first impressions from Kigali, Rwanda

At the time I am writing is 11:34 p.m. which for Rwanda is very-very late. At 6 it gets dark and people usually go to sleep around 10-11. Kevin just told me that people here don’t party too much and the drink we had yesterday can be called a party.

I am fascinated by the surroundings, the way the things look, the way people are and behave. I am staying at Kigali Hotel which is OK but in order to understand what OK means you should know that for having a warm bath I need to go with a bucket and get water from a heating machine and than poor it with a cup on me, the shower has only cold water. I already knew about this, Vincent told me and he also told me that he got used to it J

Today I changed money, bought a SIM card & an atlas of Rwanda (my first negotiation J ), had my first Rwandese meals. The food is very tasty and I can feel is natural – tomato really tastes like tomato, eggs really taste like eggs, chicken really tastes like chicken (just like I remember from childhood when living in the countryside with my grandparents). Some unusual things poped up in my plate though: raw bananas, avocado, pumpkin and another vegetable I never ate before J

For Wednesday I had a buddy, Ahmed, he is Muslim (4 % of population) and he lives just 500 meters from my hotel. He was very kind and helpful throughout the day and he is a very interesting person, in his last year at university, previous involvement in youth organisations.

I also had my first meeting with Kevin and even though it was short we agreed on some things for the next days. Tomorrow I wake up at 7 and go with him at the university to prepare for Friday – their biggest event in their 1-year short history.

As taxi I used motorcycles today and I liked it very much!!! Some other cool stuff: prices are not fixed for many of the products (you need to bargain), they have cars with wheels on both left & right, internet is very-very slow ...

The best part so far was my reception at the airport, I never felt so welcomed in my entire life. Around 20 members were waiting for me for almost 2 hours as my plane was delayed, I shaked the hands of the girls, touched 3 times my side-forehead with the boys (their traditional way of greeting), listened to them singing in a chorus “The lion sleeps tonight” and “welcome to Rwanda, Daniel!” – I was so-so-so impressed by them, they were so friendly and enthusiastic about singing and meeting me J.

After we took a taxi and went to the School of Finance and Banking where we had a small get to know and drank juice – Coca Cola products made in Rwanda, it tastes differently and also the botles are different. I got to explain them about the MC flieces & dog, that I am not from Belgium but from Romania. Finally we went to the hotel where I spent my first night.

In just 30 hours so many new things happen, I am a bit overwhelmed but looking forward for the days to come J

Here are some pictures from these 2 days http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=9856&id=503656679&pwstdfy=95e4f04eaea4b5b3298dafed334df6fe

PS: while walking on the streets some people call me Muzungu and they scream after me - it means white man.