Be Open Minded

For those of you who do not know you cannot cry in public in Rwanda- however, there were tears shed in class when we found out our site placements, not by me. What I have learned is that coming into this experience with an open mind and willingness to try everything has worked in my favor. There was disappointment expressed by individuals that were looking for something specific and did not get a site placement that matched all their specific requests and need requirements.
Sunday all the PCT (peace corps trainees) will depart and go to the capital, Kigali, for two days and then we are going to go to our sites until the following Sunday. AEK!!! SCARY! It will be the first time away from other volunteers; it will defiantly be a dose of reality.
What I know about my site so far…
ADEPR- An Association of Pentecostal Churches of Rwanda (Associtaion Des Eglises De Pentecote Au Rwanda)
I will be in the North Provence of Rwanda, apparently near the tea fields and possibly the Volcano (but not likely-based on the map I looked at), in the Gicumbi District in the Byumba sector, however, it is possible that I will be in the Gasabo District in the Kimihuhura Sector, im hoping for the first.
ADEPR expressed that the greatest needs of the community I will be living in and working with are “life sills empowerment that will enable them to reach food security and developmental activities.”
Types of activities I will be working on:
-family planning and reproductive health
-nutrition and food security
-economic development activities
-water and sanitation
-hygiene
-HIV/AIDS/STDs
-PMTCT (prevent mother to child transmission)
-Life Skills
-Economic Activities (cooperative activities, savings and lending)

Possible secondary activities:
-English Clubs
-Youth Clubs
-Sports Clubs
-Assist in report writing and translation
As with all PC experiences/decision this can completely change. As of now I am extremely excited about it. I was a little hesitant to work for a FBO (faith based organization) when I was first interviewed in Rwanda but after putting thought into it I am extremely excited. I hope it is everything I imagine. WOOO!
Ill let you all know how my visit with my community goes when I get back.

A day in the life….

4 am-chicken (inhoko) makes noise
5am-24 hour security guards radio makes noise
5:30am-inhoko makes more noise
6am-alarm starts going off
6:30am-get out of bed
7am-breakfast
8am-10am-launguage class
10:000-10:30-tea break
10:30-noon-language class
Noon-2:30-lunch/break/shots/study
2:30pm-4pm-Medical or cross cultural class
4pm-6pm- Medical or cross cultural class or visit with resource family
7pm-dinner
7pm-9pm-study
9:30pm-zzzzz
What I do on a daily basis, study and learn. The house I live in has 8 PCT (Peace Corps Trainees), we are in rooms with 4 and 4. Bunk beds ☺ I have a bottom bunk. We share one bathroom. There is no running water but we do have electricity, sometimes. The electricity is great because I can charge my computer and cell phone, devices I did not think I would have in the PC but wont refuse them. In addition to the 8 volunteers there are also two Kinyarwanda teachers that live with us. The language classes that we have are very small – 3-4 people per class, so far the language is proving to be very difficult- buhora buhora- step by step-ill get it eventually.
All cooking is done in our back yard and all the volunteers eat in a house aka dining hall next door. Some of the other houses with volunteers are about a mile or 2, it is nice to be right next door. Cooking is done outside in Rwanda, it is great to be able to watch and to see how it is done. I have a lot to learn before I can prepare anything myself. They eat a lot of goat and chicken-hence the chicken in the back yard- im not so much a fan of since they are birds. I am working on the fear, as well as getting over my fear of grass since it is everywhere. Food is pretty bland here, I put the hot sauce they have on everything-it doesn’t have any taste to it-just hot. Pineapples and avocados are served on the regular as well as rice and beans, no complaints from me. But I do miss red pepper flakes!
So far life is pretty comfortable. Well see once I know more information about my site.

I love Rwanda

NKUNDA U RWANDA!!
Since arriving in Rwanda I have come to the realization that I do not think I am much of a blogger. However, ill give it a shot. Rwanda is beautiful, not just the land but the people, the weather, everything about it. So far I have had a whirlwind of emotions, between the jetlag from travel, meeting so many new people, and missing everything that is still in the states it has been a tiring two weeks. It is also crazy for me to think that I have only been here for two weeks.
To recap thus far- I met all the volunteers in Philadelphia (we are a group of 37), we were there for about 24 hours, before flying out of JFK into Brussels. From there we got on a plane which took us directly into Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. We stayed in Kigali for 3 nights. We are now in a town called Nyanzia. Everyday, which is what my teachers call me by the way, apparently there is an Avery in the first group of volunteers back in Rwanda and the nickname stuck, we have classes all day-language, cross cultural training, health education, and more. The language is intense and complicated, but I am trying my best and getting there slowly. The avocado tree in my back yard is amazing and the kids are great to talk to to practice language, or kick around a soccer ball with. I have a resource mother named Clemence, I visit with her about 3 times a week. Everyone in the town, including the mayor, has been open and welcoming to have us here. Hopefully I will know more about my site in the next two weeks, it will most likely be on the west side of Rwanda and more hospital/clinic based rather than community organizational-but again, this is not set in stone and could change completely.
Everyday I am learning something new and falling more in love with everything around me. Ill keep you all updated. XOXO