Muraho! After a very long and trying journey to Africa, where almost every leg of our flight had to be rescheduled, we finally made it here to Rwanda. We have been here for two days so far and so far we are absolutely loving it. There is so much to see and to take in, but somehow the pace here in Africa keeps it from becoming too overwhelming. The people here are beautiful.
Yesterday, we went to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It was a very moving exhibit explaining the events leading up to the genocide that is depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda, as well as sharing information about other genocides around the world.
We have done a little shopping in a very westernized (though quite small) mall and have spent a lot of time exploring the neighborhood. The Rwandans stare at us a lot as they aparently do with all "muzungus" (aka whities), which incidentally I love because it feeds my delusions that I am a beloved celebrity. I have had several amazing interactions with neighborhood children, including a group of kids who were carrying bundles of bamboo and who kept yelling "Muzungu" and trying to speak to us in French. I took pictures which I will post when I get home.
Today we spent part of the day in a Mother Theresa orphanage feeding little babies and loving on (being tackled by) toddlers. I didn't get to take pictures inside but if I spent the rest of my trip feeding babies and being tackled by toddlers at the Mother Theresa orphanage, I think I would be happy. The kids there are well taken care of and seemed happy. I don't mean to say that their circumstances and lives are not completely sad and devastating, but the kids there are just so beautiful.
I think none of what I'm saying is making sense. It is past 2 in the morning and I need to go to sleep. Maybe when I get home I'll edit this so that it says what I'm trying to say. Until then you're on your own to figure it out.
Tomorrow we are going to visit a different type of children's home which also serves the needs of widowed women. I'm looking forward to this experience. I also think we are going to get out of Kigali and experience some more of the Rwandan countryside. In that case it will be a few days before I am able to write again.
Yesterday, we went to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It was a very moving exhibit explaining the events leading up to the genocide that is depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda, as well as sharing information about other genocides around the world.
We have done a little shopping in a very westernized (though quite small) mall and have spent a lot of time exploring the neighborhood. The Rwandans stare at us a lot as they aparently do with all "muzungus" (aka whities), which incidentally I love because it feeds my delusions that I am a beloved celebrity. I have had several amazing interactions with neighborhood children, including a group of kids who were carrying bundles of bamboo and who kept yelling "Muzungu" and trying to speak to us in French. I took pictures which I will post when I get home.Today we spent part of the day in a Mother Theresa orphanage feeding little babies and loving on (being tackled by) toddlers. I didn't get to take pictures inside but if I spent the rest of my trip feeding babies and being tackled by toddlers at the Mother Theresa orphanage, I think I would be happy. The kids there are well taken care of and seemed happy. I don't mean to say that their circumstances and lives are not completely sad and devastating, but the kids there are just so beautiful.
I think none of what I'm saying is making sense. It is past 2 in the morning and I need to go to sleep. Maybe when I get home I'll edit this so that it says what I'm trying to say. Until then you're on your own to figure it out.
Tomorrow we are going to visit a different type of children's home which also serves the needs of widowed women. I'm looking forward to this experience. I also think we are going to get out of Kigali and experience some more of the Rwandan countryside. In that case it will be a few days before I am able to write again.
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