Friday, August 10, 2007

 
It's been almost a year since I arrived here. These are some things 'I've learned' here.
-I've learned that 'yes' can mean 'no' and that raising your eyebrows can mean 'yes'
-I've learned how to walk in the dark
-I've learned how to make an adaptive cup for a child with CP out of a peanut butter jar
-I've learned how to stay calm, and silent
-I've learned how to dance salsa
-I've learned how to use and re-use flip chart paper
-I've learned how to bucket bathe
-I've learned how to ignore my hunger all day
-I've learned to love to shop
-I've learned that death may just be a part of life
-I've learned that not all bananas are peel-able
-I've learned how privileged I am
-I've learned to be a bit patriotic to the US
-I've learned to say 'trousers' instead of 'pants'
-I've learned to be ready for anything
-I've learned that if you put someone in prison, you are responsible to bring him dinner every night (at least on a domestic violence related charge)
-I've learned how to be Posh Spice
-I've learned that drinking too much fanta really can rot your teeth
-I've learned how to live without reliable water and electricity
-I've learned how to bake without a proper oven
-I've learned that the word 'proper' has a less negative connotation to British people
-I've learned that organized religion is similar the world over
-I've learned that I love to sing with my colleagues before we start our work day
-I've learned to be my own fashion designer
-I've learned to like pasta
-I've learned to live without crackers (and burritos, and sushi...for that matter)
-I've learned that connecting with people can cross all language and cultural barriers
-I've learned to sew and to saw
-I've learned not to be too trusting
-I've learned that I still enjoy hand washing clothes even when it is out of necessity
-I've learned to love a language most people have never heard of
-I've learned that ALL stereotypes can be defied
-I've learned to question how to give
-I've learned never to try to give 'prizes' to 80 street children at one time
-I've learned to share food
-I've learned what a guava looks like
-I've learned how to send a text message
-I've learned how to find my way with no street signs or maps
-I've learned that I think that lining up should be important around the world
-I've learned to wash my hair, once, hmm, maybe twice a week
-I've learned how to ride on a moto in a skirt
-I've learned the strength in people
-I've learned how to scare cockroaches into playing dead
-I've learned that I am just as poor a matchmaker in Rwanda as in the US
-I've learned to 'scale' secure gates
-I've learned that many people truly believe that money grows on American trees
-I've learned that I look Chinese
-I've learned variations of my name: Julianna, Julia, Lilianna, Junior, Robbins...
-I've learned that I will never understand what it means to have survived the genocide here
-I've learned that there is so much more to learn...

Comments:
pasta! i never thought i would see the day when julie liked pasta. with ketchup i'm sure.
loved the list, funny and touching. i think i'm learning a bit about what you have been doing all year by working with the tibetans and hearing their stories of escape and horror. it's good to feel like you are helping but frustrating to feel helpless at the same time.
ok, see you soon at burma superstar? love you!
gayleah
 
Amakuru urakomeye Julie,

I loved this last post. As always, you bring something very human and make it more real (at least to me).

Urakoze kandi urabeho.

Diann
 
I learned from Tenning about your mininum # of comments rule! When you get home let's go shopping and eat at Pasta Pomodoro. My other favorites were that you look Chinese and that you've been trying to matchmake there too! (Jennie used to get the Chinese thing too). Well, I really enjoyed your list and I'm truly amazed by all that you've learned, and I'm sure this list will only continue to grow even upon your return. We got home last night and had a great trip.
see you soo soon! love yve
 
This comment has been removed by the author.
 
This is my favorite post!

joe
 
My favorite post too!! Juls, I have loved following your days in Rwanda through the words of your blog for the past year, but I am very much looking forward to selfishly having you back in the Bay area all to ourselves! Best wishes as you are wrapping everything up, and knowing that you are leaving Rwanda a better place than before you came as it has enriched and changed your life in turn (you're a shopper now?! I'll believe it when I see it).
See you back at home, yay!
Love, T
 
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