A packed day in Rwanda

Group four consists of Mrs. Kuntz, Rachel Frenz, Anna Landiz, Jordan Dritz, & Zach Cave. On our way to our destination today we dropped off the brick makers at their destination. The little kids we had played with yesterday came running out screaming they were so excited to see us. It was the cutest thing ever. The fact that it made them so happy to see us again, was so moving. It was hard for us to leave. Today we went to AIDP. AIDP is an organization that builds homes for widows and places 4 orphans with them in a community of others from AIDP. We went to build a house. We arrived and they told us we had to move this HUGE pile of dirt and dig down 2 feet where the house was going to be. This was so hard to do becuase there are so many stones in the ground there. We had one shovel, two hoes, and a pick. We got help from 3 other rwandans. They are hard workers. There was about 10 adults and 20 children gathered around watching and laughing at us. We worked very hard, but it was well worth it. It took about 2 hours and 45 minutes to move and dig all the dirt. Then we had to pick all the rocks we had taken out and put them outlining the 4 rooms of the house. After that we went to pick up those who were at brick making, and came back. Mr. & Mrs. Kuntz, Anna, Issac, and I all went out to find somewhere to eat lunch. A little boy who had attatched to Issac's hand led us to this great buffet called the green garden. I had rice, beans, pasta, frites, mini bannanas, and goat stew. With a citron fanta, my favorite. The pop here is 10X better than in the U.S. After a little wandering around and sitting at the guest house we decided to go to the clothes market. It was so fun to walk around. We saw where many women work on sewing machines in a row making clothing. Everyone calls us Muzongo, which means rich white person. They want us to buy there goods, and they always overcharge us so we have to barter down. It is common to find stations in the market where the clothing looks like it may be from good will. After the market we went to Greg's home/ office. Greg is a good friend of Cave and Kuntz and owns a tour guide company that we are using. He showed us his backyard which leads up a large hill. We hiked up to see the most beautiful, view of Ruhengeri. We could also see 3 of the volcanoes. Wow! Then we went to a couple of stands where there were some crafts. Everything is beautiful. After Mrs. Kuntz and I made a quick stop at the internet cafe we ran into Mr. Kuntz, chloe, Anna, Sophie, Mr. Hartwick, Mrs. Hennindale, and Dalphine. They were on the way to see Dalphines clothing shop in the market. We then bought fabric for 3,000 Rwandan Franks($5.06). The market is lots of little stalls with a roof over them. Each stall is packed. There were so many choices of fabric. After we all chose our fabric we came back to the guest house. Anna and I went across the street to get drinks. Then Dalphine's friends came to messure us for our skirts. They took the fabric and are making them for 2,500 Rwandan Franks each. They were so sweet. Tomorrow I go on the gorrilla trek! I am super excited. We have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow. But I will have no problem doing this because I am so excited!
Love to all those in Minnesota!
Rachel

GOUP #3- sarah s, taylor k, issac, sam, and jimmy
Today was a really fun day for our group. We left the BG Guest house at 830 and took a twenty minute car ride to a place where we built bricks. It was hard work and we got very muddy with the help of a couple mud fights. As a total our group made almosy 350 bricks. We worked hard for 3 hours in the bright sun but we were surrounded by gorgeous hills and lush plants. The people who worked there were kind hosts and taught us well, even with the communication barrier. Sam wants a shout out as the best worker with making 100 bricks of his own. We came back to the house covered in mud around 12, and then had free time. Most of us went to the markets and stores and continued our exploration of this fascinating city. Everyone in the group sends love to their friends and family at home! Tomorrow we will have another manueal labor day at AIDP.
-Sarah Silvestri

Group #2- Krista, Gabby, Jake, Mitchel, and Chloe
Today we went to the Imababazi Orphanage in the hills about 30 minutes outside of Ruhengeri. The ride was the most intense part of the day only because we drove about 7 km on unpaved rocky roads. Once we got to the orphanage we got a tour of the house and orphanage. It was one of the most beautiful sits I have seen so far in Rwanda because the garden was huge and their were hundreds of different types of flowers. After our tour of the grounds were down we went on a "hike" to the see a crater at the top of one of the mountains. Little did we know that it would be a 90 degree hike through a dense forest. I was never so tired in my life! Once we finished the hike we went back to paint the eating quaters of Imbabazi. That was very messy and I still have lots of paint stuck in my hair! But over all it was amazing to see all the great things Rosamund has done for the people of Rwanda, and the kids affected by the genocide.
-Krista Marshall

GROUP AWESOME (Mikayla, Izaak, Eleanor, Cat, Mrs. Hinnendael)
So today we went to go see the gorillas. I never thought the leading up to an experience could be so exhausting and difficult. Number one, we enjoyed the bumpiest car ride of our lives (with the African children chasing after us as always). I don't know if those were even roads. Number two, about two minutes into the jungle I stepped in a giant pile of buffola poop (it definitely looked exactly like a rock). However, after such an embarrassing experienced, I was eventually dubbed "in the clear" by Cat after Izaak stepped in two piles of poop (elephant and some unknown species). Number 3, there was no path. One of our guides was literally hacking away a path through the jungle half the time during our trek. Number four, there were a ton of prickly plants which were continuously nailing us in the legs as we made our way. However, after an hour of hiking we finally arrived, and let me tell you it was amazing. I never thought we would have gotten so close, but I literally could have reached out and touched the gorillas for some of the times (though our guides had our backs, and I was never concerned). We saw the chief (sickest silver back ever), a little baby swinging from a vine, and another gorilla peeing (like a mini waterfall) from the top of the tree). But seriously, It was incredible, and I've never had an experience like it. Hard work, but we finally made it through.
-Mikayla Coulombe

Group #1: Giulia Imholte, Sophie Ronning, Anne Arnason, Melissa Luther, and Elise Overman
Activity: Basket Weaving

Beginning the day with a notably later wake-up call at 7:45 and heading out for an hour and a half walk to the women's cooperative at 8:30, the day's activites were just as amazing as the adventure that was the gorilla trek. The walk to the women's co-op was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen, probably one of the most picturesque in the world. When people call Rwanda the Land of 1,000 Hills they are not kidding, literally everywhere you look there are hills, covered in a mix of tropical growth as well more common trees and plants. We were accompanied by two Rwandan boys who raced us along pathways through the trees, helped us talk to the children of the village, and imitate Michael Jackson. The walk, in all it's beauty, was both exhilirating and calming. Once we reached the women's co-op, which was established by women widowed by the genocide, we worked for about two hours creating woven coasters. While it may seem like easy work, my fingertips were aching, and I know I'm not the only one who accidentally stabbed themselves with the miniscule needle. The adventure to the women's co-op finished with some purchases of beautifully woven baskets (Mom and Dad--I got something for the pool house). Following the ride back, us girls and Mr. Cave set out for the market to purchase the necessary items to prepare dinner for the night. While I like the organized and clean convenience of a grocery store, nothing compares to the hustle and bustle and natural smells of the market. Our findings consisted of a variety of vegetables, and we finagled beef, sweet bread, peanut butter, nutella, water, cookies, and rice from some surrounding stores. I think it's safe to say that our meal was the best, we were told so multiple times, making the day all them more fufilling. With another late wake-up call tomorrow, we are all excited to travel to the Imbabazi orphanage and continue our Rwandan experience.
Love to all back home
Giulia Imholte