I'm Back.

I arrived Saturday evening an spent Sunday morning getting to know the neighborhood. Stores were open - one small market next to another and discovered a German butcher very close to the hotel. Benoit had arranged for a 4 pm meeting with members of IBUKA at Chez Lando. It was great to see Theodore, Freddy, Yves and Eric again. The meeting was to officially welcome me and talk about my schedule for the week. Monday and Tuesday visiting and meeting at IBUKA and KMC. Wednesday visit memorial at Bisesero (all day).Thursday meet with Eric at the Film Institute. Friday meet at IBUKA/KMC. Saturday visit Akagera Park (borders with Tanzania). Monday wrap-up and maybe dinner and Tuesday follow up if necessary.


View from my hotel room

After meeting Freddy and I met up with James Smith to go a traditional dance performance at the Serena Hotel. During intermission, the MC walked up to me (happened to sit in the front row) and asked where I was from and whether I have ever seen a traditional Rwandan dance to which I said no. And then she pulled me to the front of the crowd (mixed: locals and tourist or ex-pats and two ministers (health; and culture and sports, whom I had met last year) and asked what move I learned by watching the performance and to just show us all that move...... oh well,I did two moves and the crowd started stomping and clapping - I am sure it was very entertaining for them :-)

Dinner thereafter at a local restaurant called "Heaven" - run by an American ex-pat whose husband works in Kigali. They were not around but when we left the manager began to talk to us - a young guy from San Francisco who had just arrived a few days ago to run the restaurant for them. He had some restaurant experience and yes I asked, he followed Top Chef! Heaven was quite nice - apparently only ex-pats and tourists are going there because it is a bit pricey compared to local costs.