Back in Rwanda after almost 6 weeks in Canada
on Annemiek Miller (Rwanda), 17/Jan/2008 07:53, 34 days ago
Monday January 16, 2008As some of you may remember, I started off with a bang writing my blog back in 2005 but stopped suddenly and never got back to it. This - not writing a blog or journal - and not being able to learn Kinyarwanda are the two things that bother me most. And time is running out as I plan to leave here in july 2008.Since August 2005 I have been out of Rwanda seven times, probably a record in comparison with my volunteer colleagues. My excuse is to go and see mother in the Netherlands (been there 7 times) but I also need to leave from time to time just to cool my heels, get some energy and fill up on the good foods. Most times the transitions have been surprisingly easy, but this last time not so. That is to say I have little trouble sliding into my other life of luxury where I can eat and drink as much as and what I want when I want. Coming back here is a different matter.This time I was in Canada (still passing through Holland to drop in on mother and sisters) for quite a long time - almost 6 weeks. I came back to Kigeme and found that there was no water. Claudine, my trusty and very sweet housekeeper ( housegirl) informed me they had been without for 3 days and there was a long line up at the water source a km away. I had my two large jerry cans filled though so I was ready. It was just the prospect of maybe several more days without water which kind of soured my return.The next bit of news was that Jacqueline, my beggar lady, was in the hospital where she had been admitted 4 weeks earlier very ill. Jacqueline is HIV positive and has been reasonably healthy. She has 2 daughters: Dorkas and Alphonsine. Alphonsine was born in Oct 2006 and does not yet walk; Dorkas looks about 3 but might be 5. Her limbs– arms and legs are frighteningly thin. She is clearly malnourished. Normally I see Jacqueline 5-7 times a week . I then give her some leftovers or some vegetables to cook. Her little one is always with her ; Dorkas from time to time.I arrived home late Saturday Jan 12 and took in the above news. Decided to deal with it the next day. Sunday morning, after church I wanted to go to the hospital. As I dropped my purse off at the house, sitting on the veranda were Dorkas with Alphonsine on her lap and three other children, the children of Jacqueline’s sister. Before going to the hospital I decided to prepare some food for the two girls. I did not feel like serving the other three so I tried to ask them to leave and ended up chasing them away. I actually did not have much food.What followed brought tears to my eyes. Dorkas was sitting in the kitchen doorway, just as her mother does, with Alphonsine on her lap. As I handed her the plastic water bottle filled with milk (water and powdered milk), Dorkas proceeded to offer this to her 14 month old sister . Not for a moment did she hesitate or sneak a sip for herself. She just fed her sister. When I passed the bowl with food to Dorkas, she did the same– offered little spoonfuls to her sister. I had to take the spoon from her and offer her the food and then I saw how hungry she was. Dorkas’s legs are bone thin as are her arms. Her head, a;ways showing some white spots due to a parasite, now has big crusty welts all over her head. I remember thinking last summer: will this child ever make it and now things look even worse.