Tag Archives: Ruhuha

Learning, Rwanda

BANANA SHOPPING

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As a Brazilian, banana has been always part of my everyday life. My mum used to plant it in the garden and the harvest was usually plenty for eating, making sweets and sharing with my neighbours. So, when I saw the banana plantation in Rwanda I thought that I could have it any time I wanted.  However, the story was a little bit different. Have you ever tried to go shopping in Ruhuha?

It was Tuesday morning on my way to school when I decided to buy some bananas.  It was a market day usually when you can buy anything you want. How difficult it can be! Well, certainly you need a good knowledge of Kinyarwanda if you want to negotiate the price.

On the side of the road close to the school I saw this lady that had a supermarket basket of bananas. I was feeling confident that I could negotiate the price as I wanted to buy everything. Those bananas would make everybody very happy at lunch time as we all love banana.

So, I asked the price to the lady: Angahe?  How much?

The lady was not sure how much she should charge the bananas from me (muzungu). Waiting for a response and while she was trying to think, a man jumped in and said: Rwf 40000. Believe me, it means about £40. Disappointed I went to school and told my colleagues about my attempt to buy bananas for our lunch. They all laughed and said that it was too much. Besides, the bananas were not beautiful.

Happily we got the same amount of bananas for Rwf 500 from another vendor for our lunch.

Rwanda, Teaching

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE

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This is a game called “I spy with my little eye” that can keep you occupied anywhere. Number of participantes: 2 or over.

Step 1 – who  is the spy?

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Step 2 – select an object but do not reveal it yet.

Step 3 – give a clue – “my little eye spy something that moves.”

Step 4 – participantes will guess the object.

Step 5 – the person who gets the right object becomes the new spy.

DSC06134Step 6 – the clues can be funny  (it starts with the letter b)

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– it is passing by;

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– Suzel loves it;

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– it is everywhere in Ruhuha;

 

Learning, Rwanda

SUGAR CANE

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I have always been proud of my origins and everything that I have learned in my life. I am not afraid to try different things and there is in me intrinsically a nostalgic rural person. I like nature, animals, local crops and I have a keen interest in all these issues.  However coming from Brazil sugar cane was not strange for me. I like it and I ‘gnaw’  it like Rwandans do, from the town to most remote areas. I am fanatical for natural food.  So, when I saw a local man carrying sugar cane on his bike to sell it in the market I never hesitated – I bought one spear (about 2 metres long) as I knew exactly what to do with it.  I walked all the way from the school to my home carrying it, and I was looking forward to sharing it with my colleagues from Scotland. I ate a piece, gave a small piece to a colleague and most of it I gave to the children who were always nearby my house. That was exciting! The children loved and fought for it. My colleagues were not so keen.

DSC06221My sugar cane spear ….

DSC06230My Rwandan colleagues were always making me happy…

 

Rwanda

WALKING IN RUHUHA

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I was always followed by the children after the school on my way home. I enjoyed it and I was always looking forward to that moment. They had that special  way to engage with me. It was a simple thing like – “Good morning!” Although it was “Good evening!” Or “How are you?” And suddenly I could feel a little hand holding mine. We walked hand in hand until they had to leave to take their way home. How sweet their company was! I loved it! Some children could develop a conversation with me and also be the interpreter for other children.

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Bon voyage, Business, Rwanda

LIVING COST IN RWANDA

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I am not sure how much money you need per day to live in Rwanda. But while in the country I wanted to have my own experience of how it is to be a Rwandan. So, I would like to share the cost of a few things. Currently £1 is about RWF 1104.00.

image -Moto taxi price in Kigali can be very challenging for a Muzungu (a white person). Prices can vary between RWF 300 and RWF 1000. Don’t forget to negotiate and agree the price of the ride in advance. RWF 300 each way is a fair price.

-A two-litre-bottle of water is between RWF 400 and RWF 1000. It is a good deal to know your area and local people.

-A samosa. It is delicious! It tastes like “Brazilian pastel” – RWF 150.

-Yogurt – RWF 400

-A toilet paper – RWF 200

-Bread (sliced) – RWF 100

-I love nibbles like peanuts (roasted and salted) – RWF 600 for a small container.

-Fruit – 4 bananas – RWF 100 and  2 avocados – RWF 100

DSC06526 -Dinner out – RWF 3.500

-Self service lunch – RWF 1000

-A pack of popcorn in the bus station – RWF 100. The smell of popcorn usually drives me crazy. I love it! It is free! 🙂

-Bus ticket from Kigali (Kimirongo) to Ruhuha – RWF 1.300

DSC06012 -Bus ticket in Kigali from Remera to Kimirongo – RWF 200

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-Bus ticket from Kigali (Remera) to Rwamagana RWF 1.050

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The prices are displayed on the bus. I hope the information is helpful!

 

Bon voyage, Learning, Reflection

THE BIKES IN RUHUHA

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I want to dedicate some special posts for the stunning bikes that are turning heads, at least mine, on the long wide street of Ruhuha.

I love them! They are colourfully painted and decorated with meaningful words . Their owners are proud of what the bike means for them and for the community. The personalisation of the bikes is outstanding. This one is a taxi express!

DSC06162I could not stop photographing them.

DSC06167The driver is more than happy to pose for a picture. “Simba” in Swahili is Lion. Is “Tujyende Simba” Lion of Judah?

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The Hebrew word “Shalom” means peace.

DSC06161 “Mana” is God in Kinyarwanda.

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Hiace is a van used as a mini bus in Rwanda. So you can imagine what this bike can take. “Bring it on!”

DSC06169How cool this bike is!

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Learning, Reflection, Rwanda

EATING OUT

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When in Rwanda I did have quite a few opportunities to go to restaurants. However I realised that I did not have the patience to face the long waiting time to get the meal on the table. It was always easier to grab a couple of samosas in the closest shop. For this reason, many times I avoided being out for a meal. But I tried a self-service restaurant in Ruhuha. It was a quiet place to meet my colleagues and have a refreshing Fanta Citron.

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