Thursday july 16

I’m learning more about Rwandan society and Rwandan culture. Here are a few observations
1. The leadership is incredibly busy, probably too busy. No one rests of takes a vacation. They feel they have to restore Rwanda with very little time to do it in
2. Rwandans are very strong, very resilient. They bear troubles without talking about them. In fact, they keep all of their inner life to themselves. This cultural train will need some modification to do any trauma healing.
3. Everyone is trying to maintain an sense of normalcy and moving ahead. The emotional impact of the trauma, and almost everyone has been traumatized, is walled off. When it cannot be contained it manifests itself in drug and alchohol use, compulsive unsafe sexual behavior, family conflict.
4. Everyone I speak to says that Rwandans need hope and trust.

Also, a very productive meeting with Jean de Dieu Mucyo, executive secretary of the National Commision to fight against genocide. They are enthusiastic about collaboration with Yeshiva, and also my sabbatical where I would teach and train re trauma.