Going Back to Cali and other Random Nonsense

Good morning my fellow Americans,

I'm in Kigali with only two days remaining on this unbelievable trip, and have reached a point where Mutzig no longer has any effect upon me.  Really?  I think today's topics will be random things I've experienced in the past few days.

So, the water situation is the same:  Little pressure and no hot water.  I have to say that I've come quite accustomed to my early morning shower aerobics routine, and don't think I'll know what to do when I get home.  I'm sure I'll cope.

Mosquitoes:  When encountering mosquitoes, one should be careful to note the time of day.  dawn and dusk equal Malaria, and any other time equals Dengue fever.  Or they are disease free and just an annoyance.  Also, remember that if you do decide to squash one, don't use your hand;  I had the misfortune of doing this, only to find that the end result was my palm being completely covered in blood.  Awesome, I know.  Swearing ensued.

James Bond movies dubbed in French:  Completely Awesome.  Even though my knowledge of French is limited, James Bond (and his lady friends) still rocks.  Chauvanism is so easy to understand.

African Music videos:  These are also awesome.  I watched yesterday by a white South African rapper whose theme was that he loved college.  Quite an amazing piece of art if I do say so myself.  And I do.

Nigerian Soaps:  I know I'm starting to sound a little redundant, but these are awesome as well.  I think I may have mentioned these earlier.  Whatever the case, I have found that there are few things better than a Mutzig and terrible acting after a long day of "work."

This may be one of the worst entries I've written, but at this point, I'm so tired that I really don't even care.  If I like you, I'm sure I'll do a better job telling stories to you when I get back to the States.  Until then, Peace.

Muzungu Kris

Good evening everyone,

I hope that the two of you who are reading this blog semi sporadically are doing well. Again, I apologize for any typing errors, but I am still too lazy to find an English keyboard. Go figure.

I spent the first half of my day mountain biking with the founder of Project Rwanda and some of its workers/volunteers. We rode about 17 miles and shockingly enough, I survived. The scenery was amazing and so were the throngs of people who seemed to be cheering us on the entire way. Im still not sure whether they were actually there, or if this was yet another side effect of the mefloquine I quit taking almost a week ago. Thank you melfloquine. Regardless, the day has been fantastic.

Im definitely on the home stretch now, with only four days to go. I believe that I am ready to be done with our project=which we almost are, but I dont think that Im quite ready to say goodbye to Rwanda. Not much one can do about that though, at least for now. Ok, I suppose this is getting a little to serious for my blog, so I apologize.

I am here in Ruhengari for one more day, and then its back to Kigali for some wrap up stuff and shopping. Yes shopping, but not for any of you. I plan to buy myself a tee shirt and a mountain of Mutzig. I guess Im selfish like that.

Ok, enough. Peace.

Gorillas in my Mist

Hello people,

Updates since last time:

1) I have been too lazy to find a better computer/a non french keyboard

2) I am currently still malaria free and not taking my craptastic antimalarials

3) I have had my first intestinal battle in which I emerged victorious

4) I just returned from a day of mountain hiking, part of which I spent in extremely close proximity to over 15 gorillas.

So things are what they are here. I would provide more details, but this keyboard is making me want to strangle someone. Things should get better by Tuesday. And now my computer is attempting to commit suicide. Nice. Peace.

French Computers

I apologize for the shortness of this blog, but Im using a French keyboard. Updates: I have stopped taking my anti=malarials due to side effects and advice from an experienced colleage. I value my sanity over being malaria free. I should be fine though because it is the dry season here.

I have moved to Ruhengari and will be here until Tuesday doing random things of great importance Im sure. Its then back to Kigali for a few days, and then back to the States.

Other than that, Im looking forward to getting home and helping my softball team try not to get beat 34 to 0 again. Nice work boys. I am sure my return will only create more success. I will add more when I find a better computer. Peace

Bananarama!

My apologies to the two of you who are reading my blog irregularly; Internet access in Rwamagana is a little unpredictable. So here's an update:

My last entry ended with a statement regarding my intestinal fortitude. I was incorrect in my assumption. The situation has moved back to normal. I repeat, situation is normal (for the dense ones out there, this means I don't have mud butt). However, for those of you out there waiting for a poop story, one of my group had a "bedtime" accident Thusday night. Nice.

Besides this, cold water has become my closest companion, and I have set a new world record for the most bananas eaten in a 1 hour sitting. Take that Prime Quarter Steakhouse of southern Milwaukee (yes, I took that challenge too, but they didn't even have the foresight to realize that you need film to take a picture of a winner)!

I have been bouncing back and forth between Rwamagana and a number of other cities to conduct interviews and take video of varying water production centers and NGOs, and our overall project is about 3/4 of the way finished. I head to Kigali on Monday and Tuesday to do much of the same, plus one little catch; I will be the one getting videotaped. Apparently the rest of my group believes that it will be worth while for me to walk in the shoes of someone who collects water from a well that is VERY far away from their home (we're talking 6-10 miles of walking with I don't know how many jerry-cans on my shoulders). After I recover from my stroke, I'm planning on submitting our work to AFV. Stay tuned.

Other than that, I'm slightly sick of Rwamagana and ready to move on to Ruhengari to see mountain gorrilas, and to ride with the Rwandan National Cycling team (yes, I am that good). Again, I'll update pics/videos if I can, but don't hold your breath. There is internet in Rwanda, but not really the kind you can send the above with (at least not quickly). I'll most likely just post them when I get home.

One more thing. Internet cafe's here in Rwamagana rock, and not for their speedy access or beverages (beverages? what beverages?). Talk about a redeeming quality. As I write, there is a big screen tv with Rwandan reality tv on in the background. Simply put, it is one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed besides PeeWee Herman walking on the ceiling of his playhouse with homemade suction cup boots made of toilet plungers and ski boots (I actually tried this; my results did not match his--shocking, I know). Imagine this: Little to no script (somewhat resembling The Hills--wait, why do I know that?), fantastic synthesizer music, drama, and of course, three internet cafe employees watching attentitively (and me). You can't put a price tag on that (Actually, you can. It cost me 300 RwF.)

Alright, enjoy your weekend if you have one, I apologize for all the digressing, and Mikey, take it easy on the Mad Dog. Peace.

Rwamagana

I arrived in Rwamagana yesterday afternoon (7/13) after being in the car for around six hours or so. This was the second day of traveling 6 plus hours to different destinations, so you can imagine how happy I was when we arrived (we will be here for the next 10 days).

Rwamagana is pretty rural, so it is extremely quiet, and has fewer people (fewer in the sense that you can walk without being right next to someone all the time). I think its going to be a good next 10 days of project work, reading, and drinking banana beer. So it should be good.

As a note/update on my previous entry, on the 4th day in Butare, my shower situation did indeed revert back to an earlier stage of cold water from the faucet. Whatever. I was still about 70% clean when I finished, and there were no signs of stroke or aneurism [spelling] from the shock of the water temp, so I had that going for me.

Not much else to report, oh wait, that's not true. I was awoken by a rooster crowing at 4:30am (that I plan to kill tomorrow morning-and perhaps eat while I laugh about my victory), and I think that I may have drank some "bad" water. I'll keep you updated, but as well as I know my body, I think there may be troubling times ahead. Peace.

Butare Bathroom Etiquette

The Bathroom. A place to relieve oneself. A place to rest. A place to get work done. A place to get clean. All of these ideas fall into the category of what I do in the bathroom at home, as well as in other countries. Prior to my trip to Rwanda, I believed that I had encountered every type of curve ball one could expect while "bathrooming" abroad. And up until Butare, this was true.

Enter convent/hotel. Apparently, nuns do not take normal showers here in Rwanda. Normal would refer to things like "water pressure," and "hot water," or "actual indoor plumbing." In my four days here, I have had different combinations of the above. The following details my past four days using the convent bathroom:

Day One: No water. Had to walk outside with a bucket and pull water from a tap while trying to speak my best Kinyarwanda to other hotel patrons (this went well--people laugh when you do things correctly, right?) I head back to my room and take a "bucket bath" with freezing cold water. It is ok, because I am 30% clean.

Day 2: I have water, but it is freezing cold. Water does not come from the shower head, but does come out of the faucet. So I do what any person would do: I squat, soap up, and rinse as fast as I can. I am somewhat pleased with myself for my great moves in the shower/faucet washing. I am 70% clean.

Day 3: Getting better. I have hot water, but still nothing coming out of the shower head. A repeat of Day 2, only better and with less screaming. Can I get a Hell Yeah!! I am 100% clean.

Day 4: This has not yet happened, but if the current trends points to anything, I may have a full shower tomorrow and a repeat of 100% cleanliness. Or I could land back at a Day one senario. Neat, Huh? Cleanliness unknown.

Also, my toilet, although Western in style, has no seat (from my inquires, this seems to be a common theme here). So its use has been amusing. Thank goodness for the Ludvigson spread (word up mom and dad).

All in all, I believe this will go down as one of my most memorable Bathrooming experiences. And remember kids, jumping in only hurts for a little while. Here's to a lack of amenities!!

Peace.

Butare or bust

So we've made it to Butare (Which is in the south of Rwanda), and in the past day and half, i had learned more about coffee than I ever wanted to know. Seriously, I'm not sure how much else besides making sure that what I'm drinking is fair trade coffee, and that it is produced in an environmentally sound way is really that pressing.

We will be spending some time at a couple of museums over the next few days (both a history and genocide museum-i believe that i will be about done with museums by the time i leave). And on Sunday, we'll be hiking in a national park close by. I'm looking forward to that.

little else happening. Peace.

And on the 7th Day Kris Made . . .

Its already been a week since I landed in Rwanda, and I fear that my trip will be over before I want it too. Oh well, enjoy what you have while you have I guess.

As I said in my last blog, it is amazing here. Amazing for so many different reasons, both good and well, not so good (perhaps bad to horrible is a better description). Since we started in on the actual itinerary of our gpa, each day has been emotionally draining to the point that when I get back to my room and jot down some notes about the day, the only other activity I can handle is sleep. And even that has had its trying moments (Can you say Mefloquine!!??). I think that I should note that it has been emotionally draining in a good way.

We have begun our visits to the schools of Kigali, as well as to one of the NGOs (Global Grassroots) for my group's project, and also took an afternoon to see the Genocide museum here. All were unbelievable experiences. Again, I will be posting pics and even some videos when I have the chance. Please visit the Global Grassroots site if you get a chance, it is a fantastic opportunity to help those women (if you check out the site, you'll understand what I'm talking about).

When we were visiting the NGO the other day, we got to check out the community well (which was at the bottom of a freaking mountain and about 6 miles away from the village where we started). Have you ever been surrounded by 10-20 children, all smiling, all wearing dirty clothes, no shoes, and stinking of b.o.? I have. And it was one of the most phenomenal experiences of my life. Not because it was cool, but because of how completely F*#%@d up it was that these people (mostly women and children) had to come to this well to get water every day, walk up and down a mountain, and were still some of the most genuinely nice people I have ever met.

I eventually had to take a step back and collect myself. It made me realize how much help Africa needs in regards to development (and yes, I know I teach about this, but seeing it firsthand was like getting the wind knocked out of me). Talk about motivation.

A note on the 1994 Genocide too: I learned quite a bit more about the years leading up to the actual genocide. Prior to going, I believed that I knew most of the shocking information. One of those tidbits was that the French gov't actually trained and armed the Hutu/Interhamwe militia. I wish I would have taught that to my students. Pass it on it you wish.

Tomorrow we leave Kigali for Butare (we're heading south, quite close to the border with Burundi). Coffee plantations and tons more research.

More to come, and I apologize for the lack of organization. Peace.

AFRICA!!!!!!! More specifically, RWANDA!!!!!! It took nearly 24 hours of flights, waiting, bad airplane food, and tiny seats to get here, but I am finaly here. I am honestly so excited that I wasn't able to get much sleep last night.

I was told that the air in Africa was going to be different. I believed that, but when I stepped off the plane and took my first breath, I was amazed. It not only smells different, but feels different here. You can instantly tell that Rwanda is a country where a large amount of their energy is produced by burning wood. Interesting.

We haven't done much yet besides tour the city by truck, but this place is amazing to see. Its all hills/mountains and people everywhere. I would equate the amount to China population density-wise.

Tomorrow we are hitting up a bifecta: We will be attending the Rwandan 4th of July Independence Day Celebration where the President and others will be speaking (this is to celebrate the end of the war/genocide in 1994), and then we will be attempting to make a 4th of July party at the U.S. embassy here in Kigali. So tomorrow should be interesting to say the least.

Before I go, I think I should mention that it does feel a little strange to be here in Rwanda. Based on my background knowledge of the genocide that took place in 1994, I can't help but feel like I am having deja vu when driving past certain parts of Kigali. I have been having flashes of memory from the videos/lectures I have seen. Its not that I feel unsafe, because I actually feel completely safe here. It is just the history of this place. You can feel it. Its the same feeling I had when I stood on the Great Wall a few years ago. The only difference is that this happened in my lifetime.

Still very cool to be here. Stay tuned for pics, vids, and diarrea updates over the next week.

Peace.