I have not been able to solve the problem of loading photos onto the blog so the content is very dull, only text, so I would encourage you to follow the Village Rwanda Facebook Page. I am sorry if you are not on .facebook but it can’t be helped. I’ve sent feedback but with no reply.
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
Sunday, 13 January 2019
On Saturday Theo and Rose and I had a lovely walk down into Mugonero from Theo’s house near Kibingo. On the way we were serenaded by a man who was taking his hand-made traditional instruments to Kigali to try to sell them. We hope to buy some for our entertainment for tourists some day! It’s in our Action Plan!
We met up with Emma and Lindsay who had driven down to Mugonero from Kigali to come and visit the village with us. The boat was waiting and we enjoyed the breeze as we glided along the lake surrounded by mountains, blue sky and fresh air. We arrived at at the landing stage after what seemed like a very short half hour. We were greeted by my old and dear friend Alexis who I haven’t seen for about four years. It was lovely to see his happy smiling face.
Climbing through the banana trees and noticing the coffee, avocado and mango trees we arrived at the village.This was the first visit for all of my friends and we were all overwhelmed by the welcome from people of all ages. It was so good to see Mama looking well because last year she was very poorly and had to go to Zimbabwe for treatment. But now she is her usual cheerful self again.
We had a treat in the afternoon! We were issued with a Rwandan hoe and told to get to work digging! The women farmers are strong and have good muscles, they lift the hoe way above their heads, striking the earth with some force in order to till the ground. I probably lifted mine about two feet from the ground so my technique needs working on. The women do this in bare feet and have never had an accident. Yikes! Having planted some sweet potato plants we then harvested others that were ready to eat. A competitive element emerged amongst the rest of the team as to who could find the most potatoes. Rose impressed us with her ability to carry a basket of sweet potatoes on her head all the way back to the guesthouse. We prepared and cooked what we had just taken out of the ground and along with other delicious food we had a shared meal outside sitting on grass mats near the fire.
Needless to say, we all slept well on Saturday night.
Sleep well too everyone. Love Tricia
We met up with Emma and Lindsay who had driven down to Mugonero from Kigali to come and visit the village with us. The boat was waiting and we enjoyed the breeze as we glided along the lake surrounded by mountains, blue sky and fresh air. We arrived at at the landing stage after what seemed like a very short half hour. We were greeted by my old and dear friend Alexis who I haven’t seen for about four years. It was lovely to see his happy smiling face.
Climbing through the banana trees and noticing the coffee, avocado and mango trees we arrived at the village.This was the first visit for all of my friends and we were all overwhelmed by the welcome from people of all ages. It was so good to see Mama looking well because last year she was very poorly and had to go to Zimbabwe for treatment. But now she is her usual cheerful self again.
We had a treat in the afternoon! We were issued with a Rwandan hoe and told to get to work digging! The women farmers are strong and have good muscles, they lift the hoe way above their heads, striking the earth with some force in order to till the ground. I probably lifted mine about two feet from the ground so my technique needs working on. The women do this in bare feet and have never had an accident. Yikes! Having planted some sweet potato plants we then harvested others that were ready to eat. A competitive element emerged amongst the rest of the team as to who could find the most potatoes. Rose impressed us with her ability to carry a basket of sweet potatoes on her head all the way back to the guesthouse. We prepared and cooked what we had just taken out of the ground and along with other delicious food we had a shared meal outside sitting on grass mats near the fire.
Needless to say, we all slept well on Saturday night.
Sleep well too everyone. Love Tricia
Saturday, 12 January 2019
encouraging meeting
Well, I wasn’t able to write the blog yesterday because we were either on the bus or busy with the meeting and basically enjoying the countryside!
Yesterday we left Kigali by bus from the wonderful Nyabugogo Bus Park and travelled for four hours to get to Mugonero where we met up with Theogene. Jumping onto the back of Moto’s we went up to Theo’s new house which is just off the tarmac road between Kibingo and Mugonero. He and his wife Mary are working hard to make the house into a guesthouse for the influx of tourists who are now discovering the beauties of Rwanda.
The guesthouse is still being worked on but it has great potential and at some point it will have a name so that we don’t confuse it with Mama’s guesthouse which is in the Village and best accessed by boat or a lovely three hour walk.
I can’t seem to download photos but they are on my Facebook page and on the Village Rwanda Facebook page.
Off to get the boat now.
Tricia
Yesterday we left Kigali by bus from the wonderful Nyabugogo Bus Park and travelled for four hours to get to Mugonero where we met up with Theogene. Jumping onto the back of Moto’s we went up to Theo’s new house which is just off the tarmac road between Kibingo and Mugonero. He and his wife Mary are working hard to make the house into a guesthouse for the influx of tourists who are now discovering the beauties of Rwanda.
The guesthouse is still being worked on but it has great potential and at some point it will have a name so that we don’t confuse it with Mama’s guesthouse which is in the Village and best accessed by boat or a lovely three hour walk.
I can’t seem to download photos but they are on my Facebook page and on the Village Rwanda Facebook page.
Off to get the boat now.
Tricia
Wednesday, 9 January 2019
First day back in Rwanda in 2019
I arrived safely at Kigali airport and I must say it is lovely to get back to the warmth of the sun and the warmth of the people. As soon as I chatted to the Rwandan clerk issuing my visa I remembered the cheerful and relaxed attitude that most people here have towards life. I really really hope that development doesn’t also bring hard faced and miserable attitudes to life.
After a lovely deep sleep under the mosquito net I woke with the sun and went out into the garden.
After a lovely deep sleep under the mosquito net I woke with the sun and went out into the garden.
After admiring the view over Kigali I went around the back of the house and has massive surprise!
Ritah has a workshop for carpenters at the back of their house! All the machinery was brought from the UK in suitcases because it’s not possible to buy them here. They are making wooden toys for Ritah’s business which she started less than three years ago. It is called Toddle Care and you can explore it on www.toddlecare.com . This is a completely new concept in Rwanda and it is becoming very popular. One of the principles we used when I was working for VSO was not to bring in lots of plastic for children to play with but to use locally sourced materials as much as possible. There are more and more items being ‘Made in Rwanda’ by Rwandan Workers. These two carpenters are symbolic of this policy. Ritah also employs people who make beautiful items from fabric, such as dolls, playhouses. If you are ever in Kigali it is worth a visit to her shop or take a look at the website and ask me to bring something home.
I’m hoping to meet Theogene soon when he arrives in Kigali so I will keep you posted!
The Blogger website planner keeps jumping about, it is a little unstable but I will do my best!
Thanks for all your care and interest in what I’m doing here.
Bless you, Tricia
Tuesday, 8 January 2019
Sunset at the equator
I took this photo from the aeroplane just as we were passing over the equator. It was an amazing sight with beautiful golden yellow and orange light rays merging into the clear cornflower blue changing to deep navy. A great welcome to Africa.
I have arrived safely at my friends’ house in Kigali and I’m looking forward to a good lie down and a nights sleep so that tomorrow I can meet up with Theo to make plans and later to collect Rose from the airport. Hopefully o can keep the blog going. God bless. Tricia
Monday, 7 January 2019
I'm off to Rwanda tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again.... and of course, enjoying the warm sunshine although it will also be the end of the Rainy season. As with the rest of the world the timing and severity of the seasons is changing in Rwanda so it is very difficult to predict what the weather will be like.
Hopefully I will be able to write some posts and add photos but who knows???
Keep a look out anyway. Lots of love. Tricia x
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