Frustrations and farewells

Now we come to Sunday April 2nd.

I had an unplanned visit to Muzanse this weekend:  the electricity cut out on Tuesday morning, 50 hours later when it appeared that nothing was being done, I had a hissy fit and declared that I was going to Muzanse after class on Friday afternoon.  The sisters were rather taken aback....but what if the electric comes back....  well it comes back, I have made arrangements and I shall go.   All my techie stuff had flat batteries and I needed them for class!  On Thursday morning I did go to the village to charge at least my computer, but we'd no sooner got there than the electricity cut out there also.  I have to confess that the final straw was when I found one of the sisters had gone to the bank, which has a generator, to charge their phones and didn't think to tell me or offer to take mine.  Relationships were frosty that night.  Anyway the electricity reconnected at about 8pm, however it was more off than on during the night and on Friday, so I was very pleased I'd held firm about going away for the night.

Tuesday night the volcano was amazing, the top was completely covered by what looked like a red mantle, it was a clear night and the stars were so bright you could almost touch them.   But for about half an hour the sky was lit by what appeared to be lightning, but it might have come from the volcano, it was like a volcanic Aurora

Another pleasant visit at the Gorillas, then yesterday, which was a beautiful day Eric drove us to Lake Ruhondo, there are twin Lakes, Burera is on the top of the hill, the water falls to the lower lake making HEP.  It's very pretty, lots of storks around which made me nostalgic thinking of Latimer and Lacey who live opposite the Bombeiros in Messines.  We took a boat across to a resort on an island, of course I couldn't get out of the boat, Eric insisted on lifting me which was both foolish and brave!  So a pleasant couple of hours just chilling and talking. 

Then I decided it would be nice to have lunch at the 5 Volcanoes again as I may not return this way anytime soon.  A delicious char grilled fillet steak, absolutely perfect with a glass of red.

Then back to the community and  the first of the farewells!  I hate leaving and saying goodbye, especially when I don't know if we shall meet again. And today ,  Sunday, I'm packing in a logical manner as far as possible.  I return to Kigali on Tuesday to a community house where I've not been before,.  Wednesday Marilyn and I shall go shopping, then Thursday early go to Akagera, return Sat and I shall go straight to Marcie's house so I can go to the 8.30 English service on Palm Sunday at the cathedral.

I´m leading a Seder for Christians on Maundy Thursday evening so will be busy sourcing and cooking the items needed.  Thankfully I have the order of service prepared and Apollo is  printing the booklets.

Apparently the postulants want us to have a farewell do this evening, so it will be alcohol, singing and dancing.  I taught them Jubilate everybody this week which they enjoy,  But you should see them enthusiastically sing and dance to If I was a butterfly.  I was a little concerned about the fuzzy wuzzy bear with fuzzy wuzzy hair, but they haven't taken offence.

We had a splendid party, the students had written special speeches in English, and songs such as 'Byee byee teacher'  and of course we had to dance and they gave me a very nice outfit made of local fabric.

The youngsters then performed a sketch based on my teaching, it was very funny and  Clarisse who played my part had me down to a T.

It's now Tuesday 4th.  Yesterday was easy, I showed both classes the film of Paddington, I had prepared them as much as possible without spoiling the story. Everyone enjoyed it, and Sr Godlive who doesn't usually come to English lessons joined us.

So frustrations with the electricity, which is off again today, also frustrations because the vehicle to take me to Kigali hasn't arrived yet,  They were going to leave Masaka at 7.30 but were still there at 9!   And farewells when I do leave this afternoon, tears all round I expect....along with the farewell song and drumming.