A big 'Thank You'
on Tina in Rwanda (Rwanda), 26/Aug/2011 08:34, 34 days ago
Please note that VSO is in no way connected with or responsible for the content, comments and observations in this blog: these are solely my own in a personal capacity.Hi all,it is time to say a big 'Thank you' for the ongoing support while I was out in Rwanda.Thank you to.....:Thank you to the best man in the world....Mr Austin Bainger....for letting me go away for a year and letting me fulfil my lifelong dream. I loved it when we went together to my model schools, when we hiked into the mountains to see the Gorillas in wild life and when we camped in our tiny tent under the stars in Akagera. These were such a special moment and I am looking forward to every single thing we will do in our future.You are a real star hon!!! I loved the huge parcel you did send!!!Thank you to all my colleagues in the Ngoma District, especially Froduald and Bosco.Thank you to all the Head Teachers -especially Suzanne, Ladislas and Leandre.Thank you to all the teachers!!! You were so supportive and interested in my job. Without you the development in the huge area of the District would have not been possible. You are amazing and I wish that all your visions for the future come true!!! I never met anybody who was working as hard as you do! God bless you!!!Thank you to all my Rwandan friends.Thank you to the amazing motorbike drivers. Your driving style is insane!!! I am amazed by your skills. Not only can you drive on the muddiest dirt road next to a cliff in rain and thunderstorm no......you can even do that single handed while writing an SMS on your mobile at the very same time. That....I call.....skilful!!! You never crashed and I am so grateful for that!!! You always found the schools....sometimes after hours of asking people along the road or driving through deep banana tree forests. But I loved all the things we did see on the way in the middle of Africa. How very seldom have people the opportunity to be in the parts of the world I have seen. How very lucky am I to have been there. I loved it when we were at the lake and you can just look over to see Burundi. How breathtaking it is to be in the middle of Africa. I loved it...thanks guys!!!Thank you to my parents for writing sweet e-mails and sending books for my project. I know how much time you invested in looking for appropriate books and how scary it must have been at times just to know that I am on a motorbike in the 'Heart of Africa' or ill from parasites, etc . Thank you for everything.Thank you to Austin's family for writing lovely e-mails and sending books!!! I am so lucky to have such a great bunch of '...in laws'!!! Sweet!!!Thank you to all my pupils I have ever taught in my life and who wrote me the nicest e-mails a teacher can receive. I wish you all the very best for your future. It was great fun to teach you and I loved receiving your messages.Thank you to my very nice friends in the UK, Germany, US, Australia for your ongoing support through e-mails, parcels, letters, phone calls.... . I think there has not been a day when I went to the post office without receiving mail. That was so very kind and thoughtful of you. I loved the socks and the sweets thanks to Claudia Nuesse und Wolfgang Grugel. I loved the Haribo, photo books, soaps and other things Marla Levy, Sandy Moore, Sabine Alberts, Katja Wolfheimer, Isabella Durizzo, Denise Meredith, Jutta Oezsen, my colleagues from the 'German School in London' and so many other people. You made a real difference to my life!!!!Thank you to Anna Kleine-Buckstegge and her parents and her whole neighbourhood in Rhade for your outstanding effort in raising money for the schools. You did make such a difference. Well done Anna!!!!Thank you to the Children of the 'German School in New York' and their class teacher Christine Haefele for your amazing work. You did collect books for the schools in Rwanda and not just that. You worked very hard selling little Christmas Cards. Because of your hard work you have managed to raise he money to send the biggest bags full of books the post office in Ngoma District has ever seen. How wonderful.You are stars and I always want you to remember this time in your life when you achieved this outstanding goal and really did bring a difference to other peoples life. May this encourage you to be further interested in supporting others.Thank you to the Children of the 'German School in London' and Frau Roth-Junkermann -Head Teacher of the Primary School. You showed real interest for Rwanda and the life of the people there when you worked in the 'Projekt Rwanda'. I am so very proud of you. Not only did you want to learn about this amazing country...no...you also really wanted to make a difference. With a lot of enthusiasm and hard work you prepared one of the most smashing events about 'Rwanda' the school has ever seen. Your parents loved it and you raised a huge amount of money in order to support the 'School Project'. I would have loved to be there and see you myself. I am so proud of you and all the kids and teachers in my school in Rwanda were talking about it for days.Thank you to the members of 'Twickenham Yacht Club' for all your support. You are a great bunch of people!!!!Thank you to all my VSO friends and other friends, especially Els, Soraya and Epi! We had so much fun!!!Thank you to Anna and Jason who did such a great job in the year after I left and who have made a real difference to the area.Thank you to anybody who has read my blog or showed interest in my work in any kind.Thank you to VSOThank you to the people who do help me to get my health back on track.Thanks to all and I hope you will keep the interest in Development. I know it is much easier to just look away than acknowledge the problems of different regions and their people in this world.But it only makes a different when you take the time to listen, to understand and to simply give some support. Loads of little support adds up to a big effect.Thank you andGoodbye!!!xxx Tina