Buri Munsi Umunsi Wose

Currently, I am writing you from the living room of Father Stephano, Father Leopold, and Father Gabriel. They are my spiritual advisers, landlords, and best friends since moving to my permanent site. I cannot lie: when I heard I would be living next to a Catholic Church and the priests, I was not excited. I thought the area was going to be overtly religious and boring... quite the opposite in fact. Masoro sector, within Rullindo District, is a beautiful marriage between a village and a city. Less than an hour Northwest from Kigali, Masoro has been influenced by the urban area, but also maintains its village-ness. Though it has only been a week since I arrived from Pre-Service Training (PST), I can already feel that I will love this place. With the help of my Headmistress (Principal of G.S. Masoro) and the Fathers, I have been meeting great people and discovering phenomenal places to shop, eat, and hang out. 

My absolute favorite place so far is Heavenly Palace, about a 15 minute moto ride and 10 minute twege ride from my village. A twege is a popular slang term used by PCVs for a small bus that people SQUEEZE into; it makes for an uncomfortable ride. Nonetheless, it gets you from point A to point B for the low low, so who am I to complain... back to Heavenly Palace. This outdoor restaurant/bar/nightclub-on-the-weekends earns its name. It has 3 staggered levels with a showcase of cool lights and tiny cove-like booths on the main floor and a space for dancing on the bottom floor during weekends. Father Leopold surprised me with this detour on our return from a productive trip to Kigali so that I could buy a water basin; water isn't always consistent in my area, so it is necessary to have a place to store water. Interesting fact in Rwanda: when a Rwandan invites you out, it means that they are paying for everything ~hits the nae nae~ This was a cultural difference stressed during our PST: “Remember, if you invite someone to accompany you to a bar or restaurant, make sure you are ready to pay for their meal/drinks or be sure to specify whether your invitation is American or Rwandan.”

When I sat down, Father Leopold asked me what I wanted to drink. I said, “I'll just get a Fanta.” Father Leopold quickly responded with a shocked look, “Nooo, no, I want to buy you a beer.” The Fathers and I go through this weekly; they appreciate a stiff drink. I remember last Sunday, I asked Father Stephano if I could get him some water (“Urashaka amazi?”). Father Stephano answered, “Ahh no, we don't drink water on Sundays.” Me: “What do we drink?” Father Stephano: “For example, beer, wine, liquor...”  I believe you get a good picture of my new besties; they enjoy the turn up. I answered Leopold's request to buy me some type of liquor by saying, “Hmmm do you think they have wine?” Father Leopold stuck his finger in the air and said, “Very good! Waiter bring us inzoga (beer) and divayi (wine)! For the next hour and a half, Father Leopold and I gazed at the beautiful scenery of Kigali lights and the rolling hills of Rwanda and enjoyed our new found friendship, me drinking a dry red wine of some sort and him enjoying his beer of choice, Mutzig. He also ordered us a plate of grilled plantain and stewed beef. As I ate, drank, and enjoyed the company of Father Leopold, I kept thinking they named this fine establishment well.

Today, I will be walking around my village meeting the members of my new community: introducing myself, describing what Peace Corps is, and explaining what I will be doing here and for how long, all in Kinyarwanda! Well, mostly. I could not be more grateful for the heavy emphasis on language classes during PST. Language is truly the best integration tool, that and a good attitude, of course. This will, loosely, be my “all day, everyday” (Buri Munsi Umunsi Wose) schedule until February when school begins. I am excited to begin this journey with an amazing community, a determined Headmistress, and the coolest priests I have ever known. Three months are officially down (Happy 3 month Anniversary to all my fellow PCVs!), twenty four months to go.

XO Dedekated In Rwanda

The Black Lens I

Though my whole blog is in the perspective of a black woman, I want to dedicate a series of posts towards my struggles, triumphs, and everything in between. I need to do this because when I was doing my research before applying, during the application process, and after, there wasn't  much out there specifically about being Black Peace Corps Volunteer.  Our experiences needs to be documented not only for personal reasons but for those out there that wonder how the Peace Corps experience is for those who are not white. It would be doing a disservice to all those who have served within Peace Corps to act as though my experience is the same as my white counterpart. We have different challenges that deserve to be heard and addressed. I hope all People of Color (POC) will do the same so our perspectives are heard across the globe.

Before coming to Rwanda, I lived in Duluth, MN. This city is known as the last city in America to lynch black folks. In Duluth, there is a memorial called the Clayton Jackson McGhee Memorial which is dedicated to the  3 innocent black men who were falsely accused of raping a white woman. The night before their trial, a mob of white folks stormed the prison and lynched all 3 black men. It was later found that the men, who were violently murdered, were innocent. I give this background because I want you to understand the climate of were I lived for the past 5 years. Though this incident was in the past, the impact and mentality still lives on in the city I called home. While living in Duluth I dealt with overt racism, subtle bias, micro-aggressions and I survived. I did not thrive, but I survived... I can say that I have lived in a hostile environment for all of my adult life. I have always been one of the few black folks in every room I found myself in, on every street I walked on, and every place I worked. I have always been made to feel uncomfortable whether this was on purpose or not, it doesn't matter because the impact was all the same; I have rarely felt safe. When I looked into the statistics concerning diversity of Peace Corps Volunteers I found that only 22% are Volunteers of Color. With that discovery, I began to mentally prepare myself for what I knew would be another hard experience. Even though I lived my entire life as a Person of Color in an environment I never felt like I could be myself, it still did not prepare me for what I would face as a Black Peace Corps Volunteer. 

*Disclaimer* I am speaking from my personal experience. I do not speak for all Black folks in Peace Corps, so People of Color who are reading this please do not let this series scare you from joining. Know that every experience is different and me voicing my experience is about spreading awareness. 

The day I arrived in Philadelphia for staging (staging  is where you get to know your cohort before you embark on a 27 month journey) was when I realized just how hard this experience would be for me.  At this introductory event we briefly went over cultural differences, our itinerary, and what to expect the first week. During the introduction we were asked to tell the group something funny that we brought. Everyone stood up and said something slightly ridiculous that was in their luggage (I said my cast iron ^_^ shout out to my dear friend Weezy for the cutest cast iron on the planet!) A fellow white Peace Corps Trainee (PCT) stood up and said they brought their stuffed elephant that they named Kunta Kinte. For those who do not know; Kunta Kinte is a character in the book turned movie called The Roots. Kunta Kinte was a person who was enslaved during the period of slavery in America. He was kidnapped, tortured, and whipped. Though Kunta Kinte is a fictional character, he represented the hundreds of thousands of humans who were kidnapped and dehumanized by white people during the time of slavery in America. When my fellow PCT said this  I felt as though I had been slapped across the face, because not only did no one intervene and call attention to how disrespectful that comment was a majority of people in the room laughed. They laughed as though enslaving and whipping a person, and cutting off their foot was some type of hilarious joke. I looked at the room of mainly white volunteers and could not feel anything other than numbness. At that very moment I had to make a decision if I was going to walk out of the room or just let it go. I did neither I sat there completely hurt, completely in shock but I did not let it go.

Everyday since staging I have thought about this comment and how everyone in the room was a bystander. This is just ONE moment out of so many, that people in my cohort have made me question if I can continue with my service. It is frustrating letting ignorant comments go, it is tiring to always have to teach someone why their ignorance offends me but I am still here. I chose to continue my service for a number of reasons but the main one is because I know this is exactly where I need to be. This is MY service. I can not let anyone's ignorance deter me from my goals but I also know I will suffer in silence. I know this comment may have been innocent, at least I hope so, but it doesn't diminish how it made me feel. How so many times people make light of slavery in America and its affects on the Black population/population of color. How so many times people are bystanders when it comes to Black folks' pain and how it always comes down to us to raise attention to things that are not right. My advice to Black folks and people of color, create a support group during Pre Service Training (PST) so that when times like this happen (they will) you have people you can process with and create a plan of action from there. Understand that you are not alone and that every feeling you have IS VALID even if you can't explain it. Also understand that Peace Corps has staff for you to consult with when times like this happen, do not hold it in. Tell them what is going on so they can take necessary steps. Being in a foreign country as an American of color already comes with a set of its own challenges I will address in another post, but on top of that constantly having to put up with insensitive, racist remarks from other Trainees/Volunteers is more than what I/you have signed up for. Know that staff is in place to address these challenges because you can not do it alone and in order for you to complete your service you need support from your organization. Know that it is not your job to educate other trainees/volunteers on their own ignorance and it is especially not your job to do it in a way that is comfortable for the person that has offended you. 

To trainees and volunteers of color: KOMERA (stay strong). Your presence is invaluable. By you being in whichever country you are in, you show the people what American diversity looks like. You are necessary, and I am here rooting for you.

 Stay tuned, I am just getting started. 

XO  Dedekated

Site Visit: Rulindo Living.

I am currently writing you all from a beautiful sector called Masoro in the District of Rulindo. It is located about an hour north from Kigali up a monstrous hill that showcases why Rwanda is called the land of 1,000 hills. After a Harry Potter style site placement announcement, I was ecstatic to learn that my permanent site will be in a cooler, rainier district about 2 hours away from the volcanoes, gorillas, and Lake Kivu. This makes beach weekend getaways not only possible, but mandatory since I will be heading to Gisenyi for a regional meeting this Friday. Do yourself a favor and Google Gisenyi, or follow me on Instagram, it is absolutely stunning. Being from Minnesota, and especially after living in Duluth for 6 years, God definitely blessed me with a climate I can deal with for 2 years. Though I won't be living in Masoro until December, every volunteer goes to their new community for a week to visit, introduce themselves, and begin to develop an action plan with the Headmistress/Headmaster of their school. My assignment will be working with primary school students, this is equivalent to elementary school in America, and training teachers to increase their English communication skills. This assignment is a pilot program as it is the first year Peace Corps will be working in primary schools and focusing on teacher training as requested by the Rwandan Education Board (REB).

A main reason I appreciate Peace Corps, is that it only goes to countries it has been invited to by the respective government. As I talked about in my last post, I am more on the cynical side of International Development because so far it has shown to do more harm then actually repair. A critical reason is because too many times NGO's, nonprofits, and other organizations with good intentions (I assume) go into over-exploited countries and assume they have the answers to all their problems. This is not how Peace Corps approaches development. Peace Corps understands that we do not have the answers but the people do and we come (only when invited) to exchange skills and facilitate learning on both sides.

Enough about the serious stuff, I do want to tell you how much I am enjoying my site visit! I have an extraordinary Headmistress who has made every effort to make me feel welcome in the school and community. In the community there is a Catholic Church, a priests' house, an orphanage (run by  nuns), and the school I will be working at called G.S. Masoro. G.S Masoro is a well equipped school with computers, an art room, and a music room all donated by Kate Spade, random right?  My Headmistress arranged for me to stay with the Priests and they have fed me things I was starting to miss like cheese and peanut butter. So, I am one happy American right now :-)

SYesterday I went to the District Office of Rulindo to introduce myself to the Mayor and other officials and talk about my anticipated projects. Going to the District Office, waiting to speak to the officials and traveling back to site literally took me all day. By the time I got back to site all I could do was stuff my face with umuceri (rice), ibishimbo (beans), ni fritti (fried potato wedges), avoca, and isoupu (broth based soup) and lay around in bed. Traveling in this country is definitely something I will need to get use to, which I have no problem because I get to take a motorcycle some of the way. My village/town is about 15 mins from the main road so I get to take a moto ride wearing the badass helmet that Peace Corps gave to me. My moto ride is pretty incredible since it down/up a giant hill that gives me a gorgeous view of the hills and I Snapchat while the umushoferi (driver) wonders what the hell is this muzungu (foreigner) doing.

Today I went to school, which was a delightful 5 minute walk and introduced myself to the teachers and students. Everyone is so excited to have me and learn English it is a bit daunting. Being new in the community I got a ton of stares and personal questions. In Rwandan culture it is perfectly acceptable to ask, “Are you married? How old are you? Do you have children? Why is your haircut like a black man? If you are from America, why is your skin Black like mine?” All questions I was asked right after, “What is your name?” LOL. I smile and answer which follows with another series of questions.

Since my last post was so long and heavy I wanted to make this a bit lighter but next post I plan on writing more on my personal experience as a Black volunteer, **spoiler alert** it is not easy but I can say living in Duluth has prepared me for this situation... until next time folks! 

xo Dedekated

P.S. Add me on Snapchat to follow my experience --> Mare_Bizzle 

Muraho!

Muraho is a greeting in Kinyarwanda (local language) used when you are meeting someone for the first time or when you have not seen someone in awhile.

Though I have only been in country for a little over a week it honestly feels like a month; I have gone through many transitions in such a short span of time and I finally feel like I am starting to adjust . For those interested in learning more about how Peace Corps Staging to Pre-Service Training (PST) works I will outline these transitions.

Before leaving for Rwanda all those that were accepted into the Education Program met in Philadelphia for Staging. This is basically a time for basic introductions into the Peace Corps rules and expectations, the itinerary of our long journey, a time to send final paperwork for student loans, receive our new passports, and just a way for all the volunteers to meet and socialize before we leave the states. The last night I definitely treated myself to some delicious cheesy, bacony pizza, a cocktail and time alone to reflect on my new chapter!

The next morning we got on a bus and left for JFK airport and then, off we were! After one layover in Brussels, we landed in Kigali, went through customs (with ease might I add!) we walked into the beautiful city of Kigali. We were met by some amazing Volunteer Assistant Trainers (VATs) and the Country Director, Jen Hedrick. They greeted us and quickly put us (and all of our luggage) in buses to a glorious hotel called, Champion Hotel. The hotel staff and VATs were so helpful with getting our luggage out and to our rooms (I was especially worried since I came with three checked bags and two carry-ons...I like to be prepared!) After finding our rooms we had a quick introduction to the VATs (who are incredible, shout out to Cass and Talibah) Country Director and the Director of Programming and Training, Brian Dwyer. We were given our first set of Malaria medicine, huge bottles of water, a light meal and thankfully sent to bed to get some much needed rest! But not for long; the next morning we had a full day beginning with a scrumptious breakfast beginning at 7am. The next two days in Kigali were for the important stuff like, introducing us to the some basics about Rwandan culture, medicine and shots, setting up our bank accounts, getting phones etc. There was no time to explore especially because of how tired I was but Champion Hotel had a bar at the top level and the karaoke was jamming both nights!

From Kigali we were bused to the District of Ramagana; this is where all of our PST is being held. It is about 1.5 hours away from Kigali. Upon arrival a trainee reception (technically we are not volunteers yet, but Peace Corps Trainees) was held. This is where we met the rest of the Peace Corps Rwanda Staff and our host families! At the reception we were given some basics like a water filter, bucket, jerrycan, mosquito net, and drinking water for the first few days. I cannot lie, I was extremely nervous about meeting my host family. I have heard stories of some black volunteers not being welcomed by their host families because the families had expectations that all Americans are white. This is a sad truth. So when I heard my name called at the reception, a million thoughts ran through my head, “Were they told in advance that I was black? Will they see me as an American? Will they treat me with respect?” When my host dad came to greet me with a big smile and giant hug I felt at ease and thankful. I knew that my experience with my host family was going to be positive. As soon as we sat down to chat he showed me pictures of his past two host daughters and one was black! The smile that spread across my face! The most previous volunteer that stayed with him was one of our current VATs who is an incredible black woman named Cass. Her presence was so welcoming, especially for my first week. She was there to comfort, validate, and answer my many questions. I could not have been more grateful to have Cass there and to be placed with her host family who are absolutely lovely. There is my host Papa and Mama, and four younger sisters; ages 11, 7, 3, and 1. They are all silly and high energy which makes for unexpected nights like singing and dancing sessions after dinner. Currently, they are begging me to play games with them and I keep answering with my limited kinyarwanda, “Ndashaka Kwiga/I want to study” which does not seem to be a good enough reason for them hahaha.

My day to day life in Ramagana is quite long and tedious but I am grateful for everyday. From my four hour language classes at 8am to today's conversation with Brian Dwyer about Peace Corps approach to development which ended at 530pm. I find myself learning more about Rwanda and her culture in the first week than I could have even fathomed.

One thing that I find difficult, and is a sentiment shared by other black trainees in my program and volunteers everywhere, is that it has been difficult to sit in a room where white folks talk about how hard it is for them being stared at, judged, laughed at etc. and not make direct parallels to the black experience in the United States of America. I cannot sympathize because black folks are stared at, judged more harshly, and feel like an outsider in the very place we call home. Being in Rwanda we are stared at just as much and still have to face challenges like the one I described above like not being seen as American because we are not white. I thought I would be able to blend in quite seamlessly but that is not the case. I will be posting more on the black experience as a PCT and in Rwanda throughout my time here, so stay tuned!

For today's training we had an open conversation about International Development and Peace Corps approach to development, which is a hot topic of mine. I am a bit cynical about the role of International Development, particularly after reading Dead Aid by Moyo Dambisa. So, why would a person who is cynical about development sign up for the Peace Corps might you ask, well for me it comes down to approach. Peace Corps is only in countries it has been invited to and then they partner with the country to create a framework to address the needs the country sees fit. This is a critical component to real development; partnering with a country and not “helping”. The shift in language is necessary to me because most people in the states tend to overlook the reason why America and other western countries are seen as developed is because it stole and exploited from the African continent and other developing nations. We cannot have a real conversation about aid if we turn a blind eye to history and the facts. It is imperative we take this wholeheartedly and come into developing nations with humility ie there is no room or place for the white savior mindset!

Well people, that is about all I got from about 10 days in Rwandan. Sidenote my 25^th birthday is coming up {on the 29^th to be specific!} I am excited to turn a quarter of a century outside of the states! I am living well, eating delicious chapatis, brochettes, passion fruits and avocados, and studying Kinyarwanda with all my might. My goal is to post two times a month so be sure to subscribe and stay up to date with my adventures :-) You can also follow my Instagram: Dedekated and Snapchat: Mare_Bizzle for other ways to see what I am up to, thank you for reading and Ijoro ryiza (Good night!)

xo Dedekated

Music + Message = Wondaland Records

It was my prayer that before I left the states I would get to see Wondaland Records perform and thankfully it happened. Wondaland Records is a label created by the visionary Janelle Monae but in fact it is more than a label, Wondaland is a movement.

One thing you will learn about me is my admiration for the Electric Lady. Janelle Monae is a rebel, intellectual, and all around Queen of the future. She inspires me to be myself and not apologize for it. As the CEO of Wondaland Records, Janelle represents something bigger than herself. She does not hesitate to speak to the importance of Black Women owning businesses and engaging the community in critical conversations surrounding black diversity, womanhood, masculinity, police brutality and so much more. Fun fact: Did you know Black Women represent the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs in this country? It is true! It is important to have this conversation because if we are not represented in the business world our voices and stories are not being heard and our needs will not be met. Take for example Myleik Teele and Ade Hassan both black entrepreneurs who created Curlbox and Nubian Skin respectively. Both women saw gaps in the market specifically for women of color and filled them with amazing products that are wildly successful, you should get to know these game changing women.

Speaking of game changers, Wondaland Records recently released an EP titled, The Eephus which is baseball terminology for a game changing pitch and that is exactly what everyone at Wondaland delivers.  This collective changes the monolithic narrative that surrounds blackness in this country. With the Electric Lady as the head, she consistently delivers funky jams and positivity. Then we have the Classic Man himself, Igwe Jidenna (fellow Nigerian!) who is as smooth as butter with a presence that mesmerizes everyone he comes into contact with and a message that makes you proud. Also on the EP is St. Beauty a hypnotic duo who wrap their luxurious voices around you next the incredible guitarist, vocalist, and showman Roman Gianarthur and lastly we have the high energy Punk Prophets, Deep Cotton. Individually and collectively, each of these artists are here to disrupt your idea of what Hip Hop is and take the genre in a direction that is needed right now. So, when I realized I got the email confirming my RSVP to their free secret show in Chicago, I hoped on a Greyhound bus at 1am the morning of and welcomed the 8 hour bus ride, listening to the Eephus on constant repeat.  

Along with a free show, Wondaland has been collaborating with local organizers in each city to lead Black Lives Matter protests. As I walked into Millennium Park and stood with community members at the Cloud Gate I felt a sense of peace and belonging but also urgency. Energies were high as the mother of Sandra Bland, woman who died in police custody, took the mic to encourage and assure. I could not help but let the tears flow as we clapped and stood in solidarity when the mother of Justus Howell spoke. When the Wondaland collective arrived they were intentional about saying they do not come as celebrities but as community members with a duty. They understood that "silence is our enemy and sound is our weapon." A sentiment that they continuously repeat at each rally, interview, and platform they are afforded. As a response to the killings of  women and men by police Wondaland created a song titled Hell You Talmbout (HYTB). This is a vessel to use for protests and rallies as courageous activists march the streets. In the song we say the names of each person killed by police and with each name that has turned into a hashtag I felt every emotion. I also felt the release of tension because I stood in unity with people who cared. That afternoon was incredibly spiritual and if that was the end of my Chicago trip I would have felt good but Wondaland knew after we handle business, it would be time to jam and what a show they put on. 

The free show made it accessible to people who could not afford to pay and that thoughtfulness is consistent throughout their messaging and delivery. From the pre-show with The Alchemizer, Nana Kwabena pumping us up from everything from Fetty Wap to old school jams it was one hell of a show. Roman Gianarthur opened by shredding the guitar and white confetti flying everyone to the ending with every member of Wondaland on the stage performing HYTB; from the musicians to dancers everyone said a name and stood in solidarity. What a moment, what a movement, what an experience it was to witness the future in the making. I believe in everything Wondaland represents from funky tunes to music with a message it was incredible to witness such a dynamic group of young people speaking their truth. Wondaland is here, are you ready? 

"GoFundMe" - Mary Dedeke

My GoFundme will be open the entire length of my trip, and no donation is too small. I appreciate everyone following my page and supporting me!

Goodbye AmeriCorps...Hello Peace Corps!

I decided to begin my Peace Corps blog reminiscing about AmeriCorps. July 31st will be the end of my 2 year service through Minnesota Alliance With Youth. My first and second year were  different but essentially my role as a Promise Fellow is to support student success by providing interventions, engaging youth in service projects, and connecting them to caring adults.

My first year I served with Denfeld High School in Duluth, Minnesota where I tutored and mentored high school students who were having challenges within the education system. My second year I served with Men As Peacemakers, a Duluth non-profit, whose mission is to engage communities in innovative strategies to eliminate violence against women and girls.While working for Men As Peacemakers, I specifically worked with the Girls Restorative Program where I Co-Facilitated weekly  girl groups and coordinated programming at Lincoln Park Middle School. Working with these amazing young women to navigate life ignited my passion to live a life of service. I am truly dedicated to my passion and being able to use my skills to help improve the life of women and girls is what motivates me. I hope to dedicate my energy to my personal mission and joining the Peace Corps is the next step.

This blog is essentially meant to serve as a way for me to document my Peace Corps journey so others like myself can use it as a resource and for friends and family to stay up to date on where life takes me :-) I want to thank all of you in advance for following and supporting me in the next chapter of my life. Speaking of support....I have started a GoFundMe account to help with expenses while I am in Rwanda. If you are in the position to help please visit, donate, and share my page!

I feel so blessed that I get to pursue my passion and even more excited that I can share my story with all of you. Since I will not be leaving until September, my blog will not be as active until the time comes. So, be sure to subscribe to my blog so you can receive emails when I start populating it with more content. Until next time; anyone interested in the Peace Corps process, my interview, timeline, etc feel free to contact me with any questions. It is a long process and can be confusing so please use me as a resource.

Dedekated In Duluth