Cutting our COGS

It was a busy day with meetings.  First, we had a visitor from the Eastern Region of Rwanda.  It was a woman from the US working at one of the Universities considering opening a restaurant for the students.  I think she was really overwhelmed after our conversation.  Not sure she will do it after I told her we still have not made money after three years!!  I tried to be very positive but realistic.

We had a meeting with the managers to prepare for our staff meeting.  We were all in hysterics.  I am trying to get them to reduce the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) by cutting down on the ingredients. One of the guys they cook for each day was eating his meal and I was whispering that they put too much food on his plate.  Louise was laughing so hard she was crying.

We had a big discussion on the amount of juice to pour in a glass… I said to only fill it to a certain line.  Poor Julienne, she just looked so sad and was shaking her head.  We finally compromised between where I wanted them to pour versus where they currently pour.  It was a big discussion in Kinyarwanda; sometimes I am glad I don’t know what they are saying.

I made them weigh the amount of potatoes in fries to cut down on potatoes and oil, which is very expensive. They thought I was nuts!!  It is hard to get them to change their ways.  But we have to start making a profit!!!

I finally met Louise’s boyfriend.  I kept asking her if this or that boy is her boyfriend, because all these guys are hanging around.  When she told me her boyfriend lived in Kigali, I explained to her that her boyfriend was GU; he lives 2.5 hours away from Butare.   It was really a crackup.  She told her boyfriend and he was laughing. 

Everyday I meet very interesting people volunteering in Rwanda.  I met a new group of Peace Corp ladies.  They invited me to Chinese… what is with everyone going to this Chinese restaurant!!  I passed and went to the local grocery store and got some fried food.  Can’t change my diet at this point.

It is hard to believe that I am winding down.  Every time I go to a place I go through stages:

Why am I doing this stage?

Can’t wait to go home stage because I am homesick?  (this is around the 3^rd week)

Settling in Stage

Hate to leave stage

So it is typical that I am starting to feel at home and becoming part of the community.  I really do wish I could stay a little longer.  With only one month, I really did not get to do all the tourist activities either.  Perhaps I will need to come back next year?  That is a discussion for September, when I make my decision for the next adventure.

Have a great evening, Paula