Captain's Blog #Gatanu The Man in the Sweater Vest

Captain Samuel M. Merriman of the ship HisThoughtsAndExperiencesAboutRwandaTrip2014/2015 (who comes up with these names?) signing in, it is Information Age Date: January 3rd, 2015:

Today we went to our second Genocide Memorial: Nyamata Genocide Memorial. The interesting fact about Nyamata was that it is a church and thought to be a holy/safe place for the Tutsi. The tragedy happened were the Hutu came and started shooting on the church. The slaughtering happened quickly and a few people able to flee to the forest and survive. It was very tough to listen to our tour guide has he led around the church. The most difficult moment came when he took us to a memorial added under the church. From ceiling to floor white laminate square tile swallowed the room and in the center was a glass triangle. The contents of said triangle from top to bottom: Bones of arms and legs, next many skulls with different fractures or bullet hole, and lastly at the bottom was a coffin with a woman resting inside.

Here is the story behind this young lady:

She was raped multiple times, by multiple men and then was killed. But her story does not end there, after being raped and murdered the soldiers tied her hands to her feet in a looking up to heaven triangle pose, and then interested a stick through her private area all the way up to her shoulder – I also think they cut off an arm as well.

Needless to say that was an extreme story and very hard to take in, just the complete and utter destruction and violence of the Hutu onslaught on the Tutsi. The picture only worsened as events were furthered explained. After the majority of the adults were killed, the Hutu came in and rounded up any remaining children lined them up against the back of the Alter, and then started shooting or bashing them against the wall. We moved out of the church and to the mass graves in the back. The tour ended there with our guide saying the site is still finding bodies and the body count is increasing always. 

The real gift of this trip came when a man with a sweater vest started talking and his translator said, “I would like to tell you my story, I was here when the killing happened”, his story continued and he told us his wife and four kids (eldest was 5) were all killed here. He thanked us for coming and for honoring all the dead. His name was Pastor Vianney Ntez’ryayo and his story touched the whole group, this led to a group prayer led by Carol! This pray was powerful it was just beautifully said off the top of Carl’s head.

There is a picture I will upload as soon as I can! Internet is being not very nice!

On the bus ride back I reflected on what happened and wrote this poem. This poem like the first is not finished, but I just wanted to throw it up on the blog so you all had something to read! Again it is just a reflection of how each one of us could be stoppers or helpers of genocide.

I Am Who Am

I am Sam, Sam I am

            That is what I know.

But who is Sam?

            That is what I want to know.

I am who can never let genocide happen again.

                        Though…

I am who can let genocide happen again.

            I still don’t know what is to come.

Hands ever present, guiding me along.

            Are we all too far gone to change?

I’m struggling to see where I belong.

            All I know I’m not I am who am.

Captain's Blog #4 Let's Get Down to Business

Captain Samuel M. Merriman of the ship HisThoughtsAndExperiencesAboutRwandaTrip2014/2015 (who comes up with these names?) signing in, it is Information Age Date: January 2nd, 2015:

Hello Crew! This is your Captain signing in for another installment of Captain’s Blog. Today a lot has happened. In the morning we went to GEI headquarters and learned a little more about Rwanda’s history and current times. Stand out fact: 30% of Rwandan teachers are unqualified… so all those teachers out there looking for something to do Rwanda is taking volunteers to help teach their teachers! Also Rwanda is in the process of making their primary schooling free for everyone. The morning was rather light, as after this brief introduction about the culture (Rwanda is growing everyday) we had another delicious lunch! After lunch though things became more intense as we went to our first genocide museum: Kigali Genocide Memorial.

As I walked through the museum and the rose gardens/mass graves outside, I could hear all these side conversations between people about everything except; the memorial and I simply could not understand it. As people do we not have enough time or decency to just take a pause and respect the people’s resting place? That just really baffled me. But once our tour started I felt a heavy presence blanketing me and when I took a pause to write in my journal my right arm got heavy on my shoulder and around my hand, that was very strange and a little uncomforting but I continued to write what I was feeling. 

The walking through the memorial not hard emotionally but difficult to understand how people could actually do this to each other. I stood in front of a video showing people killing each other, and I just do not get it. All I could think was, “Wow, white European’s are assholes.” (excuse my French).  For those who do not know before the Belgians started labeling and categorizing the Hutu and Tutsie, they lived in harmony together. They were driven to a point (not to excuse them of their crimes) of hatred between the two and for 100 days this genocide happened. That was another thing that baffles me… how someone could just come into someone else’s country and just change everything, this is part of the reason why Africa is in such a turmoil now. These made up boundaries that clump combative tribes and people together is just not smart. The memorial is very beautiful, and really sheds light about what really happened. I had trouble walking through the room of skulls… I do not like seeing bodies it really does not sit right with me. It is not because I’m afraid of them or that they creepy me out, I just get a sense of (lack of a better word) unholy“ness”. Personally I feel bodies or skulls should be let to rest, I understand why they are on display but I just feel those people went through hell before they died… If it was me shot down I would just like to be buried and allowed to rest. I am very nervous about the other places we are going that do have more than just bones on display, not sure how I will handle it.

Lastly, after we were down with the tour we went to dinner at Sol e Luna. It was a beautiful restaurant and had amazing pizzas! I ordered an apple, goat cheese, and pine nut pizza— that was beyond good! As we ate dinner Drew talked to us about what happen during the day and asked how we felt. I still am unsure how I will feel as we level up in genocide memorials.

Captain's Blog #3 The Morning Report

Captain Samuel M. Merriman of the Ship: 

HisThoughtsAndExperiencesAboutRwandaTrip2014/2015 signing in, It is Information Age Date: January 1st, 2015:

Hello Crew! It is your Captain once again with a mooooorning report! I awoke to a barrage morning tweets from actual birds. Although I have not seen a Zazu their morning music makes waking up magical. You wake up with a smile and you just can’t wait to get up and get going for the day… or lay in bed and listen to them for a little bit, which is great because we are on Rwandan time! I love Rwandan time and here is a little free verse poem about it:

Thoughts of Rwanda

I can feel the calmness take over my body and soul.

The air is refreshing and rejuvenating.

Each step I take I am reborn anew.

I am not in Africa… I am in Rwanda.

This is not a continent this is a Country.

The time here great.

Be here at 7… or 8 it is all the same.

No rush, No fuss, and well No coconuts.

The poem was just a couple thoughts I had, nothing very special but thought it was nice little thing. As for what we did for the day it was day of rest and recouping from our lengthy travel day, which I am thankful we got! We rested in morning had a delicious breakfast, and then around 11 (I really love Rwandan time) we took a mini tour of the city! The city is different but at the same time not so different from American cities. Kigali is a city of rebirth, many new shops are popping up, and the government are buying older sections of the city and rebuilding to be more modern. This much like Buffalo currently, although there are poor sections of the city you could never tell that by the faces of the people. Everyone here walks around with a smile on and are very friendly to us, I have been wished a (happy new year) by so many strangers on the street… this never happens at home.

On another note the food here is… beyond delicious. I really did not expect this but I have been eating so much fruit. Fresh passion fruit, bananas, mango, and more! It really is so much better than the fruit we have at home. The dinners at the hostel also are much more than I expected. They really are so very generous here, you can feel the love from these people.

Finally I took some pictures while we took a quick with Carl and I hope you enjoy them!

Captain's Blog! #2 Beam Down Success!

Captain Samuel M. Merriman of the ship

HisThoughtsAndExperiencesAboutRwandaTrip2014/2015 (who comes up with these names?) signing in. It is Information Age Date: Dec. 31st, 2014:

Hello Crew! This is your Captain here and well Scotty (really Ethiopian Airlines) has done it again and after close to 24 hours of traveling we have made it Rwanda!  We have been on this strange country for only a brief time and in first observations this is truly beautiful country! The earth is this rich red color and the greens are so lush. I am looking forward to being able to explore the country more as our group goes outside of the capital city. Another observation made was how incredibly clean the streets and buildings are, seriously no trash on the ground… and the air is refreshing and clean. America we have to step our game! As the day went out our hostel Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel put on a special welcoming dinner, which was delicious!! We were served this vegetable soup (not sure what exactly was in it) it was so good. Next they brought out two different kinds of salads: a fresh garden salad and this avocado salad, which I was told was very tasty. For our main course we had rice (so good), beef stew, french fries, the best grilled chicken I have ever had (sorry mom), a chick pea dish (very good), and fruit (also good!). Everything served was so tasty and fresh and so much better than that airplane food!

Speaking of the airplane our flight was actually not as bad as I thought it was going to be.  For out 13-hour flight I had a seat with leg space to spear! I watched several movies: Walk the Line, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Tammy, and Guardians of the Galaxy. I also slept a lot and read my book. As we transferred flights in Ethiopia I became more paranoid about my passport haven’t lost it (knock on wood) but the flights were very easy to deal with. They feed us a lot as well. Our first meal was this hot beef stew with bread and fruit, then a beef sandwich, and for breakfast we got eggs and hash browns.

Tomorrow is going to be an easy day of rehearsal and hanging out with everyone and we really start our exploring on the 2nd! In closing hope everyone has a great New Year and I miss you all!

That’s all for Captain’s Blog for now. Talk to you next time! Captain Sam over and out.

Captain's Blog! #1 Countdown!

Captain Samuel M. Merriman of the ship, HisThoughtsAndExperiencesAboutRwandaTrip2014/2015 (who comes up with these names?) signing in. It is Information Age Date: Dec. 27th, 2014:

Hello Captain's Blog, Captain Sam here! This is my first installment about my thoughts and experiences about the trip Rwanda with the Anne Frank Project 2014/2015 Trip. Many things are running through my mind! I cannot believe I am (we are) leaving  in three days, that is crazy! The crew is in the last leg of preparing and as the days gets closer I find myself not as panicked or worries as I thought I would be. I keep going up and down my check list to see what I must have forgotten, but to my disbelief I am actually on top of things. My donation bag is packed and weighing 42 lbs (probably add more school supplies). I have one carry one bag packed (second on its way). I have my medicines and the only thing I forgot to buy way a Passport holder, which should be getting delivered by the 29th (cross your fingers everyone). The last purchases I need to make are the sunscreen, bug spray, and a water bottle to travel with... so surprisingly I am well prepared.

It is funny to think about that the only other flight I have been on was to Disney World in the Fifth grade and now its off the Africa. I am as excited as now as I was then, although my parents are a little less thrilled. After doing so much research (thank you Drew and Eve) I have learned things that I never knew, or ever thought I would know. As the holiday season was just with us, I have shared a lot of information to family lately (I don't know how many times I've been told I am going to get Ebola) to help them understand what all is going to happen while I am in Rwanda. I am extremely excited, I really cannot wait to step foot in Rwanda and as countdown commences my mind is getting more used to the reality of this Trip. At this particular moment I cannot fully form what exactly I want to say to everyone, just that the anticipation and excitement and gratitude to everyone who helped me be able to get here is just over flowing me completely! I just want to personally thank everyone involved and to the crew I can't wait to work and grow stronger bonds with you all!

That is all for Captain's Blog for now. Talk to you next time! Captain Sam over and out. 

...Oh one last thing mom and dad I promise I am not part of the Red Uniforms!