Things operate a little differently on this continent

Today was a great day :)  We had a half day because teachers had an accredication meeting after school.  To make matters even more exciting, we found out halfway through the day that Monday is being declared a holiday since its the inauguration in Rwanda.... therefore we won't have school!  So today, I found out that I have a long weekend just like everyone back home!  Not for Labor Day, but all the more, a day off.  There are also rumors that Tuesday and Wednesday of next week could potentially be declared a holiday as well because of a Muslim celebration... something to do with the moon.  Things operate a little differently here in Rwanda. 

Tonight a couple other girls and I went into town for the first time without any veteran teachers with us.  We had to negotiate prices with the moto taxi drivers and navigate our way around downtown without anyone leading us.  Baby steps.  We met up with a bunch of people downtown to go out to eat with... where we ended up in a restaurant that was having a magazine opening event, in which we felt very awkward talking during a power point slide show this woman was giving.  However, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was coffeehouse-esque.  On the way back home, we packed 12 people into a 5 seater SUV... with 5 of us in the trunk.  I'm telling you, things just operate differently here :)  It was either that, or each of us get a moto at night, which I think is even scarier.  We made it home safely and all is well. 

One of the places that has become a comfort atmosphere for me and the other teachers is a restaurant called Bourbon Coffee.  It is a place where buzungu (white people) hang out and has awesome coffee drinks, ice cream, good food, and comfy chairs.  Here is a picture of the view from this restaurant:

Rwanda is so beautiful.  My photos really don't do it justice.  Although things operate differently here, I am learning to really appreciate these things and to trust God even when I may not trust the situations I'm in.  It's easy to trust God when everything around me is familiar and comfortable.  But, let me tell you, there is a lot of uncomfortable around me, and I love it.  I'm excited that God has put me in a position where I don't know a whole lot, but I know one thing:  That God is faithful and loves me and cares for me even when I'm in a storm of uncertainty. 

Training vs. Doing

I've experienced going through training for several things in my life.  I've trained to be a cheerleader through 10+ years of gymnastics classes.  I've trained to drive a vehicle through those awkward driver's training classes back in the day.  I've trained to survive in college through 12 years of schooling.  I've trained to be a YoungLife leader through a semester long course called New Leader Training.  I've trained to be an art teacher through 4 years of classes that tested me, challenged me, and built me up. 

In all of these things, I can't say I've ever truly felt prepared to jump into the real deal after the training was complete.  However, diving in head first into each new chapter of life is when the real adventure began.  I'm more of a "put the tip of my toe in the water to feel it out" kind of person... but I realize there are times when I will have to get in the water, so why not trust in the God who made the water and jump!?  It's better than the alternative... wondering and anxiously awaiting the opportunity to prove my abilities (gained from my training) to myself and to others.  Which is what I've been doing the past year! 

I have spent this last year wondering if I was even cut out to be a teacher.  I love kids so much and know that teaching is a great way to be present in their lives as a vessel for Christ.  A lot of the time, I just want to have fun with them and be their friend... rather than being the one to discipline them; although I am seeing this in quite a different light now that I am entering into the teacher world.  I realize that these kids need more than a friend.  They need adults who care enough to encourage them toward a life free from the burdens so many teenagers have from the sin they fall into because of their misunderstanding of what they are worth in God's eyes. 

I had some humongous doubts about teaching K-12 when I first signed up for this mission.  One, I couldn't get a job in Indiana because of my lack of experience (and the economy, of course), so I inadvertantly got the impression that I have too little experience to be trusted as a teacher!  Two, I have only had legit teaching experience at the high school level.  Elementary is still foreign to me, although I do enjoy it more than I thought I would!  Outside of my doubts, I am sure that beyond my abilities, God is using me and will use me to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to these kids.  At some point, I will stop operating out of fear of the "what ifs" in the classroom and will rely on God to give me the strength and wisdom to conduct each class.  I've already seen God move in the craziest class I have... it's still not perfect, but the kids are learning!  At some point I will upload photos of student work so you can see the amazing artists I am dealing with :) 

Oh… to be a teacher in Rwanda

Let me first start off to say that this is a blessed experience.  As scary and uncertain as it was to make the decision to follow God to Rwanda, I can’t imagine a more defining route for my life.  I feel like I learn 10,000 new things a day; whether it be about the Rwandan culture, how to be a teacher, or the differences between American and British English.  (I have a roommate from England)  My support system is unreal here.  I’ve already made great friends with other teachers and am excited for those friendships to flourish over this next year.  I feel very taken care of and looked out for by many people who have been in Rwanda a while longer than I have. 

There are still things I’m not sure how to get used to!  Our lights don’t work in the upstairs of our house, in the bedrooms or main bathroom, so flashlights are the way to go.  It gets dark at 6pm year round so, seriously, flashlights are essential.  Power outages happen frequently at the school.  Students don’t even flinch when the lights turn off and on during class.  I find that amusing when I’m looking around, out in the halls, to see who is pulling this not so funny prank.  Internet is touch and go.  We have internet maybe 30% of the time at the school.  It’s always a victory when I see I can connect to the internet even though I know it will be short lived or insanely slow.  Understanding tons of different English accents has been quite the challenge.  I’m teaching about 140 students at this school.  There are 30 different countries represented in that bunch of students.  I never know what kind of accent I will have to try to decipher in each class.  It’s pretty spectacular.  Also, trying to pronounce some of their names has caused for a good laugh.  I will say it wrong over and over again and the student just takes the abuse because his name is so un-phonetic that probably every teacher butchers it.  I am learning to use cash again.  My debit card is useless unless I go to one of the two ATMs in Kigali.  Mental math is a common practice when trying to convert Rwandan Francs to US dollars to make sure I’m not paying too much for things. 

Along with learning how to live in Rwanda, I’ve also been learning how to be a teacher!  I have been coming up with my own curriculum for grades K-12, which now that I think about it, is an incredible opportunity to really be stretched as a teacher.  I’m currently trying to come up with a unit for every grade I teach, which is a pretty big-sized goal.  So, I don’t have a lot planned for next week yet.  Yesterday, students came up and asked me what we’d be doing in art next week.  My response was, “Sorry, I can’t tell you!”  But what I really meant was, “I have absolutely no idea!”  I’ve never had to do things on the fly like this.  It’s thrilling and stressful all at the same time to live day by day, not having a set plan for weeks ahead.  The students, on the other hand, are going to be really fun to work with.  People love art at this school! Yay :)  This is the first year for elective classes for secondary students and so many people wanted art!  Unfortunately, not all of them could have art, but it’s nice to be appreciated as an art teacher.