up and down

well, what a week. I'm beginning to think once a week on this blog is not often enough. Lots of things happened this week. I'll try to give you the best bits!

I started work on monday. My first day, the budget for 2008 was being presented and discussed in Parliament so I got to go along and observe. It really was just observing since it was all in Kinyarwanda. It was really valuable just sitting in and seeing how the parliament functioned plus having a work outing gave me a chance to get to know some of my colleagues better. The rest of the week, I was doing a lot of reading which makes me sleepy when i start work at 7am. Then I was doing an article for the internal Minecofin newsletter linking the 2008 budget with the EDPRS (Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy paper which covers the plan for Rwanda for the next 5 years). It was a really interesting thing to work on and gave me some confidence that I can do this job and gave me a good chance to work with colleagues more closely. So that is work.

I officially gained ownership of my car on tuesday...now i was going to do an official unveiling of the car with a photo but i just got home and its dark...so can't really take a photo. So watch this space to be introduced to my new friend.

The housing situation has changed slightly - its a long story but I'm now looking for a place on my own. Now, before you assume this is because nobody likes me (although that may be true), it was my own choice really. I am looking forward to the challenge of living alone and really with the close knit community here, i don't think i'll be lonely but rather having my own space will be a plus! So, I will have lots of space for visitors, so start planning that trip now. July/August is apparently more expensive for flights so feel free to consider anytime between now and then :) I'm really itching to show people the wonders of Rwanda.


Basically, it was a good week. I was driving about town running errands, meeting people for coffee and generally feeling comfortable in my new home. I'm going to start Kinyarwanda lessons on tuesday so expect the next installment to be in Kinyarwanda.

The weekend started on friday afternoon as I had to leave work early to go and pick up my boxes from the airport. Now this operation took 5 hours in total but being reunited with those boxes has brought much joy. They've been on a journey along with me and my DVDs have been gratefully received by all. Then saturday, I went to the furniture market and the craft market in Kigali. The furniture market was an experience. It is the first place I've been here where we were immediately surrounded because we were mzungus and would probably be spending money. There was a big warehouse perched on the side of the hill, packed full of beds, cabinets, chairs, cofins, tables, sofas... Everything being made on the premises. I wasn't buying anything (since I don't have a house yet!) but I will definitely be there in the future to get some things. You can ask for things to be made to your design and bargaining the price down is part of the fun.

Today, was another good sunday. Christ Church Rwanda (CCR- the church i've been going to) are holding membership classes since it is so young and is beginning to try and organise itself into a structure. The focus of the church it totally on the bible and for the practises and structures of the church to be based on the example of the early church in the New Testament. There are no complexities of church tradition or legalistic practises, just the example of Jesus and the New Testament church to guide the future of the church. I am being constantly filled with gratitude for God's kindness to me. Not only has he brought me into a relationship with him but He has been sufficient for keeping me going in this transition period. If I stop and think, I miss home a lot. I miss hanging out with my parents, my nana, my sister, my old mates from home, my 'family' in London...but God is sufficient and I know He is looking after me here, just like He has done for the last 22 years and will do for eternity. The trick is just not to stop and think about home too much, or at least you could all stop being nice and reminding me how much I love you all.

A squillion other things happened this week, but if i told you every single thing I did every week, you would get very very bored very quickly!

a bientot mes amis xx