happy new year! and hello again

Umwaka musha muhire! Happy New Year! 

Obviously, I’ve been a bit out of touch lately.  Two weeks before I began traveling (work and play) for nearly a month, my computer broke.  It has just now been mended up (and is barely hanging on to life, fingers crossed and prayers said for another year of life) and I’m back in the old writing saddle.  The return of my computer and some birthday and new years resolutions has me writing a bit more... hopefully... 

So let me catch you up:

At the end of November, Thanksgiving week, actually, I was selected, along with 7 other PCV’s in Rwanda to attend the Rwanda National Pediatric Conference on Children and Youth Affected and Infected by HIV and AIDS.  May the lengthy name of the conference give you an idea of how jam packed this three day event was.  

Then, after another week back at site, I had the honor and pleasure of filling in for an injured PCV in the role of Camp Director at Camp BE in Bugesera District in Eastern Province.  Nearly 50 teenage boys, 30 young adult male facilitators and junior facilitators, a lot of information about life, HIV, and sex and relationships, more beans and cabbage than I ever want to eat again, late night dancing and talent shows, and temperatures 20 degrees hotter than I ever see here in Musanze.  This is Camp BE. 

Camp BE Bugesera 2012

Finally I was back at site for just one night before I left on my epic Southern Africa Christmas adventure to Botswana to visit Ashley and Katy!  I went with Beth and John to  Johannesburg, South Africa (for just one night on each end), Livingstone, Zambia (to see Victoria Falls) and finally to Maun, Medie, Gaborone, and Lehututu Botswana (and just about every little town in between).  Epic indeed.  

Victoria Falls on the Zambia side.

There are so many details about each of these things so I won’t give it all to you at once. I’m splitting it up into several posts so you can find and read them as you have time. 

Now I’ve been back in Kabere for about two weeks now and I’m trying to understand what’s going on here and get involved where I can.  I’m all ready to go with a hygiene project and a nutrition project.  I’m just waiting for a budget from the district on the hygiene training and for my language to improve so I can understand what the hell is happening in nutrition.  School started on Monday, though, and the kids are eager to being GLOW/BE club.  So am I.  Youth development is why I’m here anyway and it’s probably the place where I can be most effective.  

this lovely babe was born on the morning of my 30th birthday.  i'm very happy to share my day with him. 

Also, my garden went to pieces while I was gone (except for the miracle cabbage and beets; they must be strong!) and now my Titulaire has reclaimed the space he apportioned me to plant.  So I will be doing some negotiating and planting new seeds (hopefully) in the very near future.  It seems these days people are growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants.  Perhaps I will follow suit.  I will keep you posted. 

So as I look forward to what’s ahead, you can look forward to hearing about it! :)

a zucchini I harvested on my birthday (Nov 12).  I was trying to show shock and surprise so I could send this picture to my friend Ashley who gave me the zucchini seeds.  yes, I know I waited too long to harvest it and that's why it was so big, but it was still tasty. it's all about learning, right? :)