07th July 2015 – 14:00
My new home for a month in Ruhuha is what people in Rwanda call a compound house. There are ten of these two room flats in the same lot shut behind a tall gate.
I chose the front room and my colleague the back room. As I usually get up very early every morning, I felt more comfortable if I could go out and in of my room without disturbing my colleague who was staying in the back room. The mattress is comfy and the bed clothing looks new and clean. A lovely net falls over the bed which protects against mosquitos. That was it, no shelves or any other furniture.
The two rooms next door were occupied by two other colleagues and four of us shared another two rooms that were our living room and kitchen. Toilet? Oh dear! It is outside and my colleagues call it “long drop.” I am sure you will not have difficulties to identify its meaning and any sort of explanation will not be necessary. And yes, there is a shower room (2metres square) without a shower or any tap. It is just a small room outside where you can wash youself. Good lucky with your bucket of water!
Water? Yes, there is water and there is no need to walk miles to get it. The tap with running water is in the back yard. Oh bless! I just need to fill up the jerry can with water.
The picture below shows a long line of jerry cans waiting for running water in Ruhuha.
