When it rain rain rain rains, It rain rain rain rains
on Rose Hardman (Rwanda), 24/Oct/2010 07:51, 34 days ago
I’ve had a very busy and enjoyable week this week. It started off a bit grumpily (for about 5 minutes on Monday and only due to tiredness). Luckily a dose of Gavin and Stacey and some jokes from friends cheered me up (Cathy’s ‘what do you call a chav in a box? Innit’ was a particular favourite). I visited Moira in the evening to go and get my passport which she had kindly picked up for me from Kigali.Tuesday I had an amusing time trying to get my green card. I had been told to go to the bank to pay 5,000RWF and then go to the District Office with proof of payment to get the green card. So off I trot to the bank thinking I would be able to get it done in my lunch hour. Silly Rose! I arrive at the bank to be told that I have to go to the District Office first. I decide to walk then realise I am not entirely sure of the way so I got a moto. The moto driver must have thought his luck was in as it turned out I was about 5 minutes from the office! I wandered round the office trying to find a receptionist or someone who looked like they didn’t mind being disturbed. I couldn’t find anyone who fitted this description so I decided to change my criteria to just anyone who spoke English. I found a very helpful man and explained that I was trying to get my green card and that the bank had sent me here. He discussed this with his colleague and they explained that I had to go to the bank first and come back with proof of payment. I explained that the bank had sent me here before I was able to pay. After further discussion between the two men they started to write something down. ‘Sorted’ I thought! This confidence soon evaporatedwhen they handed me a yellow post-it note with the words ‘Echo Bank, Gitarama, 5000RWF’ on it and an official stamp! I tried to explain that I really didn’t think that this was all I needed and that I was going to need a bank account number or something but the men were insistent that this was sufficient. So another moto ride later and I was back at the bank. And they accepted the post-it and the money! It was hilarious. Anyway, all this had taken up my entire lunch break so I didn’t have time to actually get my green card. And I still haven’t got it unfortunately!I went into Kigali on Thursday for the National Volunteering Meeting. It was great to hear how everyone is getting on in their new placements. After the meeting I booked the gorillas for Pete’s visit. I am so excited. On the way home I got a phone call to say I had left my passport in the tourist office which was very silly of me. It’s going to have to stay there until next Saturday now as I am not returning to Kigali until then. I hope I can get my green card without my passport!Friday, I came into work to find I was attending a memorial service. It was very similar to a memorial service in the UK, with readings and songs, followed by drinks. People don’t wear black though. The colour for funerals seems to be purple. And there doesn’t seem to be a set time for turning up. We all just wandered in during the service.Pauline came in the evening, and Pauline, me, Suzanne, and Julia watched Madagascar with Pringles and chocolate. A very relaxing evening and just what we all needed.On Saturday morning, a group of us went to Gatagara to go and see the Batwa making the pottery. Andria and Todd have recently moved to near Gatagara so Andria came and met us and gave us a tour of Gatagara, as she has done the organised tour before. We all ended up buying a lot of pottery and it was great to see how they make it.We also went to see Andria and Todd's new house and the plot of land they are going to use to build their school. It is a very ambitious project but they are just the people to do it. After lunch at home, Pauline, Suzanne and I went to the tailor and spent ages picking out a dress for me and a dress and a skirt for Pauline. (Our excuse was we were sheltering from the rain but I think we just liked looking at all the clothes!) In the evening we had invited people round for a games night but we though the torrential rain would put people off coming. We were just settling down to some amazing guacamole made by Suzanne, when the bell rang. Tom, Christi and Nathan had braved the weather to come and play games. It was a great night, even though I did lose at spoons!A lazy Sunday was a perfect way to end the weekend. On returning from the bus station after walking down with Pauline (in blazing sunshine) the heavens opened and I got absolutely soaked. I figured that as I was wet already I may as well try and make it home. All the Rwandans I passed who were sheltering from the rain were laughing at me and trying to get me to shelter with them but I soldiered on. By the time I got home it was like I had had a shower in my clothes! The rain continued all afternoon and I was thinking I wouldn’t be able to go to the dinner but about 5 minutes before I was due there the rain finally stopped so I marched down there as quickly as possible. When I arrived, only Tom, Nathan and Jessica had braved the rain but slowly and surely numbers picked up and soon there was a good crowd of us. Afterwards we all piled into Todd and Andria’s car. I think the Rwandans watching us found it amusing to see how many Muzungus you can fit in one car! (The answer is 12 although I think we could have fitted in a few more!)