Focal Farmer Elections

Banana Trees blowing in the wind (the hills in the background are Tanzania)

On Monday of this week, I headed out to Kibungo, a town in Eastern Rwanda. Totally Central Africa. There is nothing out there. I've been to some rural areas in Africa, but I honestly don't think I've heard "Mzungu!" more prolifically during a 1 week period than I did this week. Serioously, just driving through these villages, with my white arm hanging out the window, the kids go wild screaming at the top of their lungs.

I told the kid on the right that the Braves had a crappy year and the Phillies dominated them, but he didn't seem interested.

The word Mzungu is used today to label people like me, foreigners, white people. The word originates from a Swahili verb which translates to "to travel back and forth." When missionaries first came to Africa, they would go out to rural places, set up missions, stay for a few years, then leave - only to be replaced by more white people. Africans began to call these people "Mzungu," (plural Wazungu).

The word is very widely used in East Africa today. It gets frustrating sometimes when people call you by your skin color, but you have to understand where they're coming from. In societies as homogeneous (at least in color) as they are here, a person of lighter skin color is truly an anomaly. Coming from American society - where we're supposed to be so PC about everything, its easy to think that these words are offensive, but Africans really don't mean offense using the word. Its all about intent, I think.

Driving out to Kibungo, we came to a fork in the road. One way said, "Tanzania," the other, "Uganda." We took a right and headed South to Tanzania.

Kibungo is actually not a tiny town. There's only on road, but its probably 3-4 miles long. Once again, like all roads in Rwanda, its sealed with no potholes at all. We stayed in a tiny hotel and ate nothing but bananas for the whole week. Banana stew for breakfast, raw bananas for lunch, and fried bananas and meat for dinner. Actually pretty good, although I was definitely ready for a change when I got back to Kigali. They use bananas so much out there, I actually saw a car towing another car using a banana tree instead of rope. Some of the kids in the tiny villages even said, "The mzungu is white like a banana!"

Typical home in rural Rwanda - using mud and all parts of the banana tree

The point of the trip East was to elect focal farmers. Myself and 2 T-S business advisers visited all the groups within 2 cooperatives, explaining to them the focal farmer concept. We needed a leader from each group with a good farm. Once a month, we will conduct trainings on these farms in order to disseminate agronomic education to small scale farmers. We drove around all week meeting with groups and electing these farmers. It was a bit tiring and frustrating because I don't speak Kinyrwanda, but I think it was beneficial for me to see.

One of the small villages near Kibungo

Phillies!

Ok not much to write about interesting today, but I figured I should write something...

As for work, I'm still working on this farmers' training manual. Its almost done. I feel like I just wrote a term paper as the thing is almost 100 pages long. My boss gets back next week, so hopefully she doesn't tear it up too bad. I am looking forward to her getting back though. Hopefully she can give me some more direction.

I know that Monday throught Thursday next week I'll be heading out to the field for "focal farmer elections." I'll be going with one of the Rwandan business advisors. The plan is to go to each one of our co-ops and have them elect a 'focal farmer.' Then, throughout the year, T-S will come and do agronomy demonstrations on this farmer's plot. All the community coffee farmers will come to see the demonstration. We'll be looking for someone with a strong crop and good access to water. Also, they should be a community leader and someone who won't mind hosting these events once a month.

I went to Nairobi last weekend to hang out with a few Peace Corps friends. Dave was coming from Sudan and his flight was delayed 3 days, so that sucked. But, it was still good to see them. Nairobi is the wild west compared to here.

Adam and I patiently waiting for Dave to arrive at Taco's (No they don't serve tacos. Just a clever nickname I guess)

Bowling at Village Market - Dave, Adam, Me, Barclay

(notice my Phillies and Flyers gear. Superfan.)

So that brings me to the title of this blog post. The Phillies are tearing it up right now. They streaked their way into the playoffs and have beaten Milwaukee in the first 2 games of a best of five series. Last night they beat arguably the best pitcher in baseball on a Shane Victorino grand slam and solid pitching by Brett Myers.

It is heart wrenching to be over here during this. I love what I'm doing, I just can't believe that they actually have a chance and I'm going to miss it.

1. The last time the Phillies won the World Series, I was 1.

2. They went to the World Series and lost in 1993.

3. Its been over 100 seasons since any Philadelphia sports team has won their championship.

4. I'm a season ticket holder and have already given up my playoff tickets to friends.

5. The beginning of this year (February) I sent out a manifesto entitled, "Why the Phillies will win the World Series in 2008." Turns out it was quite insightful. If only I could put that knowledge to practical use.

6. I am a ridiculous die hard Phillies fan.

7. I haven't been able to sleep well the last 2 nights, knowing that they were playing.

This all may sound insane, but thats what its like to be a Philadelphia fan. You get absolutely wrapped up in the passion and hope of the city. All fears and hopes can lie on one series, one game, one pitch.

For these reasons, I've decided my best course of action is to fly home for the World Series. When the Phillies smash the foolish Dodgers in the National League Championship, I'm on a plane.

Yes, the ticket is expensive. Yes, this might not be the most financially responsible purchase ever. But, this is a once in a lifetime type thing. I have traveled all over in my life. Each trip always costs money. But, I'll remember those trips for the rest of my life, not the mere money it cost.

Work will be cool with it. I am only a volunteer. I'm sure they'll be able to tell how inportant this is to me based on my willingness to pay for the plane ticket. Plus, if theres a problem, I'll just tell them to add 2 weeks onto the end of my contract.

I may be stupid, or insane, but the answer is clear to me. Let's go PHILLIES!!