Another weekend in Kigali

Friday 21st August 2009

Back in the office today.

Pretty uneventful.

I do some planning for next week until Chantal casually asks if I’m going to the ‘big district meeting’. Once again like so many of the meetings I subject myself to, this is the first I’ve heard of it. I ask how long she’s known. She mumbles something along the lines that she’s been really busy so had forgotten to tell me but…about two weeks. Sooo, I say I’ve already arranged to meet Amy to discuss some training we’re planning for Kaduha in the hols and won’t be attending. …In fact, that’s not quite true but I can’t be arsed with attending meetings I don’t understand just to be seen and honestly she’s not bothered. Oh and we’ve already talked about doing some trainings up in Kaduha during the next school hols, so I don’t feel too guilty.

Me and Amy were actually planning to finish early for a sauna and massage in town where we would no doubt chat about work at some point. I’d already had a massage on Thursday so today was Amy’s turn while I looked forward to relaxing in the sauna. They’re lovely here. They burn eucalyptus and other herbs so the hot air feels like it’s really doing you some good. Anyway, wrapped in a little sarong, I begin to relax. Just then, the door opens and in walks a man and greets me. Usual stuff.
After about 15 minutes he asks me in French if we have saunas in the UK but this time uses my name. Oh my god, I recognise his voice… It’s only Marc, my boss! I feel a little bit awkward. I’ve been basically ignoring him the last couple of weeks. He’s hardly been at the office and the last few emails I’ve written he hasn’t bothered responding to. As a result, relations are somewhat strained! Now half-naked, I think we both feel a bit vulnerable. Anyway, I’m not sure if it was the fact he couldn’t quite see me so eye-contact was avoided but his conversation suddenly became very animated. At one point, when I asked why he hadn’t been available for me, he began apologising profusely and explained that as he was getting married soon things were a little hectic for him right now. It seems there are problems with the invitations that he’s been having to sort out at the printers, he’s also had to visit the venue in Kigali several times blah, blah…

The whole thing was quite bizarre not least because I learned more about Marc in that sauna than I had in all my time at the district. Not only that but I’d secured an invitation to his wedding and although I still don’t think it’s professional to shelve all work arrangements just because you’re getting married at least there was a reason for his lack of work ethic for the past month or so…At points, I felt like a priest at a confessional as he explained his route to marriage and outlined some of the pressures that men have from their family and the rest of society to ‘get a woman’. I listened and explained that back home despite there being less pressure, many marriages were made, consciously or not, because of similar pressure.

We then got on to talking about poverty. He couldn’t believe that there were homeless people in the UK or that some people there might go hungry. We then discussed the idea of ‘quality of life’ and we agreed that it’s much more than just money etc. Indeed, I feel I’ve seen more people happy with less here but more people unhappy with more in the UK but that ultimately I guess only the individuals can say how good their quality of life is, however much they have…So an interesting chat.

Anyway, next time you’re having a hard time with your boss, suggest an appraisal in the sauna. Not quite a pay rise but weddings are always fun…


Ruairi’s 50th- Handee's restuarant,Kigali

So big celebrations this weekend. Not only was it Primus’s 50th Anniversary (local beer here) for which a massive concert was being held in town BUT it was also Ruairi’s birthday-woohoo indeed! For such a special celebration it was only fitting that he hire out the new Indian restaurant in town (Handee’s) and with nearly 50 guests to accommodate it proved a great choice. The setting was really beautiful. We were out in the garden, lit by traditional lanterns and the staff were impeccably dressed in elaborate costumes of turquoise and pink complete with sequinned turbans. The food was a feast. A buffet of 4 types of curry, salad, and as much rice and nan you could eat. Next was ice-cream, ah what a treat! Beer and wine also flowed freely. So all in all, a really lovely evening which finished, I gather , around 2am when myself, Moira and Els left in a cab to make the short journey back with Sarah to her house where we were staying.

Monday confusion

Oh you know the usual.

President in town, no-one knows until late the previous evening (if then) so I trundle up to the office in my jeans only to discover everyone else in their Mishananas (posh traditional dress) and suits ready to welcome Mr Paul Kagame…Arrggh.

I should have known something was up when I saw the town nutter wearing a shirt.
(Actually, I don’t really think he’s that crazy at all but everyone seems a bit weary of him- he tends to go around with next to nothing on, displaying scars, presumably from the genocide, and doesn’t stop talking to you…).

Anyway, not quite dressed for the occasion, I decided not to head for the stadium where most of the town were congregating, but instead went to try the internet (not working) and then spent the rest of the day at home. I did manage to get all the resources ready for this week’s lessons, so not a complete waste of a day and by all accounts I didn’t miss anything. Amy had been taken (hostage) there by work so had no choice but to wait from 9am. Several texts from Amy confirmed that she was not best pleased…Even Anne-Marie had only stayed until 12pm before she came back to the house, explaining that Mr K was still in Mushubi so probably wouldn’t turn out for another 2 hours.
In the end, he eventually appeared around 3pm, with no word of an apology…