Yesterday we had the privilege of showing off the Bank and a “trust group” of micro loan clients to the White House staffers, who were quite remarkable in their youthfulness, brilliance, depth of knowledge, and enthusiasm. To my young 20something friends (and a bit older), I encourage you to consider pursuing such a position in government. They all seemed to be having a blast as they accomplish great things. I now count some of them friends and hope to see them again in Rwanda (or D.C.).
The White House staffers left today, and I have had an opportunity to turn to some menial matters, which has been an adventure: Open a “dollar account” account in a major bank (that you have never heard of, because even here in the capital, there are no banks that you have ever heard of); open an RF (Rwandan Franc) account in our Bank, Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda; open a cell phone account in one place and purchase a cell phone in a completely different place; exchange money (at neither of the two banks at which I have accounts, but rather with a money changer); and look at houses to lease (without success). This would all be almost impossible for me to do (or it certainly would have taken me 5 days, rather than one), but for my great friend, Matt Smith, who has lived here a year and knows everybody and all the secrets of getting around. He is a godsend. But even with Matt’s invaluable assistance, everything is an ordeal. Because labor is so cheap and technology is just being introduced, everything is quite “laborious”. I met and worked with 5 different people to complete the opening of my account at the major bank, and I still have to return to them and provide a photograph. (Yes, they require a photograph, but they don’t take it.) And EVERYBODY seems to require “a letter” before you can do anything,… even to open a cell phone account,… and it apparently does not matter what the letter says, just “bring me a letter”. But I mustn’t be misunderstood: I love this beautiful place and these beautiful people. They are very kind and gracious. They are working very hard to move from being an undeveloped to a developed country. I have great respect for them, and know that it is I who has the most to learn, starting with patience.
Not About Me
- Tom Allen
- Kigali, Rwanda
- I am reluctant to do the Bio thing. Nothing "about me" should be the focus here, except as this open journal may resonate with (or provoke) your own thoughts. But I offer this much: After 30 years as an attorney, I am now a typical Halftimer who is determined to move beyond success to significance. Inspired and convicted by three sons (Tommy, Nathan & Wesley) who live passionate and adventurous lives, I am now privileged to participate in the exciting social changes and development occurring in Rwanda and elsewhere in Africa, hoping to empower the desperately poor. But I must be very clear on this: I am just your average coward. Suffering and sacrifice are very foreign concepts to me. However, I now believe that life comfortably ensconced in a safe cocoon misses out on too much of what might be learned, experienced, and shared with others in the Majority World, many of whom are crying out in desperate need, and some of whom beam with smiles and contentment such as I have seldom seen. I want to know them and their lives.
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments