IGSC

7/13/2009

My day started this morning when the alarm went off at 6:30. This morning was the first time I noticed that I have a mosquito bite on my ankle, hope I don’t develop malaria. Then breakfast was cut short when we were informed that the bus was ready to take us to the government building. The center is where we will be taking our class, which consists of modules. Each module focuses on a different issue in regards to the genocide and there is a different speaker who specializes in that area.

The first module was an opening ceremony where we were introduced to the committee of IGSC (Interdisciplinary Genocide Studies Center). Since not all the officials speak English there was a translator present. It was interesting that they were speaking in their native language but that makes it challenging to hold my attention.

Finally we had a tea and coffee break to refuel on caffeine. Right after that we got a tour of the government building in which the first public library of Kigali is located on the first floor. Keep in mind this is no Ellis Library like a Mizzou. Instead it is just one wall of books with a couple bookshelves donated to newspapers.

After the tour guess what time it was? Lunchtime I feel like we are always waiting to eat, eating, or sitting around after our meal. I guess that is how meal times roll in Africa or they don’t want their guests to go hungry because they want people back home to look down on Africa. They want outsides to know that even though it is a third-world country they have food for their guests.

Normally we sit around after the meal for about an hour but today we were proactive and decided to take the extra time to go on a walk. Emanuel served as our guide and we made our way to a book. I bought a translation book between the Kinyarwandan and a Rwandan parable book. The parable book is neat because it gives it in Kinyarwandan, French, and English.

Our walking journey continued down a few back roads where the views were amazing. You can really see a from hill to hill to hill. I was glad we went on the walk because I needed some exercise. I have felt a bit contained and antsy spending our time only in the hotel and on a bus.

Now I am in class listening to a gentleman speak about Human Rights and Genocide. After this lecture we will have another tea and coffee break before the next lecture, then dinner and the hotel. Today we finish class at 20:30.

3 Comments

Dan

7/14/2009 05:51:31 am

My day started this morning with the echoing call of the cock’s crow. This morning was the first time I noticed that Megan had developed a mosquito bite on her ankle, where she was bitten last night, I hope she develops malaria. I saw the mosquito suck her blood for a solid 5 minutes last night at dinner. It was a big son of a gun, lookin hungrier than a hippo at a hot dog eating contest. I thought about warning her but wisely refrained. After a full breakfast, everyone sat on the bus as Megan made us all wait as she finished her breakfast, after taking her sweet time, the bus was finally ready to take us to the government building. The nerve.

The first module was an opening ceremony where we were introduced to the committee of IGSC (Interdisciplinary Genocide Studies Center). Since not all the officials speak English there was a translator present. It was interesting to watch Megan, as she fell asleep right in front of the speaker. She was drooling so much, it looked like the Nyaborongo River! ‘How unladylike,” I thought to myself.

Finally we had a tea and coffee break to refuel on caffeine. When Megan felt that no one was looking, she pulled out a flask and filled her cup with Mbanza liquor. I guess she didn’t notice me staring right at her with a look of pity. Can’t say I’m surprised though. Right after that we got a tour of the government building in which the first public library of Kigali is located on the first floor. Keep in mind this is no Ellis Library like Mizzou. Yet despite the glaring differences and the close confines, Megan was just as loud as she always is at Ellis. Everyone, including myself were just staring daggers at her, yet she continued. Some people.

After the tour guess what time it was? Lunchtime I feel like we are always waiting to eat, eating, or sitting around after our meal. Megan excused herself to go to the bathroom several times, and each time she came back with some sort of “white powder” on her nose. At the sight of this, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, meanwhile hers were bloodshot. Big surprise.

Normally we sit around after the meal for about an hour but today we were proactive and decided to take the extra time to go on a walk. Emanuel served as our guide and we made our way to a book store. It was as if he had positively charged ions, whilst Roshani was the possessor of negatively charged ions. She was absolutely all over him, like ticks on a hound dog. I really really really wanted to buy a translation book. I’ve been working on my Kinyarwanda, and I speak so fluently that many Rwandans think that I’m from Rwanda when I first talk to them. Yet despite my fluency, I always maintain that practice makes perfect. To my abject surprise, Megan and her cronies bought up all the goddamn books! Can you believe that? Wtf do they really need to buy the books to learn how to say, “Honey, dinner’s ready.” Get out.

Our walking journey continued down a few back roads where the views were amazing. Megan wrote in her blog, and I quote, “You can really see a from hill to hill to hill.” I don’t even know what this means, does she see in like four dimensions or something? Must of been that mysterious “white powder” talking. I was glad we went on the walk because I needed some exercise. I have felt a bit contained and antsy spending our time only in the hotel and on a bus. Megan’s just a ticking timebomb, she’s so loud and abrasive. Having a normal conversation with her is like putting an elevator in an outhouse, it just doesn’t work. Oh brother.

Now I am in class listening to a gentleman speak about Human Rights and Genocide. I find it very difficult to listen the gentleman speak while Megan is incessantly pounding away on her keyboard, typing up some sort of web log, or as the young folk call it, “blog.” After this lecture we will have another tea and coffee break before the next lecture, then dinner and the hotel. I don’t know if this is actually true but that’s what Megan said and I guess along with her 4-Dimensional vision, she can predict the future as well. Yeah right, if you believe that then I have some tsunami insurance I’d like to sell you. LOLOLOLOL. Chances are she will never see my blog though its not like I have any remorse for my comments, regardless. Hopefully she will let me borrow her outlet converter tomorrow.

Dan

7/14/2009 05:53:11 am

Dan

7/14/2009 05:56:02 am

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My name is Meg and I am currently a Geriatrics and Palliative Care Fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. I started this blog several years ago as a way to remember and talk about what I experienced while studying abroad in Rwanda during the summer of 2009.

The blog has now continued and still serves as a way to let my friends and family know what I have been up to and a way for me to open up.

Disclaimer: The contents on this site represent my personal opinions, views, and experiences. They do not reflect the views of my employer or sponsor program.

IGSC

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