Yesterday I went to the World Cup Qualifying game, Rwanda versus Algeria. Most people didnt think that Rwanda didnt have a chance of winning, and even though they didnt win, they also didnt lose. The game ended up 0-0. But Rwanda was definitely dominating the game, with most of the time spent near the Algeria goal. It was too bad they didnt win, but they definitely made a strong showing.
At first we thought we were going to get rained out. About an hour before, the sky opened up, as it tends to do and poured down a shower. But within a half an hour, the rain was over and the sun was back out so off to the game we went. Where it was packed out with fans ready to watch their favorite team play their favorite sport.
And it was a great game to watch, as much for the game as for the crowd. Aryn and I were sitting right underneath the giant screen, surrounded by Rwandan men, who were alternatively very excited about the game, jumping around, sharing opinions, and waving down people walking in front of us, or very intent, focused completely on the game. At one point, when Rwanda scored (turned out to be offsides), the whole stadium jumped up, screaming and cheering. No one sits by idly at a football game. We were also near the cheering section, which is full of men dressed in yellow, green, and blue outfits with faces painted, flags waving, horns tooting. I dont think there was a minute during the game that they sat or were quiet.
When it was over, we were exiting the stadium, not really by our own free will but by being swept along by the crowd (all men, most in need of a shower) when all of a sudden everyone came to a halt. Aryn and I were smashed together, surrounded by a crowd of men, trying to figure out what was happening. Turns out no one could leave before Paul Kagame did. So until the President left, we were pushed up and down, back and forth, stuck between the contractions of the crowd. Once PK left, the crowd swept out, exploding onto the streets and walking back through town, everyone dressed in blue, green, and yellow and generally proud of their country and their team.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
To my mother...
I have emailed you! I dont know you havent been getting them. Please do call. I have been wondering why you havent.
To other people... please feel free to inform my mother of this post.
To other people... please feel free to inform my mother of this post.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
More things I love
1. Minibuses. Lots of things about minibuses. One of the things that I love about minibuses is that you can easily fit 16 people in them. And they are the size of a minivan. So when people say that a mid size sedan is not big enough for a family of five, I will laugh in their face. Another thing I like about mini-buses is when the "conductor" (thats the guy who opens the door while you are still screeching to a halt on the side of the road and closes the door while you are screeching away) is wearing a Spokane YMCA shirt. Little touch of home. Another thing I love about minibuses is when the driver takes it upon himself to decorate it. For example, the spiderman minibus that I rode in last night that had a decal of spiderman and his web that literally covered the car. And the inside upholstery was the same color as the decal. I believe I commented on coordination in a previous list of things I love.
2. When you order fish here, they bring a giant fish. The whole fish. Head to tail. Fried and covered in onions. So good.
3. The absolute astonishment of the staff when I revealed I had a belly button piercing. Lots of grabbing of my shirt and showing it off, pointing, and giggling ensued.
Something I DONT love... Americans preachers coming to Africa to hold rallies preaching that praying to God will cure AIDS. I cannot even begin to explain how detrimental this kind of activity is. I am not trying to say that prayer has no place in a coping strategy, but to tell people that there are documented cases of people being "cured" by prayer is well Im sorry... but its disgusting. It is detrimental to the health, spirituality, and mental well-being of these individuals and puts entire populations at risk by thinking that practicing risky behavior is ok as long as you pray afterward. There is no greater barrier to effective HIV control than evangelists telling people NOT to use condoms, NOT to see doctors, NOT to learn about HIV but just pray pray pray. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!
I cannot begin to explain how angry this makes me. How can people be so blinded by the belief in "one true god" that they turn a blind eye to what is directly in front of them? Does science have all the answers? Clearly not. Does religion have a place in every society? Yes. But when religion covers the very real experiences of millions of people and touts the miraculous curing of a few (who lets be honest, probably were given the wrong test result in the first place), it is destructive. Pure and simple.
2. When you order fish here, they bring a giant fish. The whole fish. Head to tail. Fried and covered in onions. So good.
3. The absolute astonishment of the staff when I revealed I had a belly button piercing. Lots of grabbing of my shirt and showing it off, pointing, and giggling ensued.
Something I DONT love... Americans preachers coming to Africa to hold rallies preaching that praying to God will cure AIDS. I cannot even begin to explain how detrimental this kind of activity is. I am not trying to say that prayer has no place in a coping strategy, but to tell people that there are documented cases of people being "cured" by prayer is well Im sorry... but its disgusting. It is detrimental to the health, spirituality, and mental well-being of these individuals and puts entire populations at risk by thinking that practicing risky behavior is ok as long as you pray afterward. There is no greater barrier to effective HIV control than evangelists telling people NOT to use condoms, NOT to see doctors, NOT to learn about HIV but just pray pray pray. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!
I cannot begin to explain how angry this makes me. How can people be so blinded by the belief in "one true god" that they turn a blind eye to what is directly in front of them? Does science have all the answers? Clearly not. Does religion have a place in every society? Yes. But when religion covers the very real experiences of millions of people and touts the miraculous curing of a few (who lets be honest, probably were given the wrong test result in the first place), it is destructive. Pure and simple.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Things I enjoy
Here is just a random list of things that I love about Rwanda...
1. Everyone has a cell phone. Ev-er-y-one. So even if you are in the middle of nowhere, climbing up a hill with a couple houses and some goats around you, you know that someone will have a phone, no matter how out of place you may think it is.
2. Everyone answers their phones at completely inappropriate times. For example, at a recent gathering someone was giving a speech and the person to whom he was giving the speech was on the phone. Didn’t stop the speech, didn’t stop the phone call.
3. Matching. It’s almost unbelievable how coordinated women are here. Shoes will match belts will match earrings will match handbags and all of them match the shirt. Imagine a completely sky blue outfit and you’re not far off from my co-workers favorite ensemble.
4. Or the opposite extreme…Complete non-matching. A really bright blue and neon green floral print chetenge (kind of like a sarong) matched with a man’s red and yellow paisley shirt. Stunning.
5. The liberal use of capes.
6. When it starts to rain, the country stops working. Literally. Meetings are canceled, the internet shuts down, buses stop running. You can actually tell someone “I couldn’t do that yesterday. It was raining”. This is in fact a legitimate excuse.
7. Umuganda. This is the monthly “mandatory” community service day. Ask any Rwandan how they spent their umuganda and the answer will be “in bed”.
1. Everyone has a cell phone. Ev-er-y-one. So even if you are in the middle of nowhere, climbing up a hill with a couple houses and some goats around you, you know that someone will have a phone, no matter how out of place you may think it is.
2. Everyone answers their phones at completely inappropriate times. For example, at a recent gathering someone was giving a speech and the person to whom he was giving the speech was on the phone. Didn’t stop the speech, didn’t stop the phone call.
3. Matching. It’s almost unbelievable how coordinated women are here. Shoes will match belts will match earrings will match handbags and all of them match the shirt. Imagine a completely sky blue outfit and you’re not far off from my co-workers favorite ensemble.
4. Or the opposite extreme…Complete non-matching. A really bright blue and neon green floral print chetenge (kind of like a sarong) matched with a man’s red and yellow paisley shirt. Stunning.
5. The liberal use of capes.
6. When it starts to rain, the country stops working. Literally. Meetings are canceled, the internet shuts down, buses stop running. You can actually tell someone “I couldn’t do that yesterday. It was raining”. This is in fact a legitimate excuse.
7. Umuganda. This is the monthly “mandatory” community service day. Ask any Rwandan how they spent their umuganda and the answer will be “in bed”.
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