Many titles for this newsletter were reviewed the last couple of weeks but today while crossing the streets of Kigali I decided to give it this subtle title, Monsieur Paul. Maligned by some and worshiped by others I am just a fan, not a fan known as a groupie but rather as an admirer. Everyday I’m experiencing with my eyes and my veins what Monsieur Paul has done for this country and every day I’m happy that I can, albeit modestly, contribute a bit to this story. Monsieur Paul did not do it on his own, he did not do it alone; he guided millions of Rwandans to do it in a way he thought it would be good for this little country with the big heart in the heart of Africa as an example for all the African countries still suffering from the remains of a badly designed map produced by the old Europeans. What if the invaders from Europe wouldn’t have traveled the seas? How would Africa look today? And the same thought crossed my mind thinking about Latin America. We will never know but think about it for a few seconds… no it’s not science fiction!
Despite the need to write and to inform, the last weeks were so busy that at the end of the day I almost collapsed. For a few days I can enjoy a certain degree of rest before the final run to the presentation next Sunday. My health was not on its best the last week but fortunately the climate helps these old bones to overcome turbulences. And with a little help from the friends the mind can reboot.
Two weeks ago Catherine arrived, and meanwhile left again. At the start she was not supposed to teach a lot and came mainly to enjoy Christmas holidays but after one session with the dancers she wanted to continue and she did till the last day with a small interruption for the Christmas Days. We enjoyed this small break with the family in a sun-full and warm Gisenyi; spending hours at the lake with good food and spectacular views. Unfortunately we had to leave paradise on Sunday afternoon because of an invitation that could not be refused, being the guest of honor at the celebration of the 7th anniversary of the Abatarutwa company.
My days consist mainly to leave the house at 9.30 am, teaching from 10.00 12.00 the youngsters of the company, a small lunch with the dancers prepared by the leading staff, 12.30 - 14.00 rehearsing Libertango Africa, and from 14.00 - 17.00 working with the main group. Lucky I, Catherine was teaching the first part of the afternoon this last weeks so I could spend my time talking with the company management and other useful business.
There is little time to go out in the evenings apart from one single occasion that Egide took us to the Two Shot Club (previously the Culture Lab) to eat brochettes. On Christmas day I was in bed with a kind of flu.
Catherine and I attended New Year Eve late at friends of the family. The rest of the family joined us even later. It was cozy, drinking my first Heineken beer from a home barrel… our hosts also served good wines… so I forgot about the taste of the canal in front of IHE.
On New Year’s day I felt bad but we had promised to cook for the whole family and friends, 22 (read TWENTY TWO) so Cath and I invaded some friend’s kitchen and prepared a Greek salad and one of my famous pasta dishes, pasta with veal liver and a creamy pepper sauce. Food entirely consumed… Job done! Hope I will soon be able to show you the pictures of butcher Guy cutting a huge veal liver! Good food, nice people… we don’t need more for a proper start of a new year.
My so called rest these days consists of preparing the movies and the files for two dancers to subscribe for a training in Senegal, we made the records last Friday and we put all our energy to get them accepted despite a minor chance for it as we know that only 20-25 dancers from all over Africa will be accepted.
On the program for the next couple of days, a meeting with the Minister of Education, an encounter with UNESCO-IHE alumni, organizing the showcase for Sunday. Preparing and printing the certificates for the dancers, running to the ministry to have them signed. Thursday and Friday general rehearsals. Probably meeting with the people of the Rwandan Development Authority again about a vocational school for dance.
This morning I had a meeting at the Ministry at 6.30 (yes… read six thirty AM!) to discuss the venue for Sunday and some minor arrangements…
… There are two sorts of holidays, those you spend on the beach roasting in the sun; the others, the adventure ones…. Guess how mine are?
Thanks, Monsieur Paul, sans rancune.
-
Despite the need to write and to inform, the last weeks were so busy that at the end of the day I almost collapsed. For a few days I can enjoy a certain degree of rest before the final run to the presentation next Sunday. My health was not on its best the last week but fortunately the climate helps these old bones to overcome turbulences. And with a little help from the friends the mind can reboot.
Two weeks ago Catherine arrived, and meanwhile left again. At the start she was not supposed to teach a lot and came mainly to enjoy Christmas holidays but after one session with the dancers she wanted to continue and she did till the last day with a small interruption for the Christmas Days. We enjoyed this small break with the family in a sun-full and warm Gisenyi; spending hours at the lake with good food and spectacular views. Unfortunately we had to leave paradise on Sunday afternoon because of an invitation that could not be refused, being the guest of honor at the celebration of the 7th anniversary of the Abatarutwa company.
My days consist mainly to leave the house at 9.30 am, teaching from 10.00 12.00 the youngsters of the company, a small lunch with the dancers prepared by the leading staff, 12.30 - 14.00 rehearsing Libertango Africa, and from 14.00 - 17.00 working with the main group. Lucky I, Catherine was teaching the first part of the afternoon this last weeks so I could spend my time talking with the company management and other useful business.
There is little time to go out in the evenings apart from one single occasion that Egide took us to the Two Shot Club (previously the Culture Lab) to eat brochettes. On Christmas day I was in bed with a kind of flu.
Catherine and I attended New Year Eve late at friends of the family. The rest of the family joined us even later. It was cozy, drinking my first Heineken beer from a home barrel… our hosts also served good wines… so I forgot about the taste of the canal in front of IHE.
On New Year’s day I felt bad but we had promised to cook for the whole family and friends, 22 (read TWENTY TWO) so Cath and I invaded some friend’s kitchen and prepared a Greek salad and one of my famous pasta dishes, pasta with veal liver and a creamy pepper sauce. Food entirely consumed… Job done! Hope I will soon be able to show you the pictures of butcher Guy cutting a huge veal liver! Good food, nice people… we don’t need more for a proper start of a new year.
My so called rest these days consists of preparing the movies and the files for two dancers to subscribe for a training in Senegal, we made the records last Friday and we put all our energy to get them accepted despite a minor chance for it as we know that only 20-25 dancers from all over Africa will be accepted.
On the program for the next couple of days, a meeting with the Minister of Education, an encounter with UNESCO-IHE alumni, organizing the showcase for Sunday. Preparing and printing the certificates for the dancers, running to the ministry to have them signed. Thursday and Friday general rehearsals. Probably meeting with the people of the Rwandan Development Authority again about a vocational school for dance.
This morning I had a meeting at the Ministry at 6.30 (yes… read six thirty AM!) to discuss the venue for Sunday and some minor arrangements…
… There are two sorts of holidays, those you spend on the beach roasting in the sun; the others, the adventure ones…. Guess how mine are?
Thanks, Monsieur Paul, sans rancune.
-
No comments:
Post a Comment