This Is Africa

When you look out your small portal to the outside world after being restrained to one spot by a fasten seatbelt sign and two crying newborns for 24 hours, the lights of Rwanda's capitol seem few. The prayers that went up in those few minutes of landing were heard, and after going through customs and holding my breath until the last huge blue trunk with a green ribbon (thank you mom) were gathered, I was greeted with smiles and roses by my new community. It seemed the entire Kigali International Community School faculty showed to greet the principal's wife, Christy Dolinger and myself, as we arrived.
Jessica Brogdon and two of my fellow teachers, Linda and Lauren, drove me to the duplex I share with Lauren and Amanda. My room was set up with a few of the things I had sent over with Dale Dawson, and though the exhaustion was great from travel, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. Todd and Jessica Brogdon live next door to us, and that has been such an amazing touch of home.
The next few days were spent adjusting, unpacking (but where to unpack? There are no drawers!), and meeting an interesting mix of "Mazungus" who create the ex-patriot community in Kigali. I also began setting up my classroom at the beautiful new K.I.C.S. facility that is a two minute walk from my house and shares a view of rolling hills. I also began taking daily runs around the busy Kigali streets. It has been during this time that I have felt a bit of independence and begun to get a since of the geography of the town. Each morning run brings a new adventure, whether being followed by small children chanting "Mazungu, Mazungu!" or having to avoid a herd of goats, veering away from a huge dead snake, and always, ALWAYS being stared at. This never ends. Ever.
But I guess a white girl running through a herd of goats with small children chanting behind her to avoid a dead snake would be something funny to stare at. I would laugh at me.