HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009As I cannot forget my birthday, I will never forget 2008. This year was mysterious to me, a lot of things happened as fast as I could not imagine. Although most of them were successfully achieved, some were horrifying … terribly perceived … interpreted… they were like the decaying side of a fruit in composting pit.
The idiom says “Chances knocks but once”. The valuable issue is to know how to make them fruitful. I took my opportunity, stepped out the ambiguity, and find my way to the United States of America, not us a tourist or a clandestine person, but like an Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate student … in the swimming pool of technology, worldwide smartest people, scientists, … the university that most of the students dream about … the best of the best … Hard to get in and out … as Shania
Twain, the singer, said in her song … from this moment … this time I am not interpreting it like a lover … but like someone who is saying that life has begun… it is challenging to be in MIT, but it is enjoyable. When you are in this university, you forget about days and nights, because all seem to be the working days, then there is no way that you can be able to differentiate days from nights … working most of the 24 hours and sleeping less … it is really cool … anywhere … let us do some chronology, just going through what happened in 2008.
January 2008:
Twain, the singer, said in her song … from this moment … this time I am not interpreting it like a lover … but like someone who is saying that life has begun… it is challenging to be in MIT, but it is enjoyable. When you are in this university, you forget about days and nights, because all seem to be the working days, then there is no way that you can be able to differentiate days from nights … working most of the 24 hours and sleeping less … it is really cool … anywhere … let us do some chronology, just going through what happened in 2008.January 2008:
MIT fellowship award from the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 50% of the total funds I needed to attend MIT graduate program in civil and environmental engineering was guaranteed
For the second time, I enjoyed to work with MIT student, Kelly, who was on research in Rwanda; her study was related to rainwater harvesting
For the second time, I enjoyed to work with MIT student, Kelly, who was on research in Rwanda; her study was related to rainwater harvesting
February 2008:
The government of Rwanda confirmed the fellowship. This decision provided me with the total confidence of securing funds that were remaining to fulfill MIT fees requirements
I presented water accessibility project in front of DFGFI Board meeting member, who then after visited my field activities
Received a confirmation letter that I was going to be among the presenters in a 5th Scientific Conference on Environmental Health organized at East African Level
March 2008:
I had a special birthday. During the birthday party, I received special three gifs, but the most attractive of these was the red rose flowers. Most of my friends were concerned about who may have brought them, but I have always kept this as a secret. Only because I could not be able to respond to them. I will ever forget how the same time was too uncertainly; something important was being taken off my hands. On the same day I saw that the sunshine of my days was going far away. If you have been reading poems, I am sure you will get the meaning of the aforementioned sentences.
April 2008:
I found my way to the 5th scientific conference that was held in Kampala, Uganda. I gave a presentation on water and sanitation in rural Areas. It was amazing to be connected to this people.
At the end of April, I had a call… guess what? I was awarded MIT Legatum Center Fellowship; this was my first award at worldwide level. I was selected among a lot of applicants with different expertise, but my innovation ideas had a good outstanding and made me to be among the 12 first born of the Center. Now I am sharpening my entrepreneurship knowledge. The major dream is to have a company that will help the developing world to address water accessibility related issues
At the end of April, I had a call… guess what? I was awarded MIT Legatum Center Fellowship; this was my first award at worldwide level. I was selected among a lot of applicants with different expertise, but my innovation ideas had a good outstanding and made me to be among the 12 first born of the Center. Now I am sharpening my entrepreneurship knowledge. The major dream is to have a company that will help the developing world to address water accessibility related issues
May 2008:
I received the most important document from the government of Rwanda which was the letter confirming my scholarship funds
My Sister, Claudine, got married. She had a lovely wedding party, and this was also a big day for her, because she found the love of her heart, that she waited six years. During these six years, his boyfriend was studying abroad; she used to act like a web master, all time in cyber café charting with him, sending messages, and pictures. I think she is a witness of the role of internet in enhancing Love between eloigned people - for the six years - she might have learned a lot about it than anybody else.
I received my I-20 document, this time, I knew that I was about to leave
June 2008:
I received an American student visa. This was the fastest document among all the paper work I had to go through in order to come in USA
I stepped on Logan Airport; I was in USA, Boston. My dreams were coming true. I was attending a MIT
I also recall that somebody may have been hurt, because light was covered by the darkness. I strongly apologize for that, but sometimes things begin shine, and end black. That is what happened to the three special gifs received on my birthday
I stepped on Logan Airport; I was in USA, Boston. My dreams were coming true. I was attending a MIT
I also recall that somebody may have been hurt, because light was covered by the darkness. I strongly apologize for that, but sometimes things begin shine, and end black. That is what happened to the three special gifs received on my birthday
July 2008:
I visited MIT, and did registration. What a wonderful university! I was impressed more
I discovered a lot about America culture, I learned a lot in New Hampshire, where I was living
I visited New York City. I saw the city before in movies, and this time it was alive
More interesting, I received an important telephone call, and I will ever forget it, but I cannot tell what message it carried. That day I saw the moon.
August 2008:
I discovered a lot about America culture, I learned a lot in New Hampshire, where I was living
I visited New York City. I saw the city before in movies, and this time it was alive
More interesting, I received an important telephone call, and I will ever forget it, but I cannot tell what message it carried. That day I saw the moon.
August 2008:
I started living in my apartment, MIT, but I was disappointed because the fact that it had a messy kitchen, it was disorganized. Since then, I have done my best to improve things and make it cleaner and nicer.
For the first time, I went on white water rifting trip organized by Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
We also had a lot of orientation talks, which helped us to know more about MIT and its services
For the first time, I went on white water rifting trip organized by Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
We also had a lot of orientation talks, which helped us to know more about MIT and its services
September 2008
I started my classes in MIT and Harvard University; I was being challenged by the new education system.
I had a Dinner and meeting with the President of Rwanda, who was in MIT for the Campton Lecture. He is very encouraging for us, Rwandese students, who had a chance to attend these most desired schools in the world, and even other universities abroad.
October 2008
MIT Legatum Center was publically launched. As I am among MIT fellows, I attended that event, and we, fellows, were among the special guest of the day. The movie showing our business ideas were broadcasted for the first time in front of the audience that included even some of the recent Nobel Prize winners in economics, the fathers of economic theories
I experienced my first Halloween day in the United States of America; it was really interesting to see how my friends changed with their costumes
November 2008
The busiest month of the year, we had a lot of work in classes. I remember that I slept a little during this month, because much time was spent in books
I enjoyed also my first thanks giving holiday. I enjoyed the turkey and other special food of the day
December 2008
December 2008
Again at the end of the year, the milestone of time measurement, we will be dancing, charting that we are a step ahead. We will all add one year one our age. When I was born I found it to be so, but interestingly I always question the time consideration. I think the death of someone is his chronometer, once it shows up, you time is over. You will be moved from the real to the history. People will start to say that they knew you – past- Let us just do our best to help others, to leave the world a better place as Michel Jackson sang.
During this December, I enjoyed Christmas parties, and received some of the results of my classes where I did my best. I got 2 A and a B, which is good for my first semester in MIT, a totally learning different system compared in what I have been in.
Oh it was a long year, isn’t it? But I tried my best, and things seem to be working out well for me. May the Almighty keeps shining his light on my way, and stay on my side. I still have a long way to go, I am happy that I still have my both parents, and siblings. My childhood was not so easy, and the time ahead may be more complicated than I could imagine, because sometime things can change as quick as we aren’t able to know how they happened like nights cooling down in deserts after a long day of sunshine.
Wishing you a prosperous New Year 2009
Today is Christmas and I have got my gifts. Have you got yours? 
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