First day of school.

Le 5 octobre Well, it was for me at least. I woke up yesterday morning and joined the sisters at mass at paruwasi muhato, the “muhato parish.” (Muhato is the region of Rwanda that we’re in.) There are quite a few people who attend daily mass, and even a choir of about twenty that claps and sings in Kinyarwanda, filling the church with joyful song. Many people join in, at a full singing voice, and some move to the music, waving their arms and swaying. Daily mass in Rwanda is more effective than a cup of coffee. Though there are copious differences in the rhythm of mass in Rwanda, my favorite tradition is that when the priest holds up the Eucharist, the congregation claps. When he holds up the wine? Applause. It’s seemingly simple, but a very beautiful ritual. After mass (a standard American length of about 45 minutes), we head to the school next door and prepare for the students, who are already starting to arrive. They wear white button-up shirts to the elbow with forest green pinstripes, the boys with solid green pants and the girls with skirts above the ankle. Many of the girls and boys wear their hair the same way – short – as it’s much easier to keep up with. I’m greeted with smiling faces, welcoming me in Kinyarwanda, French and English – as the students and teachers have been yearning to practice English with someone, they are eager to show off. Strangely, after only five days of French it feels foreign to be speaking in English, but it’s very comfortable all the same. At 7h20 is the “Mot du Jour,” where one of the teachers welcomes the students and gives a thought to be pondered during the day. Sr. Gisele then introduces me, and I walk to the front of the group. I’m able to greet the students, though even in French some are not unable to understand. The students of Atelier, sewing, mostly speak Kinyarwanda. Nonetheless, I feel warmly received. The students are then off to start their day of classes. A lot of my mission here is to aid in the learning of the students’ and community’s English. That may mean being present at Recreation in the morning and afternoon so that the students may practice English, tutor students or the sisters one-on-one, or teaching an English class during the school day from time to time. Yesterday at the first Recreation, I met the Head Boy and Head Girl of the school, who have a decent grasp of English and were not afraid to approach me. Many others, though, are much more shy with utilizing it at all, though I’m sure they will gain confidence in time. I’m here for eight months, they’ll have plenty of time to practice! I was then led into the teacher’s lounge where a few of the teachers wanted to use their English to ask me what I think of Rwanda so far and where I come from. I found in them some good tutors for Kinyarwanda, too! It’s nothing like the Romance languages that I’ve been exposed to, and will take a lot of practice to learn, but why not try? I’m in Rwanda for eight months, afterall.