LIVING IT UP IN CYANIKA

This Sunday was different!! We had received two invitations, one from a colleague and one from the chief of the village ( who we were very rude to at the beginning, thinking he was a guy wanting a job as our landscape gardener,whoops!) to attend a party to celebrate their childrens' first communion during morning mass. We attended the mass (even John) for 2 hours(for the parents and children it was a 6 hour session!!)There were at least 200 kids involved in making their first communion, most of them wearing paper crowns on their heads instead of the expensive veils which would be worn by European children.

At 3 pm we duly went to find Sylvain's place guided by many children on the way, wondering what to expect. We were welcomed as guests of honour into a very simple but spotlessly clean house made of locally made mud bricks. Every tiny room was packed with people and the centrepiece of every room was a huge pot full of sorghum beer which was consumed through communal straws made of bamboo. Everybody took turns to drink, including babies and children( they don't differentiate as far as alcohol is concerned). At the same time several small gourds were being passed around containing"urwagwa" banana wine, and very good it was. We felt bad that we were first offered bottles of Primus beer and a table to put it on!!

Sylvain the called us outside where dinner was being served.SEE PHOTO!!,watched by the cows and pigs. We had a great time but had to leave when the fantastic rwandan intore dancing and singing was in full swing to go to the next party at Alois's. His two daughters had also made their first communion and we were also made very welcome there and introduced to some home-made fire water stronger than anything we have ever drunk.

Alois is about 59 years old and his wife is much younger. He has 4 young children and Sheila thoughtlessly commented on how young his children were. He then told us that his first wife and 6 children were slaughtered in the genocide.We hear similar stories all the time.

We felt priviliged to be involved in such an important day in the lives of the people of Cyanika.