gatumba

These are pictures from the weekendThis is a place called Gatumba near the DRC border where we ate some chicken. It is literally a bunch of huts in a field. Its a little bizarre but kind of like a picnic.

We were on our way to Gatumba and this guy thought it would be funny to take a picture of us, so I took a picture of him too.

work/life update:

This week I have accepted the fact that I have absolutely no control of what happens at work. I should have accepted this a long time ago, but I guess now is as good a time as any. I’m not going to abandon the situation, I’m going to be present and offer any assistance that is asked of me, but what I am going to do/have done is mentally let go. I can’t feel down about the situation or feel responsible in any way because I have absolutely no control of what is happening (or lack of things happening). I discussed some things with a co-worker last week, and that conversation confirmed that there are some issues in our office. My problem is that I can’t tell the difference between what is cultural and what is personality. So, I looked at the patterns of the last 5 months and factored in the cultural/personality issues that I can’t understand (and have no right messing with) and realized my choices are: letting go or going crazy. I chose the former.

I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m giving up or avoiding the situation because I’m not. I’m here, ready to work and get things done when they need me, but in the meantime I’m going to try to network and work on some of my own projects. For example: I had a meeting with a friend this week and he wants me to help his group work on some songs. They are at another studio but it fits into my schedule and he will probably end up doing some of his own songs at our studio because I’m helping him out. Also, today the guys that have been giving me some music lessons are coming into the studio for a free recording session. If they like it hopefully they will return for some more recordings.

upcountry again

I met some new friends last week. They are from Seattle (we have mutual friends) and they are now teaching at one of the universities here in Bujumbura.

We took a little weekend trip up country and stayed on an old missionary compound. We spent the weekend sharing good food and conversation, and playing some games.

On the compound there was a hospital and a place where they packaged some sort of grain/corn/flower type mixture. This man is doing the roasting.

I mentioned in the last post that I acquired some musical instruments. Here are pictures of two of them.

This is the Umuduri

This is an ikembe

I had a lesson with the ikembe on Monday, and hopefully this afternoon (wed) I will be having an umuduri lesson.

The work situation is still stationary. I'm not really sure what to do about it, but I am learning a lot of patience.

5 day weekend

This last weekend was an extended weekend. There was a holiday on friday so we took advantage of the long weekend and headed up country for some relaxation. We went to a place called Burasira and stayed with Jody(another MCC worker). Burasira is the place we went the first week we arrived in Burundi, so it was nice to visit again and reflect a little about how far we have come in this short/long time. We did a lot of sitting around talking, reading books, and drinking tea, it was awesome! Another great thing about Burasira is that it is much cooler than Bujumbura. This trip was good for both the mind and the body.

Also, there was a surprise holiday on Monday so that people could have time to register to vote. So we ended up with an extra day to recover from our relaxing trip. :)

Im unhappy to report that the work situation has not improved since the meeting we had two weeks ago. It's really disappointing because I just want to be productive. The studio has so much potential and I have so much potential, but we are just hanging out.

On a positive note, since there is nothing to do at the studio I have had the freedom to search for some Burundian instruments. I have been asking and looking for some since I arrived here, but I found nothing but the souvenir type that you would hang on your wall... but now I have some in my possession! (I know, long story short, but I will elaborate in the next post and add some pictures).

pineapples

I had good intentions to post this on Monday, but it seems that things always come up.

Monday I forgot the pictures, then on Tuesday we had a “surprise” “party”

It was a surprise to me because I was told about it the day before as I was getting dropped off in town; I had just closed the car door and was about to cross the street when I was summoned back and told there was a party on Tuesday.

If you want to call sitting in a cramped room for a few hours listening to people talk a party then this was a party. It was actually a kind of a late new years celebration/ recap of the last year. So, the heads of each department gave a little (long) speech about what their departments have been doing. My head was bobbing for most of it and I entered dreamland a couple times. The end was more exciting because we all shared a meal and were able to sit outside and get some fresh air.

On a more exciting note:

Last week we planted pineapple plants in my back yard!

My host brother Emmanuel went up country last week and returned with some pineapple plants, so we made an event out of pineapple planting

I don’t think they are going to be ready before we have to go in July because they are so small, but it will still be fun to watch their progress.