June 28th

June 26, 2012

Kinyarwanda lessons have been going great. An amazing thing happened to me the other day. I was walking to the clinic, like usual children were screaming at me. For the first time since I have been here I actually understood what they were saying. They were screaming “white person how are you, can we have your plastic water bottle?”  Or course I didn’t understand it right away but I knew I recognized all the words, finally I figured out what they were saying. This was a big moment for me.

Lessons with Amaharo are continuing. He is really a great guy. Every day I learn a little more about him, sometimes more than I want to know. He continues to talk about the genocide. I have now come to find out he was 15 years old when his father was killed. To revenge his father’s death, at 15 he went out with a gun to find his father’s killers. As a result he ended up being shot several times in leg.  I don’t know what happened after that but I can’t even imagine what it was like.  I know I have said this several times but this country continues to amazing me with its ability to rise from its past to make a new future. I have asked several people how they are able to just move on, I don’t understand how you can live with neighbors knowing they have killed your family. People always respond about the same way, they say “it affected every single Rwandan, if we don’t move on together, then we will all die slowly.” Well put.  

Although Prime Minister Kagame has several critics, I can say a very positive thing he has done for Rwanda is how he focuses on the building a bright future. EVERYWHERE in Rwanda there are signs that say “Remember our past to build a bright future, maybe that’s why their mentality is so universal.

June 27^th

One of the orphans was hit by a car on Monday. Ugg. She broke her clavicle and has a concussion. I went to go see her at the Gisyni hospital to make sure she was being treated as a serious patient, not an orphan. She is doing a lot better but because of the language barrier I’m still trying to understand what’s going on. Keep her in your thoughts please.

On a happier note I have a funny story from last weekend. So unless you are going to the bar or out to dinner there is not a lot to do around Kigali or Gisyeni during the evenings. So one night Julien and Manjo played a very intense game of chess.  This wasn’t a normal game of chess, there were bets at stake. If Julien won Manjo would have to meditate at the busiest bus station in Kigali for 5 minutes in mid-day, and if Manjo won Julien would have to do pushup in the middle on the bus station. Bets placed and both sides wanting to win Manjo was the victor. The next day when it was the busiest (easily over 300 people waiting for several busses) Julien walked to the center of the bus station and starting doing pushups. As if people staring weren’t funny enough, a man came up next to him and starting doing pushups along with Julien. Not about to be shown up by some American the man was screaming “oya” (no) at Julien and starting doing one handed pushups. The other volunteers and I were dying. Probably the best thing I have seen since I have been here. I will try to post the video soon.

June 28^th

Yesterday I spent my time at the clinic, no babies, but there was a little bit of excitement in maternity. Angel was not there so I don’t understand completely what had happened, but from what I understand the mother was having difficulty with her labor, something my clinic was not prepared for. The nurse called an ambulance so they could take the mom to Gisneyi hospital. Gisneyi hospital is about 10-15 miles away from my clinic; response time for the ambulance was 2 hours, I could have probably walked faster. I don’t know what ended up happening, but, I do know I would never want to get seriously ill here.  

The remaindered of the day I took blood for the HIV tests and then went to the lab and performed each HIV test. Usually I don’t spend much time in the lab, but I think it’s pretty cool I am now able to take blood from my patients, run the HIV test myself, and then tell them in they are positive or negative, I’m like a one man show.

I feel as if I have not been spending as much time as the orphanage as I wish I could, so, this past week I have gone just about every day. Yesterday I opened up the library so I could have an arts and craft day. I was hesitant at first because it’s hard to keep on track of all the children when it’s only one person. They all fight for your attention, beat each other, and often steal books and pencils out of the library. I decided to do it anyway because if a volunteer doesn’t open up the library no one does. I decided to take on the task of water painting. I thought it was going to be a disaster, how could I possibly paint with children who beat each other with sticks. To my surprise once I got the paint out it there was a total transformation in their behavior. So engrossed in their art they didn’t even notice each other. They LOVED it, and all of them loved showing off their paintings. They were all very eager to show me their pictures, I told them they were beautiful, they all smiled at my approval. I have a feeling this is the first time most of them have ever used a paint set. Because they can’t keep their pictures and I can’t come home with them all, I decided to hang them up around the library.  Who knew art would be such a great outlet for these kids.

Today I didn’t go to the clinic I decided to spend my day at the orphanage. After yesterday I was really inspired to do more art. Today I opened the library and they did several paintings and drawings. They love it and love art as well, so it works. When I first started at the orphanage I didn’t think they had art supplies or books, since I have been here I have come to find out there is a locked room that has everything you could possibly think of.  The issue is no one takes the time to unlock the door and organize a time for the children to use this stuff, depressing! My question is what good is this stuff if it’s not used, someone needs to take the initiative and open up the library.  

Today I also spent time in the orphanage clinic. I have taken on a project now in light of some recent things I have seen with the children’s health. Several of the kids have ringworm, scabies, HIV, and the list goes on. The other day a little girl had this horrific rash on her neck that was so irritated it was bleeding. I told the mamas that this child needs to see a nurse and do something about this. Not fazed by my comment I made it very clear that this kid needs to see a nurse now!  I took her over the clinic where I handed her over to one of the nurses; the nurse looked at me and basically said what do you want me to do about this. Infuriated I thought you tell me, you are the nurse? What the issue was is the nurse didn’t know what the rash was or what to put on it. I ended up going through the medication and found some cream. Her rash looks a million times better, but, because of this incident I am going to go through the clinic and label every medication and its purpose, this way hopefully there is no excuse as to why these kids are not treated properly. Today was day one of this adventure.

As the days go by I am seriously getting attached to these children. I know I need to come back here and try to do something more meaningful for them. The Point Foundation is really involved in this particular orphanage and is constantly employing people to come here to make sure their money is being spent the way it was intended. I know they are looking to employee someone to live here for the next several months. Bad timing now, but, after school you never know. I have several great contacts and I love these kids. I am trying to feel out how Matt’s sponsorship goes, that is also an option for the future.

Like I said I am getting attached to all of them, but I know there are a few I’m going to cry with once I leave. Carmen a 10 month old girl, Justin a 14 year old boy, Wemana a 11 year old girl(HIV Positive), and Gushati a 3 year old boy. Gushati I might take in my bag with me, you think I’m kidding but I’m not. If international adoption was allowed I would try to make Gashati mine next year. Gashati is so sweet, so cute, and he has 6 toes… certainly special. I hug him, carry him around, and play with him. Today when I left he cried. Ahhh I’m not wishing my life away but I do wish I was in the right financial and emotional place in my life to adopt him, anyone want a 3 year old boy?