Butare
Last week was more REAP (Rwanda English Accelerated Programme-I’m glad Ruairi was listening, don’t think I’ve ever been sure of what that actually stood for before…Anyway, Mel & I had been asked to monitor training at Butare about 30 mins away from Gik. Some of the National trainers who I’d helped train in Kigali were now training the teachers from different districts. The teachers themselves were who had been selected following our interviews the previous week (everything’s been organised so quickly I was intrigues to see if ...All in all around 150, although some who had failed the interview still kept popping up during the week so we had to very gently let them know we meant what we said, we’d call them. The National trainers were fantastic though and we really didn’t need to be there but glad I was just because I learnt lots from seeing the training and it was good to see Jemimah et al again. Mel was commuting every day but I think Nyanza’s slightly more exciting than Gikongoro so I opted to stay at La Procure in town. Was as ever good to have a hot shower - breakfast was ok and wireless was a nice surprise. Ok I give up, I think I must just be completely used to it all here and so writing it down seems even more of an effort (and was never the most convincing ‘blogger’). I’m also just back from a weekend in Kibuye and still feeling lazy…I will post some pics I nabbed from April though…


April & Helen


Boat to Amahoro (Peace) Island



View from guest house of Lake Kivu


Karen, Joe, Tom, Bruce, Sophie & Nathan at Home St Jean

Kibuye

I went down to Gits after training on Friday evening. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone else as they were getting the 3pm but I would just miss that so I was surprised to still see the Capital bus just edging out of the depot just as I arrived. I managed to talk with April although she was more or less wedged into her seat by a massive bundle of something. It seemed the company had overbooked with customers who’d decided to bring far more than their allowance. Anyway, I had planned to get the next bus from them but seeing the result of pre-booking I decided to take my chance on a in can and was pleasantly surprised...I was first on so had the front seat where the driver insists you use a belt, music was bearable and though brisk I didn’t get the usual heart in mouth feeling at every turn,and my goodness it was windy.

Anyway, I arrived at Home St Jean just as sun was setting and in time to appreciate the beautiful views. It’s a really simple guest house but we couldn’t have picked a better spot it looks out on to Lake Kivu at every side. There were about 11 of us in the end and it was nice chatting over beer (there was no food for at least 2 hours..!). We were a mix of VSO, DED (German vols) and FH (Food for the hungry). The views were absolutely breathtaking and the trip to Amahoro island on Saturday was lots of fun - though I think Bruce might disagree. After a few hours swimming in the lake and sunning ourselves some of us went exploring…Anyway, the ‘cute little monkey’ who lives there (didn’t catch it’s name...) doesn’t take too kindly to visitors especially of the volunteering kind. Indeed, Marion, the last volunteer who tried to make friends with him just a few days from her departure date ended up having to go straight to hospital on arrival to update her rabies jabs. And so it seems will Bruce. He’s finishing his placement Thurs I think so couldn’t have happened at a worse time but he braved the pain and was on form for drinks that evening...

Looks sweet doesn't he?

Tanzania
Oooooo am soooo excited! It’s all got a bit too much all this saying goodbye! Lots of my good friends here are back home or on their way so what better way of cheering myself up than with a holiday! I got a text from Kerry yesterday saying that the 30hr bus ride is more than worth. I’m planning on a quick pit stop on Tuesday so I can see Sarah before she goes home too then will be on the 6am bus Wed, woohoo!