Kigali and Bunyonyi!

Hi Everyone!

Evan and I just returned from a week of travelling in western Uganda and Rwanda. Last Tuesday we took a 9 hour bus ride from Kampala to Kigali, Rwanda and spent three nights with our friend Elena (and our new friends Ally and Elizabeth). We could have spent a week with them and never been bored... it was so nice to see a familiar face, stay up late talking (and eating), and reflect on our very different experiences in the middle of this diverse continent.

Rwanda is a small, complex country with absolutely beautiful landscapes and a tragic piece of history that has left physical, emotional, and psychological scars on every citizen. Obviously being there for 3 days only gave us a glimpse of the nation and it’s people, but it was incredible nonetheless. We visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial and were impressed with the museum/education center. The genocide in 1994 is so difficult to learn about, not only because of the horrific atrocities that were commited, but also because it all could have been prevented or curtailed with some international support. However, if someone didn’t know about the events that took place in the 90’s, a visit to Kigali would make you feel like it’s a utopia (especially if you’ve seen other African cities). In 2008 is was ranked the #1 cleanest city on the entire continent. You’re not allowed to walk on the grass, workers spend the day picking up litter, and plastic bags are illegal. Besides being clean, it’s quiet, there’s very little traffic, people follow driving laws, motorcycle taxis can only have one passenger on board AND they have to be wearing a helmet. It’s a different world from Uganda. But, as our friends kept reminding us, Rwanda prides itself on it’s appearance, yet the pleasant exterior hides many issues, tensions, and corruption underneath the surface. And, to give credit where it’s due, I think Ugandan people as a whole are friendlier than Rwandans. And, lastly, being a tourist or temporary resident in Uganda is much easier because many, many people speak English, while in Rwanda they mostly only speak French and Kinyarwanda.

A litle bit about what our friends are doing in Rwanda… Elena, Ally, and Elizabeth are volunteering at Les Enfants de Dieu, a center for boys who had at one time lived on the street, but have now decided to work towards a better life. There are about 140 boys there, and the center has its own school for grades 1 and 2. The goal of the center is to give the boys a place to live, a proper education, and eventually to reintigrate them back into their families. What really makes this place unique is the ‘ministry system’ that runs the center. The boys elect various ministers (of sports, education, health, administration, etc) that each have specific roles and responsibilities. The point of the system is to teach the boys valuable life skills AND ensure that everything that goes on at the center is in their best interest. It’s a brilliant idea and we got to see just how well it can work when the staff respects the system and and boys. Elena, Ally, and Elizabeth have a friend named Willy who is 19 yers old and reintigrated, from the center, back to his mother’s home about 2 years ago. He’s really incredible… he’s funny, intelligent, motivated, thoughtful, curious, and kind. The girls say that there are many boys that came from the center that are dong as well as Willy now, but unfortunately right now the staff at the center are making some waves an not putting theboys needs first. But luckily the boys have people like Elena, Ally, Elizabeth, and Willy, who are all doing great work and will continue to be connected to the center long after they leave. If you’re interested to learn more about their time in Rwanda, check out Elena or Ally’s blog!

When we left Kigali we took a taxi bus to the border and then a private taxi to Lake Bunyonyi. Fran and Elena had both encouraged us to visit this lake in western Uganda that has 35 islands popping up from the middle. We stayed at Byoona Amagara and had a great time. Our room was called a geodome, and basically it’s a sturdy, weatherproofed hut with an open front, built into the side of a hill. So, while laying in bed we could see the water and a couple other islands. It rained on and off for our entire stay, but the time to sit and relax was all we needed. Plus we got to watch an incredible thunderstorm over the water one night, while sitting on our covered porch. The food was extremely cheap at the resort’s restaurant and it was all delicious. They had everything from crepes to breakfast sandwiches to burritos to fish to pizza to pasta… it might not sound that impressive but it’s a change from the typical Ugandan diet. My pictures don’t do this place justice because it was overcast most of the time, and my camera isn’t great, but I’ll put some pictures up soon. You can check out the resort website for some pictures too.

So after a week away it’s nice to be back home in Entebbe. We missed it a lot, and I think we realized just how hard it will be to leave here in a couple months. The kids have no school until Tuesday because of Easter, so we have plenty of time to catch up with them and work on some literacy stuff at home. I hope all is well at home, and Happy Easter to everyone!