5 July 2013
Thursday was a holiday here as well as in the USA. July 1 is
Rwandan Independence (from Belgium) Day and July 4 is Rwandan Liberation (of
Tutsi’s from genocide) Day. At IWE this year, no English classes are scheduled
on Fridays; so on Thursday afternoon I took the bus from Rwamagana to Kigali and,
after visiting with the Birds, spent the night at the AEE guest house, which
Toby Clarke (Perth, Australia) manages. Early the next morning I was up,
showered (Wow! Hot water coming out of a shower head!!) breakfasted, left my
heavy love-box from Charissa with the reception desk, walked 20 minutes to the
Remera bus station (that’s in eastern Kigali) bound for the Nyabugogo bus
station (in north-western Kigali). From there I bought a ticket for Rukomo, a village
near Byumba (in northern Rwanda). The newly widened highway has been paved
almost all the way to Rukomo now, so not nearly as much dust as last time. Huge
trucks pound their way to several gravel sites nearby, including just outside
of Cyuru, so that road has been widened and flattened also, however it has not
been paved. Instead a large water-tank truck sprays down the dust several times
a day. My moto-taxi followed one up the mountainside from Rukomo which resulted
in a splattering of mud from the knees down! At least we could breathe! The
road conditions required me to keep a firm grip with my legs; more so than
usual, and I could hardly stand when I dismounted! I was pretty wobbly walking
to Bosco’s house.
The travel had gone very well so far. No missed busses or
slanted seats, so I was trying to remain upbeat, but I was not looking forward
to confronting Moses’ father about the house. The village children met me with
squeals of delight and formed a parade (one child clutching each of my fingers)
going to Bosco’s house. He was very happy because his cows had been
chosen as the best of Rwanda to present at the Agri-Fair this year in Kigali!
We walked to Moses’ house and talked with his parents and little sister. Older
sister, Clementine, is in Primary 3 but little sister, Imbabazi was in tears
because she was not allowed to attend kindergarten even though she is old
enough. I explained to Papa Moses that if she wanted to go to school, he
should allow her, because it would help her succeed in Primary 1 next year. He
agreed that she could start 3rd term, in August after school holiday.
Moses has been in Primary 1 since the school year began in January. He is fifth
in his class! Mama Moses had taken the fabric I gave her in May to a tailor and
put on her beautiful outfit for me to see: skirt, blouse and turban.
After some polite conversation, Bosco, Papa and I walked 30
minutes down the mountain path to the location of the new house. I couldn’t
believe my eyes when I saw the house. Not only were the walls finished, but
somehow they were straighter and plumb; the doorway and window were squared.
How could this be? When I asked Bosco, he replied that he felt responsible, as
the new supervisor, to produce a quality project; therefore he made Papa tear down
the crumbling walls to the stone foundation and start over! This time it was
constructed correctly! Except for some minor work needed to prepare the floors,
it is ready for the doors, windows and plaster work! After admiring Papa Moses’
craftsmanship, we discussed how the stones on the mountainside would be used to
build a terraced yard. He would like me to come back on Saturday, 20 July,
because he plans to finish it and move in by that date! The 2 exterior, 3
interior doors and 4 windows will cost $125. The 2 remaining pieces of tin
roofing will cost $16. The brick mason will add bricks to conform to the
roofline, plaster for the walls and cement surface for the floors. The cost for
that is yet to be determined, but with Bosco’s supervision I have no fear that
Papa Moses will sell these items for beer money! He was beaming with joy when I
finished examining his handiwork and told him how his children will think
highly of him for providing a home for them with two bedrooms: one for the
children and one for the parents. The soil on his land is fertile and he will
be able to grow bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, corn, sorghum, avocados ...
The walk back up the mountainside took a little longer but
by 2 p.m. we were eating lunch at Bosco’s house. Papa Moses and the children
were enthralled with slide shows on my laptop of safari, Garden of the Gods,
CO, The Classic Hot Air Balloon Festival and family portraits. The village
chief joined us and told Papa Moses that a team of three was much stronger than
any single man could be. Each of the men will know how much money has been
given and what it is to be used for. They must all agree before it is spent.
This gave Papa Moses some dignity, to be part of an elite team with the chief
and Bosco.
After eating and discussion, Bosco and I walked down to
Rukomo to talk with the carpenter about the price of doors and windows. He
pointed out a stand of eucalyptus on a far hillside and explained that he had
purchased that last year for 400,000 RWF ($600). The first year he realized
200,000 RWF profit and he still owns the forest, which continues to produce
wood annually. We were walking along at a brisk clip when we approached Rukomo.
Bosco asked, “Aren’t you tired?” I responded, “Yes, but I’m doing all right. “
He was surprised that I could keep up the pace! Before talking with the
carpenter, we visited a new cooperative bank where Bosco had to sign some
papers because he is the president!
I boarded the 5pm bus to Nyabugogo, Kigali and clung tightly
while the driver took the curvy road down the mountainside with all possible
haste! I had made arrangements earlier in the week with the ALARM accountant,
Peter, to deliver a check of mine to Sarah while he was in Rwamagana. On my
return to Kigali, Peter called to tell me he had not given the check to Sarah,
but that he would meet me at Nyabugogo. A few minutes later he called to say he
couldn’t meet me at the bus station because he had a meeting with someone else!
He wanted me to come to the ALARM guest house to pick it up when I
returned to Kigali. Argh! I explained that if did that I would miss the last
bus back to Rwamagana. He agreed to meet me at Nyabugogo. I texted him to let
him know where to meet me at the huge station. I waited with phone in hand at
the designated location but it was so noisy I didn’t hear my phone ring. I
missed 6 of his calls! Finally he found me and gave me the check. I found a
moto-taxi to take me to Remera bus station because I had to pick up my box from
AEE guest house on the way, and the timing was going to too tight to take the
regular intra-city bus. I never saw such a bad traffic jam! The entire distance
across the city was like a parking lot. The moto drove the painted lane divider
(which was pretty safe because the cars weren’t moving!), and waited for me
while I picked up my box; then drove me to the bus station which was a madhouse
due to traffic delays. Still, I arrived at 7:15 and boarded the “last” bus to
Rwamagana at 7:30pm. I took another moto home from the station and fell into
bed at 9:30.
Well, that was what I did on Friday, July 5. What did you
do?
