The CMU/Rwanda Staff Party!

This post is quite late.... but a week ago Friday we had the new staff of CMU/Rwanda

over for an American Dinner.  The party was scheduled to be held from 5 o'clock on... but i don't think anyone showed up until 6 and due to some circumstances beyond anyone's control...the last of the guests arrived closer to 6:45.  

Oh well.. good thing i had stuff that wouldn't dry out too much!  

Earlier in the day i had seen these flowers in the yard and thought.. wow those would look pretty in the house.  But i didn't cut them.  Later that day... they showed up in the living room.  Innocent must have had the same thought...so he cut them and brought them in. 

   I have no idea what these are
but they grow on a plant that looks
like a banana plant.  And the plants
grow like weeds!

  Had a picnic of sorts...  Sat out on the patio for the early part of the evening...talking and laughing ( Pillip, our Korean neighbor said we were too loud--he's 11) 

but eventually we all ended up inside.  It actually got cool.... as it has been each evening here this month.   

This is James  (Susan's husband),  Jolie, Johnson's wife and Lillian.
Of these three, Lillian is the only employee.  She is the Recruitment and Admissions person and a vocal believer.   Her boyfriend wasn't able to come but i did learn that they have decided to call me Auntie.

This is Crystal and her husband, Tony. 

Crystal is the girl who was baptized on the same day as Heather in 

Champaign, Ill.... and she is the Business Manager and Whatever 

Else needs to be done person!  Another great lady! CMU/Rwanda

wouldn't be ready to open without her! 

Susan is on the left and she is the Executive Assistant and again, I 

can't say enough about how wonderful these women are.  They have strong faith 

strong character and all have great personalities.  Johnson is on the right and he just started as the new IT Senior Manager and he doesn't even have any gray hair!  

Very likable guy with a great outlook, too!  He is another great addition to the staff.

And then there are the muzungus!  Bruce found out it is actually abmuzungo which is the
plural of muzungu.  Anyway, Michel and his wife Isabelle are on the couch with Bruce.
They are Belgian, but have spent a good portion of their lives in Africa.  Michel is the Associate Director and will also be teaching once school starts.  He has held many short courses since Jan, too and they have been well attended.  He has even been able to get students to come on time by shutting and locking the door... once he walks in! And you all know who Bruce is!  He thought it would be fun to get everyone together at our house and he was right!!

It was... of course, great to get to know each other a little better.  But later in the evening when the wedding stories started we weren't sitting so stoically.  We were laughing our heads off.  Some of the traditions here from country to country--family to family had us in stitches!   So, it was not a night of shop talk...although there was a little bit.  Getting to know each other personally was so much fun-- especially for me since i don't have as much interaction with all of them.

Our American fare of hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, fruit salad and all the veggie fixings was definitely new to most.  And I think it is like Germany here.... The big meal is eaten earlier in the day...so Rwandans don't eat as much at night.  So, Bruce and I and several others enjoyed the food all this last week.  However, the brownies and chocolate chips were a big hit.  Seems that everyone really likes those.  I did take the left overs to the International Food Fair so they wouldn't be sitting here saying,  "EAT ME!!!"

It was a fun evening --at least it was for us.  I hope that everyone had a good time.
Now i am REALLY looking forward to going to a Rwandan wedding.  Sounds like i'll need 2-3 photo cards for the entire affair!  They are pretty elaborate!

Just wanted to fill you in on that evening... It's an awfully little staff to start a whole new university....but if anyone can do it --it will be these people working together -in this place- at this time!  Their offices were moved this week and now the final stage and wing will be completed.  It is getting exciting.  As I am typing to you, Bruce has been upstairs talking to prospective students around the world..... They have been having face to face interviews with the Rwandans and some from Kenya and Uganda.... but now the circle widens!  It will indeed be a great opening when it finally happens!

love,
margie