I had warned them I was going to cook American food. I made a simple dinner of spaghetti (technically Italian) since tomatoes and garlic are in abundance here and I even baked a chocolate cake. It turned out to be a wonderful night. They sang "Happy Birthday" to me more than once and actually enjoyed the food. Rwandan's are used to a very limited diet in terms of variety so they are often not too excited about new foods but the spaghetti seemed to be a hit, the cake however was another story. The 3 guys that came each took a bite but that was all because they said it was too sweet. The girls on the other hand loved it and even finished what the boys didn't! Just goes to show we girls can't help our addiction to chocolate!

The day really turned out great. Everyone was so kind and it really made me feel more a part of the group and not just an outsider. I hope it made them realize I am here to be their friends and a part of the community just like them. With the night being such a success and all the messages and love sent from home, I went to bed that night feeling so excited for all the possibilities and overwhelmed with love and joy. It was an amazing day!

One of the best parts of my birthday, however, came the following day. As I said before I'm fairly close to a larger town called Rwamagana. This is where I go to do all my banking. I think it was the first time I went into the bank the man working said he liked my name and wanted to know what the meaning was but he meant my last name not my first. I told him I wasn't sure if it even had a meaning but I would ask my mom. He told me he would name his baby Pexa if he knew what it meant. I didn't actually think he was serious so I pretty much forgot about it. He asked again when I went back but it slipped my mind again.

A side-note about names in Rwanda; parents choose 2 names for their children, a Rwandan name which is sort of like a last name and another which is usually like a first name and typically something a little more recognizable in English or French. Sometimes they give all their children the same Rwandan name but not always.

So the day after my birthday I received a text from a friend that lives in Rwamagana, she asked if I knew the man from the bank because he had name his daughter Pexa! Turns out another volunteer had been in the bank and he was telling her that he gave his daughter an American name, Pexa, but she said she had never heard of it. I couldn't believe it! The next day I had to go to the bank and saw him. He confirmed that he did indeed name his daughter Pexa and that everyone asks where he got the name. I saw a picture of little Pexa and she is of course precious as can be. I was really hoping she had been born on my birthday but she had been born a couple weeks earlier. I told him that I hope I can one day meet her and that I would actually find out the meaning of the name!

The weekend after my birthday I went to the northern part of Rwanda to visit my friend Nicole and enjoy a little mini-vacation (I did have some official PC business though as well). It was about a 4 hour trip to get there through the beautiful landscape of Rwanda. I felt like I was really going "up North" too. It's is cooler, greener, hillier (mountainous actually), and there is a huge lake similar to Lake Superior, all just like in Northern Minnesota. It was a strange and comforting feeling. My friend lives near Gisenyi which is a really beautiful city on the shore of Lake Kivu. There is a gorgeous beach and a park-like area which is not something you find often around here. It was a great weekend of cooking, watching movies, talking and laughing. It truly made my entire birthday week perfect!

All the events of the week were exactly what I needed. Sometimes I get caught up in over analyzing things, wondering if I'm doing enough, and if I'm doing the right things, that I end up putting so much pressure on myself and lose focus. I needed to take a step back and breathe a little. I felt like myself again, relying on my own judgment to make decisions and not letting all the questions and doubt cloud my mind.

Thanks again to everyone who sent birthday wishes! It was so great to know you were all thinking of me! It made my day so special!

All my love!
Annie


More Pictures! They are from my trip to Gisenyi and are meant to entice you all to come visit me!
https://picasaweb.google.com/AnniePexa/20110225?authkey=Gv1sRgCNTJ2ZjS8bKmFg&feat=directlink