Day 2 ~ Things are Looking Up... mostly

Well, day two and I’m already feeling a bit better about this adventure.

This morning Jordan, Isaac and I headed out of the compound on foot in search of three Motorbike Taxis. (There is a law here that prohibits more than 2 people on a bike – Cambodia take note). So, after the 2km hike along a beautiful dirt road we arrive at the Moto gathering place.

We negotiate a price to our destination and each hop on the back of a bike. After some initial dubiousness about popping my child on the back of a stranger’s motorbike, I put my faith in the God of um… motodops, and we head off.

After about 3 minutes of exhilarating (but still safe) coasting along the road Jordan’s bike veers off toward a gas station.

We all pull over and I check on Isaac. He’s grinning from ear to ear. “This is AWESOME!!!”

Alright. Everything is right with the world, and my Son has my sense of adventure. It’s gunna be okay.

The rest of the ride is beautiful, peaceful, and uneventful. Really mom, it was.

We arrive at our destination, pay our 1000 Rwandan Franks (about $2 Canadian) each and head to Green Hills Academy.

Green Hills Academy

Owned by Rwanda’s First Lady Green Hills Academy is THE place to send your child if you’re a rich and powerful Rwandese, or possibly a poor Canadian Social Work student on an unpaid practicum. Hmmm.

Ok, no joke, the grounds of this school are by far the most beautiful I have ever seen. It’s located on the side of a hill, as is pretty much everything in Kigali, unless of course it’s on the top or the bottom of a hill. There are trees and greenery everywhere. And the school sprawls out over roughly 10 acres of land. Along with regular (top rated) academic programs they also offer golf, swimming, tennis, Karate, Ballet, traditional Rwandese dancing, Football (read soccer), basketball, band, choir, French, English, Computer design and gaming, and ‘other’. (‘Other’ turns out to be “parachute games, obstacle games, go carts and much more!!”)

Hmm.

Traditional Dance (Isaac not pictured)

After much discussion with the Kindergarten principal I discover that the cost of tuition, uniform, school bus, and afterschool care for most of the time I’m here will be about C$1600. Not bad. Not bad at all.

After watching the children play in the outdoor play-space Isaac makes the observation that he’ll probably be the only white kid in his class. Yes m’dear. Welcome to Africa.

Next the three of us hop back on three motos and head to SFH (Society for Family Health), the place Jordan and I will be working. We meet with Robert, the director of Corporate Communications. He gives us an in depth, detailed and comprehensive introduction to SFH’s work. We also meet with Alex who works in the XXXX and Innocent who is SFH’s HR manager. They are all lovely, dedicated and highly educated. Jordan and I learn that he’ll be working with the Communications team and I’ll be working with the Finance and funding team. I’m crestfallen.

My hope had been that given my background in media and the direct interest I had expressed in my cover letter in learning about Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) that I would be working with the communication team. Sadly no. Jordan, who essentially came here on a whim has been placed in that department. I express my concern about this and am told that we’ll be meeting weekly to discuss what each team is doing and that all departments work together and collaborate. Hm.. Meeting once a week to ‘collaborate’ isn’t exactly going to give me the experience I need to pursue a career in BCC. Nor will SFH be using my skills to the best of their benefit.

Ok. So I have a challenge to address. I’m up for it.

It has been said: If it was all easy, it wouldn’t be worth it.