Another week flies by… as I write from my internet perch (usually a five-bar zone!) on the verandah outside my bedroom, the dawn chorus (incredible birds here) has begun. The sky has turned from pinky to brilliant orange and the noises of our bucolic neighbourhood begin. It is interesting that crowing roosters seem to be a rarity. We are getting a bit more settled into the new residence and getting ‘systems’ organized. With eight of us living here now, it’s wonderful to gather around a meal at the end of the day.
One of the highlights of this week has been helping getting a Mammas’ weekly support group launched. Alli and I have been planning this, with a few obstacles, such as finding an available translator/facilitator. Amazingly, we had Anathalie, a young woman of 28 with good English skills and a degree in clinical psychology, appear on our horizon. The first two-hour session was held on the farm platform and proved to be extremely moving for all of us. Here are some of their testimonials during the lunch afterwards:
"This is the first time in my life that anyone
has ever cared to ask how I am."
"It touches my heart, my heart is clear. To have
people care for me and others makes me feel good."
has ever cared to ask how I am."
"It touches my heart, my heart is clear. To have
people care for me and others makes me feel good."
"When I first came here I did not have peace, I felt I was
the poorest. But then I hear that there are many problems
with people and we can talk about them, it gives me peace."
"We did not know what to expect today but we trust you
because you want to help our children… so we came."
the poorest. But then I hear that there are many problems
with people and we can talk about them, it gives me peace."
"We did not know what to expect today but we trust you
because you want to help our children… so we came."
Next week will be the first week of GHI’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Crates will be filled from produce from the GHI gardens and surplus from our local cooperatives to supply US Embassy staff who do not want to go the open air markets or the slick Nakumatt supermarket. It should be a win-win-win situation.
Some random observations:
- The horrors of the genocide are still very fresh in peoples’ psyches and easily triggered. (This reads like such a glib statement, but I can’t even begin to write about their trauma.)
- Two people on staff have shared part of their experiences. It is just impossible to fathom the impact of 800,000 people being murdered in four months in this tiny country. This week, one of the GHI staff, bumped into a friend in town who he thought had been killed. Their reunion after 17 years moved everyone around to tears.
- Plastic bags are illegal here. This is announced on the plane prior to arrival into Kigali, “All purchases from Duty Free have to be put into carry-on baggage and plastic bags left on the aircraft.” It is so refreshing to see MUCH less litter about as a result.
- President Kagame drives himself in a black Suburban with tinted windows with four vehicles accompanying him (two front and back). Apparently he likes to be in control at all times. Sightings are frequent.
- Thatch roofs have been outlawed within the last year and tin has been mandated.
- The news of the advancements with the malaria vaccine were met with great cheers, a moment to remember.
Helen
Helen in her 'internet perch'
GHI Staff
GHI gardens
Mamma group
Women on platform
Women in field
Aline & Cedric
Solange, Helen and Brad
Thanks to Jay Simpson for two photos; one of the women
on the platform and the two women talking in the grass.
on the platform and the two women talking in the grass.
1 comment:
It's so great to hear about your first impressions! I look forward to reading more. Thinking of you from the (American) West Coast.
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