Sunday July 31,2022

 Yesterday was a special dayof adventures We started by teaching the older kids which ended up in a lively discussion on USA and racism. Many intersting questions from the kids and we asked some tough questions as well about a mostly male society.

Then Colleen and I and our extraordinary friend- driver Prospere went on a shopping adventure. We started at ' talking through art" a unique place started by Peter from Czech who visted Rwanda and saw many women who were disabled and having no means of income. He is an artist and created this art business, hiring mostly women who have a disability.    The pieces are beautiful and functional. He invited us for tea or coffee and on our way out let us into his failry tale like home, created by refurbishig a storage container! It is amazingand beautiful with touches of color, flowers and an amazing tub in his bathroom!  He wasa gentle soul with such a glow of pride in what he does.

It was also the last Saturday of the month or "Muganda" the day when EVERYONE does community work in the morning. Cleaning streets, picking up garbage and happily doing so,  The government found this a way to keep Rwanda clean and by community with community commitment. 

Then we went on to buy "tchotchkes"  I have Prospere, Colleen and Bashir using the word now!  Little pieces to buy  tchotchkes!

Then it was coffee! We went to a women run coffee store where all the coffee is grown by women. Prospere introduced me to " african" coffee: coffee, milk, ginger and honey.  actually liked it . The ginger was strange at first but then tasted good.  

From there it was sandle shop- Rwanda is aknown for manufacturing sandles. Colleen wanted to buy a pair,  I saw a little writing notebook I really liked but did not have enough money after the tchotchkes!  The woman behind the desk handed it to me abs said this is a gift for you! I saw you admiring it!  I was so awed by her kindness.

THEN once we were home Jardin (Geraldine-which I found outwas really her name lol) gave Colleen and I a gift!  we had no words to express how we felt. She takes care of US and does so much for us and works 7 days a week forus and for Mindleaps and has three kids at home. 

So enjoy the photos of this day

dancing early morning

RAIN!!! July 30

 First of all It is raining Very Rare for this time of year. We took a cab to MindLeaps because we were fearful of wet slippery cobblestones. Then we had an impromptu dance party! so fun.

I just found out that Rwanda is a mile high hence a bit of short breath especially on the uphills.

We went for another Shabbat at Chabad. Vedeste and Bashir came along and expereinced the service,  then a beautfiully prepared table with flowers, and all the wonderful delights . Bashir and Vedeste loved the Challah and the hummus!  The people there were all Ex pats including Victor who showed up after the service but in time to eat LOL.   There was a gentleman from Austria who lives in Rwanda now and a very interesting man who lives here with his Ugandan wife and his two kids. Alex works for  USA ID  International  development and does some awesome work here. I made sure he gave Bashir his information. You never know what cane come of networking. Turns out Alex is from Long Island! He lived in Oceanside and knew where I was in Rego Parkand Laurelton. He was also familar with Jersey. Small world indeed.

Yesterday the girls were so happy to recieve new leotards, compliments of Misty Copland.

I also took some photos of faces- Hope you see the beauty I see.

Yamulkahs!

rainy morning

impromptu dance party this morning

Shabbat Shalom- July 29,2022

 Shabbat Shalom. The kids in our last class- without prompting wished me a Shabbat Shalom!

Tonight, we will once again join the Chabad for Friday night Shabbat. Along with Bashir and Vedeste ( their first time and will taste Hummus for first time) We also found out the kids are planning something special for us for our last week. We finshed the presentations today which made Colleen and I SO proud! They were creative, humorous, fun and in ENGLISH!

I took some photos that I particularly like. 

Visit from Chabad

 Aaron and Itzak came for a tour today. They were immediately taken with the Jewish Helping Hands signs that are showing the sponsorship they have enjoyed with them.

They loved the kids, the dancing, and even got to see Colleen and my class performing their speaking scenerios- which were amazing!  I hope they can create a relationshipwith Chabad and collaborate on helping the the kids. 

We will be joining them once again for Shabbat and taking Bashir and Vedeste with us- both of whom are in for  a real treat not having ever tasted hummus or challah!

random photos