Day 1 Group Activities

Today I went basket making with Krista, Gabby, Jake, Mitchel, and our fearless group leader Jeff. Had a breakfast consisting of a variety of breads and started on the walk to the baskets. Our tour guide was very helpful and would point out some stuff as we passed by. He pointed out some people who were getting there motorcycle licenses and a fish farm on our way. We got into the outskirts of Ruhengeri and we attracted mobs of kids as we passed by. It was strange for me that the kids would just come running after us without telling anyone. Later when we were reflecting on the day Jeff said he wouldn't even let go of his kid in a parking lot let alone have them chasing after Muzungos[Rwanda for white people] on narrow paths surrounded by cliffs! When we finally got there the ladies who helped us were super nice but they knew very little English so communication was difficult after out tour guide left to get us a ride back.The woman who helped me picked up a started basket and tried to show me how to do it. After working at it for a few hours i had made a very small coaster. It was embarrassing because it is easy to see where i started and where she had to jump in and help. I was starting to feel pretty good about my adequate weaving until i looked up and saw the massive tarp full of a rainbow of beautiful baskets. I had always admired the baskets before but having to sit down and make them made me really appreciate the effort that they put into each basket. the tour guide said that the larger baskets can take u[p to five days on just one basket! I also had to preper dinner for 20 plus! Thank goodness for Delphine otherwise I would still be @ the market trying to figure it out! Rave reviews from all who had our french toast with Nutella. Cant wait for the adventures that tomorrow will bring.

-Chloe

St. Famille and the Road to Ruhengeri

We spent our first night at the Iris Guesthouse. Everyone in the group was exhausted from our travels but we had the opportunity to sleep in on Sunday. After waking up and having breakfast, we started the Muzungu Parade up to St. Famille Church. We were surprised to find that 9am mass was letting out right on time at 11am. Mass was in Kinyarwanda and was beautiful. St. Famille was the sight of several smaller massacres during the Genocide, but because it was in full view of downtown Kigali, large scale massacres were never carried out.

After the two hour mass we had a two hour lunch at the Chinese restaurant next door to the Iris. I guess we wanted to ease everyone into Rwandan cuisine. The kids were fine with that. After our two hour lunch, we went on a two hour walking tour of Kigali, visiting the the Belgian Troop Memorial, and then of course making a stop at the mall. Really students took some time to get on the internet and have some ice cream treat. Our return to the Iris was greeted by a sensational thunderstorm. It rained the rest of the night. Funny, we remember telling the kids several times that it's the dry season and it won't rain in Rwanda. As of yesterday we were 0-2. Most of us were still pretty tired so we had an early night.

This morning we woke up and got into the Muzungu Express to Ruhengeri. Everyone loved it. Even though we have been here several times, James and Dave always see something that surprises or amazes us on the road to Ruhengeri. The kids had the chance to greet people out of the window and practice their Kinyarwanda. Some are getting very good.

After settling in the the Amahoro Guesthouse, we went to the Silverback Cafe for a traditional Rwandan meal of stewed plantains, rice, mixed veggis, and stewed beef. It was quite good. The kids are really enjoying interacting with other kids. We returned to the Amahoro with an Entourage of Rwandans of varying age.

Our trip to see the Intore got changed and we traveled by bus halfway to Gisyeni to a small village. The Intore troupe danced with power and grace, beating a their drums and dancing and singing beautifully. At the end of the performance, of course the students had their chance to try their hands, feet, hips, etc. at Intore. They danced with enthusiasm, much to the delight of the two hundered Rwandans who had gathered to watch the show as well.

We returned to the Amahoro Guesthouse for a little dinner and we're now off to bed. We begin our formal cultural activities tomorrow, so stay tuned for updates from kids.

We are happy to be back in Ruhengeri and to see our friends, Greg, Whinnie, and Delphine.

Mwalamuche na Amahoro.

Arrived safe and sound and excited and tired

Well it has been a long few days.

We made all of our connections just fine but 20 hours on a plane can get to anyone. Yes, I said 20 hours. We were just about 7 minutes from landing in Kigali on Saturday night of (of course) there were severe thunder storms in the area. So our plane flew around and around and around and around for about 45 minutes when then decided to fly us back to Entebbe, Uganda.

Once in Entebbe we let some people of the plane, and I stood around for 1 hour trying to answer the following student questions,

"when are we leaving?"

"what country are we in?"

"what if we can't go to Kigali, will we stay here?"

"Can I switch seats now?"

"What is for dinner?"

"Should I put on my rain coat?"

"What if we get wet?"

(You get the idea.)

After we were picked up at the airport in Kigali we went to our guesthouse then walked to Chez Robert for dinner. It was pretty good given the fact we were 4 hours late.

We got kids to their rooms then went to sleep.

Attended Mass at St. Famille Catholic Church. It was only 2 hours long.

The students enjoyed working on their Kinyarwanda with the little kids outside the church. Don't worry parents, there are plenty of photos!

We returned to the guesthouse, handed out the spending $ then walked next door to a Chinese restaurant. After about 1.5 hours there (Rwanda is not known for its speedy service) we walked to the Beligian troop memorial and learned a bit of history of the Genocide.

Of course now we are at the mall, coffee shops and internet cafes.

When in Africa...

Big day tomorrow as we will to to Ruhengeri, see Intore dancers, eat a student prepared meal and get the lay of the land before a very busy week of cultural activities.

All is good (some pretty tired kids however).

Amahoro,

James

Personal shout-out to my family (I love you) and Zachary hasn't been too buggy. yet.

Tick tock. 8 days away.

So I remember when we were holding informational meeting for Rwanda 2011 back in April of 2010 (and we had 2 kids at one of the meetings!).

Seemed like we would have to wait for an eternity for June 10, 2011 to arrive.

We are now 380+ days, a bunch of forms, 5 books, 3 class periods and a few parent meetings away for April of 2010.

Even though we have made this trip before, we look forward to the new experiences we will have. Each time is something special and we are excited to be able to share this beautiful place and our wonderful friends with 23 new students and 4 new other adults.

Just a reminder to the participants that we flight has been moved forward to 2:05 pm. We are meeting at the airport (near the Delta desk downstairs) at 11 am sharp.

For those of you who will be following us on this blog (or on Twitter thetraveled) please check back from time to time.

Exciting experiences await.

Amahoro,

Dave and James

This is our friend Greg who we will be working with in Rwanda (& Bright's dad)

Killing Time in Kigali

Hey, so the trip is wrapping up thus the witty comments and insights. Sorry.

So spent the day really just killing time. I needed to meet with the travel agent to try to figure out why Delta sucks so bad. Nothing definite but have some pretty good ideas. After being assured that I will indeed get home as scheduled me and Bright embarked on the longest 3 hours ever. Poor kid.

As cool and as down with what the kids are into these days as I am, I guess many hours with a 41 year-old over-weight, hard of hearing (what?) white man is not the tonic to pull a 13 year-old Rwandese boy out of a shy, quiet personality. Oh well, I guess I have the next 5-9 years to work on that.

First I made Bright go on a walking tour of Kigali with me.

"Bright, let me tell you about the Belgian troop memorial.."

After that we proceeded to the famous, refurbished Mille Collines Hotel and had $3 sodas.

"You know Bright, prior to 2000 this used to be the fanciest hotel in Rwanda..."

Then I made him walk to the guest house that the students of 2009 stayed and the students of 2011 will stay,

"You know Bright, last year we stayed at this guest house with the actress who played Kate in Lost.."

Then to Saint Familles Catholic Church.

"Well Bright, you know that...."

We sat there and watched the adult drivers ed students crash the red drivers ed car into cones for about 45 minutes. I read, Bright pretended to sleep. (Lots of that going around).

Went to the internet cafe, went to Greg's house, listened to music in separate rooms, went to eat Indian food (best I have had BTW)-see I told you I was down with what the kids are into these days-LOL, I'm the bomb.

Back to the house and slept until the mangy, sickly, dog next door (that looks like a hyena) woke me up at 6am. To take it easy on Bright I pretended to sleep until 8.

On Saturday we will kill time but hanging out, last minute shopping (seems like no one wants a bracelet from Rwanda!), eat, internet cafe, and getting to airport.

Thanks for following. I am going dark until I add some photos and give you a detailing of Bright's first plane ride and the mauling by the Cave family at the airport.

Check back sometime next week! (echhooo, ecccchhhhooo, chirp, chirp, tumbleweed, tumbleweeed.....)

Wup, wup, raise the roof, Word.

Tora Paul Kagame! Komera Kigali!

Woke up to rain. Seriously. It is raining again in Musanze.

I spent the morning reading and trying to doze.

Greg's sister Maureen (or is it Moline, I'm not sure) told me that there was a political rally for the RPF and President Paul Kagame today in a village about 10km from Musanze (I am so metric).

We were going to jump on motos to go watch the people but leave before the rally. Greg wanted to leave for Kigali around 4pm.

At 1pm Maureen decided not to go. Rats.

I jumped on a mototaxi and went myself. As I drew closer it was very noticable the amount of police and military on the roads leading to the rally. Not much traffic either.

So, I walked into (or I should say onto) the rally which was on a soccer field surrounded by hills, rocks and fields. I was asked 5 times why I was there and frisked 7 times (not saying that is bad). I had to show my camera about a billion times.

Now, one thing I found out is that the 2nd most attention a muzungo can get is to walk into a field with 20,000 Rwandese at a political rally for the president. Not much salt in this group!

I spent about 3 hours standing, fending off kids who wanted money and adults who wanted to stare. I pretended to be asleep standing up.

President Kagame was supposed to speak at 3. At 4:30 approached I called Greg and told him I would be late.

At about 4:40 President Kagame took the stage and started to speak, in KINYARWANDA! The nerve.

Anyway, after about 15 minutes of listening to him speak and taking photos I found out what the 1st most attenion a muzungo can get was. Leaving a political rally with 20,000 rwandese in a field. "Hey, nothing to see here!"

After I was frisked another 2 times and asked where I was going 5 more times I finally made it to the road where I was going to catch a moto.

Hey James, its the president of Rwanda. No traffic, thus no motos!

I started to walk and I walked and walked and walked (over 1 hour in rural Rwanda). Finally after greeting about the entire child population of Rwanda with Bite (whats up), Komera (hello), etc... I was able to flag down a mini-bus full of Rwandese heading to Ruhengeri. After I wowed them with my command of the Rwandan language and argued about the value of my bus ticket, I made it to Ruhengeri.

As I arrived at Greg's the car was running and my bags were already loaded. Bright and Greg were standing by the car waiting. (Dudes, I am only 2+ hours late. What do you want from me?!).

We drove to Kigali over some of the most winding roads in the world. I hadn't noticed how twisty and steep they were until I was driving with Greg in the "ladies car" with the steering wheel on the right side of the front seat as he spent the 2 hours doing business on his cell phone (in the dark). Fun.

Arrived in Kigali, stopped at his new house, went to Sole Luna for pizza, back to his house, chatted, sleep.

(hands tired thing again).

Shout out to the fam).

Amahoro.