I MADE IT!!

So I am finally in Rwanda!  Technically I have been here for a little while, but I just now was able to get onto the internet.  I left St. Louis on the 20th and arrived the 22nd around noon.  Sorry for the length of this post, but I have so much to write about! 

Words for the wise.... NEVER EVER EVER opt out of staying in a hotel during a layover in Washington D.C.  I guess I was just not thinking, but I decided to just stay the night at Dulles in the terminal.  With all of the trouble with flights I thought I could work it out and it turned out that when I arrived everything was shutting down!  The airport shuts down at night!  Connecting flights obviously run, but none of it is a 24/7 area except the baggage claim area.  It was a disaster.  I was so exhausted at that point (I didn't sleep at all the night before leaving) that I just collapsed on one of the only benches in this little sitting area for diners.  I had to collect my checked bags as well... please picture me as the American Girl version of Harry Potter.  I was pushing a trolley around with two 50 pound suitcases, a Vera carry-on weekender, a laptop messenger with a broken strap (sorry mom... I'll buy you a new one!) and of course my shoulder strap purse tightly hanging down to my waist.  Seriously, all I needed was Hedwig on top and I would have been set! 

Overally it was an interesting experience, but by the final flight I was feeling extremely sick (surprise, right?  I am always sick!).  I met a fellow delegate for the final leg of the journey and was very excited!  Other than that, I am extremely thankful for those random people that helped me throughout the way; such as the girl who kept me company at Dulles who is from Hong Kong and probably couldn't understand half of what I was saying; the Texas grad who is originally from Kigali and was going home for the summer who helped me find my gate and navigate off of the runway in Addis (yes.... they had us get off the plane pretty darn far away from the actual airport, on the runways); and just everyone who was so helpful and nice along the way.

When arriving in Kigali, Jesse met us and watched our bags as we changed some money and bought waters.  I feel as if I am still on the dehydrated side which is insane considering the amount of water I have been downing since arriving.  Jesse and Gina (our program directors) are great and the delegates have been arriving at varying times.  As of last night, everyone had arrived.  Everyone is really great and I think this delegation is going to be amazing.  Today we visited the Belgium Memorial and had a driving tour of Kigali.  We have been doing our own exploring (always in groups!  No worries....) throughout the city prior to today.  We've found some great restaurants such as Moroccon and Indian that I am IN LOVE with!  This morning we first went to the Gorillas Hotel and enjoyed an amazing breakfast.  We also visited Jesse's father's house in Kigali for lunch and orientation discussion.  My favorite thing was visiting a sewing co-op that employs women who were victims of sexual violence during the genocide who are now HIV+ as a result of that trauma.  I got my Christmas ornament from there, a present for my mom, and I was able to custom make a messenger bag!  The women are so amazing and it is impossible to explain what this experience was like.  I get to pick up my bag next week so I am excited to go back and see everyone.  Some of their kids were there playing and they loved my camera and taking pictures!  They didn't quite understand that when we took it to smile, but when they saw themselves they couldn't stop smiling!  They were so sweet and I also was able to practice some Kinyarwandan with them.  I got a really terrible migraine later in the day though but I started feeling better this evening which is good.  Tomorrow we are meeting with the Rwandan delegates for our first workshop day!

I know I am forgetting so much stuff so I will add more tomorrow evening hopefully.  I am also going to add pictures!  So check back because I just need to figure out how to make them load easier.  It's hard to explain what it is like to feel like such a ray of sunshine here in Kigali.... sometimes I feel like a circus freak since the stares are so intense and curious! It is amazing though.  My favorite is hearing "Umuzunga!!"  repeated over and over as I walk by.  It means "white person."  Other than that, professions of love from the boys and young men is pretty cute as well :) and yes Andy I know that they don't mean it! haha I am not that silly!  I have a cell so being in contact with the family is great and I hope the internet connection continues in availability.  The friendliness here is so fabulous and I wish the U.S. cities were this friendly.....

Miss everyone so very much and I will post again soon!  Love you all!