As part of my Rwanda Blog Ill be posting homework from my Ensemble Class. It is a class geared towards continung our work we did in Rwanda at Buffalo State and hopefully isc schools in the Buffalo Area.

Image of Shared Humanity

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=shared+humanity&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS435&biw=1280&bih=603&tbm=isch&tbnid=UBaI3LgaZ-IGMM:&imgrefurl=http://brandi-possibilities.blogspot.com/&docid=xgkHrY6rjhjAFM&imgurl=http://erisj.org.au/new/sites/default/files/MPj04331230000%25255B1%25255D.jpg&w=1050&h=703&ei=U5sfT8jhBs2M0QHt3u0F&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=504&vpy=147&dur=936&hovh=184&hovw=274&tx=151&ty=110&sig=116588462767370272090&page=1&tbnh=116&tbnw=173&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

Examples of Shared Humanity..

http://www.world-memorial.org/LA-EXPO-ROAD-ONE-June05.pdf

http://www.mhschVhttps://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/one/donate.aspx?link=227&media=Google&source_code=DHQMW0000W1119&keyword=haiti%20earthquake%20relief&gclid=CKzfqfrD6q0CFUSo4AodIDe04gool.com/socialstudies/2007/hurricanekatrina/katrinaresponse.htm

This post is to be continued.

Im not ready to write it yet..maybe because Im not ready to accept the fact that its over..but I will write about it soon.

Thats for sure

Haha I guess its no secret today was beautiful…lol

I dont mean the sights…even though that was immaculate in its own way but I meant the feeling. The only word I can pick to decribe today was beauitful.

In the morning we started on our second day of rehearsals with the Mashrika Theater Group. We  another member into out “bumper sticker” if you may and it meshed together quite nicely. Im excited. The result should be amazing.

Right after rehearsal both theater visted the Shalom Youth Village. How do I describe such a place…BEAUTIFUL. It sits on top of three mountians. The village opened about three years ago and it houses students in 4 grade levels; kind of like a boarding school.

About 500 hundred students attends the school and most of them are orphaned. It is a school geared towards helping those who might not have that the oppurtunity study at a renowned level. . It was an amazing

For our performace we were in a theater outside…with an greek type flair. It was their u, along with Mashirika Theater Group and the schools own group performed. Our performance was AMAZING. We got up there and did it and the audience responded to in such a positive story. Shakespearsr and music are very universal. It was an amazing day with amazing people.

Like my title suggests, I bet you can tell what mood Tie is in right now…lol

Since my lappy is on NY time and Africa is seven hours ahead I think it after 11 now. Im sitting up in my queen sized bed(one of the best rooms in the house:D), my roomie is sleeping and the only light that is shining is from the good ol’ Dell lappy.

First off lets talk about yesterday. I finally got in a couple hours of sleep!!!

Feel free to applause..(I know I did..along with a happy dance). Once I did get up I ate a quick breakfast and proceeded to take my butt right back to sleep for part 2. However mother nature had other plans in mind,and no later than 5 minutes of me chilling in bed I heard a thunderous roar. It was raining, and than I heard screams and walked to the fromt of the house. In front of the New Life Guest house were 3 of my peers dancing in the rain.

It didn’t take much to convince me. I took the scrunchy out my hair and ran into the rain. Sometimes I would just stand there, my hair down my back, looking up into the sky and taking a deep breath. It felt so good and I felt so blessed to be here taking in this beautiful African rain…lol. I felt at home:)

After that we went to the market and later on that night we saw the Mashirika group do a performance. It was so gut wrenching good. I couldnt believe my eyes. Their show was called “Africa’s Hope” It was geared towards the genocide and it was beautiful. I enjoyed their performance.

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Today we visited the Gishimbe Refugee Camp. This place is loaded with people to say the least; 19,000 to be exact. All of them made up of  surrounding african countries.

As soon as our van pulled in, thousands if kids swarmed it. It was hard to get out and when we did get out we had thousands of kids running up to us, staring at us, grabbing our hands smiling. You couldn’t help but fall in love. However when I did take out my water bottle to have sip, it wasn’t more then 3 seconds before one kid saw me and than it became 10 kids on me for my water bottles; pulling and tugging. Needless to say I didn’t have a drink-_-

After that near fatal attack…lol..we somehow got the kids in a circle and played the Hokey pokey. The kids are beautiful, from all walks of life. They are so limited in education, shelter and money but they are not short on love. I believe thats what gets them through it. They did start their own school on the refugee camp..on that is sponsored from all the parents. It’s a community effort, one that the world should take notice to.

About 2 hours or so later we were due to perform. There were no outlets so the songs we done accapella. It felt good. I felt good. I knew my life and I what have are blessing but today I felt blessed beyond measures. Apart of me wanted to ask the uestion why? Why am I blessed with a loving mom, shelter and the oppurtunity to study what I love away at school. I dont know the answers to those questions and I’m not going to rack my brain trying to find the answers but I need t do something to help others. That has to be my duty.

Today was a good day.

We visited the sister city of  Buffalo called Muhanga. After we met up with our tour guides we went to a school for the disabled and was floored by their performance of the national anthem done completely in sign language. After that visit we went to a boarding school in which the best students of Rwanda come there to study science and computer skills.

After that visit we went to a Teacher School and performed there. It was probably the biggest space we performed in so far but we gave it our all and I am proud of us.

After our visit there we went into the Rural villages of Rwanda to participate in a cow distribution. In Rwanda when your family owns a cow it means they have some status in their community. Together the Anne Frank Project got together to give a deserving family one. Although a translator was present you felt the happiness the grandmother had when she said thank you. It was heartwarming.

After that emotional exchange we hightailed it to the nearest restaurant to get our grub on. The food was amazing and what made that dinner even more special was a visit from the major of Muhanga. She is one of 3 women in a district of thirty. She was absolutely amazing to see at work. I love the fact that women in politics aren’t looked down upon. We even performed for her right in the restaurant. Julia and I sang “Take Me or Leave Me” from the musical Rent.

It was a great ending to a fablous day. Cant wait to see what tomorrow has instore:)

Yesterday we visited the Murambi Memorial Genocide Center. It sat on top of a hill about three hours away from where we were staying in Kigali in a rural area in Rwanda.

The night before at dinner Drew and Carl informed us of this trip. As soon as they mentioned the word genocide memorial center my mood was automatically changed. I didn’twant to go because I knew I would come face to face with my emotions. It’s hard not to get emotional when you are at a memorial site.They told us that they preserved the bodies of the victims with lime and left it as is. I was scared. That’s a fact. I didn’t know what I was going to see but I knew that there are images some can never get out of your head. Once its there. It’s there.

That morning I woke up dreading this voyage. As the car rolled up to the area kids in the village were running up to us, chasing our van screaming hello. It felt so good to feel that love when I knew very soon I would be feeling something else. Outside had the purple and whiteribbons meaning(mourning) and there was a long pathway to the memorial site.

Murambiwas a school…that was under constructions and development during the vefore and during the genocide. Those who wanted a safe haven from the violence a and chance to live retreated to this place. They were fooled, tricked if you may. It was a conspiracy; a chance for the Hutu’s to eliminate the Tutsi in one place at one time. They succeeded.

66,000 to 70,000 people died on those grounds.

As I read the background information throughout the memorial site I became more familiar with the the story of Murambi. After our tour was over we went outside to view the Mass graves. Inside and outside of the memorial center we weren’t allowed to take photos and honestly if we were allowed to I wouldn’t want to.

The first mass grave was cemented but the next one wasn’t. We went behind the school to little houses with many doors. Each door was left slightly ajar and once I finally  decided to step inside I was met with an unbearable smell. I smelt the lime before I even stepped inside. Once I steppedinside I saw rows and rows of bodies. It wasn’t a body in its actually form(meaning:skin color, fingernails, etc..) but it was a body in the sense of a skeleton. It was white and gray in color. The body was scrunched broken down along with other ones. It looked powered, tattered and worn. It smelt of murder. The smell made me sick..I didn’t even want to venture into a room unless I had my shirt over my nose.

One skeleton I saw still had it’s hair attached to its head and another room were full of baby skeletons. I was floored. I couldn’t believe these many babies died in such a horrific way. After a while it felt like a dream. I somehow removed myself from my emotions and what I was staring at. I knew if I thought long about about it my imagination would carry me away and I probably would have collapse on the floor crying. I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to go there emotionally

After the tour we went to get lunch. Food sounded good to me at that point. ON our way to the restaurant I thought about my late grandfather and for some crazy reason I thought about his body looking that way in his casket and my eyes started to well up with tears. I took a deep breath, blinked a couple of times and got myself together. I didn’t want to go there.

After stuffing our faces we had an African drumming lesson with the only female drumming ensemble in Rwanda. Such fun. The ladies were so inspiring; so breathtakingly beautiful as they pounded those drums with such force. Its was surprising to hear from Drew that the ladies were made up of ladies all around Rwanda and that some were widows and prepertrators of the Genocide. It was hard at first for the ladies to work together but now they couldn’t imagine themselves around anyone else. They also opened an ice cream shop near by. The Ice cream was delicious!!…I’m learning so much about myself, my strengths and weakness. I’m growing as a person I only hope I can evolve into a better one.

Ahhh Today was an interesting Day.

We were in Akagera National Park to see the animals. I am use to parks being gated and there being a play area, basketball court and other recreational activities the youth are interested in. But not this park.

It was like we stepped into a Safari and it was beautiful..it was a large mountainous terrain, beautiful trees and shrubs and of course the animals. We drove the path hoping we would catch a glimpse of nature at its best. We stayed in the van a majority of the time and when we did get out it was when Carl would become super adventurous and wanted us to go as close as the animals would let us. We had to be quiet and not make any sudden movements.

It was great, We saw a herd of buffalo, giraffes, warthogs, baboons and many more. I really had a good time. Tomorrow we are visiting another memorial. I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to it. Hopefully I get my composure together along with my emotions. I am going to need all the strength I can get.

                                                                              Until Next Time

                                                                                      Tie<3

Visited an Orphanage Today.

 There are no words to describe a child smiling at you, wanting to hold your hand and attaching themselves to you like your the only thing in the world. I am sooooooo Blessed and Thankful. I hope I visit once more before I leave.

P.S: I should be in bed, Were all waking up CRAZY EARLY to visit the animals..Cross your fingers for me that I get to ride on one!!:)

I was bone tired by the time I came back to the New Life Guest House Last night. I couldnt’ even keep my eyes open nonetheless power through a post. But atlas I am here ready to make up for loss postage..lol

Yesterday was intense. I thought the day before was bad but nothing compared to the Kigali Memorial Center I went to. It looked absolutely beautiful outside; kind of like a town house, We were greeted by a guard and met up with the Masharika Theater Group from the day before, For some of them it was their first visit at the memorial center.

We had a tour guide but instead of starting inside the building he took us outside down a cemented staircase. to the left and right of it were beautiful wild exotic flowers and if you looked up you had an amazing view of the mountainous Rwanda. As we made our way downstairs we stopped at a big cemented patch that had flowers laying on top of it. It was the mass graves people dead or alive were thrown into.

I couldn’t believe it. Something so inhumane taking place in this beautiful country. It seemed so wrong and inhumane. We continued our tour inside. The first floored educated us on the background of genocide in Rwanda all the way from its roots, I was strong up until I went into the room with the pictures. Lined all around  from top to bottom were countless photographs. I’m talking about (couples, brothers , sisters, aunts, uncles, neighbors, Moms, Dads, babies,infants) All lined up. Each dead.

Before I could control myself the tears were falling, running down my face and dropping on my shirt. I sat down  and just stared at them. The funny thing is..there more where that came from. not everyone was indentifed from the genocide. Sometime the bodies were too decomposed to even tell. It is also believed that there are MORE mass graves in Rwanda. It is still under investigation.

I sat down and cried for a while. I walked into another room in which displayed the clothes of the victims. You can clearly see the blood splattered on it as well as the bullet holes that pierced through it. Upstairs was where it took a turn for the worse.

Upstairs displayed the children slain in the genocide. There would be a picture of a beautiful baby girl or boy, their name and ages, like and dislikes and how they were killed. Some were hacked by a machete. Some were shot in the head and some were even stabbed in the eyes. It seem as though it was a game to the killers on how to be creative in killing. Those who can inflict the most pain in the most creative ways won. It’s sick.

As Lewis and I walked outside it was a struggle for us to gather out emotions. I sat on a cemented patch and just cried. I cried for those innocent babies and kids who would never know life as they should have. I cried for those mothers and daughters who were gang raped repeatedly by HIV+ killers. I cried for those fathers and sons who were forced to kill and rape their own family members.

After that intense visit. We grabbed lunch at the same all you can eat buffet and than headed to the Ishyo Center to meet up with the Mashirika Group. It was there that we began tapping into our emotions for our combined theater piece. im excited. After rehearsal we chilled outside a bit playing hand games and than heading to Rosettes(mashrika member) house for dinner. It started off as a dinner party but ended up being a dance party. The Mashrika group taught us african dances while we taught them a few american ones. Such a fun night.

I’m sure I never understand what 1994 must of been like in Rwanda. I dont think I even want to imagine it. But it did happen. Genocide Must end. Its not okay.

I didnt know it would happen so quick.

I feel so blessed to be here and I already feel myself changing for the better but today was definitely a rocky one for me.

In the morning we met with the Mashirika Theater group and enjoyed a fun morning of playing theater games and getting to know each other. Drew said we already began rehearsing and he’s right. It feels so right with them. We all have different stories and yet we are all so similar. It crazy how someone across the world knows exactly what I’m going through. It was a blessing.

After that meeting we went to a Rwanda All You Can Eat Buffet. I enjoyed traditional Rwanda cuisine and it was so good. I definitely enjoyed my time there. After lunch was when it got a bit tough. We went to the town of Nyamata to visit the Nyamata  Genocide Memorial.

Walking up to the Memorial Center it looked absolutely beautiful. The gates were outlined with Purple and White ribbons which symbolizes (Mourning) as opposed to USA’s (black). As the guard opened the gate I realized that we were at a church. The outside of the church was beauitful..the outside of it contained patches and patches of beautiful flowers, and the place screamed of serenity and peacefulness. I would have never have thought such darkness and pain lingered inside.

Our tour guides name was Valenti and although he had a smile on his face it was apparent that when he started speaking of the genocide his expression changed and his tone became very somber. As we stood outside of the church he told us the story of how the Huti’s would convince the Tutsi’s that hiding out in the church would be a safe haven for them and no harm would come of them while the mass murdering was occurring all around them. It was a fix. The lured them to their deaths.

He told us the stories of how when the Huti’s did come; they killed all the people around the the church with guns, machetes and grenades while those inside watched and waited for their time. he showed us the door to the church and how there is a big whole in front of it because the Huti’s blew up a grenade while the Tutsi’s would try to keep the door closed from the Huti’s coming in.

When we went inside I was floored. They left the church as it was. There were thousands and thousands of worn, tattered clothes from the victims and when you looked up to the ceiling there you saw the blood and bullet holes of those who perished. We walked to the back of the church where Valenti described that this was where the children were murdered. Sometimes their heads were smashed against the walls…My heart couldn’t take it. I immediately thought of my cousins.

In the very back of the church were the mass graves. I wasn’t prepared for it and honestly I  was really scared. I’m not good at dealing with my emotions, I tend to shy away from it and I process whatever Im feeling at another time. I tried to go downstairs in to the mass graves but the smell was so strong I walked back up. I retreated to a nearby tree and just stood there. I thought about my little cousins and wondered what I would have done if that was them. I thought about my mom, brother and bestfriends and what I would have done if I had to try and identify their worn, tattered clothes and sometimes even bashed in skull.

Standing outside the mass graves I could see inside a bit and I saw many coffins. I immediately thought of my late grandfather and all those emotions I tried to suppress every since I was 14 years old. I came face with it today. I don’t know how but I decided to go down there. Im here in this beautiful country and I needed to take in the good with bad and grow from it. I went downstairs and I dealt with the stench but the sight was truly gruesome. It was rows and rows of skulls lined off and ontop of them were piles and piles of bones.

The skulls were missing teeth which is normal with a decaying skull BUT what really got me were the bashed in skulls. I could help but think that every skull had a story, a family, a house, a child,a special laugh and it was all stripped away form them. Innocent people died that day. I don’t think  can ever get over what I saw. My heart breaks. I need to let go of the barriers I have around my heart and emotions and let myself feel. I was happy I was able to do that today even if it was for a bit. It became so real to me.

As we were leaving the town of Nyamata we stopped at a river. We walked onto the bridge and it was there that Carl told us that thousands and thousands of dead bodies would float down this river into Lake Victoria. He told us that it had a millions stories to tell. I am sure of it. At the lake we circled up and and spoke words of how were feeling. It feel good to release.

I am so taken back by what I saw today. I believe that I am changing because of it. My hearts bleeds for those who perished but as I leave the memorial I couldnt help but take in the beauty around me. Life goes on. Ad although we will never forget what happen its important to take a step in the right direction. This journey is bigger than me. This path of self discovery is amazing but I want to change the world while I’m at it.