Greetings from Africa!
In fall 2009, PCA’s former intern Ellie Frazier made her way across the world to participate in the Peace Corps. Ellie shares her experiences through email whenever she’s able. Here are some excerpts from her latest message:
“We were all back in Nyanza (where we did training) for Christmas but without any of the Rwandan staff, including cooks. Left to fend for ourselves, we did a decent job, and I can now light a charcoal stove sans lighter fluid and make excellent grilled cheese and omelets. Sometimes together. Like I’ve said previously, cheese is a universal language.
“Christmas Eve was spent at our favorite spot which we all call the “Blue Bar” due to the bright blue exterior walls. I don’t think we actually know the real name. They had decorated the exterior courtyard with a lone strand of Christmas lights and had piled some fake tinsel in the corner to resemble a Christmas tree.
“Christmas Day consisted of a scrambled egg, hash brown, and macaroni and cheese brunch which we later mixed together in one big pot and ate it, sometimes with our hands, throughout the rest of the day. There was also real egg nog, African tea, and hot chocolate (with or without whiskey). Most of us just mixed them all together. It was delicious.
“I went to my permanent site on the 29th. I’m living in a village called Kirinda which is in the Karongi District in the Western Province. I’m about an hour inland from Lake Chivu and live about an hour away from any main/paved road. It is absolutely gorgeous and the main (and only road) in the village is built along a mountain ridge and the rest of Kirinda terraces down from it.”
Ellie wishes us all a great new year, and we wish the same for her! Stay tuned for more updates from Rwanda…
