First Glimpses of Rwanda

Since being in  Rwanda for over a week now, I have had ample time to experience the cuisine.  Typical Rwandan food is very heavy, lots of starches (like potatoes, cassava, rice, plantanes) and carbs (like pasta, bread).  It is very filling! I wouldn’t doubt gaining 10 lbs before I return home.  The fruit here is amazing as well!  

I started off my journey lodging a hostel type place in Kigali.  Kigali is the capital of Rwanda and is home to over 1 million people. It is said that Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa so you can imagine how crowded the city is.  The streets are filled with buses, motor taxis, cars, and pedestrians, which makes crossing the street a gamble at times.  Below is a scene in Kigali with many locals enjoying a football game.

 Outside of Kigali, Rwanda is filled with agriculture.  Today we were able to explore more of the countryside and see several fields.  Below is a picture of the rolling hills (Rwanda is nicknamed the Land of a Thousand Hills) filled with tea plantations.

The people of Rwanda are extremely kind and welcoming.  Their kind hearts and openness to visitors is touching, considering their tragic past with inaction from the international community.  Our group of 15 (mostly North Americans) has been united with our Rwanda counterparts to make up a team of 30+ young human rights activists.  The intercultural dialogue has been amazing and so fun.  It’s easy to realize how alike people really are. Here is a picture of my awesome new friend, Patrick.  He knows what’s up.