This post features student writing.
As our day began we loaded up onto the bus, headed to the CECHE Foundation. As we arrived we were greeted by Roger, our translator, and JMV, a co-founder of the CECHE. We spent the morning learning the steps of building chairs for children with disabilities. They are constructed from recycled cardboard and homemade potato starch glue, with a likeness to papier-mâché. Around midday, a woman and her daughter came in to get measured for a chair. The girl was unable to sit and stand on her own and the chair will give her the support to sit independently. After her measurements were taken we left the CECHE and returned to the guesthouse for lunch.
After lunch the group split up and went exploring in the market: some looked for textiles and others picked up their dresses ordered the day before. I went to the market with Jasper, Nelson, and Lilly. Jasper bought a set of colorful textiles right when we arrived in the market. As we moved along in the market Lilly saw a pair of red fluffy slides that she loved and she purchased them from a man for 2000 Rwandan Francs (~2 USD). In the center of the market there are many stalls that sell shoes and clothing and goods. Nelson found a pair of red slides with the same branding as Lilly’s so he wanted to buy them. I tried to help Nelson haggle the shop owner to lower the price and in the end he spent 5000 on his slides.
As our time began running low, our focus shifted to finding a fan for our room. We looked and looked but were unable to find one anywhere. As Jasper was buying the watch I went and found an imitation Gucci backpack with the word “Guiggy,” which I thought was very funny.
As we were leaving the market we saw Roger, the translator from the CECHE. We walked over to greet him and met his cousin and aunt who were heading into the market. We asked where we could get a drink and he led us into a restaurant area so that we could get something refreshing to drink. Jasper and I ordered Fanta Citrons, which are lime-flavored Fanta, and Nelson and Lilly didn’t order anything. We drank our Fantas and talked about life and our future aspirations. When we finished our drinks I stuck out my hand and knocked over the soda and it spilled all over the floor and onto Roger’s legs. I felt very bad, and apologized profusely, which Roger laughed off. We then headed back to the guesthouse for a spirited discussion about genocide terminology and an early bedtime.
— Alex K.
