Hyper Community

So I have lived in community and am a big fan of community. I believe living in community and sharing meals and experiences will make everyone stronger and I think the area I live in is great proof of the wonderful power of community. Actually, to be honest, there might be almost too much community here. The living conditions are kind of harsh for the kids but I really think they like it. They have absolutely no privacy having over 50 kids in one open dorm that I would compare to a rundown overcrowded military barracks. Several students even share beds but I really think they are fine with it. If one student does something wrong, nobody I mean nobody will ever narc on another student. Even when other teachers get frustrated and decide to severely punish the whole class, no one says anything. Speaking of teachers, I find it relatively cute/ comical that no teacher will ever walk home alone. They will wait over an hour for another teacher to finish something to walk home with them. We have a communal meal at lunch every day and many of the teachers eat at one restaurant every night together. It’s just one big old community but I think it has impacts on all of our lives that we don’t even realize.

With this sense of community comes help too. I have recently learned that there several people who are either handicapped or genocide survivors that the school takes care of. This means that either students or the school workers (those who take care of our cows, security, cook the food, and landscaping) spend part of their day to make sure that those that the school has taken under their wing are taken care of. I know this doesn’t seem like much but I think it could be life or death for many of them. The school workers have really tough lives being paid very little and having to work very hard and the students are really busy with school but they both take time out of every week to make sure 15 or 20 people in need around our area are taken care of. This means leftover food from school and really heavy jerry cans (I would guess they weigh 30 or 40lbs) are brought to these people homes almost daily. That’s a big task and I think the importance of community here has really instilled the deep caring that I see in action every day.

I think living so close to each other really lets us look each other in the eyes and see the fabric of humanity that each of us carry and that caring and humanness will come out in actions just like it has here. I have learned a lot about community here and hope that those not living here will take the time to be intentional and just be around those who are around you. I think it might take hold of your life in ways you can’t imagine. It certainly has in mine.

(this is me and a friend Olivie. He has no classification as a community leader but he has lived here when it was still part of Akagera National Park and helps a ton of people in the community)

Forgiven

Forgiveness is a major issue addressed in the bible and I think American Christians can learn many things from the Rwandans in this light. In 2002 Rwanda was still recovering from genocide and the court system was overwhelmed with cases that would take them a hundred years to finish. They decide to do something unheard of, “set the captives free”. Over 40,000 perpetrators of genocide were released back to their communities to hand down communal justice called the Gacaca Courts. These courts gathered members of the community to set the record straight on what had happened during the genocide and figure out the best way to reconcile the situation.

Although I would like to say that things went perfectly, after several months here, I am starting to see the real picture of Gacaca. There are ups and downs but overall I think Gacaca has had an immensely positive impact on the country. It has instilled the importance of forgiveness in the children and it shows all throughout society.

I noticed this immediately when I first arrived, the people and students hold forgiveness in deep importance. A student might come late to one of my classes and after class come up to me and say “Mr. Davies, I’m so sorry for being late, please forgive, please forgive”. If you don’t grant them forgiveness immediately they will hang around asking what they can do receive your forgiveness.

Last night me and Z were coming home and I paid my moto driver with a relatively crisp 1000 franc note and he gave me a relatively ratty mangled 500 franc note as change. A common gesture of disapproval in Rwanda is to do a hard tiss slapping your tongue against the back of your teeth. Joking around, I made the tiss sound of disapproval seeing the mangled bill. The moto driver would not leave our house until he received forgiveness from me. He started to search his pockets for another bill to give me in exchange and in rapid fire succession asked for forgiveness many times. I quickly told him that I was just joking and that of course I forgive him, and tried to explain in broken Kinyarwandan that I was just joking and that it was naki bazo (no problem).

I was intending on this post to be a little more serious about Gacaca but obviously its not so much so I’m going to throw on a to be continued here…..

It's Bigger Than Me

As I have passed the halfway point of my contract to teach in Rwanda, I have noticed my emotions have started to swing a little bit more. I used to have the daily ups and downs from things like my students really enjoying my class. Or a down like realizing that we don’t have any food in the house and we have to trek to town to eat. These are just all normal parts of life that bring the usual ups and downs, but they have gotten bigger lately.

Heading over the halfway point has led me to start thinking about my future. What should I do? I don’t even know where I want to live? Do I want to stay here and teach these wonderful kids another year? Do I want to find something different to do in Rwanda? Do I want to go to grad school? Seminary? Do I want to find a job in America? Not only me but friends and family are starting to ask these questions too.

These are major questions that have really been weighing me down lately. I have been putting a lot of pressure on myself to make the right decision on these things. After almost an hour of internet time (which is almost unheard of here) looking at grad schools and jobs I felt defeated. I closed my computer, put in my bag and walked outside. This is when it hit me. I looked out on the gorgeous surrounding hills and down to the green trees aligning the river bank where I could picture the monkeys playing by the riverside and then it hit me, it’s bigger than me.

It’s bigger than me, guess what, regardless of what I do, it’s bigger than me. These kids are going to fine, and do great things regardless if I am here or not, my family will be alright with me at long distances for long periods of time. How ridiculous of me think my little decisions are going swing God's plans, we're in this together and dang its never all my decision. God’s kingdom will be restored regardless if I’m going to take part or not. The weight of justice in the world is not on me. It’s out of my hands. I have ”metanoya” repented of the ways of this world. I am thinking about things in a whole new light. I am a kingdom person. I am in the business of renewal, bringing heaven on earth. I have a pretty good idea of what that looks like but God’s story is much bigger than I am and I’m not sure where I belong and I’m ok with it. I must admit, this revelation has brought me a new refined peace in life. It’s ok that I don’t know where I’m going to fit or how exactly I am helping to bring heaven on earth but I know what it looks like and if I follow the heart that God has given me and listen to the words that he speaks to me then I have no doubt that I receive the joy that I am shouting about and bring heaven closer to earth.

(credit to Sus)

“Malaria? It’s not that big of a deal”

Being on duty I got to spend a lot of time in the student dorms. The conditions are quite tough. Me and my roommate Z were both sick by Wednesday from the meh in the air. One thing I noticed was the beds. I was surprised to see maybe 15 out 1000 students having bed nets. With how much money Rwanda takes from foreign aid, I thought everyone in a public school would have one. I had an unusual amount of students absent from class and when I asked where they were and if they were ok, it turned out that four of them had malaria. Curiosity killed they cat and with 10 minutes left in class I had to know their thoughts on malaria. I have seen countless students who were just in bad shape from malaria and I wanted to know what they knew and what they thought about it.

I asked if any of them had malaria before and was practically laughed out of the room. I knew a lot of students got malaria but it turns out that every single student has had it before and almost all have had it multiple times. After a full thirty minute conversation I got the full run down.

Bottom line is this, malaria happens. My suspicions about Rwanda’s aid and malaria was correct but it turns out the follow through is a problem. All the students know that they can walk down to the local hospital about 6 km away and pick up a free bed net. These nets have a horrible reputation though. They are sprayed with permethrin, a chemical that keeps mosquitoes away and gives you bad rashes if you touch it. It seems like many of the students had given the free nets a chance but quit using them after a couple nights of tough sleep and a body part accidently touched the net and left a nasty rash in the morning. Awesome use of aid money right there huh?

That’s not really the point of the story though. Most students just don’t think malaria is a big deal. It’s a part of life. Many sleep under nets at home and just don’t want to bring their nets to school. They all see malaria as just a way of life, sometimes you get it, sometimes you don’t. They hate it when they have it and do get really sick but know that there is a cure. If they just go to the hospital and get diagnosed it cost around 20¢ to get the treatment. They feel horrible for a week and then it’s done, they’re back in school.

When I asked if I knew anyone had known anyone who had died from malaria, I was surprisingly answered with almost all yeses. It turns out that many people who live in rural rural areas still believe in witchcraft and when they get malaria, they go see a shaman who spends days trying to heal them and end up dying from malaria. They don’t trust any modern hospitals.

I know Rwanda is an exception with how much aid money it takes in but is the fight against malaria you pictured?

(This is Elias, He has malaria right now and is out of school. I especially love this kid one because he tries really hard and two his name is Elias which I am particularly fond of because of this:

My Kids Are So Green

A friend sent me this quote a while back and I find myself thinking about it a fair amount as I teach my kids.

Dear teacher:
I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no person should witness: gas chambers built by learned engineers. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot and burned by high school and college graduates. So, I am suspicious of education.

My request is:
Help your students to become human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, educated Eichmanns. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more human.
- Author unknown; in Haim Ginnot, Teacher and Child

As I constantly push my kids to think creatively, ask good questions and develop critical thinking, I have started to see a trend. A little while ago, I taught my kids about climate change. Although this was 2 months ago they have really taken it to heart. Whenever I put them into groups to create a new product or develop something new, 8 out of 10 groups usually choose something related to improving the environment. I also let them debate about their product ideas and if another groups idea is not green enough they are often quizzed by the other students. For example: a group presented a business idea of growing rare fruits and selling them for a high price (an ok, not so great idea). The first question from the students out of the gate was: “where will you grow these fruits? Will you have to cut down forests to grow these fruits? Because if you do, you know that deforestation hurts the environment.” It seems like they are really taking it to heart. They are also working on their actions to stop climate change too. I have noticed that when I finish my lesson before their lunch period they are now very quick to turn off the lights when this certainly wasn’t common practice before. I know an action like turning out the one florescent class room light will not stop climate change but it’s good to see my kids trying and thinking about it and working for change.

Why can’t we have this kind of commitment in the states? Why can’t we legitimately try to reduce our carbon footprint without the corporate green washing to help us along? Even if you don’t believe the science behind climate change, would it be too painful to turn off your lights, carpool a little, eat a little less meat and ask other to do the same? Just in case all those scientists are right. Although Africa’s contributions to climate change are minuscule compared to contribution by the rest of the world, these kids are trying. They understand the importance of their environment and are opening up their minds to creating change and preserving the sacred land God gave us all to share.

Is it because we are already seeing the affects of climate change here? Do we need to be closer to nature to really feel the effects before we move to change? Whatever the hurdles are, please let’s reduce our carbon footprint. Even if you don’t do it for yourself, do it my kids. We are seeing climate change take hold here and are trying but we can’t do it alone.

Justice!?

After 26 years, justice has finally been served to those responsible for the Bhopal Tragedy. Well kind of. Let’s take a look at the stats. Around 40 tons of methyl isocyanate, a not so great toxin, was spilled into a slum in Bhopal India. So over 15,000 were killed and 600,000 affected by the chemical leak. Union Carbine, now Dow Chemical is the company responsible for the spill and has yet to take responsibility. The victims received almost $800 each for their medical bills, what else could be done? So last Monday justice was served. 8 Indian men who worked for Union Carbine were sentenced to 2 years in jail. That about sums it up right there.

Is this what justice looks like, thousands killed, hundreds of thousands affected, a deteriorating plant that still has toxins looming around and a couple midlevel employees getting two years in jail and a massive corporation paying pittances for a massive f-up. Union Carbine/ Dow moved their plant to India just so they could work under fewer restrictions and when something went wrong they crawled back to the US denied any responsibility for it and went on with their lives. Ah this is not just. When will we have justice for those whose lives have been taken or ruined in the name of greed?

How Many Students with Stones Does it Take to Bring Down a Thief?

Apparently 10

Communal justice is alive and well in Rwanda. Sometimes I randomly see a group people chasing a person through the streets and wonder what they are doing. When I ask someone they tell me whats happening they say they are chasing a thief. I’m never sure if they are joking or not but today, I got a definitive answer. So we at one of our awesome staff meetings. When I say the word awesome, I mean boring and way too long. We were off to a great start 1 hour in and not a thing accomplished until we hit this gem.

Follow the logic here. So we are talking about student safety and after exhausting the idea of a fire drill (which would be useless due to how spread out the classrooms are) we bounced around three other topics and came to hypothetical of a thief coming on campus. We discussed how we should react as teachers. (Bear in mind that our school is located in the middle of nowhere and the only thieves that exist are the students steeling from other students) It turns out the best thing to do is wait to make that the person is a thief and then act because we don’t want to accuse (or stone) an innocent person. Apparently the students are quite keen to stoning people after our dean of studies described the one time he was almost stoned by students. So apparently if the students catch wind of a thief, they’re going to be prepared with stones. So we ended talking about the downsides of stoning a thief. See the problem is that if all the students are throwing stones then they all aren’t going to hit the thief and some will hit other students and that would be bad (hitting the thief, totally acceptable). So after about 10 minutes of deliberation the final conclusion was that in the event that a thief came on campus to steal things and you as a teacher saw this happen, you should only allow 10 students to get rocks while disciplining the others and not allowing them to pick up rocks.

It’s funny, after hearing all the miraculous stories of forgiveness and redemption, you run into tidbits like these. Lesson learned, don’t be a thief in Rwanda