SWIMMING WITH SNAKES
There are snakes in the rivers in Rwanda, and children swimming often see them and scarper. The youngsters at the house where we are staying have never seen a swimming pool. Usually they go into the forest and swim in the rivers, where, they are aware, are microbes and sulphur from the volcanic springs, as well as people washing their clothes upstream.
The other day the hot sun decided to show its face, and it seems that the rainy season (we hope) has ended. We decided to go for a swim at the Cathedral guest house and hotel swimming pool
Most religious organisations here have their own guest accommodation that is clean and welcoming. The new Ishema Hotel, located next to St John’s Cathedral in Musanze (Ruhengeri) where we are staying is a nicely designed and supposed to be very nice. But as the church borrowed money from the bank to build it, and as interest rates are continuously climbing, they have appealed to the congregation for help. But in such a poor society it may take some time to pay off the debt.
However, we decided to use the pool as it is the only one in the town. I was due to give a career’s seminar at Sonrise School in the afternoon. I had taught there for a month in 2007 and was looking forward to a return visit.
We took the eldest boy of our host family, Bright, 22, and the youngest girl, Faith, 16. They took their sports kit to swim in, that we had brought out for them and others – donated by customers at my hairdresser’s. In Rwanda they are football mad and are forever glued to the tv to watch any match that is on. A case-load of football kit has been divided between the six kids of our host family, and vulnerable young people and orphans in the hilltop district of Shyira. All the youngsters were delighted with the kit and all posed proudly for photographs. As the missionary in charge of those who need support in Shyira said: “It is good quality kit.” Which means, hopefully, that after much hand washing and scrubbing it will last and last.
At the pool Mike and I changed in the smelly toilets and the kids did likewise. When Mike emerged in just his swimming shorts, Bright took off his top, and tentatively entered the water by the steps. He cannot swim. His sister, in a top and shorts, also went into the water and tried to swim. We tried to teach her how to do it better and she soon improved. Bright on the other hand had no idea and needs much practise and better instruction that we could give
It was soon time to leave for me to do my careers seminar at Sonrise School, and after a quick Coke and a cake in the cafe, we went for the bus, leaving the youngsters to splash and have fun.
They arrived home later, excited to tell their mother they had been to a swimming pool, something that we in the west just take for granted. At least they did not have to worry about the snakes.
I WAS AWAKE FOR MY OPERATION!
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