In May of 2017, I researched, taught english, volunteered, and explored in the country of Rwanda. For more on my trip you can visit the blog post: Rw: life apart from a life a part from a life & Safari 101
Rwanda has charm and untouched beauty. But don’t let her fool you- the second you think you have her all figured out, she amazes you again.
Rwanda holds many “firsts” for me. It is my first time on the continent of Africa. It is my first time not surrounded by tourists while traveling. It is my first time living and interning abroad. I am in a liminal phase- caught between the “everyday” and being a confused westerner. I have a steady routine here on week days: coffee, yoga, teach english, make veggie stir-fries. But the second I step out of my house, I am amazed and reminded just how different Rwanda is than life back home. I walk down the streets and about every three minutes, somebody shakes my hand or introduces themselves to me. It is totally normal to walk down the street and say to everyone in the general vicinity “Amakuru?” (how are you) to which you get a sea of “Ni Meza”s (I’m fine). Rwandans are friendly to the nth degree. They are people watchers and no move goes unnoticed here. At least once a day, I am entered into a long conversation to exchange a sort of verbal venn diagram of cultural differences and similarities. America seems so foreign to the people I have met. Our accents are inaudible (they are used to French or British-English when they are not speaking in their native Kinyarwanda) and our customs are even more of an oddity. I look around and I see a man with 15 feet of mattresses stacked on his head. I see a woman with a sleeping baby strapped to her back via blanket and 10 watermelons and a machete (indicating the watermelons are fresh from the vine) on a basket balanced upon her head. Another woman, instead of carrying her hiking backpack, balances it on her head. I notice a muddy well at nighttime with toddlers and children gathering water in big yellow tanks to take back home. I see a man taking a leisurely jog in flip-flops, jeans, and a button down. Yet these differences are not disconnected and rigid to me but welcomed. I make friends quickly here and every friend I have gained has treated me like family throughout my visit. I see the connectedness of the people. Communities and niches where everyone has a place. Every stranger is eager to help you- whether it’s helping you find your way back home or teaching you an hour long history and cultural lesson. Life is slow paced and thoroughly experienced here.
