Update from Ndama

I think of Rwanda and our time there almost every day.  It is amazing that such a short visit has etched feelings and memories so deeply in my mind.  I never want to forget this, and I have lots of little reminders in my life - some Rwandan francs in my wallet, a piece of sandstone from the school site on my desk, a basket hanging up at home.  When I remember Rwanda my thoughts always begin and end with the children of Ndama, where the Hobsons-sponsored school is being constructed.

It was thrilling today to receive an email containing photographs of the nearly-complete school!  We visited quite a few schools in Rwanda and this one is definitely the most beautiful.

The front corner of the school

A built-in cabinet inside the school.  I am guessing that the rough part of the wall is where the chalkboard will be fastened.

The back of the school building...

Another view of the front.  The school building consists of three classrooms and an office for the staff at the far right.

Construction supplies on site.

I caught my breath when I saw this photo.  There in the wall of the school is the block that I made when we visited the school site.  I absolutely love this picture.

Reading about Rwanda

It's been just about 2 months since the last post and a little over 2 months since our trip. In the past week, I've been asked by 3 people for my reading list so I thought I'd post it finally; I meant to do this when we got back but didn't (because I'm lazy when it comes to blogs).

This is not in any way exhaustive or complete - I read books recommended to me or that I found through the recommended reading sections. I've also included some films. There are a lot of books and films out there and I don't think I'll ever make it through all of them no matter how hard I try.

Books:

• Land of a Thousand Hills - Rosamond Halsey Carr (my favorite pre-trip book)
• We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families - Philip Gourevitch
• Africa, Altered States, Ordinary Miracles - Richard Dowden (Not specifically about Rwanda but an interesting read about Africa. I have to admit I have a bit of a crush on Mr. Dowden.)
• Shake Hands with the Devil - Romeo Dallaire
  
• Life Laid Bare - Jean Hatzfeld, translated by Linda Coverdale

Currently reading or will read soon:

• An Ordinary Man - Paul Rusesabagnia with Tom Zoellner (Paul's story is the inspiration for the film Hotel Rwanda) - currently reading
  
• God Sleeps In Rwanda - Joseph Sebarenzi with Laura Ann Mullane - next in my "To Read" pile
  
• A Thousand Hills - Stephen Kinzer (a biography of Paul Kagame)
• Machete Season - The Killers in Rwanda Speak - Jean Hatzfeld
• The Dark Romance of Dian Fossey - Harold T.P. Hayes
• The Bone Woman - Clea Koff (forensic scientist who investigated Rwanda and the Balkans)
  

I've also been on the lookout for fiction from Rwandan authors and language resources for learning Kinyarwandan.

Films:

• Hotel Rwanda
• Gorillas in the Mist
  
• Shake Hands with the Devil (documentary version) - this version is based on Gen. Romeo Dallaire's return to Rwanda
  
• Shake Hands with the Devil (film version) - dramatization of Dallaire's book
• Shooting Dogs (called Beyond the Gates in the US) - this was recommended to me by another member of the group, Vee. I think all of us watched it at some point before or after the trip.
  

All of the above are available on Netflix (that's how I watched them). I'm still trying to find a copy of God Sleeps in Rwanda (a documentary about women and the genocide) that's not on iTunes (I hate watching movies on my computer!) and 100 Days. There is also a documentary about Rosamond Carr but I haven't been able to find it either.

Many of the above films were filmed on location in Rwanda specifically at the locations where the events took place. For films made after 1994, I have to wonder what that filming experience was like.

There's also a booming film industry in Rwanda, recently hosting the 7th annual Rwanda Film Festival (or Hillywood Film Festival-Rwanda is the Land of a Thousand Hills). Here's a link to an article about the festival. One film, Kinyarwanda, was an official selection at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and should be released sometime in November 2011.

Please post additions to these lists in the comments section (if you have them).