Musings - "I'm Going to be President!"

During our last visit to Rwanda in October, as we were preparing for our move, Mimi found herself surrounded by curious children as she was waiting in the car.  They started conversing, mostly trying out their few English words.  However, one young girl, perhaps about 10 years of age, seemed to be very fluent in English and was translating for several of the others.  In an attempt to compliment her, Mimi said "Your English is perfect!  You should be an English teacher some day!"  The girl responded, "I'm not going to be a teacher; I'm going to be the President of Rwanda some day!"

This one comment encapsules much of what we love about Rwanda.  There is a keen sense of the value of women, who are generally treated with great respect.  Rwanda boasts a 55% majority of women elected to Parliament, and many of the cabinet ministers are women.  But more importantly, when a poor farm girl can proudly set her sights on becoming president of the country, she demonstrates the hope and vision for the future that has made this country one of the most dynamic populations in Africa.  Change has been in the air since the country as a whole decided to put the horror of a genocide behind them by reconciling murderer and victim, and re-develop almost every social and governmental institution.  There is still the weight of grinding poverty and a stratified economy, but there is also the hope that one of today's bright children will become tomorrow's elected president; a hope that is very much lacking in much of the rest of Africa.

Just Arrived in Rwanda

We had an uneventful flight to Kigali, even arrived not feeling totally wasted!  We were able to move into our rented house within two days, and have spent the past week just getting settled.  Although large, it is turning into a very comfortable place, with lots of areas and nooks for several simultaneous activities.  We have already had our first drop-in visitors (the pastor of the Anglican church that we attend here, who is becoming a great friend), and had our first party – our annual “Scrooge party” where we have a light buffet dinner followed by watching “A Christmas Carol”.  There were about 20 people; some local missionaries, and a couple newly arrived to Rwanda.   The following night we hosted about 10 of the 12 new Family Medicine residents, some of whom took a 2 hour bus ride to get here.  What a sharp bunch of doctors - all eager to learn, to become fully competent, and truly improve the health of the average Rwandan.

I have already started work – a couple of major workshops related to health system improvement, and am already writing a paper on the results of one of these workshops.  I spent a day with Michael Miller (my colleague here) with the family medicine residents in one of the district teaching hospitals, and plan to have all of the residents to our home for a Christmas dinner tomorrow evening.  Michael will be spending the month of January in the U.S., so I will be carrying the majority of the teaching load, as well as hosting 3 different teaching couples who will be visiting in January.

Mimi has done well, working steadily and happily getting the trunks unpacked and the house in shape.  In addition to reconnecting with many previous friends, she had a luncheon with the American ambassador’s wife yesterday, and then went to a local school Christmas production with her today.  We will be celebrating Christmas with embassy staff on Dec. 23, and have been invited to Christmas dinner at the home of a local missionary for Dec. 25.

So, we are beginning to feel settled.   It has helped to have a number of relationships around the country that we can build on, which is one of the primary goals of our prolonged stay here.   I'm including a couple of pictures of our house (the front and back garden) and one of my favorites of the Rwandan countryside - the "Land of a Thousand Hills". 

Stay posted!