Rwanda Wrapup

Well I'm officially back in the US, currently recovering from some serious jet-lag. It was an absolutely incredible trip, and I wish I could recap everything from the two weeks. However, I figure it would be easiest to include a few remaining highlights for this last post. These bullets are rather random from each other, but are just a few of the things I feel I should highlight.

Genocide Memorial: First, let me say, that despite the incredible development in Rwanda over the last 20 years, the genocide still leaves a very fresh wound for so many in the country. The tragedy which claimed the lives of 1 million people (about 10% of the population of that time), was one of the worst mass-killings of modern time. There are obviously still many people with both emotional and physical scars. In fact, these scars are so fresh, that it is insensitive (and in some cases illegal) to use words or phrases in public that depict any ethnic division and the atrocities of the time. Even still, there is something to be said for the way the country has moved forward while respectfully commemorating their past. Racial division, an economy on the brink of collapse, and a blind eye by the international community could have ruined the nation. Instead, strides toward racial inclusion, forgiveness, and a serious investment in business and infrastructure has helped the nation recover in a truly remarkable way. The Kigali Genocide Memorial excellently portrays the devastation of the War, while honoring the victims of this senseless time. The museum and memorial stand on an unmarked grave of nearly 200,000 of these victims. After learning about the history of the genocide, and passing through several exhibits highlighting various aspects of the war, I eventually was led to the outside gardens, with a chilling view of the graves below and the "new" Kigali straight ahead. While definitely a tough thing to see, the museum definitely made an impression.
Hotel des Mille Collines: Last week, a group of us decided to go out for a "swanky" evening at the Hotel des Mille Collines. We soaked up the beautiful evening sipping drinks on the patio while listing to an impressive live jazz band. The 4 star hotel is not necessarily what you would expect in a poor country like Rwanda. However, this European run hotel, seems to do quite a business offering nice accommodations to tourists, and nice restaurants and bars to some of the wealthier locals. This hotel is a true establishment, as it has been around since even before the genocide. It was made famous by the movie, Hotel Rwanda, as it served as a refuge for hundreds of Tutsi and moderate Hutu families during the genocide. I'm sure most of you have seen the movie, so I will spare you the history lesson. I will note though, that it was a rather weird feeling knowing that exactly twenty years ago, this luxury hotel was entrenched in the horrifying events of the genocide. While it was interesting being at the site made so famous through the movie, it was also very surreal, knowing the incredible history of the hotel regardless of Hollywood's publicity of it.
Akagera National Park: On a much happier note, I went on a safari last weekend! I along with three others packed into a Rav4 bright and early Saturday morning. Heading out from Kigali we drove for about 2.5 hour to the park on the Tanzania border. At the entrance to the park, we picked up a guide for the six hour game drive. While the park doesn't have any of the big cats, it does have a decently large collection of wildlife. Over the course of the drive we were able to spot: hippos, impala, warthog (aka pumba), water buffalo, baboons, zebra, and a couple giraffe in the distance. As awesome as it was seeing all the animals, a part of me was excited just to be doing a "safari". Driving through the savanna landscape (a contrast to the lush rolling hills of the rest of the country), along an endless dirt road was just an experience in itself. Perhaps the highlight, was riding on top of the car (keep in mid this is not a custom safari car) with a herd of water buffalo and impala on either side of the road. It was most definitely a site to behold, and a great way to cap off the trip.

Overall, it was an incredible trip. Despite only being there for a short time, I feel I was able to experience a lot. While I obviously could not include everything from the trip, it has been fun posting "snapshots" along the way. I don't know what lay ahead, but I will definitely carry this experience with me for a long time to come.