Thanks to everyone who was so kind to me when I was at
home. I had a lovely time and had
forgotten how much I missed some things.
It was nice to see you all and I hope it won’t be so long before I am
back again. Leaving to return to Rwanda
was hard and there were a lot of tears.
I was the woman on the plane who is crying for no apparent reason. But the champagne did help a little (yes –
even in economy we got champagne!).
I landed in Kigali early morning and as I headed back to Kibungo, it
all felt so familiar. The sun was shining in places and people were on the
move. We passed women in colourful igitenge – a sight I didn’t realise I had
missed until I saw it again. As we drove up into the hills we met mist – big
fingers of it curling around the shoulders of each hill. And as the sun got
warmer, the clouds lifted to reveal the myriad hues of green that only Rwanda
seems to offer. We passed bicycles laden with bunches of bananas and piles of
chickens, women walking with bowls of tomatoes balanced on their heads and
others swinging their empty jerry cans on their way to collect water. People
were already out working the fields and all along the route were people –
walking and talking and laughing and shouting and holding hands and running and
cycling. The roads of England are bare by comparison.
My first week back in Kibungo has been nice. People have been pleased to see me and I have
been hugged a huge number of times. I
have had lots of conversations and been reminded of just how kind and friendly
the people here are. The water and
electricity have been coming and going and the sun has been shining in between
the downpours. The thunder seems to
rumble constantly in the background. But
I am back and happy to be here.