The rustic methods of construction with free, local materials is engineered to create simple architecture that is indigenous to the area, and which is deeply engrained in olden times.
When I saw the local people preparing the muddy for this construction, I thought about my dad who was a builder in Brazil. Many times I saw him making the same type of muddy cake to set the bricks. And I am thinking where my dad’s knowledge came from.
This is my dad
Waking along the street of Ruhuha I was introduced to the African traditional sorghum that is drying under the warm sun.
Usually Sorghum is used in a popular beer made from bananas in Rwanda called Urwagwa.
Women work hard to support their family. This lady is spreading “amamera” on the ground. She could not understand me when I asked her that I wanted to take a picture. But a man close to her said “iego” – “yes”. It is a lovely picture and she was delighted to see it.
How exciting it is to take a bus in Rwanda! Is it a big bus or a small bus? Well it is a van. It can be big for 20 people or small that fits 15 people, but they are never on the road with less than 24 people squeezed in like sardines in a can.
It is a privilege to get a seat by the window. Please leave the windows open, so that the dust that is in can circulate and eventually go out. Believe me, that works!
Take the minimun necessary for your jorney or be prepared to pay for an extra seat for your luggage.
10th July 2015 – 7:46am
It was during a chemistry lesson that I was invited to speak to a group of students. I was not only surprised with this opportunity that was given to me, but I was also impressed by the students’ confidence and the type of questions that they asked. And one question in particular that struck me was: “How can you inspire us?”
Wow! I took a deep breath and I said: “Well, I have been a teacher for 20 years, but more than that I have been a student for my entire life. It means that I learn something new every day. Yes, some people have inspired me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. So like you, I still have dreams and it is impossible to predict about our tomorrow. What I know is that, you have to live your present life to the full and you need to give the best of yourself in everything you do. Be honest, try hard, be wise and critical. But above all, be yourself! Find out about your talents and explore them. Whatever you do, do it with love.”
Again I took my breath, caught a glimpse of the whole class, but they were staring at me:
“In fact, I only can be myself! I hope I can share with you who I am and my life experience. Life is wonderful and usually full of surprises. And as an example here I am, my first time in Africa, Ruhuha, at GS Rango.”
The school grows a garden with different vegetables and fruits for its own sustainance. It is a type of labour that often young people can look down on as a punishment. But by teaching agriculture the younger generation will support and improve farming and living in Rwanda.
I was able to identify most of the leaves except the “dodo.” Dodo is an African indigenous vegetable that is grown and harvested in the wild. I had it everyday for my luch in the school. It was picked from the school garden, rinsed, chopped and cooked with beens, banana and meat. Delicious and healthy! I love it.
Tomato – urunyanya
Onion – igitunguru
Papaia – paw paw
Banana – igitoki ( plantation) and umuneke (ripe banana)
Orange – icunga
Dodo
It was lovely when the students kindly taught me how to play Igisoro in GS Rango, Ruhuha.
Igisoro is a game played in Rwanda and in some other countries in Africa. It is a two-player game with 4x 8 holes in the ground and 64 seeds. As you can see through the pictures below we replicated it in a different way. We drew a table on the floor and used little stones instead of seeds.
8th July 2015
5:30am – It is time to get up! The loud sound of my neighbour’s radio announces this. I have plenty time to get ready and walk that long large street of Ruhuha to get to my placement school. It takes me approximately 30min to get there.
I am taking a world map and a small globe that travelled with me all the way from Scotland to Ruhuha in Rwanda. I might use them as I visit all the classes in the school.
This is Groupe Scolaire Rango, a secondary school.
07th July 2015 – 17:24
Surprisingly, almost every adult has a mobile phone in Rwanda. In fact some people have more than one. It seems that this tecnology has taken over this part of the world. The variety of services available through mobile phones is impressive. Among so many things you can do with your mobile, here you can buy credits for your electricity. However, in case of a power cut you have easy access to a place where you can charge your mobile.
07th July 2015 – pm
It was a day full of first time experiences in a foreign land.
*Delivering my luggage,
*Finding out about the new neighbourhood,
*Meeting the headmaster of my school placement,
*Visiting the local Education Secretary,
*Going to a local restaurant,
*Buying drinking water,
*Decision making and decision taking,
This is my first day in Ruhuha and the blue building is my reference point. I live just up that street.
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.
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