Umuzungo!! In English – white person!! That is how we are frequently greeted by children yelling after us, Umuzungo, umuzungo!!
I just want to say, sorry for how jumpy this blog might be. Today we really have limited time on the internet so I am quickly writing all my thoughts down.
Hmm where to even start? Well it’s the 19th which marks the 2 month count down for me – crazy! Where did the time go? I feel like just yesterday I was in France. This past week has been hectic, but I have a feeling that is how all of our weeks are going to be like here – and I really don’t mind. I want to experience as much as I can before I go home. We have now started working with a missionary from Germany for 2 days a week named Ingrid. It just helps change up what we do. So our team split up into 2. Half of us went to clean out a “garage” full of wood and the other half of us went to a school to do some painting – and that was me!! So we climbed into a “taxi” - I can’t wait to show you how terrifying this really is, and after changing “taxis” two times were dropped off at the end of a dirt road. We walked along this dirt road for maybe half an hour and when I turned around there was a sea of Rwandans following us, they were intrigued. As we were walking the poverty became worse and worse, where we are staying is definitely an impoverished area, but nothing compared to this. It was like World Vision commercials right before your eyes. We got to the school and the paint for the walls was as thin as water, we had no idea how we were supposed to get colour actually on the walls. Eventually the girls of the team were pulled away by all the wonderful children and we left the men to work (so typical!) we sang and played gamed and just had a great time. None of them spoke French or English so it was a lot of just simply laughing. Then something crazy happened, it was like we were in the middle of a monsoon. It happened within seconds the rain poured down, the streets became empty as they had already begun to flood. You saw people’s houses become destroyed – it was awful. The rain poured and poured down for 30 minutes – It was so loud that you couldn’t even speak to each other, the noise was unbearable. For us we just had to endure it – but it was heartbreaking to know that people then had to rebuild their mud walls of their homes. After this rain storm stopped, we came out of the school house (which was also flooded) and the road was impossible to walk on – but we did. We walked 30 minutes until the closest taxi stand, piled in an when we got to Ingrid’s she had made us coffee and tea and things that were like paradise for us. The next day we once again got to play with the children and it was even better – but we also worked behind the school and made stairs and flattened the land with our picks and hoes. I have never had more blisters, and been so physically exhausted – but it was awesome! It’s funny because the children completely accept us and jump into our laps but the parents just stand there with their mouths wide open for no joke an hour! We can’t wait to strengthen our relationships with them though.
This week we also went to a genocide orphanage – another moment where you did everything you could to hold back the tears. We were told absolutely no pictures, I had no idea what to expect. You have to remember the genocide was in 1994 so these orphans are older, but still orphans and still struggling with their lives. Some of them have lost their whole families, they are injured, they have lost body parts and their emotional wounds are even deeper. You can see the effects of the genocide every where hear, there is such uncertainty, such hurt. In this “orphanage” we sat and stalked with two sisters who had lost their whole family and seen them be decapitated right infront of them. One of the sisters had a scar across from her face from when she was running away. Their story is amazing and so courageous – her sisters were separated when they were running away but found each other in a refugee camp full of thousands– totally God. They then somehow found their aunt – they were only around 4 years old. As our conversations progressed with them we realized how hurt they felt that countries around the world really did abandon them in their time of need. Countries literally turned a blind eye to their suffering even when they sent cried of help to governments. They kept asking us why, and we didn’t know how to respond, they also kept asking us what are we going to do when we get home to tell people about their country and how destroyed it was? We said we would talk about it, but that’s not enough. We all left feeling sick about how us as “First World Nations” didn’t even care when it was going on. I also didn’t know this, but none of the other team members other than Whitney and I (the Canadians) even knew about the genocide before coming to Rwanda. I can’t believe it was not taught about in highschool or anything. I was shocked. Even people from the States had no idea that there even was a genocide and how bad it was. I could keep on going forever but I wont – I must get off the internet. Not this week, but the next we will be working with HIV/AIDS victims for the entire week which will be really interesting.
So many of you e-mailed me and it was so sweet, Im sorry I couldn’t e-mail back, but know that every email brought a huge smile to my face!!
Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
The Land of a Thousand Hills!
Muraho (Hello, in Kinya-Rwanda) from The Land of a Thousand Hills!!! I am here safely and sorry that it has taken so long to write an e-mail. I am currently sitting in a tiny little “internet café”. We are currently in Kigali, the capital, and are in the middle of our second week! Where to even start! We have been so busy, and it has been exhausting but amazing.
Our trip here was smooth and had no problems , our connecting flight from Brussels to Kigali was right on time and when we arrived in Kigali even customs went smoothly PLUS all of our luggage arrived so we were a happy bunch! We were greeted by so many smiles and hugs from total strangers, which blew us away. They immediately took our luggage and made us feel right at home. Each one of the people meeting us had made sure to learn one of our names by a gift for each of us. So sweet!
We drove through Kigali and I was surprised at the well paved roads and decorated roundabouts, but as soon as you leave the center the streets are “typically African” or what I had always imagined. The van has to go so slow because there are so many bumps, well not even bumps, holes in the road! HUGE HOLES. It’s crazy, at times you think that the van is going to tip over completely. We are taken to the base and we find that yes, we actually have beds to sleep in! We were not expecting this! There are four of us in a room, two bunk beds and the beds themselves are huge, you can sleep with stuff on your bed and not even realize it. The mattresses have caused many laughs because they are not your typical mattress, where you chose to sleep the first night is where you will sleep the rest of the month. There is a hole from my body, and they do not pop back over the day. It’s like sleeping in a little nest. They also provided the mosquito nets and sheets, so we feel pampered since we were expecting a floor and a sleeping bag.
So this e-mail isn’t too long I will try to summarize everything that we have been doing. The hardest day for me here was when we went to the Hospital of Kigali, my first reaction was that I was fine, but as we entered rooms of patients to pray for them and give them juice and fruit I could not keep the tears back. The hospitals are dirty, they are packed in rooms – and there was just a terrible sense of sadness that you could feel. I then thought about what it must have been like with the genocide 10 years ago, and the tears came even harder. These poor people just lie there with nothing, there is no cafeteria, there is no waiting area that I air conditioned, the emergency room is just a dirty room at the front of the hospital. It is dusty and there is water all over the floor. I don’t know how else to describe it. We will be going back there once a week, and I’m hoping that we get to make some relationships with the patients and even the doctors.
We are also working with the GBUR, Groupe Biblique Universitaire de Rwanda. It is with them that we have made connections with places like the hospitals, orphanages, families in need etc. On our “family day” Whitney and I went to a young lady named Vanessa’s house. We were taken in their “motor taxis” where they squish as many people in as possible – literally around 25 people in a 12 person van. You have kids sitting on your lap and your arm out the window because it cant actually fit in the van. Kind of scary at first when you don’t understand the language at all, but we survived. Anyways so we get to this ladies house, and it is GORGEOUS. The view itself is just magnificent, and Whitney and I just looked at each other with out mouths hanging open. The front door opens and there are leather couches, a big screen tv, sound system, kitchen table, nice tiled floors – this is nothing like the area we were living in. So we sit down and watch the one channel Rwanda has (seriously) and its in Rwanda, so we don’t understand…and we sit there for 4 hours watching tv…we try to ask them if they have any plans for the day, or if there is a market, but they don’t understand us so we shrugged our shoulders. When I asked to go to the bathroom I was surprised because basically as soon as you pass through this living room area the rest is bare and nothing like the front of the house. They only have the bare essentials to give off the impression that they are wealthy. It was bizarre. She prepare us a meal and we tried the traditional Rwandan food which was delicious, but then we were offered Rwandan cheese. We said yes, we wanted to try everything that we could while we were here – It didn’t look like cheese and the husband said it was safe for us bc it had been boiled and everything, so why not? Well mistake, our stomachs did not agree, and the taste stayed in our mouth for EVER! Whitney states “you know I am suddenly full?” looks at me “Lauren…are you ok?” I had suddenly worked up a sweat within seconds and was red in the face…”Yeah, I’m not so hungry either..” anyways moral of the story…if you come to Rwanda, seriously don’t eat the cheese…not even to experience it…I might have just maybe been sick for 2 days.
We have had to get used to peeing in holes, rarely showering, and waiting 8 hours between meals. The constant heat is exhausting, even at night it doesn’t really cool down that much. We take naps “siestas” when we can, but that’s rare. O YEAH sorry random thought, church on Sunday was 9 hours! 9 hours! They sing and dance for forever and ever and ever and ever. It was very entertaining but after an hour our ears and feet hurt so we were ready to crash, little did we know we had eight hours to go.
We eat rice, rice and rice, sometimes bread. We have to cook over coals in the backyard in this little shack , we wash our clothes in buckets and really it all seems kind of normal to be honest. I don’t know how to describe it, but it didn’t take much getting used to.
I love you all so much, and feel free to e-mail me when you want. We should be able to find a café around once a week to use the internet. I am sorry that I cannot attach any pictures, but we aren’t allowed to upload here, so it will have to wait until I’m home! I miss you guys and think of you all the time.
<3
Lauren
Our trip here was smooth and had no problems , our connecting flight from Brussels to Kigali was right on time and when we arrived in Kigali even customs went smoothly PLUS all of our luggage arrived so we were a happy bunch! We were greeted by so many smiles and hugs from total strangers, which blew us away. They immediately took our luggage and made us feel right at home. Each one of the people meeting us had made sure to learn one of our names by a gift for each of us. So sweet!
We drove through Kigali and I was surprised at the well paved roads and decorated roundabouts, but as soon as you leave the center the streets are “typically African” or what I had always imagined. The van has to go so slow because there are so many bumps, well not even bumps, holes in the road! HUGE HOLES. It’s crazy, at times you think that the van is going to tip over completely. We are taken to the base and we find that yes, we actually have beds to sleep in! We were not expecting this! There are four of us in a room, two bunk beds and the beds themselves are huge, you can sleep with stuff on your bed and not even realize it. The mattresses have caused many laughs because they are not your typical mattress, where you chose to sleep the first night is where you will sleep the rest of the month. There is a hole from my body, and they do not pop back over the day. It’s like sleeping in a little nest. They also provided the mosquito nets and sheets, so we feel pampered since we were expecting a floor and a sleeping bag.
So this e-mail isn’t too long I will try to summarize everything that we have been doing. The hardest day for me here was when we went to the Hospital of Kigali, my first reaction was that I was fine, but as we entered rooms of patients to pray for them and give them juice and fruit I could not keep the tears back. The hospitals are dirty, they are packed in rooms – and there was just a terrible sense of sadness that you could feel. I then thought about what it must have been like with the genocide 10 years ago, and the tears came even harder. These poor people just lie there with nothing, there is no cafeteria, there is no waiting area that I air conditioned, the emergency room is just a dirty room at the front of the hospital. It is dusty and there is water all over the floor. I don’t know how else to describe it. We will be going back there once a week, and I’m hoping that we get to make some relationships with the patients and even the doctors.
We are also working with the GBUR, Groupe Biblique Universitaire de Rwanda. It is with them that we have made connections with places like the hospitals, orphanages, families in need etc. On our “family day” Whitney and I went to a young lady named Vanessa’s house. We were taken in their “motor taxis” where they squish as many people in as possible – literally around 25 people in a 12 person van. You have kids sitting on your lap and your arm out the window because it cant actually fit in the van. Kind of scary at first when you don’t understand the language at all, but we survived. Anyways so we get to this ladies house, and it is GORGEOUS. The view itself is just magnificent, and Whitney and I just looked at each other with out mouths hanging open. The front door opens and there are leather couches, a big screen tv, sound system, kitchen table, nice tiled floors – this is nothing like the area we were living in. So we sit down and watch the one channel Rwanda has (seriously) and its in Rwanda, so we don’t understand…and we sit there for 4 hours watching tv…we try to ask them if they have any plans for the day, or if there is a market, but they don’t understand us so we shrugged our shoulders. When I asked to go to the bathroom I was surprised because basically as soon as you pass through this living room area the rest is bare and nothing like the front of the house. They only have the bare essentials to give off the impression that they are wealthy. It was bizarre. She prepare us a meal and we tried the traditional Rwandan food which was delicious, but then we were offered Rwandan cheese. We said yes, we wanted to try everything that we could while we were here – It didn’t look like cheese and the husband said it was safe for us bc it had been boiled and everything, so why not? Well mistake, our stomachs did not agree, and the taste stayed in our mouth for EVER! Whitney states “you know I am suddenly full?” looks at me “Lauren…are you ok?” I had suddenly worked up a sweat within seconds and was red in the face…”Yeah, I’m not so hungry either..” anyways moral of the story…if you come to Rwanda, seriously don’t eat the cheese…not even to experience it…I might have just maybe been sick for 2 days.
We have had to get used to peeing in holes, rarely showering, and waiting 8 hours between meals. The constant heat is exhausting, even at night it doesn’t really cool down that much. We take naps “siestas” when we can, but that’s rare. O YEAH sorry random thought, church on Sunday was 9 hours! 9 hours! They sing and dance for forever and ever and ever and ever. It was very entertaining but after an hour our ears and feet hurt so we were ready to crash, little did we know we had eight hours to go.
We eat rice, rice and rice, sometimes bread. We have to cook over coals in the backyard in this little shack , we wash our clothes in buckets and really it all seems kind of normal to be honest. I don’t know how to describe it, but it didn’t take much getting used to.
I love you all so much, and feel free to e-mail me when you want. We should be able to find a café around once a week to use the internet. I am sorry that I cannot attach any pictures, but we aren’t allowed to upload here, so it will have to wait until I’m home! I miss you guys and think of you all the time.
<3
Lauren
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Friday, 23 December 2011
Christmas Break.
I have loved, loved, loved my Christmas break with my French family and tomorrow the rest of the fam arrives! We have been busy shopping for presents in the town, going to the grocery store I swear once a day because we eat anything we see and just spending time with each other. Yesterday was Charlie's 11th Birthday so we woke up to chocolate cake and presents, followed by a day of games.
I have seen Hugo Cabaret and understood every word but one, which made me very happy with myself, gone out for dinner, gone out for drinks, raked the leaves and the list goes on! The grandparents arrived a few days ago and we have been getting our time with them. Granny sits patiently with a pile of all our clothes that have holes in them. Popsie is busy doing his crosswords and reading his books.
I have expanded my shoe collection and wardrobe! Emilie and I did some damage in town today, she said first stop, and I yelled - bank, and from there it just went downhill. Other than that I have been busy reading, and loving every minute of it. I am currently reading The Paris Wife, and can't put it down, thanks to Devon for that.
Hmm, not much else. Can't believe Rwanda is in 2 weeks - not even! I will be living out of a backpack, sleeping on the ground and eating beans and rice and I cannot wait!
I have seen Hugo Cabaret and understood every word but one, which made me very happy with myself, gone out for dinner, gone out for drinks, raked the leaves and the list goes on! The grandparents arrived a few days ago and we have been getting our time with them. Granny sits patiently with a pile of all our clothes that have holes in them. Popsie is busy doing his crosswords and reading his books.
I have expanded my shoe collection and wardrobe! Emilie and I did some damage in town today, she said first stop, and I yelled - bank, and from there it just went downhill. Other than that I have been busy reading, and loving every minute of it. I am currently reading The Paris Wife, and can't put it down, thanks to Devon for that.
Hmm, not much else. Can't believe Rwanda is in 2 weeks - not even! I will be living out of a backpack, sleeping on the ground and eating beans and rice and I cannot wait!
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Just a little bit of everything.
Sorry for the long pause between blogs, it's hard to even know what to update people on. I am busy doing so much, but at the same time it seems like nothing truly exciting for the outside world. Let's see where to start...
I am finished the first phase of my trip, and am now on Christmas Holidays! Phase two begins on January 3rd when I am off to Rwanda!!
One weekend the "North Americans" went to Paris for the day to be your classic tourists - snapping photos at every given opportunity. We visited all the appropriate places, spent too much money on touristy nonsense and got to know the metro (subway) system quite well (even with one minor detour!). I myself was very proud of us navigating our way through, needless to say it wasn't hard to know where you were when all you had to do is look up and navigate your way to "that tall thing" in the sky. We made sure to stop at Starbucks, to fill our craving for a delicious specialty coffee or hot chocolate. It was high on our priority list as a piece of comfort from home.
After an exciting, yet exhausting day in Paris we came home and collapsed in our beds ready for a tour of the Champagne vineyards, as we are currently living in the region of Champagne, France.
It was great - we went on a train ride through the caves of the vineyard to see where it was all created, and of course ended the tour with some Champagne!!
We were also busy getting ready for Christmas with the decorations...
Spending a lot of time in the town nearby, Sezanne...
And finally having our Christmas dinner - the theme was that you were to dress up as your nationality. Question: How does a Canadian dress? As a lumberjack of course!!
Whitney and I only had our plaid shirts in our closets and thought it would have to suffice:
Indian :)
A German old lady, a French artist and some "Native Americans"
Anyways, as I said I am back at my aunt's house for the holidays. Today we had a lovely day strolling through the town with the Christmas market, had some coffee at the cafe (ha!). Lastnight we went out dinner to celebrate my uncle's birthday and tonight we are off to see a movie. Let's see how good my french is!!
I leave for Rwanda January 3rd and will not be taking a computer so posts will be few and far between as it will be when we encounter internet cafes. I will write more about where we are working and with whom. I cannot wait! We also cannot upload pictures when we are there (not sure why) so all pictures of Rwanda wont be posted until April sadly!
Merry Christmas everyone!
xxx
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Thanksgiving!!!
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| Me and Whitney (in Belgium!) |
Yes, it might be November - but we are celebrating Thanksgiving! Woohoo! The Americans and Canadians have joined together to create the ultimate feast, and to explain to the French why we love this holiday so much!
It started with letting the Chef Olivier know about ALL that we would need for this wonderful weekend. Our list of ingrediants was long, our imaginations were running wild. Real food!! Now I need to let you all know that this weekend would not have been possible without wonderful Whitney (please refer to picture). Whitney is a wonderful Chef, and also as a side note a wonderful buddy all in all. Whitney and I are often found together - she is actually at my side right now. Anyways so Whitney gathered all the recipes together, wrote out all the ingrediants, had them translated into French, organized with Olivier and VOILA - Thanksgiving is a go!
We were so excited! On Friday night we had a big worship service to end our 24/7 Prayer week, but us Candians/Americans left early to start making the Cinnamon buns for the next morning's brunch (please note picture below!)...I got into the kitchen and truthfully I just watched Whitney work her magic, and cute Jessica be so precise in her measuring skills. I decided I would be spending my time more wisely if I went to bed! Morning came and we headed to the kitchen once again, we started making pancakes - plain, chocolate chip, and blueberry -- UMM YUM! Then the cinnamon buns were baked with yummy sticky goo all over them! Yum yumm!! Followed by bacon and eggs! Delicious! You have to understand we NEVER get to eat like this for breakfast. Breakfast for us consists of cereal and a baguette, yes yes I know we are in France but after a few months you just want some food from home. All the French were getting restless - what is this brunch thing? Late breakfast? They literally were waiting on the stairs and kept popping their head in the kitchen. We would come out and suddenly be bombared "Is it ready??!!" "Calmez-vous!". Betsy and I decided to take on the decorations (there comes a point in the kitchen when there are just too many hands!) we made it buffet style, found some "Thanksgiving-y" candles, fixed our leaf wreath (heehe), found some suitable music and set the table. They loooved it! So tomorrow is our actual Thanskgiving meal! Another early rise for us chefs so that we can make a delicious feast! So excited!
It started with letting the Chef Olivier know about ALL that we would need for this wonderful weekend. Our list of ingrediants was long, our imaginations were running wild. Real food!! Now I need to let you all know that this weekend would not have been possible without wonderful Whitney (please refer to picture). Whitney is a wonderful Chef, and also as a side note a wonderful buddy all in all. Whitney and I are often found together - she is actually at my side right now. Anyways so Whitney gathered all the recipes together, wrote out all the ingrediants, had them translated into French, organized with Olivier and VOILA - Thanksgiving is a go!
We were so excited! On Friday night we had a big worship service to end our 24/7 Prayer week, but us Candians/Americans left early to start making the Cinnamon buns for the next morning's brunch (please note picture below!)...I got into the kitchen and truthfully I just watched Whitney work her magic, and cute Jessica be so precise in her measuring skills. I decided I would be spending my time more wisely if I went to bed! Morning came and we headed to the kitchen once again, we started making pancakes - plain, chocolate chip, and blueberry -- UMM YUM! Then the cinnamon buns were baked with yummy sticky goo all over them! Yum yumm!! Followed by bacon and eggs! Delicious! You have to understand we NEVER get to eat like this for breakfast. Breakfast for us consists of cereal and a baguette, yes yes I know we are in France but after a few months you just want some food from home. All the French were getting restless - what is this brunch thing? Late breakfast? They literally were waiting on the stairs and kept popping their head in the kitchen. We would come out and suddenly be bombared "Is it ready??!!" "Calmez-vous!". Betsy and I decided to take on the decorations (there comes a point in the kitchen when there are just too many hands!) we made it buffet style, found some "Thanksgiving-y" candles, fixed our leaf wreath (heehe), found some suitable music and set the table. They loooved it! So tomorrow is our actual Thanskgiving meal! Another early rise for us chefs so that we can make a delicious feast! So excited!
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| This is the brunch we made on Saturday! (It also had bacon and eggs!) I also want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favourite BROSKI!! I hope you have a wonderful day, and I miss you so much <3 Love love love you Rossco! |
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| Put it away, or imma punch [you].... |
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