complexity and simplicity

We are well into the second week of the VAST Course and once that's done we'll write an update with some photos.

In the meantime, I've been reflecting on complexity and simplicity. For some reason our North American lives feel like we are alway rushing - appointments, deadlines, incessant e-mails, meetings, struggling to find time to see a friend, the news (much of which is grim and only makes us feel worse) and endless screens. At some point, this just feels normal and you don't realize the toll it takes until you are in a completely different culture.

Comparing Canada and Rwanda, in many ways I feel less is more. Everyone, from colleagues to security guards, greets with a smile and a "good morning". Most encounters begin with a triple hug + handshake. Then there are questions about one's wellbeing. The feeling (and I could be imaging all this) is that people have all the time in the world for you. Displays of anger or hostility are virtually never seen. There is enormous warmth from strangers. Okay, it's true the cars will run you over.

And the children...in the villages we have seen hundreds of children playing with simple toys, maybe a used tire and stick, a homemade ball or just running around doing handstands. Dylan, our friend from Ottawa, is in Rwanda for a year with his family. They are no longer juggling the multiple daily lessons for the kids. Instead, they spend time together as a family. His kids get 30 cents allowance each week and are much happier than they were with all their stuff in Canada.

I'm not sure how our Canadian lives became so complicated but stepping out of it for a while certainly highlights the emotional price we pay. Our team is working hard and putting in long teaching days but we still have time to share and laugh. As Paulin likes to say, we need more Africanadianization (a mixing of our worlds).

Lots of love from Kigali on a beautiful morning. Off to work on VAST