random stuff

we are moving out of the hotel today into a huge house, so that the team can be together, and that we can save money. this is great.. but the flip side.. we wont have access to the internet at home. I will possibly have access at HDI headquarters and at internet cafes. Expect 2 days or 3 days to get responses to emails and for me to post to this blog.
random thoughts:
-showers with out shower curtains are wet everywhere.
-apple juice in rwanda taste better then in the states
-i like wearing white socks, these colored socks that are quick dry makes me feel weird
-i miss tofu
-i have been eating toast and fruit in the morning with coffee, for lunch/dinner rice and beans with veggies and fried bananas, and chips (fries).
-i feel at times i am in taranto italy and belize all at the same time
-people look at me with weird inquisitive faces, but once i smile at them, they smile back and give me a thumbs up.
-one of the kids yesterday that i took a picture of didn't like his skin color. he told me he was ugly and that he wasn't suppose to be this dark, but it was a cream that he put on his skin at an early age that made him this dark. He doesn't like it. I looked him straight in the eye and told him how handsome he was. I touched his face gently and told him he had beautiful skin. he wanted me to delete his picture that i have of him that is just of him. I told him it was my favorite picture and i would if he wanted me to, but that i loved it. he told me okay that i could keep it. i can't get him out of my mind/heart.
-it is hot here, but not too hot. it is like 75 and tropical but not gross. it rained twice yesterday. i was stuck in the rain storm. once we went into a barber shop for cover, and the other time we went into a church. both times i met really nice people. i took pictures of all of them.
-i smell like bug spray. i wish i smelled like me.
-i am happy. i love traveling. i love meeting new people.
-i feel really grateful for this opportunity.
-i am hungry.. i am going to eat breakfast now.

Love you,
Lizzie

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just two days..and already so much

if you are going to hit the road.. you better do it running right?! well i have been told that once or twice...to hit the road running.. and rwanda would be no exception.
I got to HDI yesterday and picked the brain of Aflodis. which i have to tell you all about their (HDI) work. I am in awe.
HDI is comprised of the following team members: Aflodis (Head of HLI, Medical Doctor), Louise and Patrick (office assistant and accountant), Olivia and Claude (field workers), Dan (Medical Doctor), Kate (an american ..helping with grant writing).
They have four major focuses:
-Community of Health Projects (The pygmy project is under this umbrella)
-Maternal and Child Health
-Medical/Technical Support
-Advocacy and Policy Monitoring

Their projects range from awareness of prenatal care, training local doctors, to using practical experience to help with advocacy.

Karl and Bob just arrived.. so i will cut this short.. we are going to meet with Aflodis.

okay.. write more in a few hours.. but seriously. AMAZING. :) ohh and i took a bunch of pictures but can't upload them yet cause the internet is way too slow.

be back soon. xo.

love you,
Lizzie

okay and back now.. it's midnight now.. so i will see how far i get..

so they have four main areas..
but their passion is HIV/AIDS/TB work..which they do by bringing awareness and education to the masses and to create policies to ensure access to health and community.

You may or may not know.. but last November Rwanda was considering banning LGBTQI, and making homosexuality illegal. Other East African countries, like Burundi passed such legislation. In Rwanda, Aflodis was contacted and made aware of such proposed legislation, article 217. Aflodis, (his full name Dr. Kagaba Aflodis) joined forces with Rwanda NGO Forums on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion and 40 other NGOs to form "THE CIVIL SOCIETY". The civil society wrote (mainly written by Aflodis) a petition to the government entitled "Safeguarding rights of sexual minorities through a protective penal code: A Civil Society Position Paper on the Draft Penal Code". Here they claimed that Article 217 is contradictory to Rwandan Constitution (after the genocide Rwandan government priority is inclusiveness), a violation of human rights and gender equality, a hindrance to the implementation of the Rwandan National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS 2009-2012. They later make the point that if you target homosexualities, then those in this population that is infected with HIV/AIDS will not get treatment and the disease will continue to propagate. (I won't get into all the legal stuff.. but i have a copy of it)..anyway.. the committee sent it to the president and lobbied in the parliament and senate.
outcome= in January 2010, the government made a claim that there was no such article ever discussed. Denying any such earlier conversations on the matter, etc. :) The government dismissed the article and HDI had a huge success. well let's be honest.. the human population had a huge success.
So now they are moving in to getting sexual workers from being criminalized. There is a proposed article that is making it's way into the senate that would criminalize or fine anyone who is found to be a sex worker. This is a population with a disproportionate high level of HIV/AIDS. Criminalizing sex workers will not make sex workers disappear. To treat them, they will need to be able to tell doctors and other health workers of their profession to get adequate care. I am not sure all the arguments, but it is again based on HIV/AIDS treatment and availability to at risk populations.
Another area they want to get into is legislation on condom distribution to prisoners. Prisoners have a higher proportion of HIV/AIDS and unprotected sex (they are not allowed to have sex in prisons and access to condoms are denied..however, it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen). So instead of ignoring the problems, address them, as most sentences in jail are about 6 months, people get infected in jails and bring the disease back in to the population. So jail becomes a breading ground for HIV/AIDS.

okay.. a lot of info huh...

well

today.. we went to a school. I walked in to a classroom full of students, and they were there as an after school club to discuss ..... HIV/AIDS. The kids would bring up questions, and they would debate them, with Aflodis able to give sounds medical answers when needed. Other doctors have paired with Aflodis to go around to schools and to engage kids in debate and dialogue about HIV/AIDS. I took pictures.. lots and lots of pictures. the internet is so slow that i can't upload any of them.. but this was such a great experience.


-----
man i can go on .. and on forever about my adventures in the last two days..
not only the info that i have learned about HDI, but the government, how it operates, how non profits operate, how change happens in this country.
most important thing though is I am learning humanity. Today i heard my first story about the genocide. Claude and i were walking and drinking apple juice (by the way -everyone drinks apple juice here.. i love it!!! -for those of you who don't know.. apple juice is my favorite) we had time before i had to go to the school, so he wanted to show me his house. We started walking and I asked him about his house, who he lived with. Earlier, we were in the market, and he introduced me to this lady, whom was his mothers good friend. I asked him about his mother, and he told me she had died in the genocide. I realized immediately as I looked around, how many people each on these people lost. I was humbled. Immediately. Knowing that I would never understand, nor relate, nor even grasp. When we were walking to his house, he told me about the genocide. He told me about the plane being shot down, and an hour later, people knocking on his door to see if his family was home. He was 13 years old. I listened to him in away i have never listened before. every word was powerful. Every word was unimaginable. I felt like I was incredibly lucky to be a witness to his story. I could try my best to retell it. but i fear i can't. not properly retell it. It is in my heart.
you look around Rwanda. This is a country of survivors. It is not trivial... their survival. The courage is unreal. You see this spirit in everything they do. They work like no one else i have encountered..with heart and passion and dedication.
~~~
Karl and I talked at length tonight. I was filling him in on what i know now about HDI our project in Bwiza, etc.
He reminded me that if we leave with just a trace of goodness and light in our foot steps then we have done all right here. It doesn't matter much of what we do then, cause we have done alright.

I love you very much!
Lizzie

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an early morning exchange

the hotel guy this morning: you look familiar, you have been here before, yes?
me: no, first time in rwanda.
The hotel guy: Oh, you must then have familiar soul.
he smiled big at me.
that basically sums up my day! :)

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MURAHO RWANDA ....

It is monday morning here in Rwanda..my first monday..my first morning here. :) Okay let's just repeat that.. I am in Rwanda.. and I am LOVING IT!!!
The traveling was interesting.. and by that i mean EXHAUSTING!! It took something like a little over 30 hours total. I think next time for such a long adventure i will spend the night in europe on the way. With that said though, I have already met incredible people! It seems like i was only alone for about 5 min at a time before the next incredible soul and I would engage in conversation. It started with the french man who i sat next to on the plane to France..it was his first time in America and he loved it...but still loves france more, and interesting... he said that people in france know Las Vegas, Ohio (it's in the movies i guess) and microsoft, and coming to Seattle is a big deal-okay but also in fairness..he is a lovable computer geek..making databases/IT programs for hospitals..so he might be biased.
Then I met an African man on his way to Columbia to attend a conference on Concrete Standards. So yes, the world has standards on how all the various versions of concrete are made. I have never thought about concrete before, and about a bunch of people all over the world meeting to discuss. I told him about my upcoming adventures in rwanda and he said it will be great for my soul, to see the villages and to see their happiness. I asked if he has ever been to America, and he said only to LA for one of the conferences. He said he heard about a restaurant there that you have to pay over $1000 to make just the reservation. and that the meal itself is over $20,000. He said LA felt artificial. I told him I agree and that it is hard to image spending that much money on dinner, when for villages even just a $100 is most people's salary for the year (if they are lucky). He had a great smile, and lovely energy. He left for colmubia the same time i left for kenya.
Then as i am walking and then busing to the plane I met a man who did financing for doctors with out boarders. He was returning home from a conference in France where he met with all the other finance people in the doctors with out boarders organization. He welcomed me to Africa and said that I will return for sure.
On the flight to kenya i had the isle and there was an empty seat separating me from the other person. I slept a lot, and woke only to eat. By the way..vegetarian food is the best on planes. My suggestion, get the veg option always when flying. I had really great meals. Indian food to paris, and to kenya this rice with mushrooms and cooked carrots with corn/tomato salad thing. I was happily surprised by the food. Then when i was in kenya waiting for my flight, i met a bunch of people. A man that did compliance control for a large non profit in America (can't remember the name right now) that is based out of Washington DC. Him and I sat together while we were waiting. He was giving me travel tips and sharing great stories of his travel. Another woman sat next to us, an older woman from Burundi. She works with the UN with the work for food program. She travels through East Africa working. She wants me to come to Burundi for a weekend. Also she gave me a number to call in Kigali, her friend who she thinks is wonderful and that I would just love, who is also another UN worker. Then I met another America (about my age, woman from Philadelphia) ..ohh by the way.. most people thought i was french not american. okay weird.. okay so back to this other american. She is going to Kigali to teach dance as a way to heal the wounds of genocide. She and another woman here started the school and she is hopeful that she can make it work. I loved talking to her about dance, healing, our excitement for kigali (she had already been last year), and just a whole slew of things. (i was too tired to get her contact info..but sure I will see her again). I boarded the plane and slept the entire way to kigali. That was much needed. When i arrived i was met by Aflodis, the head of HDI-Rwanda. He was so gracious to come out and pick me up so late (my flight arrived around 1am). He took me to my hotel, beau sejour, and handed me a cell phone. I called my mum, and then i passed out. I was awoken this morning to birds singing.
I didnt sleep much, but I felt compelled to write. Aflodis will pick me up around 9:30ish (in about 2 hours) to take me to HDI head quarters so we can begin discussing our projects (the terraces, etc) and HDI also does other humanitarian work with HIV/TB outreach/education/awareness as well has other Human Rights work. I am extremely excited to hear more about all that HDI does.

I feel extremely happy and so grateful for this opportunity. I know that this trip is exactly what I am suppose to be doing right now. I am not full of fear or anything (and of course though I will still be cautious and safe). I feel so much love and compassion right now, and I wish at the same time, that all my friends and family were here with me. I feel though that you all are. That in a way, we are all doing this together, experiencing this all. I will go around later today and take pictures. This city reminds me so much of Belize with architecture/construction. And all the people so far are friendly and nice.

I can't stop smiling :)

Love you,
Lizzie

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I need to go see this for myself :) ...

I leave for Africa in a little over 36 hours...

My itinerary:
Leave Seattle, USA Sept 18th
Arrive Kigali, Rwanda Sept 20th
Leave Kigali, Rwanda Oct 8th
Arrive Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Oct 8th
Leave Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Oct 17th
Arrive Seattle, USA, Oct 18th

Organization that I will be working with:
In Rwanda:
Pygmy Survival Alliance
HDI-Rwanda
In Tanzania:
Tanzania Educational Fund

People That I will be with:
Rwanda:
Dr. Karl Weyrauch and Bob Boiko (Other board members of PSA)
Tanzania:
Sylvia Ofstie and Ian Rottman (Friends from Seattle)

Information on the countries:
Rwanda
Tanzania

How I have prepared:
Medically/Vaccinations (following the CDC's recommendations for travel in Rwanda):

• Yellow fever
• Hep A
• Hep B (already had the entire series due to work)
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Tetanus (already had that 2 years ago)
• I have medications for Malaria, Diarrhea, and a sleep aid

Emotionally:
My Family (Mum, Dad, Suzanne and Clare) is wonderful and they provide me with the love/strength/courage/support to do this. I am forever grateful for them.

So what's in my bag?
-quick dry clothes
-a nice outfit
-shoes
-toiletries
-cameras -SLR and a point and shot
-first aid kits
-quick dry towel
-books
-notebooks
-pens
-mp3 player
-computer
-nintendo dsi (i have an animation game thing.. so expect a few movies by the time i get home)
-saint christopher necklace - the saint of traveling
-protein bars (in case i need a little extra food)

So what the heck am I doing in Africa?
Stay tuned.. and find out.


Rwanda's infrastructure is not the same as in the States... so if they have internet, then i will have internet and will update this blog nightly, explaining the days adventures.B ut if you don't hear from me for a day or two.. DON'T WORRY. I am okay. I promise. It's just that the internet in Rwanda is down.

Ohh and most importantly .. . . I LOVE YOU!!!

-Lizzie

PS: Yes i have a house sitter (two actually), yes all my bills are automatic bill pay, so no worries. And yes, my work is amazing for letting me have the time off and allowing me to have this sabbatical.

PSS: I feel like the luckiest person alive. I am so excited and full of gratitude. I would never be able to be in this position if it wasn't for everyone I know. Thank you all. Murakoze Cyane!

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