Serrina Hotel gets a connection

Hi - at last we have made contact with the Blogg. what a pain it has been.

The last update was from home around the middle of the month - so a lot of miles and experiences have come by us over the last 3 weeks.
After an interesting trip with the inevitable delays etc we were picked up at the air-port and then spent the next two days in Kigali, meeting everyone we were meant to and shaking lots of hands. Then on the Monday we were taken to the University campus for the Kigali Health Institute - in Kibuye, its on the banks of lake Kivu ( one of the 20 deepest lakes in the world and its volcanic with lots of methane in the bottom) very pretty. It is 3 hours east of the Capital, but on a really good road which makes alot of difference when traveling in the hot sun. Steve is thinking about selling them some Rhinofelt as the roads are so good and need preserving.

Kibuye is a busy little town with a couple of Hotels within walking distance . One run by the Presbyterians and the other run by the Catholics. We are not bias, so we are supporting them both.

On the 20th December we discovered that everyone was leaving the campus, students and leacturers and the shop was closed too.

So on our way back from one of the Hotels a taxi driver asked us if we wanted a lift home and we said take us to Kaligi. Two weeks later we have visited the Mountain Forest National Park in the South and the only Beach on Lake Kivu and we are off to see the world famous Gorillas next week.

This Hotel at Gysenyi is part of the chain of hotel which includes the real Hotel Rwanda from the film. This has Hotel has hot water, which our house at the university does not or the Hotel we stayed for Christmas. I know cold showers are very good for you but I do prefer hot ones.

Well it is New Years Eve now and this Hotel has invited to stay another couple of nights. We had 10 seconds deliberation, before we decided yes. They are setting up a firework display and massive buffet on the beach. Life is hell working in developing countries.

Teresa's turn

Hi Everyone,

This blogging is a little new to me so please be patient. Just started the packing, really not sure I will need this Jumper which was great for Scotland but no need for it in Rwanda. Except those who work with me know I like it hot. I have finally completed my last witness statement and food inspection letter so I can concentrate on what I will be lecturing on. The cats are happily installed at Louise and Jonathon's Home in Cottenham-I don't think they will miss us as they will be fed Tuna and prawns.

Well back to the packing and lecture notes. Thanks David for the notes.

Bye for now Teresa

52 hours and thinking to much

What was wrong with another weekend in Scotland anyway?

Got a mail today from amans ntakarutimana, a new friend to be - might know him by his Christian name.

He is going to collect us from the airport - result he said he will be putting his tie on. Hope that is not expected from me - I have not put one in the hand-baggage.

Making lists as we go - and thinking about the potential for problem.

razors, visa (o, to late - will need to go as a tourist and sort later) change in Brussels only 50 Min's to do and just been told will need to check in again. Wine 'what no wine' and two days to go this is very bad logistic management on Teresa's behalf.

OK so Tesco's first packing later. Teresa is putting curtains up for #1 son this evening, she has just finished making them for their Christmas pressie. Good timing.

Five Days and counting

OK so this blog stuff seems to work, - So feeling great, only five days to go and today went in to the office wrapped up most of the pressing stuff and talked over all the issues that needed dealing with with all my best friends and colleagues on the phone. Phone call this morning from God kids in Wiltshire - we had been chatting about the trip and had said come along if you wish for a week - and wow they are up for it. will start looking up flights etc. This is a big surprise as we did not think they were brave enough yet - got that one wrong. Managed to escape the meetings I had from Wednesday this week so another result, bit of paperwork - bit more time to pack, so more reasons to feel good. Just back from Jonathon's this evening - he and his partner are looking after the puss cats while we are away - More kissing goodbye and realising that we are really off. and not long now - Richard came around and agreed to pick us up at 11pm on Friday night. Scary. OK so this is a good time to fill in the detail. Teresa and I are going to Rwanda to teach. We saw an article in an Environmental Health Mag six months ago. They were just finished from a six month stint at the uni' doing environmental stuff. It all sounded good and at the time Teresa started thinking she may be up for teaching. Well the two things fitted so neatly ( well you can convince yourself of anything if you try hard enough) A few emails later and we got a reply from a Bishop who is the Principal to say welcome when can you start. Apparently we were the only people who emailed to say can we help? We have pulled together lots of teaching aids and some Country info but not nearly what we would have liked to - a little busy on the work side. Rwanda - Source of the Nile - Dr Livingstone I presume - Secorni Weaver in the mist, with silver backs - Genocide - Over 500 species of bird - Richard Atenborough and the Colubus eating Chimps. All in all a country that must be in the top ten to visit. So that's what we knew before we started. My only real concern is how I am going to deal with the details of the Genocide, the more I find out the less I understand it. Just thinking about a recent paper report I read today and tears came to my eyes. I think I am so far removed from any culture where these things can happen that I can not understand it and then I am not so sure. The interahamwe (those who kill together ) are still a force across the boarder in the Congo so why don't we as western powers do something about it. Well I know that this stands a good chance of being a theme in this record so more later. As for now - meetings and work in the morning - last time for how long!!!

Six days and we are off

Hi - its Sunday evening the 9th of December 2007. Today we have just got home after a fun filled weekend with Teresa's parents in Wiltshire, On the return trip we called in on a couple of friends in Winchester and we talked about the next project that we are undertaking. We also discussed setting up this blog! so that friends can pitch in on what we are doing. Having just checked the spell checker for this I see there is one but I need to remember to use it! well anyone that knows me will I suspect know that spelling is not my number one point so please read this for the feelings and the fun we hope to share and not the grammer. So what is the project - I suspect all of you know, Teresa and I are going to Rwanda to work in the Kigali Institute of Health. We will be teaching (we think) in a town called KIBUYE on the western boarder. We will be working with he faculty of Environmental health - Teresa teaching Environmental Health Law, and I will be doing Occupational Health. Now before I type forever I am going to post and see what happens - if this works I will come back and up date with what we are thinking and all the good bits!