Meeting with locals(Rwanda)

Today while I was working on the new building at the village moving bricks, cement and rocks, a lady from the other side of the fence with a big basket on her head and a colorful, intricately designed dress, waved at me and called me over. She pointed to her neck and at first I thought she was commenting on my necklace, but then she pointed to her stomach and throat, meaning she was hungry and thirsty. The face she made is still so vivid in my mind and my stomach just dropped wishing that I had something to give her. I thought about the bags of food I had stashed away in my guest house and felt so guilty. I managed to get her a cup of water and gave it to her through the fence. I know that one cup of water isn’t going to fix the situation she’s in, and it may even make her feel thirstier… but the difference between the village I’m in, whose kids get fed three times a day, and the village over that’s living in dirt poverty, is separated with just a thin fence which makes me think that while I’m eating my cookies and peanut butter right now, a mile away there are starving families. It really makes me re evaluate and appreciate what I have here. I came back from my break and there were two Rwandan lady workers cleaning the floors of our room. I didn’t come to Rwanda to be served and cleaned up after, I came to volunteer! So I grabbed a mop and washed with them, and Elana, another volunteer, joined in too. The ladies were so excited while they were teaching us how to do it correctly and laughing and making fun of us the whole time. We finished and me and Elana invited them for tea and crackers. They were so grateful it was unbelievable. Little by little, I really feel like I’m making connections here.

Here are some words I've learned in Kiyarwandan:
Marakuzee-thank you
Muraho-Hello
Bhura Bhura-slow