Cat behaviour

Our cats like minced meat, but every now and than they get sardines. Today was a sardine day, so we had some complaints this morning. Reason for the cats to look for alternatives

In the afternoon Neville came in with a bird in his mouth. I managed to get him out the house, thanking him to show me this great catch. Musti was very interested, but kept her distance, to make clear it was his kill, Neville made some growling noises and had a killing look. Nobody in his right mind would come near.
Even though the bird was rather dead already, Neville kept playing and sitting next to it for at least an hour. After that he did start eating it. During all this Musti was watching from a distance clearly determined by cat law. On one of his throws Neville accidentally came close to Musti and gave her an evil growl, musti kept her cool.


Mine!


Official distance 3,14 meters (Pi)


Little pause


Pass me the salt please

How to get a job

Over the last two days I have been reading application letters for a job opening. I think I will look for a job in HR; it's a laugh.

Here are some things I came across from the just 46 applicants:

- ...Bloodgroup O+
- Karate certificate
- Kindergarten certificate
- readership experience (rwandans have problems with r's and l's)
- Worship and singing God's songs
- I am computerized in Word...
- An applicant referred to the wrong job
- An applicant referred to a newspaper which didn't run the advert
- male: president of WOMEN student association
- skills: internet, several times (in all fairness, it is hard here to get a proper connection)
- training of fire extinguisher
- "I swear that if employed I will work competitively to fulfill my
responsibility."
The best:
- To work hard for my country, country's well-being, for its economic
growth, for people's well-being, and for rural sector development: my
hard work has great impact to the whole world

The thing that seems to be lacking is motivation. There were even letters with the heading 'motivation letter' just saying they want the job and love to come for an interview. There might be about three that mention some motivation or show that they have an idea what the job is about. There was a couple who just couldn't be bothered to write a cover letter. I have no prove but judging by layout and word choice most letters are copied from internet or given as example by the university.

If you think I am making it up, think again, I never could make this up!

Now seriously: it is actually quite sad a whole nation is not capable of writing a letter.

Gorillas

So, because Thursday and Friday were days off we went to see the gorillas.

We left Thursday afternoon to find a hotel in Musanze. Checked out four hotels and opted for the last, newly opened, appropriately named Gorillas. We know them from branches in Kigali and Gisenyi. We do wonder how a new building can have fungus on a wall. We drove to the office where we had to be at 7 AM, we need to time it right in order to stay longer in bed.

We slept fine even though we noticed the rain which started in the night. The 5.15 alarm was not pleasant. After our toast and bad coffee we went off in the rain. Waited some more at the office, luckily they had reasonable coffee. Notice the importance of coffee at that hour. We were lucky to be assigned a reasonably closeby group together with an english lady we know, with two friends of hers, and a couple from Mexico who had seen the gorillas in Uganda the day before.
The drive to the edge of the park was worse than any off roading we did so far. We abandoned the vehicles at the side of the road, walking was quicker and safer. One guy was left to guard the cars. The walk was a mixture of uphill through fields and jumping over small rivers. As later became clear these rivers were actually the path we meant to be taking.

At the stone fence of the park the guide explained that the trackers actually did not find the gorillas yet. So we waited. The rain stopped, but it was still cold and wet. After about an hour the guide said that the gorillas could not be found. We had the choice of going back and rebooking or going to another group, driving a bit and walking for another hour and a half, and back.
We opted for another day. On our descent we got a call over the walky-talky, they found them. So we turn back. Indeed, the walk was not too long, but with this rain everything was muddy and slippery.

We had an hour with the group. Most of them were in the trees and therefore invisible. The members of the family in the open were: Daddy and two kids and mammy and a small one.
Mammy was grooming her baby all the time and giving it hugs. Daddy just was, one of his kids was grooming him. The other one was the star of the day. At first he just sat and ate something, but later he started to roll in the plants and even trying to impress us by beating his chest. We wanted to take him home. So cute.

On the way back it started to rain again. This time the gods wanted to prove the earlier rains was nothing, it rained hard; big, cold rain. So the walk back was no fun. We were soaked. We just jumped in the car for safety. Just one problem. We had to go back on the same road.
We made it to the tarmac, even though it cost Hazel a few years of her life. The noise the car made continued on the tarmac, it turned out we have hit some stones a bit too hard and the protecting plate at the bottom of the car was dangling loose. We drove with lot of noise the last bit on tarmac to the office, luckily the plate came loose of its one as we did not have any proper tools and the metal was folded over the screw to undo it.

We swam into the hotel where we planned our lunch (is 15.00 still lunch?). Used the toilets to put other clothes on, this made a world of a difference. After lunch, where they seem to think beef is the same as fish, we were nearly human. Two hours drive home, pie for dinner and in bed by 20.00, we were exhausted.

Looking back it was an adventure.




The little performer


Proof


Big daddy silverback


Caring mother

Long live links

As they say in the Netherlands: Better well stolen than badly made up.

So therefore read this blog: http://postcardjunky.wordpress.com/

In short: two newspapers that went too far, a president candidate that went too far.
But, was it the right reaction from government?

Some hated debates in our meeting room with NGO's and human right organisations. But we can not do anything. It is all within the law. We respect the Rwandan law. However we will keep a close eye on how they procede. Do they follow international law. Will there be a fair trial etc.

Meanwhile life goes on. Dinner at colleague tonight and the annual Dutch tennis tournement and BBQ tomorrow. Good weekend.

Table football

Sorry, over a week late. But now I have overcome my loss I can write about it.

We, three of us, organised a table football tournament. The embassy has a football table and we were able to lend a 'practice field' from our german friend Gerd.

To be honest my collegue Paul had the idea and did most of the work, as well as putting up with all the guests at his humble crib. Paul and I got the drinks and collected the table at Gerds house. Florida, our trustworthy coffee lady did the cooking and had the help of Clarisse and a couple more 'domistics' (houseladies).

We knew a few good players, namely the organisers, so made sure that they would not meet in the first round, but probably in the finals or semi finals. We made the list of Dutch and partners and randomly assigned Rwandese partners. This worked out well. At a push we had 16 teams, easy for quarter- half- and finals.

I played with my collegue Deo, he was reasonable, but often failed to score. Fortunately I could often score from the defense position. We made it to the quarter finals. Unfortunately just not strong enough to win from the eventual winners. Deo bought a couple of shirts so we really were a team. Paul had two shirts from the last big tournament (EC?) so they also were a team, see photo. It helped, the opponents were scared by the lions and Paul won.

The finalists

We didn't have a cup. But the experiment was a success, now we can see if the embassy can sponsor it next time.

Paul: take care, revenge will be sweet!!!

Rwanda in the media

I enjoyed this article

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/mar/28/rwanda-laptop-revolution

and am now a regular visitor to these blogs
http://postcardjunky.wordpress.com/

http://kigaliwire.com

South Africa break

We went for a 10 day break to the Cape area.
First a few days shopping in Cape town. I found a Cameroon T shirt at Woolworths. It took us an hour to debate and ask the friendly assistants which one was Cameroon. England, Italy, Spain etc.. they all had the country's name on it, but there was one without. Was it Ghana? Red, green and yellow doesn't really narrow it down in Africa. My web research today confirmed it was Cameroon, yeah.

We drove via Hermanus to Swellendam, a cute, small town with not much but a church and the Drostdy hof winery.

The road continued to Oudtshoorn. The main attraction not the town but the surroundings. We drove the road over the Swartberg maintains, including Swartberg pass. Stunning sights from the dust road crawling up the mountain. The photos really don't do it justice.

The area is famous for its ostrich farms. Lots of them, they look like yummy birds.

We love Afrikaans by the way. Like Dutch spoken by one of my young nices. 'Druk knoppie' 'Gaan voort' the best is the word for traffic light 'ROBOT'.

After two lovely meals at the restaurant (one for me as I was not feeling well) recommended by Bill and Maria we left for Franschhoek, one of our goals of the trip.

A quick check of my email learned that I still didn't know my next posting. It was 17 March and the email read: '... will start sending emails 18 March ...'. I am not brought up with swearing...

18 March a bit of shopping, driving around, some more shopping. Sat down to check internet. Several minutes in of trying hopelessly to get a connection the secretary calls from Rwanda: emails have been sent. Some more words my parents haven't thought me. Luckily Jojan offers to check the mail for me at the embassy. Two minutes later we know: Ouagadougou. So we open some bubbly wine not sure if it is to celebrate or drown the fact it is not Lusaka. In our heads we knew already though.

Me on our new gadget a mini laptop, or whatever the popular name is.


They evening sees us going to the restaurant of the Dutch chef. Nice food, the only problem is that I don't know if it is art or food, and how to start eating it.

The last few days in Capetown. It still is a lovely city. Not too big, lots of shopping possibilities and nice food.

We staid in the Bo kaap area. Brightly coloured houses, lively street life and Cap malay food.

This is food, not art, if you know what I mean. Brilliantly balanced spicing.

Table mountain from the waterfront.


Capetown from up the mountain.



And people wonder why I don't like cable cars.



The last night we were lucky enough to see the Longstreet carnival. People from all ages parading, including some rolling racks of washing, not joking.

So overall, if you don't count the delay on the return flight that made us arrive at 2 am, a very relaxing, food, sun and wine rich holiday. BRILLIANT!

Wa-ga-du-gu

Yes, we finally received THE email:

M E M O R A N D U M

Van: HDPO

Aan: L.P. Zomer

Datum: 18 maart 2010

Email: lon.zomer@minbuza.nl

Zoals eerder aangekondigd worden deelnemers aan de overplaatsingsronde 2010 per e‑mail ingelicht over hun voorgenomen plaatsing.

Uw voorgenomen plaatsing is:
----------------------------------------

Functie: 107063.Senior Beheermedewerker OS.OUAGADOUGOU
Functieniveau: 10

Plaatsingsduur: 48 maanden

Short translation:
You will be doing the same job but for the next 4 years in Burkina Faso.
For those who don't know it; Google it.

We are pleased, but were still a bit hoping on the number one from my list, Lusaka. Number two is not a bad score.
We are planning to spend must of July and August in Europe and start end August/ beginning September in Ouagadougou, the (hot) capital with the coolest name.

We'll keep you informed on this blog.