No thankyou, No Merci, Oya Morokoze....no, seriously, I don't want to buy that.

So there is this one man in town that has tried to sell me the same ugly map everytime I walk by him. You would think that he would get the message by now....but he hasn't.

This last week as been filled with some great learning experiences and adventures.
On Tuesday, "the group" of us ex-pats went out to celebrate two birthdays: Michelle's and Karens. While enjoying a lovely meal of Iitalienne food and South African wine ( I know, silly us) the group somehow managed to get into a very heated discussion on family planning, growth population, and westernized humanitarian work. Oh to have been one of the nearby tables listening in on 8 muzungus trying to justify their stand point on anthrapological theology. It was all in good fun of course. It has been great to be surrouned by so many inspiring individuals with such diverse backgrounds, yet the common passion to be here in Rwanda.

Friday was a very special day at Gisimba. Proclamation Day! Being the last day of school before holiday, all the parents came in with their children. The kids performed the songs they have learned this term (including the ones that I taught them) and were given back their "exams" for their parents to awe over. We also put coloring books together of a Kermit the frog story that the children had learned to recite. It is so cute to hear little children try to read an american story in their African accent.

I was very honored when after school ended the teachers asked me to join them for fanta (soda) and beer. We spent almost 2.5 hours together which was largely filled up with them giving speeches about me. Father Gisimba also joined us, telling stories about the orphanage and his time he spent in Ohio. His quiet presence and witty humor added to the afternoon celebration. Anne Marie (the principal), also asked for my presence at her sons graduation party on August 1st, which is also the same day that Saundra (a young woman from Gisimba) will be getting married at the orphanage. I am looking forward to both.

This weekend the group is going to Nyungwe National Forest to go Monkey trekking and camping. 7 people. One Tent. I may be the only one who brought a sleeping bag to Rwanda. Should be a blast!

-Rach