Final Thoughts from Africa...

It's 9am and I'm sitting here in the dining area at the hostel "Heaven" which I have stayed at many times in Kigali before, but now will be the last time (well...at least for a while).  I just said good-bye to Hilary, my fellow American and co-worker who I worked with, played with, traveled with...that I pretty much was with 24/7 for the past 4 1/2 months (she's heading back to Murgwanza but flying out in a week and a half.  Declined her contract offer with WomenCraft too).  Behind me on this open terrace is a tree, weighed down and heavy from its abundance of avocados, waiting to ripen.  There are also tons of palm trees, lizards, and song birds.  And while the sky is hazy over the big city, you can see that the clouds are soon to break.

For those of you who know me well and have been in regular contact with me, you know that my time here has been very trying.  Murgwanza, in all of its beauty, is very remote and isolating, and every day my patience and personality felt tested to the limit.  But...I wouldn't trade a minute of it.  I believe that pushing my personal boundaries every day has made me a stronger and more conscious person, and for that I am happy.  So as I am about to embark on a big change heading to Atlanta, I feel more excited and optimistic than sad and pensive.  That being said, I did see a lot of Tanzania and Rwanda, and while Murgwanza won't be somewhere I pine over, I will miss Africa.  And...I think I'll be back.  I've made many contacts and connections here, and on this beautiful continent there are so many mysteries and adventures yet to be had.

My last few weeks have been full of good-byes and celebrations.  We had a good-bye party for me at our Retreat House, which was mostly attended by muzungus but also some local staff.  Then, there was a good-bye celebration at the orphanage where I had been teaching dance (we shared coca-colas with the kiddos, and they prepared a thank-you speech for me and showed me some of their local Tanzanian song and dance).  Then last but not least, there was a good-bye party at WomenCraft, where I was given a specially designed basket, made by Genevia from our Motomoto weaver group, and we had cake to celebrate.  While I feel more than ready to move on from Murgwanza, I sure do wish I could take all the people with me...

Then, there was a surprise fun twist to the end of my time here.  Several weeks ago when I had brought my dad back to Kigali for his flight, we had lunch at a hot muzungu spot in town called the "Burbon Cafe".  While we were enjoying a drink, a girl approached us.  She had noticed my dad's Oregon shirt, and she said "hey...are you from Oregon?  You know, I graduated from the University of Oregon".  Of course this sparked conversation, and wouldn't you know it, her name was Kiah (for those of you who don't know, that is also my dog's name back home...Kaya. Ironic).  Anyways, we exchanged pleasantries and I gave her my WomenCraft business card, inviting her to come visit anytime she like.

And...she did.

She emailed me 3 days before I was to leave Murgwanza, saying she wanted to come.  And I said "well, if you want to you better do it...oh...tomorrow...cause I'm leaving soon!"  We went hiking in the hills of Tanzania, and she sat and learned to weave with our artisans.  She then came to Kigali with Hilary & I, and we've spent the past few days eating amazing food, going to a concert at the stadium here in town, and shopping.  We've even come to find we have several mutual friends back at home in Oregon.  How small the world can be!  She's staying at another hostel, but she will be coming by here in the next hour or so to have brunch with me and to run a few last minute errands.  Such an odd transition that my last few hours in Africa will be spent with another Oregon alum (who is super fun and cool, BTW).

So...this is my last post from Africa, and friends...you're in for a real treat.  I have a surprise for you, and no one was more surprised by it than me.  If you've been a loyal blog reader, you will remember my post "I'm Going, Going...Back, Back...to Kigali, Kigali".  If not, go read it first and then come back.

One of my favorite things in Africa, and one thing I will miss the most is seeing the t-shirts here.  The most random, silly t-shirts that people are wearing around, having not a clue what they mean.  I always get a good laugh from them.  And...in part of my post about Kigali, I wrote about our first bus ride from the border, and how on the bus there was a guy wearing an especially awesome t-shirt.

So a few days ago, Hilary, Kiah & I crossed the Tanzanian/Rwandan border, and as we did we reminisced about previous crossings.  And as we were reminiscing, Hilary & I remembered the fabulous t-shirt we saw on our first bus ride into Rwanda: "Q: What girl does Jesus love? A: This girl".  We had talked about it ever since, and Hilary even made me a laminated bookmark with the saying on it, since she knew how much I loved it.  As I turned to tell the story to Kiah, I looked out the window and saw not only the same ticket taker guy on the same bus...but he was wearing the SAME t-shirt!!!  Here was my missed photo-op about to happen.  The final missing piece.  We jumped out of the car and snapped a few shots, which I am going to share with you now.

Kiah & I with our favorite (well...my favorite) bus ticket taker.  Which girl does Jesus love?  I forget....

Oh yeah!  This girl!!!!

So...that's a wrap folks!  I'm not going to say anything sappy or profound.  The sun's coming out and I've got last minute things to do.  But...thank you for reading and following!  And..the next post will be from the grand ol' US of A!