Sunday, we packed up and left. I drove with the three other girls who live in Nyamasheke district and we stopped in Butare to pick up the rest of our things and met up with the group of girls who live in the south and had lunch with them. After lunch, we had our long drive through Nyungwe. We only saw one monkey the whole time! We dropped off two of the girls things, but were unable to make it to my and another of the girls sites because we are too far off the main road, so we all stayed the night in Cyangugu, where we had to wait 2 hours for our little pizza. On Monday, my roommate had to be back at her site by 7:30 in the morning, so she left and we stayed and waited for the car to come back to get us. While we were waiting, I went to get prices on a gas tank for my stove and to get a post box. The post box didn’t happen, but I think AIDS Relief will let me use theirs, so I’ll send an email with the updated address soon. We ate breakfast and then just sat around for a few hours while our driver’s friend went into Congo to get me a gas tank because they’re cheaper in DRC. There was a little island out in the middle of the river that is the border between Rwanda and DRC, so we went out to that and sat for a while and took pictures as if we were in Congo. Its off limits to us, so of course it’s the most fun thing to joke about. We finally left Cyangugu around noon to my site. The road was really good for a while because they were fixing it the last time I was here and it was done, but then we hit a nice muddy hill and the car was spinning out and we had to spend quite a bit of time trying to get up it. We almost tipped the car off the cliff at one point when we were trying to drive over a log bridge, but we didn’t and we’re all still alive. We made pretty good time though because the majority of the road was pretty good and our driver drives like he’s ripping off a bandage. He doesn’t care much for potholes, he just goes right through them, no easing the way. The nuns were out waiting for me when I arrived and gave me big hugs and said they were so happy I was back, that they were waiting a long time, but that they’re sad that I am alone. They told the driver and my teacher that they are bad people for leaving me here by myself, haha. I got all unpacked and the nuns brought us over some food and drinks and then the other volunteers and my teacher left. My counterpart stayed with me for a while and helped me unpack some things and then he went back to work and left me alone. It was nice. I did some laundry, unpacked and put away some things and just hung out at my house. I love that I am somewhat secluded. It’s so nice not to be stared at all day and have people talking about you. I am so happy I have my house to get away to. When we were at the lake, there were people there the entire time up in trees, standing looking through cracks in the fence and swimming in front of us. It was crazy. We did “hire” a few of the boys to get our volleyball and soccer balls for us when they went into the water though. We gave them coke and cookies (good nutrition lesson from the health volunteers).
Tuesday, I went to the clinic in the morning for the staff meeting and introduced myself and everyone introduced themselves to me. I didn’t stay at the clinic long. I came back and did some more laundry and watched the Office on my computer. One of the drivers came and dropped of my bag and a box that got into a different car. I had dinner that night with the nuns and they taught me a new game when you get two bananas that are fused together. You pull them apart like a wishbone and then the first person to say “filipine bonjour” to the other in the morning wins. I was totally going to get her, but she snuck up on me and knocked on my window and said it. So I lost. Wednesday, I didn’t go to the clinic, I stayed at home and went to the market around 9:30. I got some food and some dishes and utensils and some really cute glasses with ladybugs on them. Wednesday night I went over to the neighbor’s house and had dinner with them while we practiced English and Kinyarwanda. Then Thursday, Emily called and said she was going to come live with me. So, I stayed home Thrusday as well and cooked dinner and she came around 8pm. We unpacked a few of her things and got her bed set up and she brought the internet card with her, so I got on the internet for a few HOURS! Its so nice not having to worry about how long you’re on and how much you are paying. Friday morning, we went to the clinic for the staff meeting and introduced her and showed her around the clinic. I used the computer at the clinic to look at the TEFL CD and write out my lesson plan for Monday. Then we came back home and boiled some water to put in the filter, unpacked a few more of her things and cooked lunch. I was on the internet pretty much all day. Then I stole her external hard drive and have been watching Gilmore girls ever since. We don’t have anything planned for today other than boiling some more water and cooking food. I made dinner last night and two of the men at the clinic came over to visit in the middle of me cooking and never left. So when the food was done, I had to serve them even though I only made enough for two people. Its very rude in Rwandan culture to not serve food or drink to people, so I had to give it to them and they weren’t leaving and I didn’t want the food to get cold. I hope that doesn’t happen very often. I’m still not sure how to get people to leave your house in a polite way.
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