God Grew Tired Of Us Visit

I got to spend 3 days in Syracuse with John, Panther, and Daniel. I got to go to their work places on Friday. It was really interesting, seeing what they do every day, stuff you don't hear about that much. On Saturday, I went with Daniel to a fund raiser for his new organization. I learned a lot about the people in Sudan, and about all the split families. Daniel told me that it is horrible, not knowing where your family is and being tired and hungry all the time. It makes you kind of think how lucky we are to live in a first world country and having a lot of privileges. I persuaded my family to go to his website and make a donation. On sunday, they showed me around Syracuse with the other lost boys. It was really cool to see them in person and ask them questions. I spent the whole first day asking them questions like "What is it like working in America" or "What traditions do you still have from Sudan". They said that it was really hard to adapt to the jobs here for a long time, but after a while they got used to it. They also said it was kind of hard to keep all your traditions from somewhere, but they kept the big ones. When I asked them what it was like running from Sudan, they were a bit reluctant to answer, but they said it was horrible, and didn't go into detail. Overall, I think they have taught me to be grateful for all the opportunities we are given and make the most of them. I am very happy I went.

Donations

I think a good place do donate to is Hope: Rwanda because they reduce poverty in Rwanda. Website: http://www.hoperwanda.org/hope/pages/default.asp?pid=1

Rwanda Day 7.

Today we visited the genocide memorial for all the people that were killed in 1994. It was really sad, they just kept all the bodies there at that place. It just makes you think about your own life and the thousands of people who gave up theirs. It was a really sad day. Today we pack and go back home. I have really loved it here, and i hope to return some day. Hannah

Rwanda Day 6.

Today we went to the Parc National Des Volcans. We walked through the jungle looking for mountain gorillas. It was raining and I could feel the wetness in the air and on my skin. Leaves were also brushing us, and we felt their slick coolness every time one brushed us. It was a really nice walk; we did see a couple of gorillas. It was a lovely day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gorilla_mother_and_baby_at_Volcans_National_Park.jpg http://www.linternaute.com/nature-animaux/geologie/photo/les-forets-du-monde/image/parc-national-volcans-rwanda-297161.jpg

Rwanda Day 5.

Today we went to the Bishop John's Orphanage. We remembered this place from the time my school , SBMS, went there in 2008. We got there at break time, and the playground was very loud. everyone was playing and talking, and having a good time. We got invited into a game of jump rope and generally embarrassed ourselves with our inability to do double dutch and so forth. We also saw them in their lessons, and they were the exact opposite of what they were in the playground. We could hear the pencils scrape against paper, and the teacher quietly correcting one student or another. I thought that if students in America were this good, teachers could get a lot more done. link to photo gallery

Rwanda Day 4.

Today we went to go see Lake Kivu. It was a beautiful view from where we had lunch and we had to go on a boat ride across it. In the middle of the lake, it was very peaceful. All we could hear was the lapping of the waves and the song of a bird that flew overhead from the shore, we heard little groups of fishermen pulling in their nets for the days catch and laughing. It was a really nice day.

Rwanda day 3.

Today we went to the countryside around Kigali. On the road we met this one little girls and her friend who had to walk for 30 minutes to get to school. We offered to give them a ride, and they got to school much quicker. Later that day we saw her again, and she invited us to her house. We got to meet her family and her pets, and we learned a lot about these people. Her father works in the fields near the town to grow food enough for them to sell. They had some money, but they were still poor. That really touched us that they were poor yet they invite strangers into their house for dinner. We liked them a lot. http://www.northwestsolargroup.org/bradrwanda/House_in_Rwanda.JPG

Rwanda day 2.

Today we went to Kigali. We'll be here for two days. today we went around the center of the city looking at all the interesting stuff in the middle of town. Then went looking for traditional Rwandan food. I had a beef stew that was really really good. The restaurant smelled like spices and cooking meat, it made me hungry. Afterward we stopped at an ice cream place and I had a really good lemon sorbet. http://www.thetakeaway.org/media/photologue/photos/cache/kigali-rwanda-overall-shot_large_image.jpg http://www.rwandainitiative.ca/blog/wp-content//pic21.jpg

Rwanda Day 1.

Today we went to the Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda. On the drive to the lodge, we saw elephants, giraffes, lions, and even a hyena! The lodge was lovely too, and the bed was really comfortable. I really loved the evening safari through the bush, and we saw the sunset and the stars. It's so nice to come to a place like this where you can trueley get to appreciate the nature that still thrives here. Here are some pictures from the 2008 trip to Rwanda with Santa Barbara Middle School: Photo Gallery