Family Fun Activity

I’ve been playing hooky from the farm for the past few days…and no one can stop me! I was supposed to go to Kigali yesterday to buy food for the chickens. At the last minute, I decided not to go. I said that it was because to I want Solomon to be able to feel like he can do these things when I leave (which is very true and important) but also I wanted to spend time with the kids at sports day…and I’m very glad for that decision. The girls in my family played basketball…they gave a fierce effort and were very strong.

Before dinner, Micaela and I planned an activity for all of Family Patrice Lumumba. We wanted to combine lots of elements into one activity…we wanted of course fun, group building, team challenge, reflection on our time here, and thinking about the vacation.



The activity started at the mango tree. Each person in the family was given a piece of paper with a mission written on that paper. They had to work together to get from the mango tree to an unknown point for them. 1 person couldn’t see, another could only use 1 leg, someone had to lead the group in song, 1 person had to pick flowers and put them in people's hair, some would not speak but they knew where we should go on the journey, and many more. The journey took us from the mango tree to the football field and then behind the dining hall for a fire.



Some highlights from the journey was when our counselor Tharcille had to have everyone switch shoes. It was very funny to watch. Another highlight was when our mama led us in a traditional Rwandan dance.



At the end was a fire. I asked the group if there is something special in Rwandan culture about fire…one of the girls said that it symbolizes life. Micaela had everyone write a letter to another person in the family for them to open when they are on vacation. The whole activity worked out really well and I think everyone walked away having had a great time…I know I did!

Learning the Lessons

I’ve been waiting patiently for the arrival of the 1200 chicks. It’s getting frustrating for me that I’m done everything that I can, and they’re still not here! We’re so ready on the farm for them to come. We’re continuing to prepare for their arrival even though I’m uncertain of their arrival at this point. The coop is clean, we have all the food, and all the supplies are bought.

I’ve been doing a lot to prepare for the arrival. I’ve been doing lots of research to learn about raising day old chicks, feed for the birds, disease prevention, lighting, how to tell the health of the flock, and many more things. I’m learning more about raising laying chickens then I ever could have imagined. That being said there’s always more to learn. I learned that in a funny way. It might sounds at this point that there’s lots of frustration with the chicks not arriving…there is but that’s not the point of this post. With each week that they don’t come, I’m learning a little more.

Yesterday I had a seminar with the workers about how to raise the chicks from everything that I have read and researched. Our main chicken man has worked in large chicken coops in the past and has lots of knowledge. During the seminar, he asked a lot of questions and made some great suggestions. I think he knew most of what I taught. After the seminar, he brought over one of the hens. At first I didn’t know what was happening. Then Solomon explained to me that the bird was sick. The chicken man then lifted up the wing of the bird and insisted that I feel. It was very warm. The chicken must have a fever…so sad. Here I am trying to teach this man how to raise chickens but he knows the birds. They have become this children. He knows when they’re hungry or sick just like any good parent should.

It just reinforces for me that you can have the most book knowledge in the world but it means nothing if you don’t have the hands on experience. I guess this whole year is that experience for me.

Lets Dance

Tonight we had a farm worker party. I was planning on coming back and writting a blog about a few frustrations lately. The experience tonight is only allowing me to write about the awesome party and fun time spent with the farm workers. 3 of the women who work on the farm cooked a delicious meal of rice and veggies! The party started out slow...but when the music started, we were dancing!

There was lots of crazy fun dancing. At first only a few of the workers were dancing, but by the end everyone was up dancing. I danced with all of the workers and had a blast! With the music that we had going, you couldn't help but dance!

I realizing that this is the life of people in Africa. I feel grateful to have such a close connection to these people who are now not only people I work with but my friends!
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Just wanna be kids

We are no longer family 7 but Patrice Lumumba! The 8 families from the new grade had their house naming ceremonies last Sunday. A few weeks ago each kid in the family was given a person to researc and then the family was to pick the one for their family. My girls picked Patrice Lumumba.

I'e had such a geat time lately with my family (this has been a trend throughou my time here). Every night each family has a family tme where they talk about various topic and have activities. Most of the time they're pretty boring. I'm been enjoing thinking about creative family times. Last Thurday, I led a family time on things you can do when you get sad. Some of the ideas they suggested were to play sports, spend time alone, sing, read a book, and many more. I told them that I like to learn new things. I then taught them how to make paper fortune tellers...and let me tell you...they loved it! One of the other volunteers explained it real well. Many of them didn't get a chance to experience many of the things that other kids and teens get the opportunity to explore. It was fun to watch them construct the fortune tellers. The next day I saw them paying with them and teaching others! I'm excited to come up with other creative activities. I'm thinking of the things that we a big part of my children and teen years to expose these kids to. Next week, I'm working on creating a scavenger hunt for the kids

A Good Day!

I got up this morning at 4:30…and the crazy part is that I’m still awake at 11pm. I met a group of 5 other of the volunteers. We piled into a land cruiser and headed to Akagera National Park for a chance to see some big game. We arrived at the park, paid the entrance fee, and picked up a guide. We began our journey into the bush. About 10 minutes into the trip, we ran into zebras and giraffes. We were able to get so close and I got some awesome pics! We also saw many birds, buffalo, antelope, deer, baboon, velvel monkies, hippos, and crocodiles. The scenery is what I imagined all of Africa to be like before I arrived. We arrived at a beautiful lake and saw the hippos coming up for air from the water. It was a really cool safari where we got to see many things!



When I returned, I spent the whole afternoon with one of the girls in my family. I also led family time and I thought that it went really well. The topic was things to do when you get sad. I gave the example of being sick for 2 weeks and getting really sad, down, and lonely. I asked the girls to help we find things I can do to improve my mood. They gave some great ideas. In them helping him, I was also hoping that they’d take something way of the activity. I asked a series of questions and asked them to step in the center if it applies to them. I then taught them how to make paper fortune tellers…which they loved!

My Farm Family

I feel that it’s only appropriate that this blog is written on family. I have not been feeling well these past 2 weeks. Last night, I decided to go to sleep at 6…so then I woke up at 2…at lease I got 8 hours of sleep! At first I tried to go back to sleep, but I just laid there. After a little while I got up and brought my laptop to bed. I got to talk to my sister, both my parents, my brother (for the first time since coming to Rwanda!), and my uncle Marvin! It felt so great to talk to family and hear the tales from home. My uncle Marvin told me that many people in my family were over to his house last Sunday for father’s day…this made me really miss everyone and wishing I was there. I’ve been thinking lots about family recently…mine at home and the different ones that I belong to here.

As I wrote in earlier blogs, family is defined differently here than I studied in school. It seems that everyone and anyone can be family. In the Agahozo Shalom family I find myself in 2 families…Family 7 and the farm worker family. I find myself pulled between my 2 families many of the times. I wish I had lots of time to spend with each. I love them both so much! The family that I want to talk about in this blog is my farm family.

I didn’t realize how much I was a part of this family until a couple of weeks ago when 2 brothers who work on the farm had a sister that died. When it was time for the funeral, Solomon couldn’t find me so I missed it…I was very upset that I missed the funeral. I asked Solomon what I should do since I was not at the funeral and what’s the custom here to honor the family. I told Solomon about the Jewish custom of sitting shiva for a week and honoring them by going to their house. Solomon explained that there’s not the time to sit that long because maybe of the people are very poor and need to return to work as soon as possible. He explained that its customary to visit the family one time. It can be the day of the funeral or in one month. It’s just important to pay your respects. You wish the family patients in getting through their pain…they also drink LOTS of banana beer. Solomon suggested for me to buy the family banana beer and invite over all the workers. He also advised me to get a gift for the mother to help her be patient….we both went to Rubona and bought some fabric for her to make into a skirt.

The house of the family is right across from the village. We arrived and everyone sat around drinking the beer. Solomon kept insisting that I give the gift to the mother when everyone was there. I told him that I wanted to wait until it was private but I finally gave into his insisting (he said that it’s important for everyone to see their boss doing good things…I didn’t realize until this have much everyone looks to me as the big boss…more on this later). I gave a speech (in true Rwandan fashion) and then presented the gift. The mother was very grateful and I have enjoyed to get to know her. This past week the worker whose sister died invited Solomon and I over again because his father-in-law was visiting (they are expecting a baby this week!)
5 days ago the wife of the man who works with the chickens had a baby. I was so excited today when I got to go over and visit!

An Afternoon with Gedeo

A few weeks ago, I was talking with someone that works in the village about completing projects. He was saying to me that the kids are only here for 4 years and we want to make those the best years with as many opportunities as possible. I like this mentality…it has helped to build an amazing village with many opportunities for all the kids. The administration is also open to new ideas and likes when different people bring ways to improve the village. This idea has also been a challenge for me when it comes to balancing my life here. There’s so many projects that I want to accomplish while I’m here and I’m enjoying the learning process that I’m going through to gain all this new knowledge.

The problem is that I think that sometimes I’m not feeling well but I continue to work and then realize later that my head has been hurting all day. I know now that I need some rest. I was in Kigali this past weekend and planning to leave early Monday morning and when I woke up, I really didn’t feel well. I decided to stay in Kigali to rest at a friend’s house. It was nice to decide to take the time to just rest. It’s not easy for me, I enjoy to stay busy…I think I take after my father on this one. It’s a good thing I wasn’t in the village because I would surely make my way to the farm like I had been doing for the past 2 weeks while I was sick.

While I was in bed at my friend’s house, we got a visit from Gedeo…a 3 year old little boy that I swear is a 30 year old in the body of this young boy. I have gotten to know Gedeo very well. He usually pays a visit to my friend while I’m there. You never know when we’ll show up. He’ll come at anytime during the day. Gedeo lives differently than most kids that I know his age. He is completely free. We just does what we wants. You see him roaming the streets. My friend even saw him standing outside a neighbor’s party with a big chicken leg in his mouth one day. From what my friend has gathered from talking to him (and once you get him talking, he just doesn’t stop) he comes from a very poor family. His mother has told him that his father is in jail. While most kids his age in the US would be taking a nap, he is roaming the streets looking for food or something to use as a toy. Whenever I see him, I always insist that we give him a bath. My friend usually gives him something to eat. He told us that the only time that he ever gets milk is when he comes over…I think it’s one of the reasons he loves to come and the fact that he is taken care of.

There are many kids here with the same story as Gedeo…it’s very sad to see firsthand. What makes us want to help him when there are many kids in his situation? This is very easy, he’s a special kid. Whenever he’s over he’ll sit and talk to you for hours…about anything. When I say anything, I mean anything. My friend had a conversation with him about the upcoming elections and thoughts about Rwanda. Each day he comes with his aspirations for the future and his current thoughts. When he came to visit yesterday, he told us that he got a job being a security guard for the neighbor’s car. He promised to buy my friend a Primus (my friend’s favorite beer…my friend had no idea how he knew he liked Primus) with his first paycheck. We also get crazy stories from him that can go on for hours. I always tell my friend that he’s changing this boy’s life. He has become his friend, has taught him to say thank you, and washes him up.

Meeting kids like Gedeo really puts life into perspective and helps me to appreciate how I was raised.