buhoro buhoro

Well, I've been here for three weeks now and totally still have yet to figure out all the things I should be doing ;) I miss my fellow PCVs soo much! But we will reunite soon. Last week went by so quickly. I've started teaching English and life skills at a secondary school. It is seriously the highlight of my week! I have 40 students...many of whom are my age. Last week I taught them the "Where is Thumbkin?" song we learned in training. I also got them to listen to the Beatles' "Yesterday" and figure out what it meant (oh my kids are totally going to be Beatles and Bob Dylan experts by the end of two years)....but well, the speakers didn't work. So, I had to sing the Beatles out loud (bah to poor singing abilities). Anyways, they loved the lesson. I told them that they could go and NO ONE moved. They wanted to keep going and keep learning. I was seriously impressed by them! So, we kept going....I asked them what they wanted to learn about in class. One boy raised his hand and said, "gender." I was taken aback a little bit. He explained (and was echoed by several others) that they wanted to learn about gender roles and female empowerment issues. I was so impressed by them! So, we're going to start talking about those topics soon.

Sidenote: my house is invaded by ANTS! Everywhere! They got the bread and the precious cheese that I had. So if anyone has suggestions on how to get rid of them without chemical (since where the heck would I get that?) keep me posted! Other than that, not too many other things to talk about. Murekatete is said 50 million times a day...well probably at least 100. I'm getting to be known around here....not muzungu girl but by my name (a step!) Now, I just have to figure out how to communicate more than just the basics. Some kids came by on Saturday and we drew pictures and sang songs. If anyone feels like sending me art supplies, we will most def. use them!  

Oh! And watched the Barcelona v. Chelsea game here. There are tons of Barcelona fans! We went to a place where you only had to pay 100 and then watch it on the big screen. So, there I was, the only girl surrounded by about 400 guys watching this thrilling and insane game...goal in the 92nd minute! Ridonculous! Anyways, lots of fun and made a few new friends. 

Au Bientot

Mr. Taylor Warren---Official Peace Corps volunteer

Mr. Taylor Warren, Peace Corps Volunteer

 

Ya, um that’s what my official PC invitation letter said. Ha! Well, I didn’t realize that Peace Corps thought I was a man….yikes. Is it my hair? Or the way I dress? Do I have a weird manly voice? Ermm……hope not?

 

Ha, anyways, ntakibazo, narasetse. Ubu! Ndi umukorerabushake wa Corps de la Paix! So, excited! Moved already to site and ndishimye cyane! Had meetings with officials here who were very nice and seem to be excited for any kind of project we want to start which is pretty cool! So, yesterday went to three health clinics and a hospital in the region. So good and got to hang out with kids and play games and sing songs (trying to remember Kinyarwanda as much as possible, they were totally testing me on stuff too, which is exactly what I need!). It was so fun. They were at an orphanage in my area (well had to drive far to get there) and they drew me pictures and we all talked about what they wanted to be when they grew up. 2 hours flew by and I really hope that I get to go back again. The girls all wanted to be various things. Teachers, nurses, doctors, and wait for it----one day President of Rwanda! They’re so motivated in their studies and I was so proud to meet them. I hope I can come back and visit them more. They kept saying ejo, ejo! And I couldn’t see them the next day but hopefully soon! I’ll update you on stories about them too…

 

Wait- let me back up----- So, we have two host fams. Which is pretty cool. We got to go to a baptism party for my adorable 7 month old sister. She is sooo cute. Ahmed was able to take some pictures. Anyways, there’s this dance that all the women do that supposedly makes you look cow-like (a good thing ladies----) Anyways, my host mom totally grabbed me up and made me do it. I have no idea how red I got, but I’m sure I did not get to look cow like. You put your arms out and sway a bit and well my sway was more like a What do I do!??!?!?!? The RED muzungu looks like an idiot?! But everyone clapped for me trying, and I totally died laughing too. But it was such a good time (had 3 fantas---so tasty. Tip: if you finish your drink, they will bring you another one, so if anyone goes to a Rwandan party---drink slowly unless you want be like me with 3 fantas---I wanted all of them and they were good but maybe you don’t want that much sugar ;) Anyways, tons of fun though and got to meet more people! Everyone is so impressed that we are at least trying to speak their language (though I’m totally at the stage of butchering it ;) Oh and they love my Rwandan izina, murakoze Kassim. Nitwa Murekatete which means “one to be cherished.” They all seriously crack up when I say Nitwa Taylor cyangwa Murekatete. But that’s what people call me here. Taylor is hard to say so it’s my Rwandan name or umuzungu. I prefer my Rwandan name, so hopefully umuzungu will subside.

 

Also, last night my other host mom had a surprise birthday party. Which I was totally late for. In the field til 6 and then well----yikes. Ok, so I’m pretty tough. But there’s one thing that I just cannot handle. And that is: mice/rats. Ok, they’re gross and I can’t handle it. Bugs any day---whatever. I’ve killed 20 mosquitoes (I also have 22 bites right now---so I think the mosquitoes are winning?), 2 spiders, a big thing that I have no idea what it is, etc. But mice?! I screamed and yelled and said some words I should regret and ended up somehow standing on a chair. I just saw something big move from under my bed. MY BED!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, we don’t know where it went but somehow it came out of my room (so says Ahmed). The theory is that it went under the door of the outside (big gap) so we’ve now duct taped it shut (every future PCV should remember to bring duct tape, it’s important!!). So hopefully no ROUS’s (point if you know what that is).

 

Anyways, the surprise bday part was also tons of fun and got to see their wedding video (adorable) Talked to a couple of PCVs on the phone and then tried to sleep hoping that a rat would not crawl in my hair (it’s on an episode of SATC and has since freaked me out). Update: it didn’t crawl in my hair---but I remain vigilant!

take 2

Sometimes blogs are dumb. And it won't let me copy from word

this is one of those times.,

So........

Having been a muzungu (white person) in Rwanda for 2 months now one would think that I'd be an expert on all things Rwanda. Hahahahaha not even close. Kinyarwanda is seriously one of the most challenging languages to learn. I'm slowly getting the hang of it but it's def. at a snail's pace. I think that once I move to site in a couple of weeks where I'm doing community outreach and teaching health stuff (and english), I think my Kinyarwanda will pick up. 

I feel like so much time has passed since landing in Kigali that night in January. I've made lifelong friends here already. We've all seen each other in various states of sickness as well as language faux pas (darn the difference of one letter changing everything!)

So, what's happened so far? Well, there's too much to say. We've had an earthquake, what? I've traveled around the south and east and Northern provinces (and seen volcanoes in the distance). Hiked in the jungle and saw monkeys (one totally tried to steal my friend's sandwich which is hilarious b/c he LOVES food and wasn't having any of it...) There's so much to say. So apologies right now for being that girl who only tells PC stories for a long time. I live with an LCF (language and Crosscultural facilitator) which is totally cool. I really love her so much and she is so patient with me in my constant fumbling of Kinyafranglish (blend the three languages). 

Two---Yes, ok, so I'm that kid. Who got malaria. For those of you who are linked to this blog by other PCVs in my group, yep that girl who got sick is me! For all you future volunteers, malaria is a scary word to your parents. So, let them just breathe through it. Everyone has different cases of malaria and thankfully mine wasn't that bad (or at least what I think was malaria...the clinic here said it was so we'll just say yego, it was). But mine was like flu-plus and I was extremely tired with a cyclical fever. And my body just hurt. So, that was my happy happy Valentine's Day! Probably one of the most memorable ones so far. But everyone checked on me and were all so sweet (well from what I can actually remember in my feverish haze). So now, some call me malarial and another guy calls me Typhoid Taylor....ni bibi! (no good)

Oh and went to a graduation at a university recently. So cool! it's a big production and we got to sit under some shade (thank goodness b/c my muzungu skin would have burned). They called out all the names of the graduates. Of those who graduated, the majority were men. (there are programs that are trying to get more females to go to university). Graduates were also of varying ages. People don't necessarily go to college directly after secondary school here.

Graduation parties were filled with toasts, speeches, and singing. One of our friends was given a cow for graduation.

For many of you who don't know, cows are a big deal in Rwanda. As part of dowries cows are exchanged between families. The man will give the girl's family cow(s).---in the city in can be substituted for money. But this isn't a requirement by the state or anything to get married. As far as I can tell it's more of a tradition. But I know I'll be going to lots more so keep you posted. 

Language lesson:

Ndi ingaragu----I'm single. Well that's what it was supposed to mean but really it means I'm single and sleep in my bed alone. And is sort of an invitation?! so no wonder everyone laughed at me when I said it at a work MEETING!!!! Bah, I was so embarassed. These are the moments were you think, ok I'll never forget how to say that ever because of this moment. Like the word salt is dangerously close to a not so good word. And "gusura" has two meanings- to visit and to pass gas...and "to read/ to kiss" are gusoma the same word! Oh complicated!

But I do miss everyone back in America and have had serious food cravings---grilled chicken salad, raw veggies, an apple! yumm. and miss LOST (what is happening!?_) and the Office. But anyone feel free to post questions or email me and I'll answer them and post/email back

PS future PCVs

what to pack

If you're like me and were searching blogs for what to pack, here are the things I have found useful so far:

Nalgenes

Chacos (50 Percent discount too)

Books

Laptop 

Good rain jacket

A Watch (majorly important)

Headlamps (so important too)

longer skirts (at least to my knee)

Pictures (should have brought more b/c host fams will want to see your American family)

Headbands girls!

Journal

Pens

Movies

Should have brought a little external hard drive but didn't

so for reals

It's for real. Legitimate. I can't believe this day is here. I'm going away. For quite a long time. On a jet plane, guys. Well, probably not an actual jet plane but a very big one at least. I have thought about this day for quite a long time and now that it is here let me just say:

My bag is overweight

I had to buy toothpaste that I forgot at a nearby 24 place

I have no idea where any of my stuff is in my bag.

So, well prepared as I am, I leave America. It's been an emotional roller coaster and I admit that I broke down a bit today. It's just hard to put into perspective what that speech that you have memorized actually means:

Q Where are you going/Are you scared?/What are you doing?/2 years, wow that's a long time

me: my standard answer..

But once that standard answer becomes reality, my goodness, life as you know it changes. So, all of that came slamming toward me today. Not to mention, lack of food did not help the situation. And today is also my sister's bday (happy birthday Becky!~) and that just reminded me of all of the things I'll miss out on at home. She was showing our nephew where I was going on the globe. And he asked how soon I'd be home. We have a standard of using the number of sleeps to describe how long a certain event is. He started the number at 16 (a large number for any five year old) and we settled in the 700s. So, over 700 sleeps. 700 plus mornings. 700+ fresh starts. 

I will have new adventures and new stories to tell everyone and will try to update as much as possible! The Rwandan ambassador came today and talked to us and left us with the feeling that everyone is excited for us to be there. They have this once monthly day that's a community day where everyone pitches in and does community projects. So cool! I'll def. be participating in this kind of thing. Well, I'm beyond exhausted and need to squeeze in everything and it's mother in my bag. So, I'll post as soon as I can and try to remember all of it. And I'm sure I'll have things to say even from the airport (prob going to be that random girl that gets searched...)

So think good thoughts tomorrow and I'll write soon!~

My first blog...

Wow, doesn't that sound like I'm 6 years old? Yes, I have finally gotten a blog. I know certain friends will be quite proud that I've joined them in their blogging ways. And I will try to do better than Rachel has done with updating her blog ;) I've set this up so I can let everyone know how I am, etc. when I go off to Rwanda for 2 years. Obviously, I know this is a bit early, but I wanted to try to figure this out now and actually get the hang of it before I go. 

I'm off to pre-service training on the 26th of January. And January 28th, barring any hiccups, I'm off to Rwanda as a Community Outreach/HIV/AIDS volunteer. I'll def. be able to explain more of what that means once I get there. I'm either going to end up in a small or medium sized town (once again that'll be defined after I get there)... Anyways, hope all of you keep in touch and I'll post my mailbox information as well as my new cell phone number (skype anyone?) when I get there as well. Happy Christmakkuahwanza!