Ndi umukorerabushake wa Peace Corps

Let’s review the last three months of training it took to get to this point: being thrown into a host family without any knowledge of the local language, language classes from 8am to 4pm (this eased up after a while), technical training sessions (we learned about teaching and the Rwandan educational system), hub days (where we learned about the many illnesses that could plague us in our time in Africa, with accompanying pictures!, and had cross culture sessions), three weeks of model school, learning how to cook using coal/wood, bucket bathe, do laundry by hand, and attempt at integration in a community as a whole. It doesn’t seem like much, but training really is a huge emotional, mental, and physical drain, that last one probably due mostly to the hills and elevation. Coming out of it really is an accomplishment, and I feel very proud to say that I am now a Peace Corps Volunteer.

After three months in Kamonyi district all 36 of us (we all made it except for the one who ETed the second week) made our way to the Case in Kigali for a few nights of debauchery and general relaxation before we headed our separate ways. Swear-in took place at the Ambassador’s house. Delicious food was ever plentiful and I stuffed myself silly. Rwandan news people were there to film it all. The next day at dinner the news came on and we got to see ourselves on national television, in French and Kinyarwanda. While it was great being in Kigali it was also really rough as each new day more people would leave for site installation. I was both fortunate and unlucky to be in the last group on the last day to leave. I had the most time to spend money on over priced beer and American food but I also had to be there to see everyone leave me. Generally it’s me who’s doing the leaving, so being on the other end was new, and not in a good way.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Peace Corps, let me explain that timeliness is not their thing. If you leave an hour later than scheduled, that’s early. So when I say that we left at 830am instead of our scheduled departure of 9am, it qualifies as a time to mark the calendar and celebrate. I got to ride down with Nick and Kari, the two closest volunteers from my group, who are about four and two hours from me. The ride took about 8-9 hours and wasn't that bad. After we dropped Kari off it only took another hour to get to my site, but that’s because I was in a private car and made no stops. The entire way though I could hear the two Rwandans complaining about how far out in the boonies I am. Moving things in took no time at all, and was followed by a free beer. Off to a great start I’d say.

So now I am in my first housing situation by myself (not including the headmaster, who I hope moves out in about 6 months to a year’s time. He’s great, I just want my own space eventually. He’s also married and building a house, so it’s not unreasonably to wish this). Yesterday I met up with two seasoned volunteers from the region, had some fanta, beer, and brochettes at a restaurant/bar nearby. Afterwards we went to say hi to Marie, the banana lady, who gave me a bunch of bananas and what I thought was passion fruit until I popped one open and it spewed red stuff all over my leg for free as a welcome. Turns out they’re tree tomatoes.