Happy Thanksgiving! ...and pass the chicken

It's Thanksgiving once again, the Ultimate American Holiday - A time for Family, Football and Food! 

Here in Kigali (Rwanda), Thanksgiving took on a slightly different meaning, or at least within our group. In honor of our American connections, we were given a long weekend with two days off of school. However, the rest of the life continued with on with the majority of our host nation completely unaware of the significance of this traditional Thursday. 

This year Thanksgiving basically meant two things: 

1) CHICKEN!!! 

A rarity in Rwanda, Turkeys are nearly unheard of and those few that do exist make a poor Thanksgiving feast.  Thus this year our protein was supplied by poultry of a different feather, cousin of the turkey, the Chicken! An imported expense, chicken has also made only selected appearances on our table during these two months in Rwanda, so to have a whole piece of chicken to oneself was quite a treat. 

2) TREE OUTFIT DAY!

Beginning a new group Thanksgiving tradition of our own we instituted Tree Outfit Day. Never heard of Tree Outfit Day you say? Allow me to elaborate: Tree Outfit Day is a day when everyone present is supposed to dress in a tree like fashion. Essentially, green on top, brown on bottom.  And, what does a whole forest of trees do once they are up and walking about, why take countless of randomly over-posed photos, Of Course!  Thus was tree outfit day - a day of Green fun that helped us all to feel a little more festive in this time away from our traditional family and friends. 

Dinner did not disappoint (even though many of us are looking forward to actually having turkey again next year)

and I think nearly all walked away with that overstuffed feeling.  Dessert was scrumcious with apple desserts galore - our pumpkin pie filling was confiscated by the TSA at the airport, apparently Thanksgiving goodness is a security risk of National importance! 

All in all it was a wonderful day, beautifully rounded out with phone calls home helping to shrink the distance.  

An of course the always awkward holiday "family" photo

An Organized Response

As violence has flared up once again in the DR Congo, Food for the Hungry International (FHI) and numerous other NGO's have sent assessment teams into Goma to determine what the proper course of action should be in the face of extreme tension, violence and need. 

Here is the latest report issued by FHI

November 2008
Fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo

"After decades of war, the Congolese experienced a period of relative peace until fighting erupted between rebel soldiers and government forces in the eastern province of North Kivu in late October. A UN-brokered cease-fire held for a week before falling apart, leading to an escalation in violence and the displacement of at least 250,000 people. The province was already home to numerous camps housing as many as 1 million displaced people. Living conditions within the crowded camps are marked by lack of sanitation and food with an increasing threat of disease.

Food for the Hungry has been operational in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since early 1995, in response to the Rwandan refugee crisis. Current work in the DRC focuses primarily on food security vulnerabilities, providing seeds, tools and seed protection packets, and developing fish ponds. Food for the Hungry also undertakes road rehabilitation, water and sanitation and health projects. However, the conflict has caused our programs in Minova, a region on the border between North Kivu and South Kivu to be placed on hold due to the security situation.

Staff members continue to monitor the situation and a team from Food for the Hungry's relief unit is currently conducting an assessment to determine the necessary response. In addition, Food for the Hungry staff members in neighboring Uganda are conducting an assessment to assist Congolese refugees who have fled to Uganda.

Please pray for wisdom as Food for the Hungry workers decide how to respond to the current situation. Pray also for an end to the fighting and for the Congolese people who have already suffered from years of conflict. "

Talking Myself Into Trouble

Embracing the culture and seeking to thrive rather than simply survive,

I have reached that troubling point in learning language where I now know just enough to get me into trouble and not enough to get me back out! 

Working in the community of Cyeza each afternoon conducting interviews for our community development assessment, I have had ample opportunities to improve my limited kinyarwanda. Walking from the bumpy, dusty dirt road, about twenty minutes down one hill and up another to our assigned cell, I pass the time by talking to every person I met along the path. Over the past week I have become a pro at the greetings and basic responses. Our interpreter has found great joy in teasing me over this fact and even stated that the people are going to start calling me "amakuru" (how are you) because I say it to everyone. 

However, on our last walk out of Cyeza I found myself in a bit of a situation. Walking through a group of people resting on the hillside I greeted them and asked the very few questions I knew. This sparked great excitement and delight from them all and caused one woman to even jump up, embrace me with joy and then rattle off a list of questions of her own.  Catching maybe one of the hundred words she managed to spew forth I was overwhelmed and helpless. Resorting to English, I informed her that I did not understand and then made my way onwards, apologizing with what little French I knew, hoping she understood and did not mistake my silence for rudeness. Walking away, I wished that my communication skills were more advanced. 

This seems to be a common problem that I have now encountered in nearly every country I have lived in during this trip. Oh to be a walking talking language book - maybe one day!  

*Photos in this blog by Roshanda Cummings

Surrendering to the Sunrise

After a restless nights sleep for the second day in a row, waking up this morning the last thing I wanted to do was to hit the pavement for a run. However, as I talked myself off my army green coat and out from beneath the sheets I decided that I would be able to sleep better the rest of the morning if I just spent a few minutes up and about. Walking out into the main room of the office I was taken about by two things: 1) an abundance of 3 inch flying bugs that sounded like little airplanes dying (making it nearly impossible to sit at my computer by the table) and 2) the magnificent colors of the sunrise as morning was just arising. The pull of the beauty of the earth was just enough to win over my body's desire to retreat back to bed and before I knew it I was inching my way across the ridges that line the horizon of Rwanda.  

A beautiful way to began what looks to be a very productive and fulfilling Friday.

COMERA!!!

COMERA! - the small child shouted at our packed to capacity white land rover as we bounced down the bumpy dirt road and rounded yet another corner on our way to slightly removed community of Cyeza. 

"Be Strong." Our interpreter Paul offered up in explanation of the child's exclamation.  

Be Strong. Comera. As these words reverberated through my wandering mind lectures from last weeks classes came fluttering back. Comera, as was previously defined for us, means to pull someone up from the ground; in essence, to have strength and continue on. 

Comera. Be Strong. How fitting those words are on a day when all I feel is tired, weak and lonely. After five and a half months of being away from friends, family and the familiar, I am homesick. Yes, I admitted it. While there have been other moments throughout this journey where I have missed elements of home, today has certainly been the most intense.  Waking up more exhausted then when I laid down to sleep, the whole day seemed to be off to a rough start.  While nothing extraordinarily bad happened it was simply a long, rough and emotional day.  By mid-morning all I wanted was to go home, workout, eat stir-fry, drink a smoothie and FINALLY feel healthy again.  

Reflecting on my emotions of the day, I have begun to realize more than anything that I miss being and feeling healthy.  Living in a glorified summer camp setting for the past several months has been fun and highly entertaining, but I have no control over my schedule, the food that is served or how it is prepared.  I long to be independent once again.  Living in an apartment, walking to the fruit and vegetable stand daily, savoring the reward of eating a meal prepared by my own two hands.  It truly is the simple parts of life that make it all worth while. 

Today's discoveries:

- distance is hard to overcome

- love is not easy

- uncertainty is frustrating

- life will go on

8 Days in Gitarama

For the next 8 days our team will be living and working out of the FHI Office based in the neighboring city of Gitarama, conducting development research in the community of Cyeza.

So, where IS Gitarama?
"Gitarama is the second-largest city in Rwanda, with a population of 84,669 (2002 census estimate). Although a part of the Southern Province, it is situated in the centre of the country, to the west of the capital, Kigali [about one hour away]. It is the capital of the district of Muhanga." - Wikipedia

Beginning in Irony

French Toast for breakfast. 

Innocent in itself. 

Ironic in its appearance. 

Today, of all days, we are served the tasty delight of French toast. 

Today is a National Day Of Protest against Germany and France our Rwandan cook decided to serve us french toast for breakfast. Sitting down I couldn't help but smile at the timing of it all.  

In a sign of solidarity for their comrade in Germany who is still being detained by the government on an International arrest warrant issued by a judge in France, the Government issued a country wide day of protest. 

Not permitted to venture outside during this time, our leader Aryn stated "The students have the morning free." An FH employee then chimed in, "and by free you mean, in Prison!"

National Day of Protest

Arriving in the city of Gitarama this afternoon, one hours drive from Kigali, the first news we heard as we were walking down the dirt back road to the FHI office, was that tomorrow was declared a holiday.  Upon further discussion, this statement was revised to be that we as foreigners had a day off, because the government of Rwanda had just declared Wednesday, November 19th as a day of Protest.  

On Monday, November 9th, Rwandan President Kagame's chief of protocol Rose Kabuye was arrested on arrival at the Frankfurt airport. Detained for a 2006 international warrant issued by French anti-terrorism judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere, Kabuye found her self facing charges for alleged involvement in the shooting down of then President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane in April of 1994, the act which officially started the genocide in Rwanda.  In response, Rwanda expelled the country's German Envoy and removed their own Ambassador from Germany on November 11th until the matter is resolved. 

Since that time, numerous protests have been staged in Kigali and throughout the country as a national tensions with France have intensified.  Following the arrest, Germany has also been added to the list of countries falling out of Rwanda's grace.  Yet, with the recent election of Barak Obama, it is actually better to be an American in East Africa than a European.  Who would have thought?!?

So what does all this mean for us? Basically our program is continuing to keep us under house arrest (they call it staying inside) while the demonstrations are going on.  Something about safety and what not, as the majority of people cannot distinguish Americans from Europeans, in one huge generalization, we are all MZUNGU (white people). My sarcastic solution to that is that we all wear American flag shirts and Obama pins to clearly identify our nationality and solidarity with our host nation.

Saturday Afternoon

Having survived another week of classes and a most unwelcome Saturday morning session, Becca and I decided it was time for a celebration.

Lunch at Bourbon (comparable to Starbucks with a full food menu as well) and then of scoop of rich flavorful ice cream in a warm waffle cone - delish!

Beautiful Tension

Walking home for lunch between classes today I rather unexpectedly found myself in a very contemplative mood.  However, the overwhelming exhaustion that has been growing for days finally felt larger than life and sitting down on the couch all I wanted to do was be. Sliding a dvd of Friends into my computer (our newest thing here - no idea how that started) I prepared to just tune out every thought for 20 minutes.  Yet I did not even make it to the intro...

Joined by a friend we unexpectedly began talking and one question from here prompted a rather disjointed explanation of the different pieces of my life I am currently sorting through.  Graciously listening as my words tumbled out in spurts and stops, she responded with a lovely description of me; of what is going on in my life and the process of working through it all. As though her words afforded me the opportunity to breathe, to view my own life through her eyes... beyond wonderful.  I was particularly struck by one comment she made, that of living in beautiful tension.

Beautiful Tension

When I hear the word tension the last thought to enter my mind is anything of beauty, yet as I pondered her words and description I realized what a fantastic coupling these words form. Straddling countries, my concept of home is being reformed and reshaped. 

Building new relationships while maintaining old. 

Struggling with the knowledge that I am missing out on key events in friends lives. 

Regretting not being around for those in need. Looking forward to new adventures in distant lands. 

Excited for the opportunity to help even more children and interact with new cultures. Wondering if the work I am engaging in is truly greater than the unintentional consequences formed from it. 

Realizing that I am in a situation without any control.

Trusting that God will work everything out for His purposes. 

Living in Beautiful Tension. Standing in the middle of a web of people, places and events, learning what it means to find balance and joy even when life is not as simple as I wish it to be. 

A Perfect Description Of Where I Find Myself Today

And I Would Not Choose To Have It Any Other Way