Saturday, October 9, 2010

A trip to Rwanda

My husband spent the last week of August and the month of September in Rwanda working. He and several others did some interviews in the rural areas and back to the Capital of Tagali Kigali for the weekends, where they wrote reports and had laundry done.

From Tagali Kigali to the rural area, Butare was maybe 30 miles, but the road was in poor condition and only 2 lanes, one each way and you had to share it with ox/donkey carts/wagons and pedestrians, so the drive would take up to 3 hours one way.

Rwanda is country that has been through a civil war Genocide, so much of the infrastructure has been damaged or in some places nonexistant. Acutally Rwanda, is a very poor country and doesn't have much infrastructure to begin with. Roads, buildings, elecrical supplies, are sporatic to say the least. So in the back country many of the villages and homes are without electricity or running water, and the people don't have much in the way of possessions or wealth.

So my husband tried to have something for the children... a soccer ball, that the driver was in charge of. The driver would show the kids soccer (like coach) while they did their work. It gave the driver something to do, and the kids something to look forward to after school and homework! Or he had sweets (candy) and when he discovered ink pens were the most valued - PENS!!!

 
One afternoon, he had his iPhone with him, (more like iTouch when you don't have a carrier for phone signal). The kids have not seen video or digital pictures.So in the first picture he is playing a video for them of Ozzie Osborne and in the second it's just the kids faces. Just look at the wonder on them!!! Nevermind the damage to their ears from listening to Ozzie...

(I have edited the text for errors and misspellings. Low Speed Internet made it nearly impossible to do any research on Rwanda while DH was gone. Kept locking up the computer.)

5 comments:

  1. Fascinating. And wonderful pictures. Thank you so for sharing. Who would think that pens would be such a treasure!
    Jean (who is in Knoxville, TN to take a Bernina class this afternoon)

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  2. Wow! Thanks for sharing! What an amazing experience that must have been for your husband!

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  3. Oh wow....how I would love to go too. I pray one day I get to Africa before I die. Thank you for sharing and keep sharing...I love to read everything.

    Smiles,
    Kelly

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  4. Absolutely amazing. I'm so happy for you that you could join him for the adventure/job. Very happy for you both.

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  5. Beautiful pictures! When you get the chance to travel with him to see the gorillas, take pictures! Enjoy Africa my friend! 8-)

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