This post is a little different than previous posts as I am currently visiting my future home. I thought I would quantify my experience in Rwanda thus far.
Numbers 0-5
0: Number of pants that I brought that still fit. Note: I still wear all the pants that are too big so my outfits these days are quite comical. Also the number of things i have accidentally dropped into the latrine. Thankfully.
1: Number of kittens I’ve seen. Also number of kittens that currently live at my house. Also the number of times I have eaten fish. Also the number of Chinese Restaurants in Huye.
2: Number of volunteers from South Carolina in my cohort. Also number of volunteers from South Carolina that I know.
3: Number of ikitenge fabrics I’ve bought and have had made into clothing. Also the average number of liters of water I drink daily.
5: KM….Distance to Huye/Butare, the second largest city in Rwanda. I’m about to become a city girl.
Numbers 6-10
6: number of pizza bites I ate at our last training meeting. They were delicious.
8. Number of times I have eaten spaghetti with tomato sauce after I explained that I don’t just like plain noodles. Also the number of people in my cohort also placed in the south.
10: number of kilograms I’ve list since arriving in Rwanda. This is not surprising as my activity level has increased and my caloric intake had decreased.
Numbers 15-100
15: % number of women who currently seeking prenatal care at my health centre.
23: Number of people remaining in our cohort. One person left about two weeks ago.
49: Days since I left South Carolina.
86: Currently the number of children that suffer from malnutrition registered at my health center. My goal is to reduce it to 0.
101-1000
148: Number of current Peace Corps volunteers in Rwanda serving in health and education. The distribution is about 2/3 education and 1/3 health.
~500: Words. My approximate Kinyarwanda vocabulary. This is a gross estimate and may be more or less.
725+/-: Days remaining in the Peace Corps assuming things go as planned.
1001 and more
36700+/-: The number of people in my cachement area. A cachement area is the geographical area a specific health center serves. My cachement area is the largest in Rwanda.
42000: Rwandan francs I receive every two weeks. It’s approximately $40 and I use it to buy lunch everyday as well as fabric/clothing, phone credit, data package, and anything else that pops up.
One way or another by Blondie
All info on where you are and what is happenings is always welcome news. love you and miss you more than I can say. Molly looks out the carport side window when I drive up in your car, hoping it is you but still happy to see me. Lucy has found a new hiding place- the bookcase in the lr.