Weekend in Musanze

(Friday) I woke up at 5:30 and walked to the deaf school with Cat. It is an hour walk, that’s why we had to wake up so early. It actually took about an hour and a half, because of the several stops we had to make to greet people along the way. Once we got to the school, I checked out the craft station, where the orphans and the deaf children make woodcarvings, basket weavings, and different types of clothes. I was quite impressed with their work, and one of them gave me a small woven basket as a present. At 9:30, Cat and I taught the level two deaf children English. I find it very difficult to teach these kids, especially since I do not know any sign language, but Cat knows some signs, so we managed to teach the lesson quite well. After the lesson, we had some tea with the teachers, and then after, we helped out with activities, which were dancing or volleyball; whichever activity they preferred. I played volleyball with the kids for about a half hour, and my team dominated. It was quite fun, because everyone around was super engaged on the action. There was even a group of kids who brought a mobile chalkboard outside to mark the score. After the activity, Cat and I taught another English lesson to the level three class. The amount of flies that were in the classroom was pretty disturbing, and downright inhumane, but the kids didn’t seem to be too bothered, so I acted as if it was normal, as it may very well be. After class, the kids headed to lunch, and the teachers waited outside until the kids were finished. Once the kids ate their lunch, they went into their dormitory section to nap/relax, and the teachers went to eat. The food didn’t look all that appealing, so respectively I took a couple of potatoes, and some beans. All the teachers kept questioning me why I’m not eating, which got slightly irritating after the fifth quarry, but I just kept telling them I had a large breakfast and was not that hungry. Anyways, the lunch ended with the teachers telling me that I must be related to Jesus, which I have now heard on a consistent basis. If I were to go to Jerusalem, or anywhere else in the world, I do not think people would say I look like Jesus (who even knows what Jesus looks like?), but people in Rwanda truly think I’m Jesus’s son or something. After school, I went to the bank to get money out, and the teller at the bank said “Reed” out loud to one of her employees. I said, “Excuse me?” She says, “My employee asked what your name was, because he thinks you are Jesus.” Although at first I thought it was quite funny that Rwandans think I look like the assumed appearance of Jesus, it is slightly becoming obnoxious now. Elie, who is a very religious man, is getting a great kick out of this, and now calls me Jesus’s son instead of Reed, which only adds insult to injury. The best moment of the day occurred while I was sitting outside the bank waiting for Monique and Cat to return from the post office. As I was waiting, I was just doing some people watching, and a Rwandan man came strolling past with a Cincinnati Bengals jacket on. I jumped up, and nearly tackled the man, named Simon. I told him that is where I live, and that I am a huge fan of the sports team. Simon had no clue who the team was, or even what sport they played, but was super excited that I was embracing him for wearing the jacket. He asked for my phone number, but I gave him a false email address instead…sorry Simon.

(Saturday) Elie and his children went to church for their day of Sabbath. It was rainy all day, but I made it to the market to buy a few things. I came back around the same time Elie and his family returned from church. We had lunch, and then everyone went to their bedroom for an afternoon nap. It is common for everyone to nap on Saturday, since it is their day of rest, similar to our Sundays.

(Sunday) I went into the primary school at around 8, and made up the teachers schedule for next week. I taught a lesson of English to the level one kids at the school, and then came home for lunch. Elie’s kids are leaving today to go back to Uganda, to attend another quarter of their schooling. It is going to be quiet around the house, which is somewhat depressing. Tomorrow is a national holiday, because Rwanda just elected a president. I think I’m going to hike to a lake nearby, or possibly climb one of the many volcanoes around.