Sunday, April 08, 2007
Hello everyone!
Time for Julie's Kinyarwanda proverb blog...
-'Yampiye inka!' 'You have given me a cow!' - cows are so meaningful and important here (used in the dowry ceremony as well), that if someone says this to you with warmth, it is quite positive, as a good friend, or with malice or laughing, they are telling you that whatever you are telling them (or selling them) it is ridiculous and you need to lower your price!!
-'Amategeko arusha amabuye kuremera' 'Laws are heavier then stones' - you get the idea
-'Ibuye ryagaragaye ntiryica isuka' 'If you see a stone, it cannot destroy your home' - this one is really good for me, as i often try/do see things optimistically and then get hurt because i wasn't willing to see the whole truth; anyway, if you see the stone (bad, negative, hurtful) while you are building your home, you can go around it and it won't break your tool, so you will be able to successfully build your house
-'Kibuno mpa amaguru' literally means a 'butt give me legs' OR Run Fast!! - funny one! love using it : )
The last few days have been interesting with Genocide Memorial. Pretty much stayed in and did work during the whole day. Felt uncomfortable participating in national activities as an 'observer'. More later when I have spoken to friends that went.
Lots of love, happy Passover and Easter, Jules
PS Our website have toys: www.dbdtoys.com check it out!!! yea Jess!!!
Time for Julie's Kinyarwanda proverb blog...
-'Yampiye inka!' 'You have given me a cow!' - cows are so meaningful and important here (used in the dowry ceremony as well), that if someone says this to you with warmth, it is quite positive, as a good friend, or with malice or laughing, they are telling you that whatever you are telling them (or selling them) it is ridiculous and you need to lower your price!!
-'Amategeko arusha amabuye kuremera' 'Laws are heavier then stones' - you get the idea
-'Ibuye ryagaragaye ntiryica isuka' 'If you see a stone, it cannot destroy your home' - this one is really good for me, as i often try/do see things optimistically and then get hurt because i wasn't willing to see the whole truth; anyway, if you see the stone (bad, negative, hurtful) while you are building your home, you can go around it and it won't break your tool, so you will be able to successfully build your house
-'Kibuno mpa amaguru' literally means a 'butt give me legs' OR Run Fast!! - funny one! love using it : )
The last few days have been interesting with Genocide Memorial. Pretty much stayed in and did work during the whole day. Felt uncomfortable participating in national activities as an 'observer'. More later when I have spoken to friends that went.
Lots of love, happy Passover and Easter, Jules
PS Our website have toys: www.dbdtoys.com check it out!!! yea Jess!!!
# posted by Julie @ 7:07 AM 
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Hi Julie,
I recently found your blog through Google Alerts on Rwanda. I absolutely love reading your comments. I live in Canada and know and work with many Rwandese people. Over the last year I have gotten more involved with their community and developed some wonderful friendships. They are a wonderful group of people. I also volunteer with Ubuntu Edmonton which operates out of Edmonton and Kimironko (Kigali) assisting widows and orphans of the genocide. I too am trying to learn Kinyarwanda as I want to come to Rwanda someday. You are living my dream (in part) and I want to thank you. The stories you tell are exactly what I like to learn about and my Rwandan friends don't seem to understand that it is the day-to-day little things that are so interesting. Murakoze cyane Julie! I will continue to follow your blog.
I recently found your blog through Google Alerts on Rwanda. I absolutely love reading your comments. I live in Canada and know and work with many Rwandese people. Over the last year I have gotten more involved with their community and developed some wonderful friendships. They are a wonderful group of people. I also volunteer with Ubuntu Edmonton which operates out of Edmonton and Kimironko (Kigali) assisting widows and orphans of the genocide. I too am trying to learn Kinyarwanda as I want to come to Rwanda someday. You are living my dream (in part) and I want to thank you. The stories you tell are exactly what I like to learn about and my Rwandan friends don't seem to understand that it is the day-to-day little things that are so interesting. Murakoze cyane Julie! I will continue to follow your blog.
Hi Jules! So happy to see the latest blog entry. I love "butt give me legs" - that is awesome. I am so impressed with your command of the language. I miss you. When are you coming home?? I heard Allie told you I was ignoring her, but she failed to check her email in a timely manner. Hope to see her soon. The DBD site looks awesome. Congrats to both of you!!
Love,
Rachel D.
Love,
Rachel D.
Hey Julie! I've been following your blog since you started it, and things have finally calmed down enough to write. The "butt give me legs," and the story about the cooked peanuts are so funny. I love your stories and proverbs. What you're doing over there is amazing. And sounds like you're having quite an experience! I'd love to be added to your email list if you are still sending out pictures (abbey.genevieve@gmail.com). The clinic I wanted to work at in Tanzania wasn't accepting students for April, but I have 2 1/2 weeks open at the beginning of June. I may still go there or Kenya. I'll let you know.
Just got back from a wedding in Manuel Antonio. Strangely, was a little uncomfortable being on the other end for this trip (fancy hotel, no mama tica). No sand fleas in the resort bed though! By the way, I am moving back to NYC to do Radiology at NYU. Very excited about it. Can't wait for your next post!
Take care,
Genevieve
Just got back from a wedding in Manuel Antonio. Strangely, was a little uncomfortable being on the other end for this trip (fancy hotel, no mama tica). No sand fleas in the resort bed though! By the way, I am moving back to NYC to do Radiology at NYU. Very excited about it. Can't wait for your next post!
Take care,
Genevieve
# posted by 
: 4:42 PM
: 4:42 PM
Hi Jules,
Hope everything is going well in Rwanda. Wow, the genocide memorial experience must have been really intense-even with you not participating. What difficult memories for everyone! Everything is going well here. We are entering spring and I just planted new flowers for the season. I am really excited about them-I am trying to grow rose bushes this year.
My aunt Linda is taking a trip and will be in Rwanda on April 21-24. She is really interested in seeing you when she is there. I am not sure if you met her, but... She is staying at the Virunga Lodge in Bandas in Volcanoes National Park. Maybe I will give her your blog site and if you are close to her you can coordinate a meeting. I think she would like an insiders experience of the country.
I miss you and cannot wait to hear more from you. I am sending you something in the mail tomorrow, so keep an eye out for it in a couple of weeks.
Love you, Laurie
Hope everything is going well in Rwanda. Wow, the genocide memorial experience must have been really intense-even with you not participating. What difficult memories for everyone! Everything is going well here. We are entering spring and I just planted new flowers for the season. I am really excited about them-I am trying to grow rose bushes this year.
My aunt Linda is taking a trip and will be in Rwanda on April 21-24. She is really interested in seeing you when she is there. I am not sure if you met her, but... She is staying at the Virunga Lodge in Bandas in Volcanoes National Park. Maybe I will give her your blog site and if you are close to her you can coordinate a meeting. I think she would like an insiders experience of the country.
I miss you and cannot wait to hear more from you. I am sending you something in the mail tomorrow, so keep an eye out for it in a couple of weeks.
Love you, Laurie
# posted by : 7:05 PM
: 7:05 PM
hi juls
just wanted you to know i check the blog every day eventhough i know that a new edition only comes out every few weeks. the dbd site is awesome! really proud of you both.
lots of snow on the mountains here this morning but its beautiful fall here. i'm grape picking and get to be outside all day. only a few more weeks until takeoff.
i can't believe how long it will be until we see each other again. i was telling jon the other night that when we are all back in sf i really want to have people over a lot and cook and have a silly gourmet group like my parents where the get together once a month and cook things from different countries. jon thinks i'm 60 for wanting to do that. so be it, i think you would think it's fun.
ok love you, hope we can get this skype thing going before i go away,
gayleah
just wanted you to know i check the blog every day eventhough i know that a new edition only comes out every few weeks. the dbd site is awesome! really proud of you both.
lots of snow on the mountains here this morning but its beautiful fall here. i'm grape picking and get to be outside all day. only a few more weeks until takeoff.
i can't believe how long it will be until we see each other again. i was telling jon the other night that when we are all back in sf i really want to have people over a lot and cook and have a silly gourmet group like my parents where the get together once a month and cook things from different countries. jon thinks i'm 60 for wanting to do that. so be it, i think you would think it's fun.
ok love you, hope we can get this skype thing going before i go away,
gayleah
# posted by : 10:59 PM
: 10:59 PM
HI Julie,
Hey, I like gayleah all together as one name - Isn't that pretty? I'm writing to Gay now and not you, sorry. HI Julie! And I too sent you something yesterday! We'll count down the weeks (or months) until you get it! Maybe it will arrive exactly on May 17th.. what are the odds?
I'll give you some snippits (is that a word) of life over here... Adam and I have been to a few shows lately - he likes those... been running a lot and getting ready for my Wildflower relay the same weekend as Allie's - we ran together last week! Going to see Grandpa memorial day weekend... getting very excited for Fair Oaks garage sale day in May!! I've been working in a real live OFFICE on Fridays, with only adults and no kids around. It's been very weird for me, but I kind of like it!Allright, that's all you get for now. I look forward to reading about your reflections on the Genocide Memorial.. love you,yve
Hey, I like gayleah all together as one name - Isn't that pretty? I'm writing to Gay now and not you, sorry. HI Julie! And I too sent you something yesterday! We'll count down the weeks (or months) until you get it! Maybe it will arrive exactly on May 17th.. what are the odds?
I'll give you some snippits (is that a word) of life over here... Adam and I have been to a few shows lately - he likes those... been running a lot and getting ready for my Wildflower relay the same weekend as Allie's - we ran together last week! Going to see Grandpa memorial day weekend... getting very excited for Fair Oaks garage sale day in May!! I've been working in a real live OFFICE on Fridays, with only adults and no kids around. It's been very weird for me, but I kind of like it!Allright, that's all you get for now. I look forward to reading about your reflections on the Genocide Memorial.. love you,yve
# posted by : 2:44 PM
: 2:44 PM
Hi Julie,
I lived in Gahini on the shores of Lake Muhazi from 1999-2001. I learned this useful phrase:
"_____ and _____ ni nka intobo (ebyiri)"
(______ and _____ are like (two) peas in a pod)
Enjoy,
Dawidi
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I lived in Gahini on the shores of Lake Muhazi from 1999-2001. I learned this useful phrase:
"_____ and _____ ni nka intobo (ebyiri)"
(______ and _____ are like (two) peas in a pod)
Enjoy,
Dawidi
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