Adventures In Rwanda

Miriwe! Good afternoon! Well, I certainly hope those of you who have been blogging, emailing, calling, keep up your momentum. Some observations: I finally feel like I am starting to settle in and that my area is meeting my expectations (feeling more rural, quaint, if you will). I live in a "suburb" of Kigali (the capital city), called Gikondo. Gikondo appears to be a bit infamous for its lack of water, which actually makes me feel quite happy. Exploring my neighborhood has made me feel more at home. I have gone on two "sunrise in Kigali" runs. This country is quite exquisite, the hills/mountains never end. Some cultural tidbits: apparently, I would have been legally beaten in school for my left-handedness. Sometimes, I think that is more of a shock to people then my race or religion. Also, twins here get married at the same time!! How fun! Lastly, if I understood correctly, people here generally use their surname first, but their surname is not usually a family name, but a made-up name, like we have with our first and middle names. At work, I am finally trying to help treat (more physical therapy then occupational therapy right now) and talk to the kids. Most of them look at me like I am the monster hiding under their bed, but I smile sweetly, say "Mwaramutse. Ama kuru? Witwande? Umfite imyaka n'angahe?" (good morning, how are you, what is your name and how old are you?)...I do leave them time to answer though!
PS went on my first motorcycle ride today (it is a cheap type of taxi service here)!

Hello All! After moving and spending the last two days meeting church leaders, walking the neighborhood of Gikondo in search of local community leaders and meeting one (I tried my best to remember to hold my right elbow with my left hand when shaking hands, out of respect)...I have finally had a little time at the clinic (center/project). Today, I helped an orthopedic officer serial cast 2 children with club foot, while one mother brought her breast out to soothe her child. I have also been learning more about the schooling of Physical Therapists here (the only PT program in all of Rwanda opened in 1998 and is in Kigali) and the needs of the these therapists and their patients.
Also, I tried so hard to explain in French and Kinyarwanda that I wanted to cook with the household help in my guesthouse (Didi), but to no avail. Dinner was finished cooking by the time I returned home (just next door to the center).
So...Didi, Gerard (the guard), and I, sat for a nice meal.
An updated address for me:
Julie Robbins
c/o Inkuru Nziza
PO Box 105
Kigali
Rwanda

To those of you who are used to my atoning...sincerely, I am thinking of you and all of my transgressions and asking for your forgiveness!!! Or...I can hold it until next year : ) Your call : )

At anytime, I would love to receive post at:
Julie Robbins
c/o VSO Rwanda
P.O. Box 4599
Kigali
Rwanda

Or call:
08654777 (ps, not quite sure about all of the in country numbers...00250?)

In-country training has included Kinyarwanda lessons (byiza!), safety, culture, gender equity, child protection...We visited the Jenoside memorial in Kigali. Not suprisingly, I had a similar visceral reaction as I did when touring the Holocaust Museum in DC. I have been delighted by the warm (yet reserved) nature of folks here. People's willingness to let me make mistakes in Kinyarwanda, French, and I must admit, sometimes English. Who can fit so much inside your brain? The food has been equisite; and I have enjoyed the bitter bite of passion fruit seeds.
More soon (Gay for you, I'll pass along my best charcoal stove recipes, in the future).
Thanks to all of your comments: Andy the picture cracked me up! Sorry, I am still unable to add my own! argh. Either way, I love to read all of your updates from home.

Forgive my typos, Im adjusting to a French keyboard and to looking at the keys when typing -Mr. Tappen would be so upset.
After not retrieving my paper plane ticket until just before boarding and then having my only pants waterlogged in London...I am just glad to say Ive made it.
I was reminded of peoples strengths when chatting in the Nairobi airport with a beautiful woman from Malawi, who had learned enough Turkish in 9 mos to be halfway through her medical trng in Istanbul. I also look forward to mtg up with Innocent, a sweet Rwandan who studied international tax and lives in Kigali with his wife and daughter.
In-country trng begins intensely tomorrow.
Take care and keep me posted on you throught the comments.
PS thanks for all of your support in so many different ways