Our electricity may have been out all day, but I still had a great Thanksgiving will a few of my favorite people here in Rwanda. Here are a few pictures to show you what Thanksgiving looks like in Africa, and also to introduce you to a few of my friends here.
Vestine, or "Shami" as she likes to be called, joined the FH Staff about two months ago as the student life coordination assistant. Shami is one of the sweetest, most kind hearted people I've ever met. She has an incredible heart for God that she never hesitates to share with others. She has been quite a blessing to have around.
Nate, as you can probably tell, is not Rwandan. He is one of a few Americans on staff here in Rwanda. Nate runs a water project about an hour outside Kigali, and I have spent the last six weeks or so helping him do the accounting for his project. He has lived more places and experienced more by 24 than most people ever do, and is never short of stories. He also helps me keep my sarcastic sense of humor sharp - sarcasm is lost on Rwandans.
Aidah is our cook and housekeeper at the guesthouse here in Kigali. She is also one of the most entertaining people I have ever met. She has broken every stereotype I have ever had about African women. She yells constantly, loves dancing and beer, and shares her opinions on people without a second thought. She's also an amazing cook.
I hadn't really made Thanksgiving dinner before. I was pretty proud with my first ever attempt - especially considering the circumstances. I couldn't have done it without Aidah and our gas oven.
As you can see, even though I wasn't with my family, and things looked a little different than they usually do, it was a great Thankgiving. I have so much to be thankful for.
With a little over 3 weeks to go before I board a plane (well 4 planes..) bound for home, and as I'm watching a lot of my American friends here leave ahead of me to go back to the states, I'm starting to get a little more excited to come home. I am also starting to realize all the things I am going to miss here. With that in mind, I have compiled my top 10 lists of things I am excited for back at home and things I will miss in Rwanda. Enjoy.
Top 10 things I'll miss about Rwanda:
1. Being constantly surrounded by natural beauty - hills, volcanoes, blue skies, flowers, the list goes on and on.. 2. Being a part of and learning about a new culture and its history 3. Lots of downtime - my internship is my only real responsibility here and I don't remember the last time I had so few things to fill my day 4. Mornings out on the front porch - spending time with God in the mornings while looking out over the beauty of Rwanda has become one of my favorite things here 5. Weather - Rwanda's climate is about as close to perfect as it gets - a few hot days here and there, but most of the time it's mid 70's and rains for a couple hours everyday. Perfect. 6. Conversations - having the tough conversations about poverty, development, western involvement in Africa and other similar issues with Americans who are passionate about the same things I am but who have been here longer and know so much more than me. So much to think about. 7. The wonderful Rwandese and Ugandan people I have met - they are so warm despite all they have been through. .They are more than willing to share the best parts of their country with me as I explore and spend time here. 8. Traveling - I have gotten to see so much of Rwanda and even Uganda in the time I've been here 9. Walking everywhere - the built in exercise of living in Africa is great. Unfortunately the midwest winter weather will prevent me from carrying on this practice when I get home. 10. Being in Africa - I don't know exactly what role Africa will play in my future..but I know that I've loved my time here and that this place will always be a part of my life in some way...
Top 10 things I'm excited to return to:
1. My family & friends - I can't wait to be back with all the people who mean the most to me and to share life with them again! 2. Sunday mornings at my church 3. Ease of communication - being able to speak the same language as everyone around me 4. Spurs & Vikings games - and just the sporting world in general 5. Diet Pepsi 6. Whole grain bread - this stuff is hard to come by here 7. Christmas! I'm excited to get to celebrate the holiday without having to be around for most of the commercialized season 8. My cell phone - not having to rely on skype or facebook to talk to the people I love 9. My car - walking here is great, but it will be nice to be able to go where I want, even after dark. 10 More conversations - being able to process the last few months of my life with the wonderful people in my life who share my passion for Africa & social justice - I can't wait for their insight!
Five weeks from today, assuming Skyteam doesn't change any of my flights, I will arrive back in the US. I'm not really sure at this point how I feel about coming back. I am feeling at home in Rwanda, gaining confidence in traveling the country, and building several good friendships. I will miss the people I have met, the beautiful weather, and quiet mornings on my front porch. I am also excited to come home. I can't wait to see my family and friends, and share my experiences. I am also anxious to be removed from the African context so that I can begin to process the things I've experienced here. There have been many emotional ups and downs, frustrations and joys that I cannot fully process while I am here. One of my favorite parts of this trip has been conversations I've had with other American and European development workers and volunteers who have been here much longer than I have. Their experiences and insights, both positive and negative, have given me a lot to consider in the way I view Western involvement in developing countries and my own future involvement.
Last weekend I visited Volcano National Park here in Rwanda. It was perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Here are a few pictures:
