Is this real life?

Doesn't feel like it.

Caro and I were just talking about how, being here, it feels like we have no responsibility which is not a typical feeling you get during everyday life in Canada. Even as a students, who are notorious for having no responsibility, especially in the bubble StFX had us in, there were meetings, deadlines, and endless readings that could have been (but weren't) done. There were always people relying and depending on you as the president or co-president of a society or club, and you couldn't mess that shit up. Here, though, we are living the life. Yes, there are things that need to be done at work, but in typical Rwandese fashion, we are not held accountable if they don't get done (they always do though, don't worry CIDA). Self motivation is a KEY quality to possess here.

Why does it feel like I have no responsibility? Well other than rent, there are no bills to pay. We just went on a 2 week vacation to the most stunning island I'll probably ever see in my life. I get to watch football whenever I want, live or at a bar on TV while enjoying a Primus. I can forget about work after I leave KHI for the day. I can go to bed at 9 PM and wake up at 5 AM without having any problems sleeping because there are not many worries to be had here. I can go dancing until 5 in the morning knowing that all I have to do the next day is go for a run and go to the market, or maybe study for the MCAT (ugh). We can go to countries such as Uganda and Burundi in a moment's notice. After these six months, I can just leave my job, be done with it, and never turn back.

Penda (Photo cred to Afrony/Ravi)

It isn't that easy though. The 'responsibility' lies in the fact that I have made relationships with people here that are irreplaceable. And that no matter how hard I try to forget how painful it will be leaving these people, I won't be able to forget. I have a 'responsibility' to keep in touch with these people that have changed my life, and in some shape or form I hopefully have changed theirs a little. Penda, one of my co-workers, almost brought me to tears at work the other day, which is a surprisingly hard thing to do. "You, Caroline, Anthony, Ravi, you guys come for such a short time. Only six months. I can never forget the times we share." It's not often that people outside of my family open up to me like that at home, one of the countless differences between Canadians and Rwandese.

Our moving 'hotel room'.

Sarah and I at sunset, thanks SarahENGLISH

New Years Eve! A lot of food and BYOB

Although our trip to Zanzibar was full of so many laughs, swimming in the Indian Ocean, severe skin burns from falling asleep in the sun (never again), Christmas cards and presents from home, being so hot at night it was difficult to sleep, sleeping in an 8-person dorm room for a week with the closest bathroom a 2 minute walk away, a 30-hour bus ride and a subsequent 3-hour plane ride (we couldn't hack the bus for a second time, being in a 100 degree angle-position for 30 hours except for a total of 20 minutes of standing is as unpleasant as it sounds. Maybe even more so.), eating Indian food for Christmas dinner, eating a ton of the best seafood you'll ever have for ridiculously low prices, ordering a meal from a restaurant in which the description read "schirr-fried beef with vegetables in a bum" (who WOULDN'T order that? I could never pass up schirr-fried meat, even if it wasn't served in a bum.), meeting some really cool Rastas, and so much more, I must say I was looking so forward to coming home to Kigali. While we were away, when people asked, and even when they didn't, we told them that Kigali doesn't have much to offer compared to what we've heard about other African cities.

Beach at Kendwa Rocks

Stonetown art. Every shop keeper says that he painted the art,
so why are all the paintings the same? LIES

The truth is when you get below the surface and see the unconditional hospitality these people have, I take all those comments back. It may not be the most lively city for travelers, but it isn't all about what, but more about WHO, is around you. It felt good to come back to the smell of eucalyptus, the public displays of affection between friends (same and opposite sex, alike), the children yelling Muzungu! Muzungu!, the strangers asking for your phone number every time you go in public, the language that we can understand twenty words in as opposed to our four words of Swahili (however it's true, asante sana (thank you very much) goes a long way) and of course the people at KHI and other people I have become close with.

Anyways. I'm getting all emo n' stuff because 7 weeks left is just not enough. I had possibly the best weekend I could have had. I learned to cook in the Rwandese way, got to spend time with the people I love, and got to watch some national team football. My mom gave me some great advice yesterday, saying that I have to enjoy everything while I'm here, and not get bogged down in the emotions of our imminent departure. That just wastes time. So, in light of her wise words, I'm off to go buy fabric to get African clothing made, and to play football with my keeper boyzzz.

Me and Nadege cooking (she made me wear this kanga (skirt), I think just
because it was funny and looked sooo out of place on this ginger)

I was SO much more inefficient than her. No peeler or cutting
board, what a novel idea!

Le produit finale.

Me and the fam pre-stuffing our faces.

Me, Sarah and Caro wearing our Rwandese clothing with the boys. Yes,
my friend Patrick is wearing a YES WE CAN T-shirt complete with giant
picture of a thumbs up from Obama and gold sparkles.

Love from across the pond,

Lauren