Graphical report of July 2009.

Hi to everyone!

After a loooong wait, here you have some pictures of the trip during July. Enjoy!!

Ian (left), Fiona (center), Eoin (right) and Cathal (behind) posing at Auverge La Caverne, the first afternoon of our adventure once in Kigali. Such a lovely photo, isn’t it?

Once in Kahama, half way to Mwanze. We got on pretty well with the staff of the hotel. In the picture, Marcos (left), Maria (behind), Celestini (the cook, 2nd from the left), Eoin and another member of the staff.

One Sunday at the Mwanze market. The woman accepted to be in the picture in exchange for some shillings. In general people do not mind when it comes to taking pictures with them. But I have noticed that it is some sort of ‘muzungu’ thing that sometimes is not wellcomed. That is why you will not see many pictures in this post with locals posing. Some tourists do not understand this concept and take pictures of people without asking first. If you ever go to Africa make sure you respect the privacy of the locals. However, the funny part of all this is that children are usually pretty keen with pictures! (look below! the photo was taken at the ‘Serengeti Garden’ in the Serengeti Hotel, in Mwanze. Ebrahim, -also known as “KCool”, a student of St Augustine- took Monica and I for a stroll around Mwanze that day)

The Lake Victoria from the Mwanze shore. Some kids were playing in the water with improvised boats. Unfortunately, lake Victoria is fairly dirty and swimming is not recommended at all. But those guys do not seem to have any problem! Inside those far rocks, a german bunker was settled during the 1st World War.

Typical soda shop in the streets of Mwanze. Pretty cool, by the way.

At St Augustine University at night.

Our ‘advanced’ class at St Augustines’. Some of our students were Teocratias (IT responsible of the university, on the left), some university teachers (Jisaba -on the back, between Eoin and myself-, Neema -the lady sitting on the right-, and others), the librarians (sorry, forgot the names!!) and Father Venance (sitting on the right, usually more busy with the cellphone and not very focused on our lessons!!)

One afternoon visiting Sister Hester (who has been working at St Augustine for 3 years). It was our first team picture. From left to right: Gillian, Eoin, Cathal, Fiona (in front) and Ian (behind), Sister Hester, Maria, Monica, Aoife, Marcos and Fintan.

At Hussein’s, a very cosy bar close to the university. Hussein started the bar a couple of months ago and was always very happy to see us. I have to say his meals very more than delicious: rice, chicken, fish soup or fried tilapia… and one or two Kilimanjaro (beer) filled our bellies more than once! There were usually other locals too, and even some Masai. In the picture, Maria holds some fresh Tilapia that Hussein got specially for us. He was very proud inviting us into his traditional kitchen to show off with his fish.

Hussein and I posing for a picture.

Last night in Mwanza. It was party time at Villa Park!! The best night club in Mwanza. It was funny to listen some typical songs of back in the 90s.

Cathal made some friends that night!

The following day, on our way back to Kigali. Again, we stopped at Kahama. In the picture Fintan and Maria, on their way to book tickets for the bus of the following day to the Rusumo border, between Rwanda and Tanzania. None of the streets of Kahama are paved but they are fairly crowded even after dusk.

At the Rusumo border. Technical stop to sort out our passports and visas, rest a bit, take some pictures and hire another bus back to Kigali. Notice the sign on the right aiming for no corruption!

Maria, Marcos and Eoin waiting for the visas and passports.

Kigali landscape at 6 o’clock in the morning. This time we found accomodation at St Paul, a hostel run by nuns, very close to town.

Teaching at Ruhuha. This was our first classroom to be set up in Rwanda. We had some electric problems and some of the computers had to remain off during the lessons.

At Nyungwe National Park. One Saturday we travelled to Butare to see Intore Dancing (tradiotional dancing) in the National Museum. Afterwards, we headed to the National Park, but some problems with the bus, bad weather and the bad state of the roads delayed our arrival until very late in the night. Fortunately we found a forest guard who accompanied us to the right place (the guest house) and sorted out our problems. The following morning we started a trekking towards the “waterfall of the swallowed elephants”. In the picture, a lorry got stuck long time ago.

Fintan posing beside tea plantations, before getting into the forest.

We came across a nice and big worm. It is really nice with garlic and parsil!!! (Just kidding!)

Maria in the forest.

Fintan and I once in front of the waterfall.

Carmel dealing with some kids. They loved taking pictures of them, and us!!

Last day of class in Nyamata High School. Teachers played a football match against volunteers. I cannot remember the exact result, but volunteers lost by one or two goals. However, it is worth to say we put them under pressure more than once!! But believe me, playing under that sun is like playing football inside a barbeque!.

Team picture. All of us really had a great time. There were even some improvised cheer leaders cheering up around the pitch!

At Nyamata Telecenter, after speeches from the Director of Education of the District, the headmasters and Eddy (manager of Camara Rwanda). The Director handed out the certificates for every student. In the picture students and teachers with smiles and certs.

Last photo of the team Rwanda 09.

At Virunga Mountains, close to Muzanze and the border with Congo. We spent just one hour with the gorillas but, what an hour! They are completely used to humans. The trekking took around 2 hours thorugh the woods of bambu and more wild forest. Guards and gorilla trackers brought us just beside the “Amahuru” group (“peace”). In the picture, the male of the group (silverback) poses while eating bambu.

A photo to show I do not lie!!

More Silverback (up) and a female (down) who awarded us with a last close picture.

And that’s all folks. Eventually I will get more pictures from some of the members of my team!