Day One: Move In

In house, all possessions assessed.
Need gate fixed.
7 new doorknobs, or 3.
More permanent fix to latrine door.
Kerosene.
Talk to carpenter: bed frame, square kitchen table, 4 chairs, stools for visitors.
Find Jeanne, mental health nurse.
Find spare keys to trunk

My neighborhood is bustling. I met all my immediate neighbors- they don’t seem to work. Should I have my dance party I promised myself after move-in? It seems like my neighbors are. Confusing to speak to Claudia (my counterpart and supervisor). She and I misinterpret everything between our two languages.

Priority number one: water, kerosene, matches.

Lessons from day one: if you barricade yourself in, it takes 5 minutes to answer the gate. As a woman, it’s easy to make girlfriends. By August at the latest, electricity. I dreamt in Kinyarwanda. That last one’s not really a lesson just a random milestone I was waiting for.

So darkness hit and I was attempting to fall asleep. Loud banging came at my gate. I saw a flashlight roaming around and a woman calling my name. Poor security is a bit of a phobia for me so I had effectively barricaded myself into a shoebox of a room with all my possessions. My counterpart, Claudia, was now calling my cell phone so I knew it was her. It took me 5 minutes to moved the trunk away from the door (I said phobia, didn’t I?), unlock the bedroom door, the door to the hallway, the padlock on the front door, the lock on the front door and move the rock I had placed at the gate. My Dad would be so proud ☺ Claudia and her friend Mary wanted to invite me to dine with them and then escort me back. I accepted. I was taken to more hospital guesthouses where 5 of them live during the weeknights. They live with their families during the weekends. First, we watched Rwandan TV, the monetary policy talk from the financial advisor. Although I have to admit that Rwandan news is higher quality than northern Michigan newscasts, my mind wandered. I was elated to be invited into this inner circle. The food was delicious and then they safely deposited me back at my house, after checking to see if I had water.

Some hate being babied, but I couldn’t be more appreciative. My neighbors asked me how I would cook. I wish I knew the Kinyarwanda phrase of – You tell me. But I think my facial expression conveyed that well. Anyone’s guess is welcome at this point. I’m trying to be overwhelmed with my household tasks. New locks and water are number one priority. Food (after my week of eating at the guesthouse is over) will be next. After day 5 I will need to conquer bathing. I’m sure my neighbors will appreciate that. Just kidding.

Thankfully everything is going really well. I met all my immediate neighbors and shared a Fanta. I was asked multiple times if I had children.

I think the honeymoon of the guesthouse is over. They didn’t seem to expect me to eat there all the time and it has a different feeling.

I christened my latrine. And the bathing room isn’t as bad as it looks.

Funniest moment so far: Claudia, aka counterpart, asking if I like soft tissue and handing me toilet paper through my open stall door where I’ve got a tiny flashlight glowing as I’m sitting on the toilet. As they say here: You are welcome, to mean, Nice to have you here, Welcome.