Team Rwanda has had so many adventures in Kigali thus far: from being locked out of our home, to having upset stomachs after trying delicious local foods, to simply wandering around and exploring this wonderful city.
We do not have internet in our home, and have therefore been enjoying the relaxed African life. We have surprised ourselves with our resourcefulness, such as using dental floss to string our mosquito nets when the nails broke! Although we’ve been documenting such humorous adventures in our personal blogs, there were some notable moments this week which we felt would be worth sharing here.
Everyone is super friendly here, but they are often taken aback to see the three of us on campus. We’ve been getting a lot of stares, and many people call out our races to us as we walk by. This is by far the biggest element of culture shock for the three of us, and makes us feel so privileged to live in ethnically-diverse Canada!
After brunch on Wednesday, our liaison, Regis, took us into the city to purchase our SIM cards and unlocked phones. Along the way, and in between stops to pick up snacks and ceiling hooks, he shared with us his pride for how far Rwanda has come in the last two decades. We were deeply touched at how much he wanted to share with us, about the genocide, about life after genocide, and about the country’s vision for the future. The most inspiring moment was when we were back on campus, and Regis pointed to another student, telling us that he was his father. He stopped, and told us that the school has an association for genocide affected students, and that the association is structurally set up like families. Each member therefore has an “adopted” set of parents, children, etc. so that students who lost members of their families during the genocide, are able to develop relationships and have someone to turn to. He also noted that everyone is welcome into the club, no matter whether they were affected by the genocide or not, as it promotes inclusivity.
All in all, it’s been a great experience thus far, and we’ve been really moved by the stories that we’ve heard. We’re really starting to feel connected to this place, and it’s only been a week! Looking forward to the adventures to come!