Happy New Year 2012
on Tricia Atherton (Rwanda), 12/Jan/2012 10:11, 34 days ago
Happy New Year 2012!!!My resolutions are:To finish my placement to my satisfaction by limiting my focus to 3 main areas and 2 subsidiary areasTo travel more within Rwanda to visit all the people I haven't yet visited because I have had my head in my work.To visit Zanzibar and EthiopiaTo make the most of the rest of my time hereTo come home where I belong!This weekend I celebrate the completion of 12 months in Rwanda and how exciting they have been. I look back on the photos of those first few days and can hardly believe my naivety!! Ha ha!However, I am glad of that quality because it helped me to take the step of coming here and I’m so glad I did. I have made many new friends, both Rwandan and not Rwandan! And, the friendships that I left behind at home have become deeper and more important as the months have gone by. In addition, I have had so many lovely visitors– if anyone else wants to come – take the opportunity whilst you can – I won’t be here forever!I cannot begin to itemise all the wonderful experiences I have had nor even highlight special times, so we will have to wait until the book comes out!!Add captionThe ending of an old year and the beginning of a new year always focuses the mind and it’s the same for me. My approach this year will take on a different aspect because now I have done as much as I can to build relationships with schools and headteachers and I need to work with the people and systems that it has taken me so long to understand. Also I have realised that I must focus down onto smaller‘targets’ (hate that word!).Then I have to maintain the work life balance and so I’ve made resolutions about travelling and enjoying the experience of living in Africa whilst I can. Amazing fabricsWonderful skills and a personal dressmakerThe variety and multiplicity of beans