The GLP teachers from Scotland shared their outstanding skills, knowledge and experience as professionals with the IEE Mentors in Rwanda – Kigali.
The learning and teaching development gave to all of us a range of tools relating to building up capacity and competency from basic know-how to more complex and advanced understanding of managing group work, feedback, assessment, reading, speaking, writing and parents involvement.
It is a lonely elephant that has a real bad temper.
At the war time, the genocide, most animals were very scared, so they ran away to the neighbouring countries for safety. The elephants went to Tanzania, the nearest country to the side of Akagera Park in Rwanda, but one elephant refused to go. UMUTUARE did not leave the country. Consequently, it survived the war, but became a very isolated elephant. At the military area in the park, a family started to feed him with beer, kasava and banana. After the war, the herd of elephants returned from Tanzania and UMUTUARE found very difficult to join them. He is now an old, unfriendly, very grumpy and angry elephant. It is so angry that it can overturn a car with ease. It is lonely and does not know how to act. (This story was told by Anaclet, our safari guide).
So, suddenly we heard a furiously loud elephant noise coming toward us. I was on the top of the Jeep. I could see it. How exciting! A Rwandan shouted in Kinyarwanda, ‘drive away’, ‘no’, ‘stop’, ‘ahead’, ‘back’… poor chouffer! That was desperation, fear and anxiety. He stopped the Jeep in front of the bushes. I had half of my body hanging out of the Jeep and my camera ready for a shot. No words could explain that moment full of excitement, happiness, surprise and fear. It is not because you live in Africa that you can see the wild life easily. For most Rwandan I met, they never had a chance to see an elephant.
UMUTUARE is known all over the world and many visitors want to see it. I was very lucky! I saw UMUTUARE (HERO in Kinyarwanda).
10/07/2015
Friday – I went to school in the morning and in the afternoon I left Ruhuha to Kigali. The journey took me about 2 hours and at the bus station I met my colleagues to go to Rwamagana. We were all very excited to be together, to share our experiences and difficulties faced in our placements. We talked about our accommodation , water, food, health, schools, teachers, students and life in Rwanda. The house in Rwamagana was lovely, with big rooms, bathroom, kitchen and a backyard. In fact, a luxury!
It was not very late when 2 big safari Jeeps drove us to a ‘pousada’ nearby Akagera. How excited it was to have my own room with a hot shower. My own bathroom was translated to ‘happiness.’ I got emotional!
It was 5:30am when we got up for breakfast. As usual, it took ages to be prepared. We were supposed to leave at 6am, but that never happened. Anyway, we had a very strong African tea which they mix with milk and ginger. I little spicy for me! We also had ham, cheese, boiled eggs, bread and butter.
Then, an early morning of our so expected weekend. When we left the hotel the road was quiet and the air fresh. The bicycle riders were on their way to work.
I was extremely thankful for that moment. I was feeling the peace and looking forward to seeing the animals in their wild habitat. Akagera National Park presents the most scenic African’s Savannah reserve.
Here my adventure starts at ‘Akagera National Park’ in Rwanda and Anaclet is our oficial safari guide. (9am -11/07/2015).
Look at the size of that elephant head! It’s amazing! Well, you never know what wildlife encounter might present next minute! Giraffes, elephants, zebras, baboos, antelopes, buffalos, crocodiles, hippos, thousands of hippos…
The first animals I saw: a family of baboons, 4 giraffes in a distance, which made them look so small and something that looked like zebras. It took hours to see the animals closer. The giraffes were so magnificent! So elegant! So magestic! But the time I heard the elephants I got so so excited. And I loved all the stories about the animals.
Take a break and the oportunity to travel to Africa. Living and working in Rwanda was an exhilarating experience I had. I lived the culture, the place and got to know the people. A piece of my heart was left with everyone I met. Open your heart, be ready to learn and get prepared to be transformed. If you think that you can make a difference and impact other people’s life, wait and see. Above all, it will change you and your own world forever.
What happens when a child is born in Rwanda?
It is a special moment for celebration. Relatives and friends bring with them all kinds of gifts as a sign of love and friendship. The presents can be milk, baby’s clothes, banana, beens, soap and also some money. Everybody cares and giving money is always received as a blessing of riches to the new baby born. The baby is also seen as a gift and a blessing from God.
I had the privilege to visit a lovely family, hold the baby and pray with the famiky and friends to thank Lord for such a special moment.
A speech is a must for the proud dad! We all had a drink and took lots of pictures. Remember we love photos!
Imagine that the culture of a society is like an iceberg with some aspects that are visible above the water and that there is a larger portion of the internal aspect that is hidden below the surface.
What does it mean?
It means that some external aspects of the culture you can easily see such as, music, cooking, dancing, dress, art and literature. Underneath the surface is the internal culture where you are going to find a variety of notions and concepts that are implicit, unconscious and subjective of knowledge.
What does Hall suggest?
That if we want to understand the internal culture of a society we have to actively participate and live in it.
What did I find out?
When I first entered in the Rwandan culture I started to discover the underlying behaviour, beliefs, values and thought of patterns of who they are. I wanted to interact and spend time with them.
It is a challenge and commitment to learn a new language, but with some strategies and resources in place it is possible to learn how to speak in Kinyarwanda.
I recommend a phrase book. It is similar to a dictionary, but for phrases. It is helpful to memorise sentences and phrases that you need daily. I call it a “survival language.” I also have an app on my phone that helps me to work on my pronunciation and get familiar with Kinyarwanda vocabulary.
However, if you want to learn how to speak in Kinyarwanda, you have to practice the language out of a book. And if you want to learn it quickly, well, you have just to start it. Practice the language everyday. With fulltime dediction the whole process will take longer than 30 days.
There is an article published in TES magazine and website about my summer holiday in Rwanda. It is just a glimpse of what it was as I find it very hard to summarise in few words that unique experience.
Your views scotletters@tesglobal.com
News | Published in TESS on 28 August, 2015
Last Updated:27 August, 2015
Section:News
These are some of the questions I was asked:
1- Would you move to Rwanda?
2- Would you come back?
3- How do I know my talents?
4- How to not disappoint my family if I choose a profession that is not the one that they want me to follow?
5- How long does it take to get married in Scotland?
6- What do I have to do to go abroad?
7- What are you going to leave for us that will inspire us, that will remind us that you were here?
Bike is a synonym of status in Ruhuha, Rwanda. It is either a means of transport for commercial or personal purposes. It is an economic source and to have a bicycle is a dream that many people wish to come true in their life.
Bicycles have become the best transport to get students to their schools.
Peddling is an asset in Ruhuha and people depend on the bikes heavily.
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