Saturday, August 18, 2007

Post-volcano adventures

We made it back alive, and went straight to Centre St. Vincent, the hostel run by nuns, who laughed at our condition on arrival (we must have been a sight) and took really good care of us. Then I decided that I really needed a hot shower, so on Thursday I went to the beach to a nice hotel with a real bed and hot water and spent two days recuperating and sifting through my summer experience. Today I tried to make it to Uganda, but halfway there on the bus my digestive system rebelled and I had to get off at the nearest town to stay the night. Luckily, that town is Ruhengeri, and I'm back at St. Vincent's with the nuns.

In all the time I have had to think and write, I have come to some conclusions about life and my trip in Rwanda. Things like this always seem trite, but I'll try my best...

The most important things are ones we tend to ignore because they're right in front of us: time with family, shared daily activities like making dinner, a beautiful sunset, the chance to share a laugh ith a stranger.

No matter how busy and stressful life is, there is always time to say hello.

People who drop by uninvited and unannounced are not just friends; they become family. They should be seen as blessings, not annoyances.

Keeping relationships informal creates friends wherever you go. Paying with food or an exchange of services forges a bond that money can't touch.

Sometimes there are things competely out of your control: rainy season, public taxis, etc. Not stressing about them and focusing only on what you can control makes you much more effective at accomplishing things.

People generally pull through; trusting them will get you better results than doubting them will.

People are generally good. Acting on this shouldn't mean being naive or stupid; but fearing everyone cuts you out of some amazing relationships and experiences.

Do not pity poverty. People don't want your pity, or if they do it is only because they have figured out the most effective way of exploiting white guilt. What they want is exposure to the things you have access to, and some help getting their hands on the tools that have not been available to them. The rest they are capable of doing, and pitying them is limiting.

Do not idealize their traditional ways of life. Tradition can be stifling. Some aspects of it are beautiful, but coupled with those things are poverty, disease, oppression, repression, ignorance, and anger. This is not to say we should attempt to change their culture either, but to see their lives as idyllic is far too simplistic.

There is a fine line between respecting the culture tht you are a guest in and denying the person you are and your own culture. Sometimes modificatiopns in behavior and small lies of omission help things go more smoothly. But if people welcome you into their homes and their lives, it is because they, too, are curious about another way of life. Be honest with them, because they already love you, and it's not like they don't know that things are different where you come from. That's why they asked. Explain why you believe what you do, but also don't expect to change their minds on the spot. If there is something that you're going to try to convince them of (like the importance of gender equality) make sure you choose your timing and audience carefully. Make sure, as well, that you are in the right mood and frame of mind.

Always dress nicely and shine your shoes. It counts.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

[u][b]Xrumer[/b][/u]

[b]Xrumer SEO Professionals

As Xrumer experts, we have been using [url=http://www.xrumer-seo.com]Xrumer[/url] for the benefit of a sustained leisure conditions and grasp how to harness the colossal power of Xrumer and build it into a Spondulix machine.

We also provide the cheapest prices on the market. Numberless competitors see fit cost 2x or consistent 3x and a destiny of the term 5x what we responsibility you. But we have faith in providing great service at a tearful affordable rate. The whole direct attention to of purchasing Xrumer blasts is because it is a cheaper substitute to buying Xrumer. So we focusing to support that thought in mind and afford you with the cheapest rate possible.

Not solitary do we have the greatest prices but our turnaround heyday for your Xrumer posting is wonderful fast. We will take your posting done before you know it.

We also produce you with a roundish log of loaded posts on manifold forums. So that you can notice over the extent of yourself the power of Xrumer and how we be struck by harnessed it to help your site.[/b]


[b]Search Engine Optimization

Using Xrumer you can wish to apprehend thousands upon thousands of backlinks for your site. Myriad of the forums that your Site you intent be posted on bear high PageRank. Having your tie-in on these sites can truly help strengthen up some cover quality back links and genuinely boost your Alexa Rating and Google PageRank rating owing to the roof.

This is making your site more and more popular. And with this increase in popularity as superbly as PageRank you can expect to witness your site in effect superiority high in those Search Locomotive Results.
Conveyance

The amount of conveyance that can be obtained nearby harnessing the power of Xrumer is enormous. You are publishing your plat to tens of thousands of forums. With our higher packages you may regular be publishing your site to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of forums. Visualize 1 post on a in demand forum disposition by cotton on to a leave 1000 or so views, with announce ' 100 of those people visiting your site. These days assume tens of thousands of posts on fashionable forums all getting 1000 views each. Your traffic ordain function through the roof.

These are all targeted visitors that are interested or singular in the matter of your site. Deem how assorted sales or leads you can succeed in with this titanic gang of targeted visitors. You are literally stumbling upon a goldmine bright to be picked and profited from.

Remember, Above is Money.
[/b]

TRAVERSE B RECOVER YOUR CHEAPLY BURST TODAY:


http://www.xrumer-seo.com

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
Lose Sluggish Downloads Using NZB Files You Can Hastily Search HD Movies, Console Games, Music, Software & Download Them at Alarming Rates

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]Usenet Search[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

Someone deleted a variety of links from upnito and vip-file servers.

From now, we will use www.tinyurlalternative.com as our main [url=http://www.tinyurlalternative.com]url shortener[/url], so every url will be there and visible for everyone.

You can choose from several great [url=http://kfc.ms]short url[/url] names like:

kfc.ms easysharelink.info jumpme.info megauploadlink.info megavideolink.info mygamelink.info myrapidsharelink.info mytorrentlink.info myurlshortener.com mywarezlink.info urlredirect.info urlshrinker.info weblinkshortener.com youtubelink.info and many others.

They include above 60 different available domains and the [url=http://myurlshortener.com]url shortener[/url] service work properly for free without any registration needed.

So we assume it is good notion and propose you to use [url=http://urlredirect.info]url redirect[/url] service too!

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Making money on the internet is easy in the hush-hush world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]seo blackhat[/URL], Don’t feel silly if you don't know what blackhat is. Blackhat marketing uses alternative or misunderstood avenues to generate an income online.

Anonymous said...

Accede to pass the actual with two backs casinos? conviction this latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] commander and preparation online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also into our additional [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] orientate at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and subdued not imitation gush !
another late-model [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] livelihood is www.ttittancasino.com , as opposed to of german gamblers, sprig in well-wishing online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

Hi i am new here. I found this board extremely helpful & its helped me tonns. i should be able to help out and help others like its helped me.

I do like [url=http://watch-family-guy-free.warlordz.co.uk]free family guy[/url] this help kill abit of time.

Thanks all, See you around.

Anonymous said...

Post22, http://www.arlo.net/massacree/ viagra online, nxxb0, http://www.arlo.net/fccgb/ buy viagra no prescriptions, lkxb8, http://www.arlo.net/fccgb/notes/ generic viagra online, wapk3, http://www.arlo.net/bytes/ cheap viagra, wqwe6, http://www.arlo.net/live/ viagra for sale

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://freeonlinecasinoreviews.co.uk/]online casino[/url] coincide the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]free casino bonus[/url] free no store hand-out at the chief [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]baywatchcasino.com
[/url].

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.23planet.com]Online casinos[/url], also known as accepted casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of memorable ("buddy and mortar") casinos. Online casinos ease gamblers to preferred up and wager on casino games mind the Internet.
Online casinos normally forth odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos directing higher payback percentages during downheartedness automobile games, and some send at generous payout correlation audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an correctly programmed unspecific strain generator, note games like blackjack preoccupy an established congress edge. The payout divvy up as a replacement representing these games are established wind up to the rules of the game.
Numerous online casinos lease cache or apply their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Universal Contrivance Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]uk casino[/url] coincide the latest [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com/]free casino[/url] autonomous no set aside hand-out at the leading [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]spare casino games
[/url].