My Life on a Rwandan University Campus: Lecturer Style

I must confess to you that when I found out that my placement was 2.5 hours outside of the capital city, Kigali, I was devastated. But when I arrived in Rwanda and told different people I would be living in Gisenyi, everyone told me how lucky I was. Seven months into my grant period here, I truly have come to know and love my small town on the border of Congo. The energy, the vibrant colors, the imam’s sounds from the town mosque, the stunning view of Lake Kivu just outside my door, the sounds of the students from my window passing by, the avocado-bearing tree that drops its fruits in the dead of the night on the roof of my house. I truly lucked out.

The last time I lived on a college campus was in 2010, the year I graduated. When I arrived to Rwanda Tourism University College, my host institution for my nine months as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, I had low expectations (a skill you have to develop when travelling).  I knew that I would be provided a house on the campus, furnished with the few amenities, I needed. So I was really just showing up as Bintu, and with all of my many clothes and shoes and bintunecessities in three suitcases, a hand luggage, and an oversized personal item.

I was ushered to a cute little house on the campus just behind the main lecture hall and administrative offices and attached to the boys hostel behind me. They couldn’t have created a more comfortable home for me. As it is my first time living alone, I needed something cozy, and I was given just that. The home has almost a grandmother’s feel and everyone who visits catches that vibe.  It’s like a studio house, made for one single lady like me or a couple who doesn’t need to be separated my much space ;) It’s a one bedroom, decently sized room with a bathroom attached.

I have a big sink, which believe me is a big deal when you are washing fufu pots. A refrigerator that didn’t work for the first months, although the top freezer part functions readily. And the same refrigerator doesn’t work again. No microwave, which I don’t find myself missing either; I have found creative ways to reheat food. But also going to the market and thinking of what I can finesse on the stove with limited ingredients is fun too.

The fact that I live on campus means I need less than five minutes to get to class. This also means that students are always knocking on my door. Most times they are just stopping by to say hi. Other times, they are coming to ask questions. During exam time they are coming to file their complaints about discrepancies and beg for pardons on zeros assigned when caught cheating. Overall, living on campus as their lecturer allows for integration into the school community. I really have made a home here and always feel that sense of comfort when I walk back on the campus.  I usually leave my windows and front door open to catch the nice breeze, but mostly to invite positive energy into my home and make my students feel welcome. This is not a requirement, but as I am here on a cultural exchange, one thing I want to share is my openness.   

my awesome first year students came to say Hi after their evening class

ran into my Hotel and Restaurant Management students on my back home from town

Lights are out by 10, not sure if that’s a rule or if every student on this campus closes their eyes at 10 pm. That’s when the gate closes and students are not allowed to leave or enter after that time. I am an exception.

Campus life is still fun, even from a Lecturer’s perspective. Stay tuned.

Setting the Tone: On Teaching My First Course in Rwanda

The American girl in me was antsy because I certainly did not want to make a bad impression by being late on my first day. My director wanted to personally introduce me to the class I would be teaching.  When we finally arrived, some of the class was waiting outside while others trickled in one at a time. The Director instructed them to go and get chairs for the classroom so that they could sit. This was new to me and was just a quick reminder that I had to be prepared for things to be a bit different.  Don’t get me wrong---students are students everywhere and are always subject to being hot mess; that doesn’t change. However, there was a new set of challenges presented to me on that day. Even though we had been forewarned of the challenges we might face in the classroom, it doesn’t become real until you enter the classroom. I was ready to enter the battlefield of white dust, also known as chalkboards and chalk, but fortunately, we have whiteboards at my school. We were told that the likelihood of having books to work with was slim to none. Thus, I prepared a lesson plan with tiers in case I needed to escalate or de-escalate depending on their levels. Thankfully, I hit it right on the nose.

While some students missed the customary first day of class speeches, on the second day more showed up of course and when I asked why they were absent, some had the usual college-kid-i-had-a-problem-clears-throat-excuse. Others, and most, had real life excuses, like being chronically sick, or having to take care of a parent, or issues with their passports since many cross the border from Goma town in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Even though I had planned to be a bit firmer than I usually am because of the closeness in our ages, I had to readjust my approach because of the nature of the challenges.

Not too long into the course, I asked them to write a biographical essay so that I could learn even more about their lives, while gauging their level of writing fluency and assessing what holes we would need to focus on during the course of the module. As my eyes perused their notebooks in the way that teachers do the infamous casual teacher stroll, I read snippets of their essays. No matter what the structure of the sentence was or what grammar lacked, the message was clear: that some of my students were without parents because of a terrible event that many of us only remember because of a film. Even though I studied African politics and conflicts extensively during undergraduate, there is never really any talk or advice that can prepare you for the feeling that engulfs you when you read, in an essay, that it took you 10 seconds to explain, that your students do not have parents because they were tragically killed in 1994. Some referred to the year 1994 that has a clear connotation in this cultural context and others wrote out the word ‘genocide.’ The word is the same in French and English; no matter the grammatical errors, that word and that reality are clear.

I encouraged them to talk, but I also expressed to them that they do not have to share anything they do not wish to share.  In the two weeks, however, they have been open with me and our classroom has the warm embrace of a family at a dinner table. I have looked forward to sharing ideas with them every day and to challenging them to speak even when they are feeling self-conscience about language errors.  We have bonded over lessons, conversations about each other, debates on hot topics, and have laughed at jokes that occur while learning. They are my first class in Rwanda and probably the smallest group I will ever have in a module, so they will always have a special place in my heart. Even more, something about this group made me feel like not only their lecturer, but also, a nurturer, friend, and sister. I can imagine that they see a piece of me in them, as I see a piece of them in me.

Their humble demeanors, shy smiles, eagerness to learn will be etched in my heart.  I am grateful that they let me in and allowed me to impart just an ounce of knowledge on their already brilliant minds. 

Preparing their arguments for a group debate on technology

The boys and their lecturer

One of my three special girls :) #girlpower #powergirls 

:) Business Information Technology Year 2 Students

Outspoken and passionate about everything he does

The next social entrepreneur---more on this later :) #girlpower #powergirls

A leader amongst leaders

Turn to your partner and talk because language is produced and not memorized!

That moment when your point is so critical

When she talks, we ALL listen

The Honorable himself

Because pictures are necessary

Break time and we still want to be together!

*This blog (Bee's Backseat) is not an official Fulbright Program site.  The views expressed on this site are entirely those of its author and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations.

Adios, Panama and Muraho, Rwanda!

From feisty Panama in Central America to soothing green hills in Rwanda, East Africa, I welcome you once again to Bee’s Backseat. Or should I say 'Muraho," which means 'hello' in Kinyarwanda. Less than three months ago I hauled my two overweight suitcases and hoped that my oversized carry-on and way-too-big personal item would fly. Pun intended ;) I was moving all of my stuff back to my hometown, the DMV, but I was also headed to a very important orientation in Washington DC. This year, I was awarded a J. William Fulbright grant to teach English in Rwanda. It is no secret how I feel about Africa, education, youth development, language and cross-cultural exchange, so you must know already that I am still trying to grasp how big of a blessing and dream come true this is for me.  Because writing is more than a hobby, because I can’t wait to paint this picture through my words, and because I couldn’t imagine taking anyone else on this journey, I invite you to come along on this ride. This time, we are journeying through a small country nestled in East Africa with lush greenness overflowing. I can’t wait to pour out my experiences in Rwanda, onto my keyboard, and to deliver the goodness of this blessing unto your browsers where ever you are. I have made a pact with myself to journal more and blog at the same time. This is bigger than me now J Mama, I’m a Fulbrighter!

 

the best thing ever! vinaigrette filled avocado was simply the best thing ever. i dipped my fries in it, although the fries were not pictured! beef brochettes are yummy here. (roast beef, suya, kabob. you pick your name!)

peace

this is Rwanda.

a typical lunch. more to come on food! for now the basics: stewed meat, some type of greens, and green plantains.

standing somewhere in between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo :) pretty cool being in between two countries!

these women are walking across the border to buy and sell goods. My new home is a business/trading area!

I encourage you all to subscribe as a passenger on Bee’s Backseat. I don’t want you to miss out on this journey in the Land of 1,000 hills!