Picture
Caption: RWANDA A Village Visit
Picture
Caption: Rwanda Under the misty mountains of the Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, where mountain gorillas are guarded by devoted rangers, lie fields tended by residents of a small village. They generously welcomed me for an afternoon.
Picture
Picture
Caption: French, still an official language of Rwanda, was not common amongst the villagers, who spoke Kinyarwanda.
But one older gentleman was tickled pink when I greeted him in French and came
out to shake my hand and chat.
Picture
Picture
Caption: Making sorghum bread.
Picture
Caption: Eating sorghum bread!
Picture
Caption: A beekeeper, respected throughout Rwanda for his years of experience.
Caption: The village has trained women to weave traditional baskets and provides the raw materials.
I purchased three from the young mother here. She seemed pleased to hear they would be in my hospital office, where my patients would enjoy their beauty.
Picture
Caption: Boys in the village dream of the day they can own a motorbike.
Until that day, they make "motorbikes" out of sticks and "helmets" out of bags.
Other children make stilts from bamboo.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Caption: A pack of kids followed us all afternoon. Our guide told us that they think white people use only cars and planes to get around and aren't used to walking.
They follow expecting us to collapse!
Picture
Picture
Caption: A small house will hold a hundred friends. African Proverb
Picture
Caption: Rwanda is a beautiful country, and her people could not have been kinder or more welcoming.
The Rwandans I spoke with particularly value friendship and unity after the genocide, when neighbor turned on neighbor. The country has rebuilt, and they have much to be proud of.
#rwanda #africa #people #friendship #travel #goexplore #wanderlust
