I woke up early this morning to the sounds of Rwanda gradually filtering into my bedroom window. It started with the roosters and the sounds of the neighbours talking. I live at the top of a hill so there is not much traffic going infront of the house but the sound of the traffic below creates a background humming with the occasional beep of a horn or rattling of a larger truck. All of this got loud enough that I couldn't fall back asleep without the help of my ipod and then of course I over slept and missed church. When I woke for the second time it was quiet again; people are out at church so there is less talking and the roosters have mostly gone quiet. The traffic is still in the background but I can also hear the singing of a local church somewhere down the hill and the birds. It is mostly sunny this morning, a nice break since it has been cloudy since I got here and has rained each night. I have seen a couple weaver birds in the yard, where I'm sitting to write this, but I haven't found their nest yet. Weaver birds build their nests upside down so that the opening points towards the ground and they are fasinating to watch. Unfortunately the silly birds have a habit of picking the weakest branches to hold their heavy nests so they often have to build at least 2 before they build one that can hold their eggs.
I am living with my friend Dora, who I met last time I lived here in Kigali. She and our other housemate Maddy met me at the airport and it was like I saw her last month instead of three years ago. She has hardly changed at all! My plane landed in the pouring rain which makes things interesting since Kigali airport does not have typical gates - you get out onto the tarmac and walk over to the main building. I could tell from the air, even in the dark and in the rain that Kigali had grown since I was last here. There were a lot more houses lite up with electricity and many of the main roads were outlined by street lamps. I've only been here less than 48 hrs but it has been interesting to see all the ways the city has changed. A few new roundabouts, newly paved roads, new modern buildings built with glass and steel instead of bricks. But it is still Kigali with people selling airtime on all the busy corners, motos buzzing between traffic and bikes being pushed up hills ladden with jerry cans or bananas.
Yesterday morning Maddy and I went into town. First we went to the Africa Bagel Coop which is new since I was here last. It is in a house off the main road that leads out of the city towards Nyamata, where I worked with World Vision. Some things on the road haven't changed like the house with disny characters painted on it and the market there, but other have like a new clinic and several new buildings. Anyway, ABC as it is called, is a really cute sort of cafe bakery that sells bagels and on saturdays they have donuts. They also have tortilla chips but since I slept in they were all sold out of those by the time we got there. This will probably become a saturday tradition, one I will be looking forward too.
We got a ride to ABC with Serge and the kids, and it was so great to see them. Serge is one of my favourite people in Rwanda and I had fun playing red light, green light with Isabella and chasing Bennie around to keep him out of mischief. When I was here last Prince had just turned 10, Isabella had her first birthday and Bennie wasn't born yet. After donuts and coffee Serge dropped Maddy and I at kisementi (I can never spell these things correctly) near where they live and we got a motto into town.
Some of you may not realize what a big deal this is. My last time on a motorcycle was here in Kigali, two weeks before I left. It did not end well. You can read about it if you like and if I could remember how to link past posts I would do that here. For now you'll just have to look it up on the side, 'they say you life flashes before your eyes'. So needless to say, I was not planning on getting on a motto right away, if ever on this trip. But it was going to rain and Maddy needed to get to town before her bank closed (fail. banks here close when they feel like it.)so I got on a motto. And prayed the whole way. I asked my driver to go slowly and he did, arriving a full five minutes after Maddy's bike did. But I didn't die and we took mottos home as well, again in order to beat the rain. It is nice to be back!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Welcome (Back) to My Blog
And we're off again! I'm leaving today to go to Rwanda to do my field research for my M.A. thesis. I thought about starting a whole new blog for this trip, but I like this one. So I'm just adding to it. I really liked recording my experiences on past trips so I hope to keep up with blogging on this trip too. I'll post stories of my adventures and the people I meet and hopefully (internet speed allowing) post pictures too. Stay tuned!
Friday, May 07, 2010
A new journey in an unexpected direction
I have generally been failing at keeping this blog upto date but in general life hasn't seemed that interesting. In the last couple of weeks however, a couple of really good things have happened.
I applied for Master's programs back in January. The process seemed never ended and some of the paperwork was ridiculous in length but I finally got four applications done and on their way. Then it was the waiting game. I had gotten the impression that I should hear back from all the schools by the end of March. At the beginning of the month I got an email from Queen's to let me know I had not been accepted. I didn't even rate an actual letter. This was actually my 4th choice school since I found out the faculty member I wanted to work with was actually going to be on Sabbatical for the majority the time I would be there, so it wasn't the end of the world. Even though I didn't even really want to go there, not getting in had an impact on my confidence. "If I can't even get into my fourth choice school, how am I supposed to get into my first choice?" Most days I was optimistic but others it was a bit of a battle to ignore those doubts.
In Janurary and February I had done some short term work for WV in Mississauga while a coworker was recovering from surgery. While I was there another team approached me with the possibility of doing some work for them. I very enthusiastically said I was interested in the work but it took months to get everything approved and the paperwork signed. Finally I started back at WV at the end of April, this time with the humanitarian and emergencies department. I am loving being back at work, although it is a part time and short term contract. So far I've been working 3-4 days a week but as I catch up on everything that needs to be done it'll gradually go down to 2 days a week. A lot of the work so far has been tacking budgets and funding which involves a lot of staring at spreadsheets and building spreadsheets which are not my favourite activities (Excel is not my friend) but I'm learning a lot and enjoying my coworkers and the general energy of being back.
I had been getting a little frustrated through the months of march and april as discussions about my job were moving at a snails pace and I still hadn't heard from three of my schools. Finally I got an acceptance letter from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, one of my first choice schools. Then, on the same day that my job at WV was confirmed and was set to start the next day, I got a phone call from York to let me know I has also been accepted there. Through out the application process and in the time since my actual first choice had changed so many times I wasn't even sure anymore which program I wanted to go to the most. St Mary's and York were essentially tied for first choice and now I had to choose between them.
It was surprising easy to make the decision. I had the deadline of today to make the decision and I looked a lot at the faculty, the program, the finances and talked to some of my old professors and my coworkers. In the end though, there wasn't really much debate in my mind and I found myself instinctually leaning one way more than the other.
I was surprised at the direction though. I thought I wanted to do something different - try going to a larger, more widely known school. I was a little tired of explaining about where I had gone for my undergrad since CMU is such a small and unknown school. While I was waiting for word from the schools I honestly thought that if I got into York it would be a no-brainer. I would go there. I even told that to several of my friends. Imagine my surprise when I noticed myself defending SMU as a good choice in conversation with friends and coworkers. The cons involved in going to York seemed to outway the pros in my mind and the appeal of Halifax and SMU seemed so obvious to me. I guess once again my own plans have been subtely co-opeted by God and He is taking me somewhere else. I'm excited to see where it leads, but the journey begins again in September when I start my Master's in International Development at Saint Mary's University in Halifax.
I applied for Master's programs back in January. The process seemed never ended and some of the paperwork was ridiculous in length but I finally got four applications done and on their way. Then it was the waiting game. I had gotten the impression that I should hear back from all the schools by the end of March. At the beginning of the month I got an email from Queen's to let me know I had not been accepted. I didn't even rate an actual letter. This was actually my 4th choice school since I found out the faculty member I wanted to work with was actually going to be on Sabbatical for the majority the time I would be there, so it wasn't the end of the world. Even though I didn't even really want to go there, not getting in had an impact on my confidence. "If I can't even get into my fourth choice school, how am I supposed to get into my first choice?" Most days I was optimistic but others it was a bit of a battle to ignore those doubts.
In Janurary and February I had done some short term work for WV in Mississauga while a coworker was recovering from surgery. While I was there another team approached me with the possibility of doing some work for them. I very enthusiastically said I was interested in the work but it took months to get everything approved and the paperwork signed. Finally I started back at WV at the end of April, this time with the humanitarian and emergencies department. I am loving being back at work, although it is a part time and short term contract. So far I've been working 3-4 days a week but as I catch up on everything that needs to be done it'll gradually go down to 2 days a week. A lot of the work so far has been tacking budgets and funding which involves a lot of staring at spreadsheets and building spreadsheets which are not my favourite activities (Excel is not my friend) but I'm learning a lot and enjoying my coworkers and the general energy of being back.
I had been getting a little frustrated through the months of march and april as discussions about my job were moving at a snails pace and I still hadn't heard from three of my schools. Finally I got an acceptance letter from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, one of my first choice schools. Then, on the same day that my job at WV was confirmed and was set to start the next day, I got a phone call from York to let me know I has also been accepted there. Through out the application process and in the time since my actual first choice had changed so many times I wasn't even sure anymore which program I wanted to go to the most. St Mary's and York were essentially tied for first choice and now I had to choose between them.
It was surprising easy to make the decision. I had the deadline of today to make the decision and I looked a lot at the faculty, the program, the finances and talked to some of my old professors and my coworkers. In the end though, there wasn't really much debate in my mind and I found myself instinctually leaning one way more than the other.
I was surprised at the direction though. I thought I wanted to do something different - try going to a larger, more widely known school. I was a little tired of explaining about where I had gone for my undergrad since CMU is such a small and unknown school. While I was waiting for word from the schools I honestly thought that if I got into York it would be a no-brainer. I would go there. I even told that to several of my friends. Imagine my surprise when I noticed myself defending SMU as a good choice in conversation with friends and coworkers. The cons involved in going to York seemed to outway the pros in my mind and the appeal of Halifax and SMU seemed so obvious to me. I guess once again my own plans have been subtely co-opeted by God and He is taking me somewhere else. I'm excited to see where it leads, but the journey begins again in September when I start my Master's in International Development at Saint Mary's University in Halifax.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
O Canada!
It is hard to believe that it’s over. The Olympic games are done. As I write this the Closing Ceremonies will start in a little over an hour and all the events are over. It has been amazing to watch. I have said before that I love the winter Olympics. That love has grown even more over the past 17 days. There is something about the games that brings out so much emotion and excitement and having them here in Canada, breaking the record for the most gold medals ever won by a country and of course winning the gold in both men’s and women’s hockey, has made them even better.
I have always been proud of being Canadian, but often that pride and our identity has been defined in relation to our neighbours to the South. During these games you began to see that change, that we were able to be proud as Canadians, full stop. Of course beating the Americans here and there didn’t hurt. Hearing crowds of thousands of people sing the national anthem reviving our collective patriotism. People in coffee shops and pubs cheering together over curling matches. The flag waving in the street and records being broken. But it isn’t just the medals that make the Olympics so great. Some of my favourite moments do have a medal attached to them, but it is more than just the medals.
Charles Hamlin and Marianne St Gelais:
She won a silver medal on her birthday and he leaves the games with two gold medals, but what I loved about these two is the way they cheered each other on. The footage of them, especially her, reacting as the other won their races has been played over and over again but there is such genuine joy there that you can’t help but cheer along with them.
Alexandre Bilideau:
I watched his race live and cheered loudly in my living room when he won. The first gold medal at home won by a young, humble and genuinely nice guy. The footage of him and his brother may have been over played and you cynics may say it was cheesy or gimmicky but it pulls at your heart and I still find it inspirational.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir:
I have long been a fan of figure skating, growing up watching all the greats. These two are so much fun to watch. I love the relationship they have with their training mates, and competition, the American team who won silver. Their relationship is fun to observe and you can tell they have been skating together from the time they were children. Their gold medal was well deserved, but my favourite moment was when Scott turned to Tessa and told her they had come in second – and for a moment she believed him. I also loved Scott’s older brothers watching in the crowd, in tears and then lifting him up from the stands in a hug.
And of course, there’s hockey. I still have memories of the wins in 2002. In case there was any doubt, it’s our game. I enjoy hockey, though I am not a die hard fan. During the Olympics however, I become very intense about our country’s #1 game, in case anyone missed my facebook statuses. I missed the women’s gold medal game because of work and I missed one of the men’s games, also because of work, but for the most part if we were on the ice, I was watching and cheering. The final game had me stressed out but of course we won. Was there ever any doubt? :)
I have always been proud of being Canadian, but often that pride and our identity has been defined in relation to our neighbours to the South. During these games you began to see that change, that we were able to be proud as Canadians, full stop. Of course beating the Americans here and there didn’t hurt. Hearing crowds of thousands of people sing the national anthem reviving our collective patriotism. People in coffee shops and pubs cheering together over curling matches. The flag waving in the street and records being broken. But it isn’t just the medals that make the Olympics so great. Some of my favourite moments do have a medal attached to them, but it is more than just the medals.
Charles Hamlin and Marianne St Gelais:
She won a silver medal on her birthday and he leaves the games with two gold medals, but what I loved about these two is the way they cheered each other on. The footage of them, especially her, reacting as the other won their races has been played over and over again but there is such genuine joy there that you can’t help but cheer along with them.
Alexandre Bilideau:
I watched his race live and cheered loudly in my living room when he won. The first gold medal at home won by a young, humble and genuinely nice guy. The footage of him and his brother may have been over played and you cynics may say it was cheesy or gimmicky but it pulls at your heart and I still find it inspirational.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir:
I have long been a fan of figure skating, growing up watching all the greats. These two are so much fun to watch. I love the relationship they have with their training mates, and competition, the American team who won silver. Their relationship is fun to observe and you can tell they have been skating together from the time they were children. Their gold medal was well deserved, but my favourite moment was when Scott turned to Tessa and told her they had come in second – and for a moment she believed him. I also loved Scott’s older brothers watching in the crowd, in tears and then lifting him up from the stands in a hug.
And of course, there’s hockey. I still have memories of the wins in 2002. In case there was any doubt, it’s our game. I enjoy hockey, though I am not a die hard fan. During the Olympics however, I become very intense about our country’s #1 game, in case anyone missed my facebook statuses. I missed the women’s gold medal game because of work and I missed one of the men’s games, also because of work, but for the most part if we were on the ice, I was watching and cheering. The final game had me stressed out but of course we won. Was there ever any doubt? :)
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