I started this blog a few days ago, then stopped because I wasn't really sure how to put things into words. Reading over these transcripts has been a little tougher than I expected. I would have imagined that the reading of case studies dealing with rape and sexual abuse in Congo would have prepared me for this. But maybe not. This isn't about me though. I am perfectly fine. It's not like any of this happened to me and here I am whining about it. I just continue to be surprised that I can't quite "gut" some of the things I am reading--- at this point, I would have thought I could read just about anything without having to get up and walk away in the middle of it.
Maybe it just has to do with my proximity to the situation--- or rather, the situations--- that makes it that more real. And to think I have a hard time reading this, while these people lived it--- it's amazing what a human being will do to survive.
Another lifetime conviction today at the Tribunal. The guy who was convicted is actually the guy who's case I have been reading about. Pretty brutal, but I don't want to get into it on here. There's more on www.irinnews.org if anyone is interested.
Other news... I was attacked by a mosquito the other night in bed. Literally ATTACKED MY FACE!!! Have four bites on one side, two under my chin and even two on my lips! Go figure. I couldn't ever find the stupid thing to kill it, so it survived the night as well.
Jessica gets in tomorrow (Shannon's sister). She's been doing some work in Zimbabwe for the past two weeks, is checking in with a project here for the weekend, and then leaves Tuesday night. I leave first thing Wednesday morning. So we'll actually have three Fleming-born women under one roof. One of these days I am bound and determined to get all Fleming born women under one roof--- there are only five of us, right? How HARD could it possibly be???
Things are still "iffy" whether or not I'll be headed to Goma, but Kigali is a for sure. Because of this situation, I am really trying to catch up on my background reading for Rwanda. I am in the right house for that, luckily; this house is full of things on the genocide and humanitarian affairs dealing with Rwanda.
I am actually excited and nervous to get there-- meaning Kigali. Have been brushing up on my French... but should have never stopped from two years ago. If I seem "missing in action" over the next few days, it could be simply that the internet is down, as it has been down all day. I'll try and post one more time before I leave next week for sure, and then once I am in Kigali postings will be very sporadic. But I'll do my best to keep things updated.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
work begins- interview #1
My interview with Chris Fry from UN ICTR (the Tribunal) here in Arusha went well. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect, so I came out ahead--- or so I felt and still feel. His expertice deals more with the women of Rwanda from the genocide, not the situation in Congo, but that's fine. I'll make it work; piece by piece.
He is going to get me about 40-50 testimonies from women who were raped during the genocide; those documents should make for some interesting reading. He first asked if I had read anything like that and when I told him what I had been reading dealing with the war in Congo, he said I would be fine. I imagine it's a great deal along the same lines; some testimonies are from 11 years ago and some are from December 2004.
We talked more about the underlying tension of Rwanda and the potential it has in eruptiong again, just not to the same degree. Rwanda has come a long way over the past 11 years, but much of it seems "top-layer surface" covering. However, I can't say a great deal just yet about Rwanda because I have a great deal of back ground reading there. The situations in Rwanda and Congo are similar and different all in the same breath. One interesting fact Chris did mention was when collecting the 50+ testimonies of these women back in September 2004, it was all done on the very, very DOWN LOW for these women. It seems they didn't want their friends, families or communities knowing they were talking to the UN or knowing they had been raped during the genocide. A bit early to say but that leads me to believe that any chance of reintegration process is out the window. Possibly a bit skeptical of me, but if these women are struggling with the truth in their communities 11 years after the fact, how on earth is there reintegration going on in Congo? However, I still need to read the transcripts from these testimonies and talk to this women's support org in Kigali-- IBUKA.
On a sidenote, Shan and I started messing around with little words in Kinyarwanda last night. Between my horrid French, knowing only a few words (therefore basically nonexistant) of Swahili, and now trying to pick up a few things in Kinyarwanda, I am starting to forget English. Basically, my 2 1/2 year old goddaughter could easily serve as my translator here in Tanzania. Too bad she doesn't speak Kiryanrwanda as well. As far as my French, I have no excuse... I DID live in Togo for a while. I am just a poor excuse for a linguist.
Last side note: my nephew turned the big ONE yesterday! Happy birthday to Aidan!!!
He is going to get me about 40-50 testimonies from women who were raped during the genocide; those documents should make for some interesting reading. He first asked if I had read anything like that and when I told him what I had been reading dealing with the war in Congo, he said I would be fine. I imagine it's a great deal along the same lines; some testimonies are from 11 years ago and some are from December 2004.
We talked more about the underlying tension of Rwanda and the potential it has in eruptiong again, just not to the same degree. Rwanda has come a long way over the past 11 years, but much of it seems "top-layer surface" covering. However, I can't say a great deal just yet about Rwanda because I have a great deal of back ground reading there. The situations in Rwanda and Congo are similar and different all in the same breath. One interesting fact Chris did mention was when collecting the 50+ testimonies of these women back in September 2004, it was all done on the very, very DOWN LOW for these women. It seems they didn't want their friends, families or communities knowing they were talking to the UN or knowing they had been raped during the genocide. A bit early to say but that leads me to believe that any chance of reintegration process is out the window. Possibly a bit skeptical of me, but if these women are struggling with the truth in their communities 11 years after the fact, how on earth is there reintegration going on in Congo? However, I still need to read the transcripts from these testimonies and talk to this women's support org in Kigali-- IBUKA.
On a sidenote, Shan and I started messing around with little words in Kinyarwanda last night. Between my horrid French, knowing only a few words (therefore basically nonexistant) of Swahili, and now trying to pick up a few things in Kinyarwanda, I am starting to forget English. Basically, my 2 1/2 year old goddaughter could easily serve as my translator here in Tanzania. Too bad she doesn't speak Kiryanrwanda as well. As far as my French, I have no excuse... I DID live in Togo for a while. I am just a poor excuse for a linguist.
Last side note: my nephew turned the big ONE yesterday! Happy birthday to Aidan!!!
Sunday, April 24, 2005
enjoyed a nice weekend of safari at ngorongoro crater. truth be told, i wore the mask and everything in the car. by the time we got there friday night i was sure i should not have gone, but should have stayed in bed. by saturday evening, i was definitely glad to have gone. the sun, the view, the animals, and being with the fam did me more good than sitting around here could have. got my mind off of other things for a while. in the car coming back today, i realized it all may have actually paid off--- my frame of mind feels ready to work.
still coughing quite a bit--- breaking stuff up in my chest--- but i have my voice back, can eat solid foods again, body aches are down, and all seems on the mend. i'll be in arusha this week and part of next, then head to kigali, rwanda, wednesday the 4th of may. got an email today i MIGHT even be able to meet up with one of my supervisors (from Edinburgh) in rwanda while she'll be doing a bit of research there herself later in may. no complaints there.
still coughing quite a bit--- breaking stuff up in my chest--- but i have my voice back, can eat solid foods again, body aches are down, and all seems on the mend. i'll be in arusha this week and part of next, then head to kigali, rwanda, wednesday the 4th of may. got an email today i MIGHT even be able to meet up with one of my supervisors (from Edinburgh) in rwanda while she'll be doing a bit of research there herself later in may. no complaints there.
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