Farewell Rwanda

Today, Tuesday you can find me sitting at the hotel restaurant waiting for 5pm to arrive.  I've been alone in Rwanda now for two days and although the social activities have powered down, I'm quite enjoying the peacefulness.  It's almost like I'm here on vacation.

I left you last week with a brief update on my first interactions with Anna.  First thing, her name is Anne.  In Kinyarwanda the 'e' sounds like an 'a'.

Last week's second HS camp was a great success.  For the most part we were very organized and the kids had a blast!  Not only did I feel as if I was building a stronger relationship with Anne, but I felt the connection between all of the children and myself more deeply.  I was secretly dreading Friday as I knew the goodbyes would be difficult, but alas all good things must come to an end.

I emotionally held myself together on Friday until Sophia found me.  Sophia was in my volunteer group last year and was 3 with a really snotty nose.  Now, as a big 4 year old (and still with a snotty nose), she found me all throughout the week and persisted that I hold her hand.  Sophia is really quite special as she has mastered the art of sharing.  Sharing is hard for any 4 year old, but especially when you're in an orphanage of 100 children.  Never-the-less, she loves to share anything she has.  As I type this I have a bracelet of hers on.

During the awards and certificate ceremony, Sophia sat on my lap.  As I was watching I noticed that Sophia took my camera out of my hands, placed it in her lap, and wrapped her small hand around my thumb.

So I melted...  I wiped the tears away and contented to watch the ceremony.

At the end of the day all of the kids were waiting for us to get in the cars to send us off.  Anne stood right beside the car I was to get in.

Finally the time came and I whispered in Anne's ear, "I have to go."  Right then a huge heave took over her small body and tears began to well up in her eyes.  She turned from me so I wouldn't see, but I persisted in giving her all of the love I could in the next 30 seconds.  Together we cried with only about 40 children spectators wondering what was going on.

As I got in the car, she kept her eyes on me the entire time.  Soon enough, Sophia's eyes peaked into the window as she tried to give me her toy ball, but I just didn't have the heart to accept that as a gift.  I knew she would want that later.

In the car, squeezed between two other volunteers, I cried as quietly as possible.  Ripping the band-aide always hurts.

I don't know what this next year will bring, if I'll be able to return for camps, or what else might  pose as a difficulty for another return to Africa.  What I do know is that I can hit the ground running this year and really help Hope Shines as much as I can from the United States.

These kids are so special, Rwanda is so special, Hope Shines is so special.  To me at least...  Anyone that can't see that needs to really take a moment to re-evaluate their life perspective.

I can only have faith that all of these kids will have good health, good educations, and as much spirit as possible.

I may only be able to make a difference in one child's life, but imagine if we had enough volunteers to connect to every child?  It would be amazing.

In 2 hours I will be on my way to the airport wondering how 30 days has passed so quickly.

I know that the blogs this year have been a little few and far between, but if you have any questions, want more pictures than the ones I have posted on the blog, want to learn more about Hope Shines, etc.  Please feel free to contact me at: 540-292-3262 or email me at: chelseamassey@gmail.com

See you in 35 hours back on U.S. soil.

With Care,
Chelsea

A Connection Made

On Monday, the first day of camp, we had a bit of issue with transportation and we had to make two trips back and forth from the hotel to the orphanage.  I was in the second car and an hour and a half later than the other group we pulled up to the orphanage.  As I stepped out of the car I heard my name called and I turned around.  It was Anna.  


Last Wednesday when I saw her I wasn't sure if she was excited to see me, but after I saw the relief in her face I knew she was happy I have returned.  I think she started to worry since 10 volunteers/translators showed up and I wasn't there.


She's still holding her big girl status and not holding my hand, but I'm ok with that.
On Tuesday, towards the end of the day, I walked out of the mess hall and she came out and said, " Chelsea!  Come dance!"  I smiled and she met up with me and we walked over to sports to watch the boys playing.  Anna is in P1 so her English is pretty much non-existent, so I really appreciated the effort to communicate.

As we were standing there and I was working on getting a group of girls to come dance with the music, Anna leaned over to me and said, "Chelsea."  I responded, "What?"  She smiled and said, "I know you."  I gave her a tight squeeze and said, "I told you I'd come back."  I don't know if she understood, but I think she did.


We'll see what Wednesday brings...

20 Days Gone By

It is hard to believe that I just have about 8 more days in this beautiful country.  As I write to you, I look out of my window seeing nothing but small lights from homes on many of Kigali’s hills.  There is a sort of peace here amongst the chaotic traffic that almost feels, ‘home-y.’ 

This past week Hope Shines spent doing medical examinations on all of the children that we support.  A typical ‘Hope Shines Exam’ consists of a small questionnaire, height & weight, foot measurement, a hearing test, a sight test, your pulse taken, and a consultation with our physician Stephanie Chu.  Last year we started gathering all of this data so we can better assess the children’s growth from year to year and make sure they are staying healthy.  You’d be amazed at how crucial it is that we have all of this information. 

I finally got to see Anna Marie at the examinations and as we reconnected I glanced at her card.  I noticed on the questionnaire portion she was 9 years old, but only in Primary 1.  I quickly grabbed the cards of her friends and noticed that all of them were at least in P2 and some were even farther along.  Concerned I made a mental note to try to figure out what was going on.

Towards the end of the exams I grabbed the ‘Head Mommy,’ Anastasia, and asked her about Anna and her studies.  It turns out that Anna has only been at the SINAPISI orphanage for approximately 3 years.  When the police brought her to the center she did not know how old she was nor could the police find out.  Since she had no prior education, SINAPISI started her at Nursery 1 and guessed her age at 7 years old.

After I got the entire back ground I understood that Anna was doing ok in her studies, but is behind due to her situation.  I still intend to try to reach out to her as she knows very little English and is very shy.  Anna is the most introverted girl in her age range and I want to make sure that she doesn’t get forgotten in the chaos of children. 

As I write this to you I feel as if singling out one child is not even fair.  I love them all and I don’t want ANY of them to get lost in the crowd.  I guess that’s why I came back in the first place. 

It’s been so amazing to get to see all of the children a second time and I know that this cannot be the last time.  There is really something special in these kids and I wish that everyone would come to get a taste of it.  You can, just book a plane ticket and you could meet these kids next summer.  I dare you.

It’s definitely worth it.  I can’t think of anything else like it.  

I would never change it.

Chelsea

Week 1

Sunday, 5 AM.

I’m sitting in the back of a 4-wheel drive Toyota watching the hills reveal the landscape of Rwanda to me.  As I look out the partially open window we pass green banana trees, a pseudo palm tree for Africa; rolling hills, each with different trails walked on them; lakes, looking as refreshing as you can imagine; and people.  We pass so many people.  People walking over hills to church, people walking to get water from the lakes, and people carting bananas on their bikes to go to market.  Just people.

As I pass each individual I think about how each has a story and how every story is worth hearing, but so few get the chance to have it be told.  How is that fair?  How do we pick and choose the stories we tell to others?  What makes a tale worth telling? 

We pass 5 children under the age of 4 and they run to the edge of the road to wave to us.  Muzungus or white travelers are superstars here.  All of the children want the chance to wave and smile at us.  They want to know why we are here, but do we want to know why they are?

The jeep in front of us throws a half empty water bottle out of the window for a child.  How do you choose which child needs water more? 

I have gotten the amazing opportunity, two times now, to struggle with these thoughts.  They bare weight on my mind and are hard to express, but if that’s what it takes to try to reach out to a few than I can handle it.  For now at least…

Perhaps I should back up.

This was, in brief, my week.

Monday was orientation for our first Hope Shines 2012 camp.  Orientation means that all of the volunteers and translators meet and go over the curriculum for the camps that year.  It would never be that easy though.

Due to an airline issue, Stephanie Chu, who is running the camps this year did not land in Kigali, Rwanda until Midnight on Sunday.  I picked her up and we got home around 1:30 AM to unload her 7 bags and get her to bed.  I was also on day 2 of a cold and wasn’t feeling my best, but also acknowledged it could be worse.  I could have HIV.

It was so nice to get to see all of the translators from last year again.  Pam, Josiane, Diane, and Bienvenu greeted me with open arms and as we sat to do introductions you could feel the excitement in the air. 

3 hours later, and much less enthusiastic, we had gone over the entire curriculum with a fine-toothed comb!  As we took a break, we made plans to get the new volunteers to the genocide memorial and the rest of us to make sandwiches for the first day of camp.  Even though sandwich making was not so exciting I knew that after sandwiches we would get to meet the kids.

Brown dust, mud homes, water ditches, mopeds, and music.  Driving to the school my stomach was in knots.  I didn’t know how the kids would react to seeing Stephanie and myself, and it was killing me.

As we pulled up to the school I could see all of the children, my children.  I popped out of the car and ran over the group ready to have them charge me, but they didn’t.

CSC, the Child Support Center, reaches out to children that have one parent or legal guardian technically making them an orphan by definition in Rwanda.  Due to this fact, I had forgotten that the CSC children were by far much more guarded, as they are in the ‘real’ world everyday.  The comparison being, SINAPISI children live in an orphanage and so they are more willing to take chances, as all of the children are their support system. 

As I went around the circle and started giving them each a hug I could recall their faces and names as if it was yesterday that I had left them.  After all the hugs were distributed, Stephanie and I spoke about camp and how excited we were to get to see them again this year.  Slowly, but surely the kids got more excited over the Hope Shines camp for the year 2012. 

It was in this moment that I knew that camps were happening and that all of my preparations were well worth their while.

Camp was amazing.  There is not much more to say about the matter.

We colored, grew plants, read Eric Carle books, played jacks, learned about producers and consumers, made recipes, played soccer, did math games, sewed bags and maxi-pads, danced, laughed, had fun, and much more.  The kids were awesome, the volunteers were awesome, and overall camp was amazing.

I am very lucky that I get to see all of these kids again in the days to come.  The last day of camp is usually very emotional as you are saying goodbye to the kids, but I do not have to.  Day 5 of camp, Saturday, consisted of me reminding them about medical examinations and that I would be there.

I am very lucky.  Saying goodbye is always the hardest part.

It’s 8 AM on Sunday morning.

I’m in Akagera National Park for a safari for the day.  Even though seeing the wildlife is always very interesting, nothing will ever beat seeing those kids smile at camp.  The personal connections you make with the people are most important.  How can you learn about a culture without any personal connections?  The people are what shape the country, the experience, and the future.

Hopefully this first week had an impact on someone here and they can become the people I want to meet on my travels. 

Sustainability is the goal and Hope Shines is doing so much for these kids.  Not only does it bring the children together, but it cultivates creative, fosters imagination, feeds their tummies, and pushes them to think more and try harder.

So how do I choose what stories?  I don’t.  I do my best to remember them all and share them with whom ever wants to hear them. 

Can you listen?

With Care,
Chelsea

When you wake up knowing Wednesday will be a good day...

Yesterday was the first day of our 2012 Hope Shines camps and it was a HUGE success!

The past couple of days have been so amazing and so incredibly hectic, that I have had little time to reflect on it all.

What I can tell you in these brief 10 minutes that I have is that I got to see the kids yesterday!  I was amazed at how many of the children's names I could remember and how warmly they greeted me.  On top of that, the children really remembered everything that I had taught them last year and were so creative in their movement choices!!!

It was really amazing to see that I must have had an impact on them last year.  To think that my small movement lessons that were built to build confidence and creativity were maintained for year is just phenomenal.  It's so great because now I can challenge the girls to make stronger choices, unique movements, and be more confident.

I will soon tell you stories of my weekend and the final preparations for camps, but until then I hope this suffices!

With Care,
Chelsea

T.I.A.

T.I.A. stands for, "This is Africa."

Most would immediately find this phrase to represent all of the difficulties and frustrations one would experience while traveling in Africa, but I tend to not see it quite that way.  Don't get me wrong working in Africa is a much different process with different expectations than in the United States, but not for all bad reasons.

This is my story of why, "This is Africa," and why I will always return.

July 11, 2012:
When you land in Kigali, you exit the plane by walking down stairs and find yourself standing in the middle of a vast tarmac seeing only the land of Africa around you.  Very few get the extraordinary opportunity to relive a sensation captured in Hollywood movies such as 'Casablanca' or 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'.  That sensation being bone-chilling excitement.

I have disembarked many planes in my life thus far and can say nothing quite beats breathing in the African air.  There's something about it that whispers opportunity to you and immediately you find your self thinking more openly abstract to insure your survival.  It's the chill factor you get from the beach, mixed with the anxiety you feel lost in the woods...  and it's addictive...

After my 'moment' on the tarmac I proceeded to do what all countries make you do when you enter, customs!  I flew through and stood in front of baggage claim with all fingers crossed for my 5 checked bags...  and... they arrived!  I walked through baggage claim and was greeted by the friendly face of an old friend, William.

I met William last year and everyday grew to enjoy his company even more.  6 years ago when April (founder) travelled to Rwanda for the first time on a business trip William was her driver for the week.  Every year when the camps happened April could think of no one else she would rather have help her to get everything moving!  William has been a huge help for us as he helps us to all of our negotiating, networking, shopping, and travel to a from camps!

We loaded everything in the car and headed off to the Hotel Iris!  Friends, here is our 1st "T.I.A." experience.

When I got to the Iris I was informed that they did not have me checking in until Wednesday and all of their other rooms were booked for the night!  The man said he could keep all of my extra suitcases for the night in storage and took me to another hotel around the corner.  The hotel was fine and William told me it was safe so I knew I'd be ok, but after traveling for 36 hours and being exhausted you just want to SLEEP!

I dropped my things off at the hotel and went to exchange money & buy minutes for my phone.  When I was finally back in my room I organized my things, sent a few emails, showered, and slept...  For 12 hours.

July 12, 2012
After a wonderful night full of slumber I met William with a GIANT shopping list!

There is always a bit of culture shock, but the biggest part of get adjusted is how you fit into the Rwandan community or rather lack thereof.  If you are light skinned, you are an oddity.  Women stare at you and tell you you're beautiful, men stare at you and as you to be their wife, and others notice you as a person to try to sell things to!

Going to the markets with William is always an adventure and I feel that we were very successful in finding what we needed!  Thank goodness I have him with me to help translate as my Kenya-rwandan is sub-par...  Actually, non-existent!

To paint a visual of the markets for you, the streets are about the size of a one-way street in the U.S., but there are cars pulled up onto the curves on both sides as parkings spots.  There are about 15 people crossing the street at any given time and no regard to the thought of getting run over!  The road is dirt and on a hill as Rwanda is called, "The Land of One Thousand Hills!"  If that's not enough chaos for you add about 10 more moped taxis with 2 people on each one weaving through the traffic!  Just chaos!  So glad I don't have to drive here!

After shopping I spent the rest of the afternoon organizing the apartment for the additional 6 suitcases that are coming on Saturday (and organizing myself so I am not a mess by the time the camps start)!

I am so happy with all that we already have in the apartment and am so impressed by the generosity of those that see the need and respond to it.  I reach out to everyone that has helped me or Hope Shines prepare for these camps and thank you!  They literally wouldn't happen without your support!

I promised more exciting blogs a couple days ago in my sleep-deprived typing and it will happen.  When I finally get to see the kids I know I will have a thousand thoughts in my head and will be spinning!

I hope the summer months are wonderful back home and will write more soon (bearing that something interesting happens!)

With Care,
Chelsea

The Start to an Exciting Adventure

I promise my writing will become more interesting and insightful, but you may note that I have already been awake 26 hours with only a 2 hour nap in-between the days!

12:30am
Finished packing and went to bed.

2:30 am
I pulled myself out of bed wishing that planes had curb side pick up!

3:30 am
I arrived at the Newark, NJ airport and realized that I had 5 suitcases and a backpack, but only 2 hands. I only had to get inside and about 30 feet to the check-in, but it was a production!  To paint a visual I had the suitcases around me in a fashion similar to that of Dorothy and the Munchkins and every time the line inched forward, I began a process of toppling over myself to try to move everything.  As these charades were taking place I turned around to grab another bag only to find that the father of the family behind me was helping me move everything!  On top of that his little daughter, probably about 8, was helping with the smallest of suitcases!  I already had a good feeling about today and so far it has proven to be a great day.

7:30 am
I arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC very tired and wishing I could just stay on the plane to it's final destination!

7:45 am
I found a very long line for Ethiopian Air that I unfortunately had to stand in to get my boarding ticket for my flights to come.

8:30 am
I finally got to a service representative and he was helping me with the normal things such as printing tickets, changing seats, etc.  He was chipper for 8:30 am so I was telling him about the 4 additional bags I had checked earlier that day and that they had supplies for my African orphans in them.  He smiled as I think he thought I had packed 4 suitcases of clothes!

As we were finishing up I mentioned that their signs said only one carry on bag and he said he would check my items.  Well, he may have let my 2 bags slide except there's a 15 lbs. limit and my rolling suitcase was 36 lbs.  Whoops!  He turned to me and informed me that he could check it, but that there would be a $60 fee attached to it.

Immediately my heart dropped to my stomach as $60 isn't just 10 starbucks coffees I can't have, but 60 pairs of underwear we can't get the kids, or 4 pairs of glasses not purchased, or 6 kids that don't have health insurance, etc.  Right when he saw my concern he grabbed my arm and whispered that he could waive the fee just this one time.  I was so grateful I almost started to cry and offered a hug to him, but he said he was ok.

It just goes to show that people do care and even when it requires them to think outside of the box to help, some are willing to do the extra work.  THANK YOU ETHIOPIAN AIR!!!

So at 9:00 am I write to you saying that I have a special feeling that today is going to be great and tomorrow even better!  I am so blessed to get to go to Rwanda again and I have a feeling that just like so many before me, the hills and dirt of Africa will slowly become a part of my existence fueling my addiction for adventure, helping, and everything in between!

Next time I write I will be in Africa if all goes well!

With Care,
Chelsea

Welcome to another amazing adventure!

Hi all!

Welcome to my blog!  Please take a moment and get yourself acclimated to where everything is on my blog!

First things first!  Look above this and you will see 3 tabs.  Home, Travel Schedule, & Photos.  Home is where my latest blog will appear.  You can search for ones you missed on the right hand side where you see the words, 'previous blogs.'  Travel Schedule will be updated as I gain more knowledge in what exactly I will be doing every day!  Photos will have my favorites of each camp and a bit of the beautiful scenery!

If you would like to receive email notifications of when I have posted something new on my blog please scroll down to the bottom of my page and add your email address in the 'Follow by Email' bar.

Lastly, please feel free to read, share, and contact me with any questions!  This is going to be an adventure and I'd love to take you on my journey!

May the traveling begin!

With Care,
Chelsea