Returning Home – no, not that home

Lake Bunyonyi

I have just spent a week in Uganda and I must admit after a few days I was homesick for Rwanda!!! I enjoyed my trip and had many exciting experiences but it was quite comforting to realise that I felt I was missing my home n Gitarama.

I lived by the lake in the treetops for three days, in the African bush at risk of lions strolling by (none did) and with the wonderful community of people in the beautiful Rwenzori Mountains.

Living in the treetops

Inside the tent in the treetops

Lake Bunyonyi was a peaceful and pleasant retreat after a fairly demanding three months. You will see the tent in the treetops in which I slept most comfortably, waking to the sound of the birds, which allowed me to share their home for a few days. Along the lakeside the weaver birds were busy courting and building their nests. A highlight was kayaking in a dugout canoe across to the island for lunch.  

The inevitable puncture

From the lake we moved onto a safari drive, travelling over extremely bumpy roads and difficult terrain. Needless to say we got a puncture in the tyre – no trip on African roads is complete without one! 

Queen Elizabeth National Park

We stayed that night in Queen Elizabeth Park and were reminded that lions could stroll by at any time. Believe me this is not a comforting thought when you need to go to the toilet in the middle of the night!!

Surprised by hippos!

Those jaws are enormous!!

 The most exciting moment for me was walking along a river bank and hearing  very loud unidentifiable sounds from a very large animal.


 It was scary! 




We continued stealthily under cover of bushes with the snorting noises getting louder and louder.


As we came to the edge of the bushes, we saw them – a big family of hippos soaking up the water in the heat of the day. 


We watched in awe until eventually our guide said he thought we should leave because they were getting agitated. Not wanting to upset them further we made a silent retreat back into the bushes!

 I kept thinking it couldn’t get any better but it did! 

The Rwenzori Mountains

My favourite part of the trip was our visit to Rwenzori Mountains. 

This is a most beautiful part of Uganda and Mt Stanley is the third highest peak in Africa, after Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya. I would highly recommend this area for anyone who loves trekking - anything from a day's hike to a nine day trek is available.

Watching the sun set

We stayed in Kilembe at Rwenzori Backpackers – the write up in the Lonely Planet Guide doesn’t do it justice. In a later blog I will try to rectify that!! 

We had a guided hike up into the mountains, camped overnight and returned the next day.

Watching the sun rise

The money that we paid for this went towards funding community projects in the area. Kilembe has a copper mine which was closed down, removing the employment in the area. You can imagine the effects of this situation. Our guide was very entertaining and a great local character. 

Early morning breakfast

I‘m back home now and tomorrow I go to the airport to meet my friend from the UK who is coming to stay for two weeks. Can’t wait!  

Hope you enjoy the photos. 

Love to everyone Txxx

Sunday 3rd April Mothering Sunday in UK

Mothering not smothering! Motherhood is an amazing privilege and an awesome responsibility, but also a source of great joy and fulfilment. The girls and boys here are mothers from a very early age – they look after their siblings whilst mum is busy cultivating the land for food to eat and to sell. If younger children aren’t available to help with childcare the work goes on anyway. The babies are fastened to mum’s back with strong cloth that will not break. Babies are very peaceful because they are so physically close to their mothers, they are safe and secure. The children also carry the babies in this way. I  haven’t seen fathers doing this but I have seen very proud and loving fathers cuddling their young babies and children.

As one of my daughters will tell you the early years of a child’s life are very important . It is the time when attitudes,  values  and social habits are being formed, a time when the brain is actually developing in its own unique way, when it is learning to learn if you like. The education system here is only just beginning to realise the importance of the Nursery years and there are some teachers doing great things with few resources. However, most of the time the young children sit quietly not being stimulated, with a consequent effect on learning development. My job is to focus on Primary Education but there is a great need to focus on Pre Primary schooling. http://treasurelearning.co.uk/ 

I started my garden today – we have  a garden at the back of the house divided into 4 vegetable plots and I have asked for one of them. I am planting beans, broccoli and a variety of herbs . I have no idea what will grow but I’ll spread the seed and see what happens. I realised that the garden faces the same way as my garden at home – it gets shade in the morning and blazing sun in the afternoon – wonderful sunsets from the verandah too! – so a slightly different direction I think because my sunsets at home are more to the left!! I know... west!

On Saturday I was in the shopping precinct in Kigali and I could’ve been in any ‘bar’ in UK. Not because there were loads of white people – there weren’t – not because the beer was flowing – it wasn’t – then why? There was good natured socialising, there were soft drinks on the tables, there were lots of men all with one aim – enjoying the football match between West Ham and Manchester United. And boy! Did they enjoy it!!!! Every time there was a goal – and there were plenty – uproar – cheering, jumping up, thumping the air, clapping, big, big smiles. Fantastic! Meanwhile what were most of the women doing? Answer – shopping – see, just like home!

I am not a keen football fan but I wish I was. I can teach football skills but I have never supervised a match in my entire teaching career – well, not strictly true – I have supervised many matches but relied on the players to give me guidance on off side rules etc! I know!  What an admission – it gets worse – I used to run a chess club and we had some excellent players in our school. We won many matches and had champions who represented the North West. And all the while I pretended I could play very well – I can’t – I know the basics and I can teach the skills but my brain doesn’t work in the way that chess requires!! But this strategy has taught me that a good teacher needs to be able to facilitate and encourage, she doesn’t need to be expertly skilled at everything but she does need to be able to take pleasure in the skills of others.

Here in Rwanda the people have many many skills and I am looking forward to learning about them in the next two years.

April 7th in Rwanda marks the beginning of the time of mourning which lasts 100 days. This week is Memorial Week in which Rwandans gather together for 7 days of national mourning. I will be going to Uganda for a short holiday with some other volunteers. I decided to do this is as a sign of respect; it seems to me to be a time when Rwandans can have their country to themselves and grieve in their own way. I grieve with them in spirit but cannot ever know their pain. I am not afraid of being here, on the contrary I respect and admire the people for their courage.  Purple is the colour of mourning.

With much love to you all, don’t forget to comment! T xxxx

Come an' look at yer soffits luv.....

Climbing up the ladder to climb down the ladder into the water tank.

I went  to visit a UNICEF Child Friendly School – there are very few of these in the country and none in my district so I went with a colleague from a neighbouring district. The school was reached by climbing  an extremely steep hill , along a rutted packed-dry path. But if you could get there the school was then wheelchair friendly. There were some exciting innovations  ranging from simply lowering the blackboards so that children and wheelchair users could write on the boards to a ‘Special needs Room’ for children who needed to rest during the day. It had two beds and fresh drinking water.  

Whilst we were there we were invited to look in the water tank which was being repaired by a guy from ‘Engineers Without Borders’ It was reminiscent of being a headteacher and being told  by one of the building Inspectors to  ‘Come and look at yer soffits, luv’  (I dutifully went and looked) 

The Foreman inside the water tank

 I’ve had more interesting trips this week – but this time travelling on buses. The express bus services in Rwanda are extremely good and efficient, the main roads are tarmac and in good condition. But there is another form of bus travel  which, across Africa, is called ‘Matatus’. These amazing vehicles get crammed with people, livestock, grain,  plastic jerry cans, bowls, buckets, charcoal – you name it the matatus can carry it! They are often battered, dented  and rusty, but they transport vast numbers of people to the remotest places. There is a snag! The driver does not leave until the bus is full and sometimes you can sit on the bus for a very long time before it takes off. On Thursday I sat and waited  for one and a half hours along with three local ladies and some dried fish!! Eventually a guy got on and after sitting for a while said he was going to get the express bus did I want to join him – this was great news because I didn't know there was an express bus to my planned destination. As it was , I was correct,  it was a matatu masquerading as an express bus! I simply sat on a different bus until the driver decided it was time to go.

Visual aids made with bottle tops

Just a very quick story about a moto ride. My policy when riding on a ‘ihene’ or little goat bike is the same as when riding on a bus in Manchester  - ‘Please do not distract the driver’  But last night on the way home my moto driver was so keen to practice his English that he spent most of the journey with only one hand on the handlebars and facing backwards to talk to me! I did arrive home  safely however!

I hear that Spring has sprung in UK and that there has been lots of sunshine, people have been out gardening and new life has begun. Hooray!!!! Lots of love to everyone, enjoy the fresh air. T xxxxx

Thank you for all your support xxxx

I had a difficult time this week. I knew it had to come but it still surprised me!

I’ve been having such a happy time and beginning to feel that maybe I will be able to do something useful  here – using the skills I’ve gained over the years. When,  WHAM! Talk about Monday morning blues – I didn’t want to get up, I didn’t want to do the ‘Mwaramutse Walk’, I didn’t want to greet the children living close by and least of all I didn’t want to struggle with the communication anymore – in short I didn’t want to be here . I just wanted to go home to my lovely familiar life.

But one of the great things about being here is the support that you get from the Volunteer Community- all those other people who are in the same situation and have the same experiences. 

In addition I have WONDERFUL friends and family at home who communicate their love in lots of ways – through Facebook , e- mail messages and jokes that make me howl with laughter and blow away the tears. And most timely of all on the very day when I needed it most – not one but two parcels from home!!!! Lovely little extras like hand cream, sherbet dabs and chocolate options! A lovely picture postcard of the huge sycamore on Hadrians Wall is now on my (less) bare bedroom wall. Jelly Babies reformed as ‘Jellyatrics’ to celebrate 90 years of jelly babies. AND some knitting needles and wool to keep my creative juices flowing... SOOO thank you to all my wonderful friends – you’ll be pleased to know I am feeling much better and looking forward to a holiday next week.

Spring Equinox

Sending off the Equinox blessings

This weekend at home, the days are the same length as the nights and if I were at home I would celebrate this time of year with two very dear friends. This year I am celebrating in Africa! So I have set aside some time to think about the Equinox and what it might mean to me here in Africa - a very strange feeling!!

Thoughts:

It's very strange being in Rwanda at this time because there is no such thing as spring - or emerging from the cold, dark days of winter. The seasons are all the same here, and I miss the changing nature of the landscape that is home. Daylength is the same all year round. It's predictable. I wake up each morning with the sun shining through my window, I dress, have breakfast and go to work for 7am. when I leave work at 5pm, I come home, have tea and go to bed - sometimes by 7.30pm. The day is ended and it's pretty much the same for all my neighbours - but during the day - such activity! Everywhere, from dawn people (mainly women) are cultivating the land. Nearly  every patch of earth is required to feed this nation of  10 million people. Beans, cabbages, carrots, maize, casava and rice grow in all the strangest places. Goats, cows, chickens and turkeys roam the paths between the houses and on the way to work, outside the court of justice, next door to the District Office, in the grounds of the Rwanda Revenue Authority - everywhere the business of providing food for a hungry people!

Air:

 hot, humid, sticky - a storm is brewing, the warm wind blows and the rain begins – thunder rolls in from the distant heavens, lightening strikes again and again providing a magnificent light show in the darkened skies. The leaves of the banana trees are being bashed furiously by the wind, and the rain is lashing down on the roof, making it impossible to hear the conversation of friends.

Earth:

The red fertile hard packed earth turns wet and muddy, making it possible to pull up the carrots, to till over the land and to plant new seeds.

Fire:

The smell of charcoal stoves cooking the home grown food. Trees being chopped down to make the charcoal, smouldering heaps on the hillsides.

Water

Vital rainfall, loosening the earth, feeding the seeds. Water for drinking, children carrying water to families. Water flooding down roads and drains and mountain tracks, taking the land with it. Taking away the medium of sustenance.

Equinox

A balance.

A balance of need and want

A balance of wet and dry

A balance of heat and cold.

A balance within and without.

the time of year to re- balance our lives

to clean out the cobwebs

to refresh our souls

‘The key to who we are is our soul.’

'Praise to you who charms away my fears by never abandoning me on my path.

You hold back the branches for me and make my way clear.

You catch me when I stumble

and show me the wonders of your creation.

Praise to you.'

With lots of love and being with you in spirit and in my heart. And, as always, thanks to Tess for prompting my thoughts (Tess Ward ‘The Celtic Wheel’ O Books 2007)
Tricia xxxxxx 

The size of my open hand.

the size of my open hand

There are sooo many different types of butterflies and moths here – and such fantastic patterns and colours. I can’t take photos because  they flutter away  whenever I get near! However, there was one on the window of the verandah the other day and I managed to capture this image. You can’t really tell from the photo but it was about the size of my open hand.  I’m sure you’ll agree that if it was sitting on the bark of a tree you would not see it. It was beautiful! 

Last Friday afternoon,  I was sitting in the sunshine outside  ‘Inshuti  Best Place’ having a cold beer when, not one , but two beautiful butterflies appeared. They seemed to be attracted by the red on the sign for Primus beer and kept landing on our table.  I use this as an introduction to the fact that I am continuing a tradition begun by my predecessor, Ken, and by Michael who is still here in Muhanga.On Friday afternoon we can finish work  early  so that we have the opportunity to go to the local sports centre and indulge in some exercise. I reckon I do enough exercise and what I really need on a Friday afternoon is a cold beer and a catch up with friends. So as soon as work is finished  I walk across the road outside my office and enter the little bar – ‘Inshuti’ means friend.  I usually meet up with Michael but soon he will be going home so Jules and I have committed ourselves to continuing this noble tradition!

This week I have been visiting schools to observe teaching so that when Judy comes I will have an idea of what sort of training we need to be providing. There is a great website called ‘Mango Tree’ which has all sorts of ideas for making resources using locally available materials, like rice sacks and bottle tops. For all you teachers out there,  I think of it a bit like Sparkle Box is in the UK, only not so print heavy, which reminds me, I had a triumph this week when I finally managed to print out some documents using the office printer – YAY! Printers and photocopiers are notoriously unreliable but this one has a mind of its own. Apparently  I have an advantage because I speak English and so does the printer!

Another first this week is a beautiful handmade outfit which I have collected from the seamstress – she is totally amazing and can make anything you describe to her. The easiest thing is to give her an item of clothing to copy and some new material bought from Fabric Wonderland and she will make it up for you in a matter of days. So, Judy,  you don’t need to pack loads of clothes , just some favourites and you can have new ones made. When I collected my first outfit I took a drawing of a dress I would like made and some material.  She took measurements and  said it would be ‘no problem!’ So I’m looking forward to seeing the result.

Don't forget the Spring Equinox at weekend, when the day is the same length as the night. The dark winter is over and it's time to spring clean our lives!! Lots of Love, Txxxx 

    

Some notes about work...

I thought I’d better tell you a bit about the work I’m doing whilst I’m here because some people who are thinking of volunteering for VSO may think it’s all about moto – riding (it is , of course!) But why do I take all these crazy rides? No! Not just for the fun of it, but so that I can visit schools and see what support Judy and I can give. I’m developing a strategic plan for the next two terms. The academic year here runs from Jan to end of October, teachers take part in training in November, so really the year ends in November.

I have visited several schools which are very remote, but today I visited a school in Muhanga Town where I live and I was very excited because in the Nursery class (3-5year olds) there were pictures and objects around the room which the children had made, the desks were arranged in a little semi circle with a space in the middle where children could take part in active things. The children were so happy, relaxed and smiley, singing and clapping rhythms to learn counting. The teachers were also happy and relaxed, which is brilliant because sometimes teachers are bored and demoralised.  I can’t do anything about teachers’  pay (which is abysmal) but I was thinking I could help with job satisfaction and these teachers today proved that if they are interested and enjoying what they are doing it not only benefits the children but them as well. I was very encouraged because last week I went to a school where the nursery classroom was very dark and dismal with earth floors and the children were all sitting in rows silently!  (I can’t see that happening in the UK) I want to be able to set up a system where good practice can be shared.

Another school story – When students get to Senior  School one of the subjects they are taught  is Computer Studies, but as you will guess they often don’t have computers – more than that there is no electricity anywhere near the school or village. So the teachers have an ingenious wooden keyboard which they can use to teach students ‘If you ever get the chance to use a computer, this is what you can do.’ I’ll be fascinated to know if this teaching method works. Some schools have classes at weekend and the school I visited last week has an arrangement with a school where there is electricity – they take their students down to that school on Saturdays and Sundays – (Saturdays for the Catholic children and Sunday for the Seventh Day Adventist children)  - all this on top a full weeks work and looking after a family, often walking miles to work and home again. I am in awe at the determination to achieve a better life.

Just one last thing on teachers for the time being – there was a really good teacher of languages at a local school who wanted to continue his studies and because teacher’s pay is so bad he packed in his job and got himself a moto because he can earn more money that way.  At the moment I am waiting for him to pick me up and take me to a meeting of headteachers this afternoon. But I feel a little guilty that I should be encouraging him in this way instead of encouraging him to go back to the classroom – but he has got a lovely new bike with brilliant suspension and brand new tyres with tread!!!

Sending my love to you all on the wings of the swallows who will be leaving soon to come to you. Look out for them in May, Tricia xxxx

Bald as a coot

OK, so this is the last moto story for a while, I promise, otherwise you’ll think nothing else happens in Rwanda!

This week has had its ups and downs – and many of them – mainly hills and valleys, twists and turns, highs and lows – whatever description you wish to use – life is never straight forward here! Following my abortive moto trip last week I decided to do a shorter distance this week – a 1 ½ hour journey instead of 4 (NEVER believe Rwandans when they give you an estimated time!) I was going to visit schools in another sector of my district which is fairly remote but not as remote as last week’s –( It wasn’t necessary to stay overnight) The driver had been booked by the headteacher who had invited me so I didn’t know him.

Fairly soon we were off the tarmac and onto the dirt track. We’d been progressing nicely when the driver began looking down at the wheels; he pulled over – flat tyre! Ok, so we get off, he makes noises, says something to me and walks off back the way we came. I’m standing there (seemingly in the middle of nowhere, although people are never far away in Rwanda) watching this young fella receding into the distance – I look down at the tyre – bald as a coot!!! I decided not to think about it.

After attempting conversation with one or two locals who came along exchanging many smiles and looks of sympathy the mobile repair man’s ‘van’ turned up with my driver on the back. (See photo) I must say, it was very efficient service and just as good as the RAC. The puncture was repaired and we were off again. The rest of the journey was spent checking the tyre every now and then and negotiating road works. I wish I could take photos so that you could see the amazing building of roads (not tarmac, but basic road construction) that is going on in the rural areas. As I have said some of the areas are very difficult to get to but there must be government scheme to improve access. In order to widen the roads the men and women are literally digging out whole hillsides by hand. The earth is moved from one side of the road (the hill side) to the other side of the road (the precipice side) by people using agricultural tools. They also dig drainage channels and line them with broken rock and cement. Very rarely, you might see a big bulldozer moving rocks and I also saw one ‘rock crushing machine’ (sorry chaps, don’t know what it’s called but it has like a big arm which crashes down onto the rock and splits it) The rest of the time everything is done by human beings using rudimentary hand tools. So many people working together to improve their situation.

The Repair Man's van

As you can guess by this time the journey time had doubled in length, but hey ho! I arrived safely.

I had a great day – probably the most satisfying day I’ve had so far in my work. I had been invited by the headteachers in the sector and they were very keen to improve their schools and work together to help each other. One of the challenges is actually knowing where the schools are and the first thing I did when I started work was to draw an outline map of my district on a rice sack (see a previous blog photo), but now I want to know where the schools are in relation to each other so that I can plan my visits – no such map exists so I’m making my own! I take the rice map off my office wall and take it with me whenever I go out. When I showed the headteachers and asked them to help they were very excited and set to work discussing the position of their schools in relation to each other and very soon began plotting them on the map. The main outcome of the day is a plan of action for this sector which will happen over the next two terms – so something concrete at last!

Now, because I had spent far more time at the school than expected we were later setting off back home and I think my young driver must’ve had a hot date that evening because we took a lot of short cuts across country!!! Up and down little goat tracks, through building sites, along back streets and alleys, we came out into a market square and he stopped to chat to some other moto drivers and took on board a jerry can which, at first, I thought was full of petrol, but thankfully, later, I realized it was empty. When we got back to the tarmac he dropped the jerry can off at the petrol station and presumably picked it up full of petrol on his way back to the village. That is how they transport petrol to the remote places.

So, that’s the last of my moto stories – for now! Because I have some really exciting news!

In April I am being joined by a new volunteer called Judy who will be a ‘Basic Methodology Trainer’ (BMT, or BLT as I keep thinking of those lovely sandwiches whenever I use the acronym BMT – I don’t know why – it’s just the way my brain works!! – creatively! – oh must be careful not to put Judy off before she even gets on the plane! Ha ha!)

It’s going to be great having someone to work with and we can be far more effective together. So, Judy, I just need to make sure you have what you need for excursions to school – not work stuff just stuff to survive! Most importantly – have you got your VSO helmet for motorbike rides – absolutely vital – VSO pay for it – if they haven’t got you one yet, get onto them as soon as possible. And practice wearing it at home or when you’re out clubbing – it’s your choice! (See previous blog posts) I say practice wearing because it is heavy. (I may end up with enormous neck muscles by the time I go home!) I managed to get mine from a friendly bike shop who gave it me for half price when I explained what I was doing – it was last year’s stock and the designs had changed. Also for riding the bikes – lightweight waterproof trousers and jacket – there is a spare set in the office but it is quite large – I don’t know what size you are. My jacket is just a cheap fold away from Rochdale market – it does the job but I may need to ask my friend to bring me another!! I have considered asking my friend to bring me some cheap leather gloves (just little ordinary ones) because my hands did get badly grazed on that 5 hour journey – but don’t go spending loads a cash. A waterproof liner for a lightweight back pack is essential - a back pack with a waist belt is also useful. My daughter gave me one of those horrible waist pouch/ bum belt thingies before I came away and at home I wouldn’t be seen dead in it, but here it is GREAT – your phone/ coin purse is secure but easily accessible (Thanks Sara, you’re an angel, so are you Nay, oh and you John!!) Another essential to take on journeys is an ‘emergency toilet kit’ – comprising a small plastic bag (difficult to get here) with hand gel, toilet paper and anything else you may need – (no I don’t mean toothbrush) Before I came I paid a visit to TJ Hughes and bought small bottles of hand gel – 3 for £1 – I bought about £5 worth and have still got plenty left. Seal the bottles with sellotape before you put them in your suitcase though.

I think that’s all for now – this blog has been rather long – please, please comment so that I know someone is reading . Enjoy the lovely springtime – my favourite season. T xxxxx

My first fall... well, slide really!

I tried to get to Nyabinoni this week and failed! I had 5 hour journey for nothing – except the experience of falling off the bike into the mud for the first time AND hailstones which felt like god throwing medicine balls at us! We were ‘bitten by ice’ as Charles said. He was mortified when I fell off and got covered in mud and later on as the rain stopped he found a water tap and literally poured water all over me and rubbed all the mud away – fortunately I proved that my waterproofs are, indeed, waterproof!

My plan was to give a presentation at the district headteachers meeting and travel up to the north of my district in the afternoon, arriving about 4pm, then spend the rest of the week there, visiting schools. My colleague had gone up the day before and we would return together on Friday. I have a great moto driver called Charles and he is safe and lovely!

I gave the presentation and left the meeting early. I had a heavy back pack because I was staying over, needed my netbook, work things etc. We set off, we left the tarmac road after an hour which meant at least 3 hours on dirt tracks – it is like scrambling rather than motorbike riding. An hour later the wind blew up (I’m beginning to know the signs!) – a warm wild wind – we put on all our waterproofs, then the rain started - it lashed down, but not just rain – ice balls!!! We were pelted by ice balls – I have the bruises to prove it. We needed some place to shelter , the track was becoming very slippy and dangerous. We pulled into a little sheltered place where there were other people. The local people told us that the road was blocked up ahead and it was not possible to go any further – I phoned my colleague who confirmed that the rain had been very heavy and it was bitterly cold – not the picture we have of Africa is it?! So we decided we should turn round and go back. The rain had stopped by this time. The journey along the track back to the tarmac took us two hours – it was extremely muddy in places and I had to get off and walk,(my preference by this time!) I fell off once but it was a gentle slide off into soft,wet mud rather than a ‘thrown off’ situation. Charles was mortified!

We continued on our way slipping and sliding and stopped at a water tap – Charles literally washed me down from head to foot!! – he was pouring water all over me and rubbing off the mud with is hands! By this time my bag was twice as heavy because of all the water he poured over it! I was aching all over and my back was so sore and stiff with carrying that weight – lesson – even if you’re staying overnight don’t bother taking anything – seriously I’m not going to take spare clothes or anything next time- just soap and toothbrush! We arrived back at the tarmac road and we were both relieved – it was another hour before we got home. We had set off at 12.30 and arrived back at 5.30 and basically got nowhere!

Oh well! Just another day in Rwanda

The next day was bright and clear and the sunset glorious.

Love to you all. Tx

A very special visit.....

I have just returned from an amazing trip which I feel privileged to have been part of (bad English, I know but I don’t care!!). My very good friend from Rochdale (Fidele) and his lovely wife came to visit Fidele’s home village where he lived happily as a little boy, with his family and friends. As we journeyed he told us of how he and his brother would walk the hillsides looking after the animals, and playing boy’s tricks. Those boys knew every nook and cranny of that lush mountainous terrain. Later on they went to school and studied hard, but tragically the family were separated for many years. In a wonderful turn of events, Fidele was re- united with some of his family last year and made his first visit home. When he left, he promised to return with his wife.

In the photos you will see the boat we travelled on and how excited everyone was to be seeing their family and friends again. We set out onto the beautiful Lake Kivu and all went well – until the storm blew in!! The waves got higher and higher and the rain lashed down – we made very slow progress and at one point decided to pull ashore to have a break and to pray against the waves – if you haven’t heard Africans pray... I tell you I would take notice if I had been those waves!!!

So, back into the boat and out onto the choppy water again.... singing, singing, and singing!! - singing our way to the shore – not only singing but clapping, whistling, beating the sides of the boat – and then we were in sight of the village – we saw people standing at the top of the mountain waiting for us!

...they had been waiting for hours – patiently praying and hoping we would get there. As we drew nearer we could see children running down the ,mountainside towards the watchers on the beach – we could hear their singing and clapping and the beating of a drum – they were dancing and running, jumping up and down – calling Fidele home....Then we were enveloped in welcomes and hugs and tears of joy!

We were led up the hill to see the home where Fidele and his brothers and sisters grew up and the small coffee plantation which his grandfather bought for him as a present. Further up the hill we came to the church where a wonderful feast was laid out for us. After our meal we were treated to the singing and dancing from 3 choirs from all the churches around.

Later on; as it began to get dark, the people gathered to receive clothes that had been sent by people in churches in Rochdale… six suitcases full in all. And then, children were wandering around with their new t-shirts, trousers, dresses and anything you can think of!

I began to be concerned that we would be travelling home on the lake in the dark (at least a two hour journey) and wondered if the boat had a light – I asked the boatman. His reply:

‘No we don’t need a light, we’ll be fine’!?!

... And we were!

Travelling home in the dark with only a few fireflies for company the lake was peaceful and still. The night was calm and as we drew into the harbour the full moon shone down on us in all its glory!

Taking the goat for a walk?

These 2 photos were taken just outside my front gate. There is a lot of livestock wandering about here; including chickens, goats, cows and turkeys. Sometimes I see a man or a boy taking the goat for a walk on a lead, just like a dog...where are they going?? Are they going to find more grass to eat or are they going to be made into goat brochettes?? I just don't know!!

Like so many things here in this world in which I have found myself...

I don’t know what is going on half of the time! Sitting on a bus, waiting to go, the bus is full what are we waiting for? (don’t know!) people start making comments and chatting in Kinyarwanda... what’s going on (haven’t got a clue!) just sit and wait...all will be revealed! The bus starts off very, very slowly – pulls out into the carriageway then back in again. (what’s going on? Don’t know) Motorbike pulls up...passenger gets off...jumps on bus... ok we’re off! *tugende!* See – all will be revealed in good time!

One thing’s for sure you mustn’t be in a hurry and you must be able to accept that you won’t understand what is happening. This weekend I went to visit some friends in a different part of Rwanda. I travelled into Kigali on the bus (this journey is becoming familiar now), went to the VSO office – got lost – asked a friendly moto driver – got found again – collected some books to read – took a moto into city centre – booked into a room for the night – met up with Rachael – went to Heaven –( a wonderful restaurant in Kigali centre) Coming out at the end of a lovely meal we were overtaken by a raincloud and the storm broke – we were soaked to the skin within one minute – I kid you not!! We were screaming with laughter! Then a car pulled up and a perfect stranger offered us shelter and a lift – so we got into this car with a strange man – something we would NEVER do at home but which here seems perfectly safe and natural. He gave us a lift to our rooms and we left him with a very wet back seat and many thanks...‘Muracose Charne’

I’ll be so happy to start my Kinyarwanda lessons tomorrow!

Love to everyone and let me know when the snowdrops and daffs start showing through xxxx

Beginning to realise

Hi everyone, I’m beginning to realise that I am living in Africa! It may seem obvious to you, but to me it has seemed unreal for most of the time.

I am getting into some sort of routine so I’m sure that is helping to makes things more solid. I wake with the sun at 6am, wash, dress, breakfast and leave for work.  By 6 .45 I am walking down to work along the main road, along with many other people – one of the really nice things about living here is that so few people have cars which means that you get to meet and greet people on the street – it is a social highlight!

Last week I spent most of my time inputting data and teaching myself how to use Excel Spreadsheets – a boring job but it has to be done. My reward for all those hours (and more to come , not finished yet) was being able to provide my boss with information that he required at two minutes notice. This week I am visiting four schools with another volunteer who has been here a long time and is going home in April, so I need to make the most of his knowledge and experience.

As I walk home, exhausted, I meet friendly faces and smiles all the time. Usually,  the children who live close by come to welcome me home, with arms outstretched for a hug. It is a delightful welcome mixed with sadness for the poverty in which they live. Their ingenuity in providing toys for themselves is boundless! Old bicycle tyres and a stick, paper helicopters, amazingly intricate wire cars with plastic lid wheels and footballs!!!???? Footballs made out of anything they can get their hands on – bits of netting stuffed with banana leaves, plastic bags filled with rubbish and wrapped around with cloth – the strips of cloth unfurling as the ball is kicked through the air and along the ground. Oh the excitement and joy of playing bare footed football !

I am including this photo in the blog this week for those who work in schools in the UK and may have seen a Peace Pole in the school garden. This is an international movement involving children and schools all over the world. I was thrilled to see this one in the garden of the Catholic school I visited today. It is a wonderful school founded by Pope John Paul to educate children from poorer families - the facilities are excellent and the staff team are wonderful. there is a Primary section and a Secondary section. Many of the children live in the 'Family Dormitories' and each has a House Mother. Children from the local area also attend the school, so that there is a good mixture and so that the school can serve the local community as well.

Rice sacks

Today I have made my first rice sack visual aid and it’s going in my office.

As you can imagine there is a shortage of resources here so teachers are very imaginative and use whatever they can find. There is an abundance of rice sacks and if you can get hold of waterproof marker pens many fabulous creations can be made. Mine is not sooo fabulous but it will be very useful. It is a simple plan of the district showing the 12 sectors. I will put it in the office wall with the names of each of the schools in the sector so that I can get an idea of their geographical location. I have also started the number crunching so that I can decide where to focus my work. Shall I go for the poorest performing sectors or shall I look for the most enthusiastic headteachers who I may be able to train up to become trainers themselves? I will need to think and plan carefully - but I do have 2 years to implement a plan so that’s good.

On Friday I went on my first visit to a school, riding on the back of a motorbike. Another volunteer took me to visit one of her schools so that I would get an idea of what to expect - the schools are pretty much the same as in Bangladesh and in Congo, but I was interested in the approach that was taken by the volunteer. There are so many needs that we have to be very focused on what our actual task is, so sometimes we need to be firm, but friendly.