What happened 2 years ago for me?
2 years ago, on September 6th 2013, I started my journey to Rwanda, landing into the capital Kigali on September 7th to begin my 10 day orientation with other fresh-faced, wide-eyed VSO volunteers from around the world.
I still remember the sights, sounds and smells that hit me as we all boarded the minibus to our orientation venue; cocktail feelings of anticipation, anxiety and excitement filled the air. As we drove through the outskirts of Kigali, I wanted to capture EVERY sight with my camera from the PAVED roads and modern dress of the people to the man with 10+mattresses stacked upon his head...but I knew I had at least 12 months to do this...so I savoured the moments instead.
Squashed on the bus - but I'm sure we could have fit a few more in if we needed to...
2 years ago, on September 13th 2013, I took my first moto ride in Rwanda. I couldn't get enough of them in the end...even to the point where I considered getting a motorbike licence!
Inappropriately dressed for a moto-ride
2 years ago, on September 17th 2013, I was introduced to the creative/literal-nature of Rwandan cooking/fast food - this is a pizza & chips, my favourite is the omelette & chips (fondly known by VSOers as 'The Chomlette.')
2 years ago, on 19th September 2013, the principal from the TTC (Teacher Training College) where I was to be posted, collected me to take me to the village. First stop Nyabugogo (the main bus park.) If you've ever watched 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' - yes, that's set in India...but the experience I had wasn't too dissimilar to their first experience of catching a bus; my luggage was taken from me to be loaded on the minibus (inc. basins, buckets, jerry cans and other household items). I was jostled onto the bus, withering in the heat; squished next to my principal and my two suitcases, I watched helplessly as my belongings passed by my window and disappeared somewhere unknown - probably never to be seen again...but 3 hours later, despite the many stops and unloading of goods from the back of the minibus, ALL my items were unloaded successfully - and NO breakages!
After a long lunch at the principal's home, we got into his 'vintage' VW-something-or-other (rusty and missing a few features - possibly nearly as old as I am?!) and headed further south to the village. The scenery that passed me by was breath-taking - Rwanda is beautiful! The roads wind round rolling, lush green hills, crafted carefully to make plots of farmland; towering Eucalyptus trees and arching Acacia trees line the edges of the roads with mud-brick houses appearing every so-often...and then the rain hit. Just as we turned into the 'dirt' road, the rain came lashing down. My principal, instead of slowing down seemed to speed up trying to reach our destination as quickly as possible. I prayed for our lives - the dirt road clung to the edge of the mountains that we sped around - it was on the passenger side (my side) that the edge of the road was marked by a sheer drop...and then 45mins later...we arrived in Cyahinda.
Dark, and still pouring with rain we arrived at my new home to find that it was flooded...my mattress sodden through and there was no power! The principal told me that I'd have to stay with him in the school compound. A million and one thoughts rushed through my head - all that 'security' training that I had before leaving was to prepare me for this moment - it just came sooner than I thought.
I started to wonder if I'd made the right choice to move to Rwanda when the principal took me to the local bar - despite the warmth of the local people there, who after they got over the fact that I was (a) 'white' and (b) female, plucked up the courage to make me feel welcome by communicating in the little English they knew and learnt; I was very much ready to escape when a visiting priest decided to tell me incessantly that he loved me and wanted to marry me. The principal, on several occasions, had to push the priest away because he was getting somewhat handsy.
That ended day one of being in Cyahinda. 2 years ago, today - that was my experience.
2 years ago, on 20th September 2013, I moved into my new house. I had a roof over my head, it had electricity (after topping up the cash power/meter) but no running water and an outdoor pit-latrine, which was essentially a very deep hole with two flat stones on either side to place your feet.) My closest water source was apparently 50 meters away...although I'm not so sure, I think in the end my helper used to get water from the TTC because it was free - 700m away! (Imagine walking for 700m with 2 x 20l jerry-cans...she was a strong woman!)
Life in Cyahinda had started. No sooner had I started to clean and unpack my belongings in my new home, I got a knock on my door to invite me to a football match. Life in Cyahinda had started.
This was all 2 years ago but it feels like yesterday.
2 years ago, my life was turned upside down, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.
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