On the topic of Muslims in Rwanda mentioned in my last post, instead of writing a new post, I’m inviting you all to watch the movie Kinyarwanda on YouTube and let the voices of Rwanda themselves tell you their story.    Allahu akbar.     (God is great.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jc8bAym7DE Here is the summary of it from YouTube: At the time…Read more »

For a moment, I forgot where I was.  Perhaps I was lulled into complacency by the German Butchery I had frequented in Kigali, where eggs were sold in little plastic cartons, just like those at home, although only six to a set instead of twelve, and meat and poultry wer laid out in sterile silver…Read more »

Today I woke up under a cloud of sea green mosquito netting and the sounds of Africa.   A national holiday was declared last night by the federal government, with less than 24 hours short notice.   Today, President Kagame, who lives in the heart of the people of Rwanda, as well as in the eyes of…Read more »

“If you really knew me and you really knew yourself,  you would not have killed me.”               From one of the plaques in the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The Kigali Genocide Memorial, as well as others throughout Rwanda, was created for two purposes:  To provide a place for Rwandans to go to remember their loved ones, and…Read more »

Peace Corps has a very extensive application process.   In my case, although I applied  soon after the position was advertised at the end of 2016,  it took me three months to get pre-medical approval, during which I had to provide all sorts of documentation of things such as I won’t die without allergy shots, I…Read more »

So I went for my second solo adventure on Sunday.  With my bus pass in hand and my map of Kigali that I had bought during my first solo, I took off to find myself unattached to other abazungu (foreigners).   I find when I am with other abazungu, I don’t pay attention to my surroundings as…Read more »

For the first time in my life, I am in a place where I can use all the languages which I speak with some degree of fluency at one time.   It is amazing.    In February, Rwanda has made Swahili it fourth official language, in addition to French, English, and Kinyarwanda.   It is unique in East…Read more »

So the journey begins, 24 hours from now, I’ll be in Kigali, Rwanda.    In an act of great faith that I will ever see them again, I entrust what are now almost all my worldly possessions for over a year over to a total stranger, who puts strips of paper with BRUS-KIG on them, and…Read more »

So today, the car that was to take me to the airport arrived early.  I was just getting ready to bid the home that has held and soothed my soul and spirit for the past 34 years farewell.  It has been sold.  I will never be back.  I told the driver that I wanted to…Read more »