C'est un bon pays!

“C’est un bon pays!” (It's a good country!) – Felix, a Burundian MCC worker

After 27 hours of travel (from door to door, Akron, PA to Bujumbura, Burundi), I arrived safely! Miraculously I had almost enough sleep on the plane, all our luggage arrived intact, and we even had some fun surprises during our flights – like the earthquake in DC right after we landed and getting an ice cream bar on the plane for an extra snack! Needless to say I was still glad to arrive and meet the Mosleys (the family who lives in Bujumbura and works with MCC). This past week they did a great job of showing us around and teaching us about the culture here! (Also it has been fun spending time with their 2 children and dogs!)

Bujumbura is a small city and has a nice African feel; it reminds me a lot of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. People are quite friendly, although we got plenty of “muzungu!” calls as we walked around town (muzungo = white person). There are plenty of streetside vendors, crazy traffic, and some garbage lining the streets. I’ve heard Kigali is cleaner and more cosmopolitan. We’ll see what it’s like when I get there! (We are driving there tomorrow after church and I’ll stay with my host family beginning on Monday evening. Hope that goes well!)

Two interesting things Paul and Rebecca Mosley taught us about culture that are not natural to Americans were: 1) don’t take initiative at work and do things that aren’t asked of you (show respect and don’t threaten your boss’s authority by just waiting for another assignment); 2) strong friendships in Africa will involve sharing/lending resources (a “friendship” where money or possessions are not given/lent freely is superficial ---kind of the opposite to friendships in America!). So that will be interesting! I’m sure I will learn a lot the hard way but I am glad to learn what I can so I can try to “fit in” in Kigali!

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures at the moment (my camera didn’t make it with me to the internet café) so I will show you a map of Rwanda and some stats that I learned and will give you a picture of where I will be headed tomorrow. Be thinking of us as we drive across the border; hopefully we won’t have any issues and Annie will be able to get through easily (it’s a bit more complicated for Canadians than Americans)!

I will be in Kicukiro, KIGALI.

• Rwanda is known as the “land of a thousand hills” and the “land of eternal spring” (consistent temperatures --avg high = 79; avg low = 57)!
• Languages: Kinyarwanda (everyone), French and English (depending on education/age) – English is now a second official language and it’s use is increasing
• People groups: Hutu (84%), Tutsi (15%) – the tension from the 1994 genocide between these groups stemmed from Belgian colonization favoring one group; tensions began even before Rwanda’s independence in 1962. Things are better now – President Paul Kagame has helped unite the country and bring economic progress as well J
• Religion: Christian! (57% Catholic, 37% Protestant, 5% Muslim)
• Population: 11 million in Rwanda – 965,000 of which are in Kigali (42% of population is <15 years old; life expectancy is 57)
• Interesting facts:

o   The leading tourist attraction in Rwanda are the mountain gorillas

o   The last Saturday in each month is called “umuganda” and everyone helps clean the streets. Also there are laws forbidding walking on public grass, having any plastic bags, what kind of roofs are allowed for houses on large public roads, etc. – Keep it orderly and looking good!

o   50% of Parliament members are women – another law!

Rwanda sounds like an amazing place…I’m so glad I’m going to live there!

P.S. I’ve heard there is a “New York Bagel” shop close to my work and also plenty of other foods I like at home…I think I’m going to like it in Kigali! J