Another copy and paste job…

[Sorry to paste another email in again, this time it’s one I sent to my Mum on Saturday.  I promise I’m going to write some proper stuff about work and the like soon.  For now you’ll just have to make do with the pictures of me in a skirt…]

Sorry for not writing sooner, internet access has been sporadic and brief.  I got your card yesterday [Friday] thank you!  I wasn’t in the office Wednesday or Thursday though so it could have turned up then.  It’s just been lashing it down here again.  It was lovely earlier and very nice yesterday, but the ever threatening rainy season is looking like it might be rearing its ugly head.

I got very lost yesterday [Friday] and managed to fall off my bike as well, so my cagoule has a nice hole in it and my arm’s got a lovely big gash.  But nothing broken thankfully (though it took twenty minutes to get the bike going again, a very hairy twenty minutes stuck in the middle of nowhere I should add!).  Before you start worrying, I’m fine.  The only thing hurting is my pride!  Even on a dirt track in the back end of nowhere about 10 people turned up to laugh at the muzungu struggle!

As soon as you get off the main roads here you really get a variety, mostly rock strewn tracks with one or two narrow tracks created by the moto taxi riders gradually deteriorating to what we would consider precarious footpaths of loose shingle (I came off on a path that wouldn’t look out of place on Helvelen…)!  Still, all good fun, with some stunning scenery.   It’s just a pity that you have to concentrate so hard on the road!  It was hard enough in the UK, but picking a path amongst the rocks and debris is very draining!  I’ve barely taken any photos since I got here, but I keep meaning to.  Whether I’ll be able to upload them to the internet is another matter.  Patience is definitely a virtue customers of MTN require!

A Night of Debauchery

[Hello there!  I actually wrote this last Monday, but it’s taken me a while to get the photos together and uploaded.  Anyway, enjoy!]

After spending the end of last week in Kigali for work, all 5 YfDs and our surrogate ‘youth’ Amy met in Gitarama for a bit of a party on Friday and Saturday (Amy will REALLY appreciate me pointing out that it was for her 30th birthday).  One of the funniest things here is the absolutely diabolical clothes you can buy in the markets.  Often these take the form of ‘gangsta rap’ t-shirts.  (You can’t move for Eminem and Tupac, bloody MTV…)  So, naturally we decided to have a ‘bad taste’ party where we all had to buy the most hideous item of clothing we could find.

Just to keep things interesting, we would all buy one item for each other.  After a long and ultimately fruitless search for some condensed milk, (We wanted to make a bannofee pie.  We used vanilla angel delight instead…  BIG mistake.) we ventured into the market and split up…

Gitarama market has a HUGE clothes section, so we’d picked a good place for the inaugural shopping trip!  No-one knew who had bought for whom, so after dinner we had a grand reveal.  I went first, and handed a suspicious looking brown paper bag to Nidhi.  Off she went into the bedroom and duly returned wearing this…

I was very tempted by the “I’m proud to be an American” t-shirt (Nidhi is Canadian) but it was sadly a little too small.  What could top that?  A t-shirt encompassing the entire history of the American Civil War of course!  Featuring portraits of the leaders, schematics of weapons, a map of key battles and a stunning picture of combat on the front.  I should become a personal stylist or something…

Nidhi was not to be out done.  She bought Amy the following:

Not just a psychedelic t-shirt, a psychedelic t-shirt created by a missionary church group!  (They’re on a 007 mission, a mission from God.)  Also featuring in this special picture is Amy’s present from all of us.  Several signatures and a whole load of graffiti later, job done.

Amy bought the following chic outfit for Hayley:

[Still waiting for a picture, sorry!]

When you’re sporting a pink shell suit jacket, what do you need to really complete the ensemble?  A dirty granny skirt.  Bloody hell, we’re good at this.

Hayley bought two items for Thom.

The best thing about this (aside from the fact he looks ridiculous) is that Thom actually picked out the top.  Hayley had to display all the self control she could muster not to let him know it was for him!  I’m predicting a big rise in shell suit jacket sales once people start seeing just how good we look.  [N.B.  In case you’re wondering, Thom has been captured just after tasting the “banoffee pie”.  Yes, it really was that bad.]

Thom thought long and hard about what item of clothing best summed up Heloise.  Her spirit, her character, her joy d’vivre.

Yes, a t-shirt advertising a strip club.  But no ordinary strip club!  This one proudly boasts of its “loveseat and couch dance combos” whilst reminding patrons that there is “no cover, no minimum” and of course, “no touching.”

Finally, and perhaps fittingly (certainly in terms of drama, this writing lark is easy!) Heloise had bought an item of clothing for me…

I’m not sure if Rwanda is ready for cross dressing quite yet, so the skirt has been sadly packed away into my cupboard.  Who knows, maybe one day I will be able to wear my sequined pencil skirt the way God intended me too.

Anyway, one big bottle of Waragi (the local kind of gin, rough as old boots but only 4000 francs!  Compared to some of the stuff I had the pleasure of drinking at Uni and mixed with enough Fanta, it’s pretty good!), several party games (including a round of musical chairs that got a bit heated) and one drunken sing-along later (Jude has been firmly told that he shouldn’t make it bad) we collapsed into bed.

Great night, even better weekend.  When are we doing it all again?

A Couple of Links

I’ve been meaning to add these for a little while now.  Alot of this years YfD intake seem to have ended up in Cambodia.  There in country training lasts for 8 weeks (I was ready to climb the walls with just under 2!!!).  There days seem to be spent mostly learning Khymer, which makes my 20 words of Kinyarwanda feel somewhat insignificant.  Anyway, a couple of them have started blogs which you should have a look at:

Hollie:  http://onebarang.blogspot.com/

Meghan:  http://meg-in-cambodia.blogspot.com/

Sarah:  http://sarahg-in-cambodia.blogspot.com/

On a more Rwandan note, theres another volunteer out here called Bruce who keeps a really detailed blog.  He’s based up in Gitarama, the same town as Hayley my YfD compadre.  His blog is here: http://bruceswanderings.blogspot.com/

Also, in case you where wondering who ‘Samira’ is, she’s the girl who I replaced here in Nyamagabe district.  I was told about her blog during our second training course at Harborne Hall and when I got home spent three hours reading the whole thing in one sitting.  THIS post in particular was incredibly moving.  Just what I needed at 3 in the morning.

That’s all for now.  I’ll post up some more links with an explination when I find them!

Mobiles and Motos (with some work on the side)

So, I figured that it was about time I sat down an actually put some effort into this blog of mine.  After a busy couple of days in Kigali (where I actually did some work instead of sitting in the office playing Football Manager and Solitaire…), I now finally have the internet!  It’s running off the mobile phone network here, so it’s deadly slow.  Of course the first thing I did was catch up with the BBC Sport website write my blog…

…Even bigger news, Jean Claude (my boss at VSO) has just this very moment delivered my motorbike!!!  It’s chucking it down here, and he looked a bit bedraggled to say the least.  But now I have my tools, I can properly commence my work!

The end of year exams start next week.  That means I’ve got 6 days to visit 20 schools (I’ve already visited 2 in town)  Bearing in mind that the furthest one is a 3 hour drive away this could be a logistical nightmare.  But, come hell or high water (high water being the likelier option given then amount of rain falling from the sky at the moment) I’ll get around somehow!

I have a big meeting on Wednesday with all the directeurs and chargés of my schools, plus some bigwigs from the district.  It’s to introduce myself and the PHARE work plan for the forthcoming year.  The room has been booked, the Fantas are ready (Fanta deserve a post of there own, but suffice to say, they’re mandatory here!) and the invites have been posted (whether they’ve been read, or even received for the matter!).  So, 50 people invited, no-one but me and my boss has confirmed.  That’s only 25 Fantas each…

P.S.  I have lots of little stories to tell, but rather than post them all in one big chunk, I think I’ll try and write them up over the next few days then post them up as and when, just to keep you checking back for more.

Hello? Is it me you’re looking for…

[N.B.  I wrote this on Monday but wordpress doesn’t seem to have posted it.  I’ve now got limited access to the internet in my office, which is definately a luxury!  I’ll try and write some more in the next couple of days.  Andy]

Hello world.  I’ve finally arrived in Gikongoro and have had a hectic few days settling in.  I spent the weekend in Butare with Jane and Amy which was good fun, and just what I needed to face the 7:30 start today!  I’m afraid I still don’t have the internet at home, but I’m headed back up to Kigali a week on Wednesday where I’ll be able to FINALLY buy a modem.

Anyway lots of stories to tell, such as being charged by a cow down the main street (he needed a wee, ‘nuff said). I’m going to start actually writing them down so that once I have the ‘net again I can finally put some stuff up on this thing!

As always, emails are very much appreciated, especially from any YfD folks.  Now that it’s official we’re the last “proper” batch, we definitely need to make this the best year ever!  Anyway, I’m supposed to be at the internet café for work!

P.S.  If you can , check out the blog of one of the vols that came out with me.  He’s much better at this sort of thing than I am!  He’s called Ruairi O’Heithir and his blog is here:  http://www.roheithir.blogspot.com/

P.P.S.  Hello to Martina’s Dad!  I got very confused when she started talking about my blog at in-country-training!  Auf wiedersein!

Bonjour from Kigali

[NB:  I just sent this email to my Dad, and thought I’d stick it on here quickly to keep you all informed!  I promise I’ll be writing more soon!  P.S.  Thanks to everyone who sent me an email or a Facebook message, and a super quick hello to Jo!  The waiting will make it all the more worth it, trust me!  Andy]

Dad,

Sorry for the lack of contact. I’m still in Kigali for In Country Training so access to the ‘net has been via internet cafes.  They’re cheap, but they’re quite slow.  We’ve been working hard as well, so little chance to dash down for half an hour.  I did come down last night, only to be told that the power had been cut!  Hung around for an hour, but no joy.

It’s the parliamentary elections today (Monday), so we’ve been given the day off.  It’s been nice to sit in the sun and read a book!

Lots to write about, but I’m saving it until I move into my house.  I’m heading down Thursday, so will hopefully be sorted by next weekend.  One of the perks of being part of the PHARE team is that I get free access to the internet (emailing is essential for the job… or so we’ve been told!)  So don’t worry!

Hope everything is good with you,

Andy

Butterflies

It’s 21:29, Thursday the 4^th of September 2008.  In 48 hours, Ethiopian Airways Flight ET711 will have just taken off from London Heathrow bound for Addis Adaba.  I shall be on that flight.  And I will be going absolutely loopy.

First off, apologies for the slight break in writing anything new.  It’s been 13 days since I finished my motorcycle training I’ve done the following:

– Moved out of my house in Newcastle,
– Had a very enjoyable long weekend in London,
– Attended 2 parties, 1 session of YfD Wednesday and yet another VSO training course,
– Slept in 6 beds, 1 sofa and 2 floors,

I haven’t started packing yet.  I still need to have 1 more injection.  I need to tell the Student Loans Company that I’ll be leaving the country for a year.  I can’t speak French.

All of these are reasons to panic.  But it’s ok (for the time being).  I received details of our In Country Training yesterday.  That started the longest bout of THE FEAR that I’ve had for a very long time.  But I’ve always been quite good at accepting my lot.  I’m going on Saturday, no matter what happens.  So it’s no use panicking.

Slightly, ever so very slightly, I’m letting myself become excited.  And it’s a nice feeling.

I have been meaning to write a post explaining a bit more about who I am and what I’ll be doing for the next year for a while now, but I guess it will have to wait.  I’ve got a crash helmet, a participatory methods handbook and change of underwear.  Rwanda isn’t going to know what hit it.

“Get Your Motor Running. Head out on the Highway…”

[Andy rings up to arrange his motorbike training]

Andy: “Hi, I’d like to book my motorbike training please?

MOTAG Operator: “OK, where abouts are you based?”

A: “Newcastle.”

MO: [Pause] “Right… The nearest training centre to you will be Bolton.”

A: [Longer pause] “What?”

And thus, dear reader, does your valiant hero (that’s me by the way) find himself back in the wilds of the Lake District, embarking on that great daily migration which the UK engages in every morning. The commute.

All in all, an hour down the motorway every morning isn’t so bad. Coming back from 6 hours of riding a motorcycle is a different matter entirely. But, 2 days in, I’m really enjoying myself. The twisted muscle in my back and large bruise on my knee isn’t. But that’s inconsequential.

I’ve been learning on a Suzuki GN125 bike, as pictured above. It’s quite a lot bigger than the picture suggests. It was certainly quite daunting getting on for the first time, trying to inch the clutch forward so I would come to a nice gentle walking pace as I began to learn the delicate nature of controlling a machine like this.

10 seconds later, the throttle appears to be jammed wide open no matter what I do, I’m hurtling towards the nearest wall and in my (justifiable, if I do say so myself) panic, I reach for the front brake, inadvertently pulling the throttle wider open. At this point it feels like I’m going 100mph. It was probably closer to 5. One overturned bike and a nice big bruise later, I’m starting all over again. Like I said, good fun.

So, in two days, we’ve covered starting and stopping, gear changes, slow speed manoeuvring, turning at junctions, U turns and emergency stops. This qualifies me to be unleashed on the road tomorrow morning, 9am sharp.

Good luck Bolton. It’s been nice knowing you.

You Might Feel a Sharp Pain…

I don’t have a problem with injections. I was always mildly bemused by the lines of hysterical people (though lets face it, it was mainly girls!) waiting for various jabs at school.

Now of course, moving to a country like Rwanda means having to be immunised against various nasty diseases that thankfully aren’t really found in the UK. So far this summer I have been immunised against the following horrible things:

Typhoid,
Yellow fever
Meningitis ACWY
Hepatitis A and B (3 separate jabs)
Rabies (3 separate jabs)

I’ve had 5 jabs in the past 3 weeks. It should have been 6 but my Yellow fever left me feeling so ill that I barely left my bed for the next two days! So now thanks to the wonderful (sic) people at MASTA travel and their incompetent booking system I’ve had to re-schedule my second rabies jab right in the middle of my motorbike training (expect a post on that later!).

I just hope the side effects aren’t as severe this time!

In the Beginning…

I’ve never seen myself as a natural writer. My worrying tendency to engage in verbal diarrhoea often spills over into the written realm, as those of you whom have been on the end of my late night Facebook rants will be only too aware.

This of course begs the question: Why am I spending my Tuesday evening grappling with my poor grammar and distinct lack of vocabulary? Well, besides the fact there’s not an awful lot on TV, I’m too skint to head down the pub and my xbox has just succumbed to the red ring of death, I’ve been promising to start a blog for at least 8 days. Probably longer.

So what is this all about? Well, the clue as they say is in the title. At 9pm on the 6th of September 2008, I shall be boarding a flight from Heathrow airport bound towards Kigali. In Rwanda.

This is my attempt to try and keep a record of the next year. Hopefully some of you will read this and perhaps chip in a comment or two along the way. No pressure. But I’m taking notes…