Paula Unplugged 2013

It is hard to believe that I am on my 4^th adventure.  This year it is Rwanda, Africa.  Every year it is harder and harder to leave for a long period of time, so I am limiting my journey to only one month. 

I am very excited about the opportunity to work with an NGO in Rwanda.  I will be assisting the women’s co-op to build their ice cream store into a profitable operation.  Blue Marble Ice Cream out of New Jersey started the Rwanda NGO.  Their goal is to help women become financially independent through a business opportunity, ice cream stores, as well as provide business opportunities for local farmers to supply the products that go into making good ice cream.

It has been a struggle for the Rwanda women’s co-op.  A woman from Bpeace has been there to assist for the last few months and I will be taking over her efforts, when she returns to the states.

Now you are probably wondering: “What do I know about the ice cream industry”.  I have asked myself that also!!  I hope to apply my business experience in looking at productivity and policies that will be able to make the operation more efficient.  Perhaps a new person can see things that others can’t??  I hope so.  I would feel terrible if I could not add value to their operation.

My other goal is not to eat all the ice cream.  I am hoping to lose a few pounds on this trip.  It may be hard working in an ice cream store, which is one of my favorite desserts.

I also will be responsible for teaching English. This is something I wanted to do for some time, so I am excited to be able to develop a curriculum and test it out on the Rwanda women.  I don’t know if they know they are my first students.  I do not know one word of  Kinyarwanda, which is the Rwandan language.

While I am in Rwanda I hope to visit my chickens.  Yes, I did say chickens.  Last year I gave my 6 grandchildren chickens for Easter that were given to various families in Rwanda.  I will get to meet these families and make sure my chickens are healthy and producing eggs.  If they are, I hope I can convince others to donate more chickens. 

I arrive in two days…. The airtime is over 24 hours not counting layovers.  I already had a hard day with plane delays and baggage that did not arrive.  Obviously, I can’t leave without my luggage.  I may have packed more than I need.  You think I would be getting better at this, but I am actually packing for Rwanda, Pennsylvania, and St. Thomas.  I was still able to fit it into one bag, but all the liquids required a check in.  Of course, I brought my hair dye and peroxide.  I learned from Italy.

Thanks for following my adventure to Rwanda, Paula