Closing Thoughts

As I awoke this morning in my typically early fashion, I lay for the last time under my glorious mosquito net. I listened intently in the dark, almost willing myself to hear a mosquito eagerly dive bombing my little cove of safety one last time. Transitions are always strange for me, and this trip back home appears to be no different. I end up doing a lot of reflection and not a lot of sleeping. My mind is a jumble of thoughts from different lives. As I dreamed about starting classes once again I awoke with my head swimming in sweet memories of my last evening in Save.

Yesterday was our last day to do all the things we wanted to do and despite the fact that the days leading up to it dragged with anticipation, a lot happened. Erica finished up drawing wonderful pictures on our Thank You cards, and gave the Sisters one last cake decorating lesson. Danielle made one last Hawaiian fish dinner, and wrote out all her recipes to leave with them. This is, of course, my favorite kind of day: one spent gabbing and laughing around a kitchen table. With all the commotion in our kitchen, we were filled with visitors most of the evening.

Sisters came in and out, lingering longer than usual. These women we have so eagerly gotten to know felt like comfortable old friends giggling with us about the most mundane things. One Sister in particular discarded her usually serious demeanor, and shared funny stories about us with Mother Superior.

Dinner, while delayed, was equally delightful. The Silent Retreat was still going so we had to wait until the visiting Sisters finished their meals to be invited to dinner with the Save Sisters.  Dinner was a mini celebration, never complete without Fanta and wine. Erica and I were showing off our dismal dancing skills of their traditional Rwandan dance when they then asked us to teach them ‘a traditional American Dance. ‘ I was at a complete loss but Erica, quick as ever, busted out with a rendition of the Cupid Shuffle. I was so pleased to see one of our closest Sisters join us in our silly dance.  The Sisters here really have such an incredible love for life and willingness to try new things.  Similar to our experience a few days earlier at the school celebration, the Sisters sent us off with very generous parting gifts.  In the end, though, the best gift was that they truly seemed to enjoy our company as much as we did theirs.

As Danielle noted it’s a shame that just as we get comfortable, we leave. While I found difficulty in accomplishing something profoundly meaningful this past week, my mind was busy with plans for what we could do if  we only had more time. With more time, Erica could really teach the Sisters how to decorate cakes and help them open the bakery they’ve been planning. With more time, Danielle could do the portrait project of the Sisters she so badly wanted  to do. With more time, Christina could make continued connections with the local children.  I could do the community art project I’ve been itching to design. I could take dance classes from the local dance teacher. I could learn how to drum from the local women’s troupe I just discovered. I could really help the Sisters, teachers, and students to learn English. And I could actually learn Kinyarwanda. With more time…

Yes, this is always the dilemma. With more time we could do so much more. And yes, I hope I can find a way to make that happen. As long as a month can feel, it really is only just enough time to get our feel wet. Mentally, I’m not done here and I really hope I can find a way so that this will not be the end.
As I listen again, I think I can hear the faint buzzing of an anxious mosquito. Either that, or the distant hum of city noise.

What am I saying? They don’ t have city noise around here.

Sure enough, there’s my little buggy friend and she’s managed to find her way under my net. I squish her, as I’ve trained myself to do here, and with a mild surge of anxiety I realize: yes. I’m definitely ready to go home. As much as I’m sad to go, I’m also excited to go home to see and talk to all the people I’ve missed so dearly.

Now all I can hear are the crickets singing their soft song, and all I can think about is how glad I am to have these last few early morning hours. I’m going to spend them enjoying the sounds and hopefully finishing up the book I borrowed. I think, then, I’ll be ready.

Amohoro,

Hesper

Celebration Day

As a wrap-up to our time here, we planned a celebration in which the students showed their parents what they had been doing with us.  We wanted the students to be proud of the work they had done and for the parents to understand what their children had done these past few weeks. The students and parents rotated through different stations according to the group the students was assigned (snakes, cows or pigs).  As each group moved through the rooms they introduced their parents to the projects they had created with each of us.   The students had created puppet shows, welcome songs, masks, paper houses and written interviews.  We even had a small table set up with art supplies, so the students could show their parents how they painted.  The parents were kind and welcoming and the students were excited about sharing their work.

Just when we thought we were finished, the students had some additional surprises in store for us.  As we gathered in the library for refreshments and snacks, the students disappeared along with the teachers and the head mistress.  After a few minutes, the boys slowly filed in followed by a giggling group of girls.  A path cleared in the doorway and six girls entered, in traditional-looking yellow skirts.  The large group of giggling girls started singing and clapping in time, and the six performed a dance for us.  After the dance, three students read us poems about what they had learned and one student gave us a speech.  We were then presented with gifts from the school and were applauded many times.  This is when I began to tear up.  Their kindness and joy was overwhelming.  Many parents made an effort to thank us and invite us to return.  It is our sincerest hope that we will be able to return next summer and continue our work at St. Joseph’s.

Groups at St. Joseph’s – Our Last Two Weeks!

Please click on the spreadsheet below for a short description of our activities the last two weeks:

I have also created a short video of some of the art-making we facilitated in our groups 🙂

The “Magic Moments”

Last Wednesday, we did not work at the school, as it was Assumption Day. In addition to the wonderful cultural and religious ceremonies we experienced, I also had the opportunity to connect with two young boys.

The two children were sons of one of the workers and appeared to be four and three-years-old. I had met the older brother the week prior, when he painted with Erica. Then, he seemed quiet and slightly nervous, but he painted with a surprising amount of concentration for a boy his age. At that time, he was sick with cold-like symptoms, and we gave him some orange juice. He drank the juice slowly, savoring each sip.

When I came across the boy and his brother again, they were playing in the convent  garden near their mother, who works for the Sisters.  The minute they saw me they came running up to hug me. I greeted them and brought a watercolor set and paper. As we sat, the boys quickly started to paint. Both boys were quiet and breathed deeply as they concentrated on their work. I also noticed how they used almost every color in the set of sixteen colors and covered most of the white space on the paper. The paintings appeared somewhat abstract, with lines and dots.

There were times when I tried to engage the boys through acting playful. I would paint on my nose and make a silly face, or pretend to paint on their paper. The boys would just look at me with flat expressions. Later, the mother came over and asked us to take a photo. Hesper took some photos of the boys and their artwork, and a picture of the three family members together. I showed the boys the photos on Hesper’s digital camera, and to my delight, they started to smile and laugh! We plan to develop these photos for the family to keep.

Later that evening, Erica, Danielle, Hesper, and I went on a walk with one of the sisters. We saw the boys sitting under a tree on the side of the road, with their paintings in hand. They waved at us as we walked by.

It is these “magic moments” of engagement and connection that I truly treasure. The arts can help inspire resilience within those facing difficult circumstances. I personally have found the arts healing in my own life, and I hope these moments of smiles, laughter, and creation can make a small difference, even if it is just for a day.

More than just a roof over our heads

As I write, the voices of the Sisters are filling the sky.  It is Sunday morning here in Save, and a lot has gone on since I’ve last posted.  On the compound we’ve seen lots of Sisters shuffle in and out.  August is busy season for the Benebikiras.  The four of us have had this rare opportunity to take a step into lives that are vastly different from ours.  I’d like to write this post about the Benebikiras and hope that you find them as amazing as I do.

To become a Sister, it is not a pre-requisite to have a beautiful voice, although I can say that I’ve yet to meet a Sister that can’t sing.  One must also study for four years near our compound here in Save.  The first two years are spent studying the Bible and deciding if being a Sister is what she really wants.  After those two years are up she becomes a Novice.  During this time she learns the ins and outs of living a life for God and again considers whether she wants to be a Sister.  When the last two years are up a celebration occurs where the Novices become Sisters.  They give vows and in return receive a voile and a necklace bearing an image of Mary and the statement “Je suis l’immaculaee conception”  I recently was witness to one of these celebrations this past Wednesday, Assumption Day.  The morning was unlike any I’ve experienced here in Save.  Sisters were running back and forth preparing every last detail.  On that day they dressed head to toe in white, very different from their standard blue.  Cars shuffled from all over Rwanda and as far as Kenya to witness the induction of two new Sisters.  It was all happening right out our doorstep. We were very honored to be invited to attend the Assumption Day mass.

When we got to church, we were unsure where to sit. There were a few Sisters already sitting, but we had benches and chairs to choose from, along with the left or right side.  We eventually sat with Sister Felicite, the headmistress of Saint Joseph’s primary school, where we teach English.  The music was played on a portable organ that seemed like it could fold up into a briefcase.  It was plugged into the wall and the chords echoed throughout the church.  Sisters started piling in, along with acolytes, and eventually the Priest.  The service was completely in Kinyarwanda.  Although I couldn’t understand the sermon, I still found myself rather attentive.  I joined in with the hand clapping, and kept a steady beat while the choir sang.  The service went on for two and half hours, and ended with a processional into the Benebikira sacred room.  This room is dedicated to the relationship between the Sisters and their Mother Mary. We were lucky enough to be encouraged to join the procession.  The room was filled with Sisters from all different congregations.  They sang songs in unison without books and then, like a flick of a switch, everyone began to embrace.  The new Sisters were greeted by all the other Sisters.  I learned Proficiat meant Congratulations and Umunsi mwiza means Happy Day.  The Sisters were all so happy to have two new Sisters.  The new Sisters were able to go home with their families after lunch and now everyone awaits their placement in the next few days or weeks.

As I watched and took part in the greeting, I remembered when I first arrived here in Rwanda.  I was embraced with hugs by many Sisters.  They were all so delighted by our arrival.  The Benebikra Sisters are gracious hosts.  They’ve given us more than a place to rest our heads at night. The Sisters have gone out of their way to knock on our door just to check-in.  They make sure there is no flour in my food and no meat for the vegetarians.  They stop whatever they are doing to greet us and spend some time talking with us.  In a week’s time I will be saying goodbye, instead of hello.  It will be a hard parting, as I’ve made many connections to the Sisters I’ve met during my time in Rwanda.  I hope that when I leave I can share the joy they give me with others.

Classroom Observations

I wanted to share a reflection I had from class the other day:

Today, my class went pretty well – I had fun. We began with “I Can Sing…,” a song I learned in Voice and Music Therapy, a class I took at Lesley University. It’s a simple song that ends with an improvised call and response of random sounds and syllables which, after a few examples from me, I encouraged them to lead. Every student was fairly willing to make up their own syllables. This almost surprised me, because they tend to be very model-based – often only slightly modifying the teacher’s example. However, when doing more fun activities, I find their comfort level to be higher than most, and it’s quite refreshing. We then moved onto rhythmic improvising, starting with body percussion and creating a beat as we walked around the room. Since they have the tendency to model the teacher, I have been trying to give them opportunities to explore their creativity, which came out in full-force during this activity. They were so lively, using desks, walls, and even an empty box or two to make their rhythms, which were rich with syncopation and a variety of beats.

It’s been an interesting challenge here, trying to balance my role as an English teacher and my experience and passion for freedom of expression through the arts. I want to do expressive experientials that offer opportunities to explore self and others, yet I have to be sure that the students are learning and practicing English in an academic way. I struggled with this last week while we were planning lessons, but I think it’s getting clearer now. I realized that I really need to work through my own strengths, using my experiences to form connections and create a safe space where these students can feel comfortable practicing their English aloud. Yes, I will correct their grammar and spelling as we go, but what is more important to me is encouraging creative use of the English language, not just rote memorization of grammatical forms.

I’ve also been struck by how eager they are to learn. I had one girl come up to me after our lesson was over to get clarification on what “snoring” and “bumped” meant from the children’s rhyme “It’s raining, it’s pouring”. We taught this simple song as an afterthought, because the rain outside kept several students home from school that day, and it never occurred to me that the song could be considered worthy of study. Many of them worry about being first in their class, talk about becoming doctors, and create skits that revolve around how important it is to study and not play too much. I was pleased to get a note from one of the students saying how he would like to “make the friendship between us.” Danielle got a similar note to this last week from a young girl who wanted to show her how she could write all the lyrics to Adele’s “Someone Like You.” While I am positively charmed by their gestures, part of me also wonders if they feel pressured to win our favor. I hesitate to encourage it because I don’t want to play favorites, but I also appreciate their efforts. They really are clever kids with a lot of energy and a love of life. I was able to see more of that today with this rhythm activity, and I was so pleased to have this opportunity to let them lead. I hope to encourage this freedom as we continue through the weeks.

Warm Regards,

Hesper

Arts in Rwanda

We went to the National Museum of Rwanda Thursday and visited three beautiful exhibits.  The first was created by a man from Uganda, Kaddu Wasswa.  He documented his life through a collection of photographs, clippings from newspapers, and other scraps.  A photographer from the Netherlands then took his collection and photographed every piece of it and compiled it as a book.  I was inspired by this exhibit because it is very similar to the way I journal.  On my trips abroad I gather evidence of my journey: ticket stubs, restaurant napkins, letters, pages of children’s story books, etc.  Wasswa documents his community involvement in a similar manner creating a “visual biography.”

“Dutch photographer Andrea Stultiens met Ugandan teacher Kaddu Wasswa in 2008 through his grandson, photographer Arthur C. Kisitu, and discovered the meticulous archive in which Wasswa documented his years of community activism including youth development, international exchange and organic farming techniques. Stultiens and Kisitu added their own photographs, and the result is an absorbing visual biography that stretches from Uganda’s colonial days through its first 50 years of independence, which will be commemorated in 2012” (INMR Document).

The other exhibit was a photographer’s collection of work from 10 years after the genocide.  He visited places that were very important in the time of the genocide and photographed them in their current state of disarray.  Most of the photos were of places and things that seemed harmless and rather insignificant. It was hard to imagine that such atrocities had once taken place in the now quiet soccer field, or a dilapidated motel.  The strength of his work was in his point of view—balancing the horrific occurrences of the past with the current state of things.

I did not get to see the third exhibit, which included works of Collin Sekajugo, an artist and activist whom creates large sculptures displayed outdoors. Collin Sekajugo also founded Ivuka Arts, a gallery and arts studio which we visited the next day.

Ivuka Arts

During our trip to Kigali, we were able to visit an arts studio on the outskirts of town. The journey there was very long; we turned down many dirt roads and traveled past houses protected by brick walls, tall metal gates and security guards, only to find a very welcoming, colorful gate.  When we entered we were greeted by the smiling faces of children creating art in the shade and a few kind men who revealed themselves as some of the artists behind the work we observed.  They explained that their goal was much the same as expressive arts therapy—to help people heal through the arts. After our tour of the studio, Emmanuel explained that the small shop, which contained children’s paintings and jewelry made by the other artists, gives 100% of the sales to the artists. Part of the program involves  providing art classes and materials for the children, free of charge. All of the children involved are from impoverished families, many of which who are orphans, who probably greatly benefit from the sales of their work.  Coincidentally, Emmanuel will be in Boston this fall and we are looking forward to introducing him to Lesley and the expressive therapy program.  Our hope is to make a connection between our school and the studio so they can collaborate in the future.

The photos below are of Ivuka Arts. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Artistic Juggling

As volunteers in Rwanda, we juggle many roles. At the school, we are seen as English teachers. At the bus stop, we are seen as artists and entertainers. The children and adolescents there ask us to draw them pictures or play ukulele for their amusment. In the community, curious onlookers stare at us as foreigners. To our surprise, they often approach us and attempt to communicate through their broken English and our limited Kinyarwanda. And when we are at the compound, the Sisters see us as special visitors who they check in with throughout the day. We, however, see ourselves as navigators, finding connections through artistic experiences in all these roles.

In our experience here, their reaction to visual art has been the most surprising. As much as the arts are a large part of the culture here, many children cannot afford art supplies. Singing and dancing are much more common, as they only require the body. At the school, at the bus stop, and in the compound in which we live, we often paint and draw with the children. When I ask the children at the school which activity they enjoy the most, they often answer with the art activity we planned. Art is seen as a special treat, and they savor it! Even this morning, we did not have any art supplies, and we made do with drawing in the dirt. We received a few giggles and laughs in return, but the children came and drew in the dirt with us, and taught us different words in Kinyarwanda.

It is hard to imagine that I have only been here for two weeks, and that I will be leaving in only twelve days. It is beautiful here: the landscapes, the people, the culture… I will miss the Sisters’ hospitality, the children waving at us (and sometimes even chasing us) while we are driving in the car, and the students shouting “teacher, teacher!” as they raise and shake their hands with excitement.

Amahoro,

Christina

Slideshow: Our First Two Weeks

I have made a slideshow of photos from our first two weeks in Rwanda. We decided not to post any photos of the children’s faces, to protect their identity and maintain anonymity. The music in the background is from St. Joseph’s Primary School: the first music clip is of the children singing the national anthem, and the second music clip is of a rhythm improv session led by Hesper.  I hope you enjoy it!

Teaching in Nyanza

Among our new experiences we have started teaching at a Catholic school in Nyanza, which is a 45-minute bus ride from Save. The students are very receptive and eager to learn. They seem to soak up every bit of knowledge we can provide, even the silly stuff like learning the word and motion of “to wiggle.” The most popular “educational” activity has been the hand clapping game “Miss Mary Mack.”

I’ve been the “serious” teacher focusing on the more technical, grammar based assignments, but the kids seem to be okay with it. Culturally, the expectations of students’ behavior in the classroom is more strict; school is seen as their job and they take their work very seriously. I have had many moments when I ask a question while facing the board and turn around to find every hand in the class raised and many voices saying “me teacher, me teacher.” There are other times I turn around to no raised hands and confused looks but I try again–I am never discouraged because their enthusiastic attitude is contageous. The students want to be here. Knowing that these students only started learning in English three years ago (they were formerly taught in French and spoke Kinyarwanda at home), I am even more impressed by their willingness to take risks.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame’s “Vision 2020” delineates a goal of a 100% literacy rate by 2020. Even with America’s more established education system, this would seem to be a lofty goal. Because of this there is often an underlying competitive aspect to their education. One girl wrote me a note the first day of class to ask if I could tutor her in the afternoons because she was 3rd in her class last term and wants to be 1st this coming term. This reminds me that our challenge here is to teach them something that is worth learning; how they do now determines much of what they will do later in life and they know that. As a result, making a comparison to American schools is challenging for me because, at home, teaching is all about getting one’s students excited enough about a topic to get them to dedicate time to learning. But here, the students are already excited before the teacher enters the classroom.

Teachers are held at one of the highest levels of respect because of the value of education. Much of “Vision 2020” depends on educating this generation to improve healthcare, decrease the birth rate, and make Rwanda a competitive nation in the world of industry. The message the students are recieving is “our future depends on you.” This, in itself is a lofty goal. While we do not expect to teach them all we know in a matter of weeks, we feel challenged to pack as much as we possibly can in the amountof time we have.

The other activities that students have rotated through include: music, painting/sculpting lessons, team building activities and fun games.

Groups at St. Joseph’s from August 2nd-8th