Angel explained that before the genocide the number of women in the parliament was extremely reduced and rights for women were negligible when compared with men. ·The number of women educated was very low, and many families had boys going to school, and girls doing the house work:· Since the genocide, Angel has renewed hopes for her post-graduate plans. ·'Once I have graduated from college, I'll be able to accomplish my tasks. I don't know whether I'll be among the representatives in the parliament; but as a woman I won't believe that rm not able. I will have self confidence in whatever I'll do." She concluded our discussion by saying. "now that women occupy the high posts in government, even in the countryside. women participate in the execution and the development of the country. Husbands and wives now participate [in] different meetings, and women find many associations [in order] to fight against poverty, which is different (than] before the genocide when women hadn't any speech.''
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While I sat in the mess hall at the St F • · p . . . . · ranc,s guest house eating p1.11ea pie, I tried to immerse myself 10 all the excited con . . . d me . versat1ons sw1rhng aroun · But no matter how hard I tned the only thing I could th. k ab ver. 10 out was my con sation with Emestme. As workers began gathering our dirty plates and the last of the food was picked clear from the table, l felt a delicate t h Id r . . ap on my s ou e . When I turned around Emestme was standing behind me , ne rvous y twir . i·ng 1 her 1 hair between her thumb and fore finger. "I want you to come with me outside," she said suddenly. After a quick glance at her giggling friends, 1 stood up from the table and followed her out of the mess hall and into a courtyard next to our dorms.
