Butare and More Mazungus

On Monday we interviewed children in Gitarama. We had 13 children show up; in contrast, to our usual 5 or 6. It was hard to sit still for that long, and I felt terrible for the children that had to sit outside. The kids are given money for public transportation to get to the interview. Every single day we tell them they can leave after their interview, but without fail, the children wait until all the interviews are done so they can go home together. It amazes me how loving and devoted they are to each other.

Now… We are in Butare (I believe it’s a sector in Huye-but I will be the first to admit, I probably got that wrong)…!!


Tuesday we started our interviews in Huye! After a great lunch which consisted of tomato soup and Crouche de Mounsieur (basically grilled cheese with ham)… I loved it. After lunch we headed to our new hotel, which is across from the National University of Rwanda. When we first got to this place we thought it was amazing. We met the group of Americans there who we will be spending the week with; we will be building houses for orphans. These houses are made out of rocks and clay. The children in the Giving Hope program got together and voted who would receive a house. There are families that participate in the Giving Hope program who are still homeless… No shelters here, these kids are sleeping in bushes. Anyway these kids get together and vote on who the lucky few will be to receive a new house; then they all build the house together-incredible. A bunch of 13-20 years olds building a house for 1 or 2 kids when some of them don't have a home of their own. These houses remind me of play-houses we have as 5 year olds. The Fisher Price home that almost every child in America has at one time owned is probably a better shelter than the home they are beyond excited to receive…


Goodnews:
*Better selection of food (huge deal for us)
*Other Americans are here for a week! (maybe they will agree to a last 4th of July Celebration)
*My mom sent a box to the Americans to bring to us… it has sour patch kids (I’m still not done with my 2 pound bag) and Hershey’s bars (shout-out to MaryK if you are reading this)

Badnews:
*Very little access to internet
*We carry rocks DOWN a steep hill and bricks UP a steep hill
*We wake up too early-Charlotte Catholic early... it's rough

Lots to write about... Much much more tomorrow!

Love,
Jessica

Craving of the day: Chick-ful-A fries and Smoothie King (Light and Fluffy of course)