Hi hi hi, so I'm ready to make a post as it has been a very interesting two days. Let's just say that nothing could have prepared me for my first full day here....
So I'm currently living in the house with this MBA without borders called Andrew. I'm so happy that there is someone living in the house with me....but that being said...he is so bitter! As soon as I got here, he tells me how this place really isn't very safe and how unreliable this person and that person is...etc. Needless to say...he freaked me out. I am pretty down on him just because he's just so bitter and negative. But the good news and bad news is that he is leaving tomorrow. Good news because I don't need to deal with him anymore...but bad news because I'll be all alone in the house. I know, it's pathetic, but even when I am home alone in my own house in Chicago, I get nervous! So this is like taking that and multiplying it by about 100. But my dad does make a good point--it's probably much safer than my old house on Humphrey street (for those of you who know the neighborhood).
Anyways, so I think I am getting over the fact that I'll be alone in the house for 9 days. The director of the program here named Simon has offered for me to stay with him and his family, which I will likely do for a few days.
So back to my past few days--Thursday morning the boy (Andrew-remember-- bitter MBA without borders) and I walked to the clinic. It's only a 15 minute walk and is pretty-you pass really cool places and embassies and the downtown...but the cars here are insane. I almost got run over by these motos about 6 times in the fifteen minute walk (this is not a joke). Then I got to the clinic--it's on the second floor of this building and has a pretty view because you can see many of the hills around. There were so many women in the clinic--not nearly enough seats for everyone in the waiting room. Many of them had children and/or were pregnant. I didn't stay long at that clinic because I went to shadow a doctor at a clinic up in the mountains. The drive to the second clinic was when I REALLY saw Kigali. It's hard to put to words the poverty in this country. I thought the downtown area of Kigali was very poor--but that was until I saw the outskirts of the city. The streets were filled with people and people live in houses that more resemble small tin boxes. I honestly couldn't even believe my eyes. Then the clinic was at the top of this hill/mountain and the car drove up this "road" that was sand, holes, and huge rocks. we had to get out of the car and walk for most of the way up the mountain because the car couldnt make it. Once there, it was a similar setting to the first clinic--tons and tons of women waiting to be seen by three doctors. I sat in with a doctor and he spoke a little bit of English, but mostly French. We saw in just a few hours over ten patients. Every single one of them had HIV. Many of them had other STIs, malaria, and other diseases. One thing I have been noticing is that there are so few older people here--the life expectancy is around 40-50 years old. When the woman had a baby, I got to play with him or her. That was the best part for me as it was difficult to understand what the doctor was saying to the patient.
I returned to my house soon after that. It was a hard day-a lot to see in just a few hours.
Yesterday (Friday) I went into the clinic in town and talked about my plan for the upcoming week. I'm really excited for what I'll be doing. Monday-Wednesday I will work with a Rwandese woman named Inis to teach and care for the children while their mothers are at the clinic or sick. Also during the week I will be doing home visits with a clinical pshychologist where they talk to the famliies and children. That will be a great opportunity for me to see what it is like for a family living here and what they go through each and every day dealing with the repurcutions of the genocide.
Taylor Thompson from Dartmouth is staying at the house with me for a few nights, which is great. He is going to show me the city today and introduce me to some people that sound amazing. In particular, to a couple who runs an orphanage in Kigali because I would love to work there if I have time. Today he is going to a church where this minister is going to be recording the songs of Rwandese prostitutes to help them make money and get off of the streets.
After that, I will meet with a new friend I made named Pacifique. She is Rwandese and is the nicest person I have ever met! She is going to take me around with her friend and show me all of Kigali. Then on Sunday morning I am going to go to her chrurch with her family--I guess it's kind of like a gospel church with lots of energetic singing and dancing. After that she invited me over to her house for lunch. I can't believe how generous people are here--she lost her dad during the war and so she lives with her single mother and four siblings but is so willing to take me in.
Wow. that was long. I apologize! If you are still reading, I'm impressed and thank you!
Hopefully by the next time I post I will have made some more friends and will know the city better. I hope you are all well.
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6 comments:
It was great to wake up this morning and read your new posting. Thanks for all of the details. I loved reading about all of your experiences and am so impressed with the warmth and caring of the people you have met.
love,
mom xxxooo
c'meer y'little black baby.
-dave chappelle
Hi Leah-
We are following your daily adventures and experiences with great interest. How brave and generous you are to be doing this kind of work! And what interesting people you are meeting! One question -- despite the horrific history and current hardships, are people generally positive about the future? Stay safe and well. We'll be following you. (By the way, Katy is in Nicaragua helping impoversished farmers. Service to humanity must run in the family.) All our love, Jon and Pam
Hi Uncle Jon and Aunt Pam--to answer your question--people do seem to be pretty hopeful about the future. Even the people living in the most horrible conditions seem to be relatively happy, as hard as it is to imagine. I really think there is a big cultural difference here from the United States--many people have a strong belief in God and that's the only way they can reconcile what happened in their lives. Something else that is suprising to me is that people here are reluctant to speak of the past. It is more matter of fact than anything. I have noticed that Rwandese people seem to be more reserved than the people I have met from other African countries. Additionally, the President, Paul Kagame does not tolerate any discussion about ethnic identiy--after the genocide he removed identiy cards which said whether one was Hutu or Tutsi; and those things are rarely discussed--especially in public. I suppose people "know" whether they once were a Hutu or a Tutsi, but it is not talked about often.
While people seem to be relatively happy in their daily lives, I am sure there is much post traumatic stress disorder and depression. I think I will learn more about this when I go on home visits with psychologists. I hope that answered your question.
Hi Leah-
It goes to show how resilient people can be despite the worst of conditions -- reminds me of the holocaust survivors. Also it sounds like a good move by the president to get abolish identity cards.
What is the local language? Isn't French or Flemish also spoken there? Also do you find it hard to communicate with people? The pictures are great -- especially of the children. It's definitely a different reality. Stay safe. All our love Jon and Pam
PS -- Also we are happy to see from Jonah's post he's coping with the rigors of Beverly Hills.
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