The Joys of Life in Rubona

I'm been living in Rubona, Rwanda now for almost a year and with each day, I love it more and more! These days what's making me love it even more is that I'm able to experience it with all of the new volunteers. It's like seeing a place with new eyes! Rubona is the little village where Agahozo Shalom is located. It's surrounded by this little village. If you walk down a dirt road for about 20 minutes, you reach the center of Rubona where the market is located. Walking to the market is always an adventure. I have come to really enjoy it because I always see friends along the way...one of the farm workers, his wife, a brave child that I have become friends with, or someone that just wants to practice their English. The homes are usually made of mud or cement with the most manicured front lawns.

You can hear many children yelling muzungu, muzungu along the way. I have gone through phases about what I feel about being called this. Sometimes I'm frustrated because I just want to be able to walk on my way. These days I realize that they are showing excitement just I like I'm showing excitement for new people and things. Going to the market never gets old. I guess it's the same for them...seeing someone who is different must never get old. I am trying though to introduce myself and have them look at me in a different way. If they can call me by my name then we go from outsiders to friends.

I have gone twice now with the new volunteers. I'm enjoying showing them all of my favorite places and introducing them to my favorite vendors. I took them to the home of the nuns in the area to get some pineapple wine. When we got there, they had pineapple and passionfruit wine....yummy! Yesterday we bought mangos...omg, I think I'm in love! I almost named this blog the ode to the mango but I'm sure that will come soon as I continue to eat as many as I can handle.

Enjoying the flowers at one of the homes in Rubona (I was told to be a flower)

Nothin' Like Putting Things in Perspective

Today was the volunteer trip to Kigali. I missed the trip last year because I came late, so I was excited. Sometime between leaving a place called the UTC until we reached the Belgium Memorial and walking in a crowded part of town called Nyambirambo, I lost my phone. I was so frustrated and beating myself up over it. Right before I left the UTC, a friend even told me to be careful with my phone but I guess I didn't listen well enough. When I realized it was gone, I tried to call it and look in places where it may be left....no luck. I felt very distracted, hoping I would find it. I had so many numbers on the simcard of the phone. I think I was more upset loosing the simcard then having to pay for a new phone. After lunch we visited the Genocide Memorial. It's not an easy place to visit. There was so much hatred that became contagious throughout Rwanda during the time of the genocide. It made me think a lot about loss and that my phone didn't even mater in the scheme of things. There were many parts of the memorial that were difficult. There was a section devoted to children that touches deep. My phone just isn't that important. After the genocide, now there's so much hope, forgiveness, and strength amoungst the survivors. It's amazing to be a part of a village that's looking forward to a better future.