After a day and a half of traveling, Carl Wilkens and I have arrived in BEAUTIFUL Kigali, Rwanda. We were picked up by his dear friend Pastor Sereya and taken to his house where we sipped apple juice and ate delicious Rwandan bananas with he and his amazing wife. We plan on returning to their house for a dinner this week for an authentic Rwandan meal.
As we drove through the streets of Kigali today I was immediately impressed by:
-the cleanliness of the city
-the development going on
-the beauty of the rolling green hills, trees and flowers
-the friendly business of the city--it is joyfully active
-the intense curiosity Rwandans have if us--especially the children...Gorgeous children's voices calling out playfully "Mzungu"...a term for foreigner and "Bon Jour" and "Hallo!"
After getting my first general taste of Kigali, I have to say it is mind boggling to imagine that the genocide happened here just 17 years ago. Beyond the memorials, there is nothing visually to suggest this is anything other than a crowded, newly-prosperous, African city with its share of juxtaposing beauty and blight, prosperity and poverty.
The guest house where we are staying overlooks the city. The manager of the house is busy making us a dinner of rice, beans, sweet potatoes and peanut sauce. Below are pics from the balcony of our room.
Namaste'
These pictures are great. Have Carl take one of you. We forgot to tell you that your award for the project made the Buffalo News yesterday. Here is the link- http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article307797.ece
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! In case this link doesn't work, go to Buffalonews.com and search The Anne Frank Project.
Nate wants to add that the Lakers beat the Knicks by 22!! Final score was 109-87!! The BCS championship college football title went to Auburn. :)
So fun to read of your first impressions!! You and Carl will have such a wonderful time there! Thanks for giving him this opportunity!! Teresa
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