Third and Fourth Days in Rwanda

So my third day in Rwanda left off of my last entry, when I was going to the Genocide Memorial. Unfortunately I felt REALLY sick and didn't stay long. I had this sharp pain in my right side and had felt clammy and really hot and sick. I think it was a combination of altitude sickness, dehydration, getting used to the time zone and difference, and possibly kidney stones. I really don't know. After that I came home and took it easy. It's weird because being where we were we had to take 2 buses just to get back....as I was walking down the hill to find a bus, people kept saying hello to me or calling me "muzungu" (white person) and I just wanted to get out of there! I wish I could've got some pictures because the place was something that Americans need to see... but I just was too sick. Then we got a bus (there's no 911 or emergency number here unfortunately) and took those buses back to the center of town. Then we had to get a taxi. After negotiating a little, we got a taxi for about $6.00. That's pretty expensive here, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get home. So I got home and the NAR staff was here to help me. They tried to push me to go to the hospital, but I thought it was better for me to just lie down for awhile and see how I felt. I drank a huge jug of water and just relaxed. Then the program director, Anne, came over to see how I was doing. She said she had experienced the same symptoms before the first time she went to the memorial because of the lack of oxygen that is there (because of the altitude). So she took me to her house to have dinner with her and her fiance. We had pizza that he made and it was really good. Then they dropped me off back at the house, I skyped with Andrew, and I went to bed. I was not feeling well at the time.

Then this morning, I woke up and had a sore throat and congested ears and head. I took some Tylenol Cold Medicine...and it seems to have helped a little bit. I think getting used to the 84 degree weather and altitude here will just take some adjusting. I also have a 7 hour time zone difference, and I'm still getting used to that as well. I decided not to go to church today and just took it easy instead. I'm waiting for my roommate to get back and we're going to go to the market and get some groceries for me. Right now I'm just sitting in our living area eating some potato crisps and drinking water. It's thundering, so it might start raining over here soon. We're in the rainy season and it's rained 3/4 days that I've been here...but it will only last for about 20 minutes at a time, which is nice.

This morning I wanted to take a shower but knew that my shower has been flooding the house, so we decided it would be best for me to get a small bucket, fill it up with water, and clean myself that way. So I got in the bathroom, filled my bucket up, got myself wet, cleaned myself, and cleaned myself off with the buckets of water...all with using a bucket and sink water. No shower water needed. Man what I would do for a hot shower right about now! There are so many things we take for granted and that is def. one of them!! 4 months to go!

I also forgot to mention that I had my first experience yesterday with local Rwandans. Most of the people here that I have met thus far are from either Uganda or the Congo, but their families were originally from Rwanda. They moved away as refugees in the 50's or later, and didn't return until after the 1994 genocide. However, the locals I met yesterday might have been here in 94. My roommate went to go buy some bread, so I went with her. There are big shops downtown, but there is a local shop right across the street. It is in a really poor area. We went over there and all the kids knew her by name. They were asking about me, and I met most of them. They all gathered around so interested in me and what I was doing there. They spoke to me by saying "hi" in English, and then proceeding to say "how are you?" Some of them asked me if I spoke Kinyarwanda, and I explained to them that I had only been there for a day and was still learning, but that I knew "muraho" "yego" and "oya." They were appreciative. They were very gentle and sweet and I look forward to getting to spend more time with the locals here. I want to make some hemp bracelets for them since I have all the materials. I think they would appreciate that.

Also, I forgot to mention, when we were in town yesterday I saw some guy with an Eminem shirt. Also, there were a lot of other Rwandans wearing different rappers on their shirts. One of the buses down here says "Kanye West" on it. They love American rap apparently. Pretty interesting. There are a lot of signs that are in English here and even more people wearing English sayings on their shirts. You'd be surprised. I also saw two Rwandans without legs, walking around the streets with their hands. That made me really sad. And there are a lot of people carrying big baskets and items on their head. One teenager I saw had a huge bag of bottles.

Well I should probably get off the computer now, after writing this novel of an entry. Hope you all enjoy it. I'll keep you posted on my adventures over the next few days. I am going to start work tomorrow so I might not have too too much to say.

Love you all!