Tim’s six week check!

So, I just realised that today marks six weeks since we arrived in Rwanda. I was reflecting today on what has changed in our time here, and what has stayed the same.

Some of the things that have changed include:

We recognise about 200 words of Kinyarwanda (greetings, foods, body parts, people, jobs, numbers, and some basic verbs). We can even use some of them.

Hannah is now aged one and walking everywhere (and running when she likes, usually away from us, giggling.)

My belt is two holes tighter. Catherine and Will have also lost lots of weight. Hannah has gained a cute little pot belly.

Will is beginning to greet and interact with African children in the street, rather than hiding behind us. He also runs off ahead at every opportunity.

We know our way around Butare, where the restaurants and shops are, and have explored the main roads out of town on foot. I also have some idea of the suburbs and layout of Kigali from repeated trips there for visas.

I can play basketball for 5-10 minutes before being completely out of breath. On arrival, because of the altitude (1750m), we’d get out of breath walking.

We have visas legally allowing us to stay in Rwanda for the whole of 2011, and I am registered as a Rwandan medical practitioner.

I have new interns to train on the medical ward this week. The previous group had their exams last week, and have moved on to paediatrics, but I’m still supervising two of them for research projects (on H Pylori and ascites).

We have made friends with several African and expatriates families. William still misses his friends from Australia, but increasingly wants to spend time with his local friends too!

Some of the things that haven’t changed include:

We’re still living in a single room in the Anglican Guest House. It’s a lovely room, but with 4 of us in it for 6 weeks, we’ll be glad when our hospital house is ready.

We’re only just beginning to realise how differently Rwandan culture works from our own. (See Catherine’s recent post on Power/Fear cultures)

The kids still love Playschool. Will watches 2 episodes a day and would watch more if we let him.

God’s character. He’s just as faithful, loving and dependable as ever.

Our internet. It’s still unreliable and expensive. Hopefully the new Rwandatel server will be up and running soon.

Hannah’s character. She’s a born charmer, who generally has anyone she meets doting on her in seconds. Several Rwandan friends have suggested we leave her with them when we go home. She has a powerful indignant whine too, though!