It’s been an intense couple of days.
On Friday, we all took our time to see the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The museum was really interesting to say the least. It walks you through the history of Rwanda in relation to the 1994 genocide. There was so much information is was nearly impossible to process it all in one sitting. Even today, a people are going back for round two.
Yesterday, we all took a two hour drive to Butare in one of the most hilarious matatu’s yet. It was decorated in the rasta colors, with quotes like “One Love” and “Together as One” on the ceiling. Music was blasted the entire day, complete with a light strip in the back at night.
The plan was to go to the National Museum, but we ended up going an hour further to the Murambi Memorial and genocide site. It was a moving experience for all of us. After a brief summation of the events in 1994, the guide took us to a series of small buildings, each with 5 or 6 rooms. In each room, there were tables covered with preserved bodies of the victims that were buried in mass graves at the site. Just seeing the sheer amount of the bodies, and knowing they were barely a fraction of the total number of victims, was intense in itself.
After that experience, we drove back to Butare and the National Museum. Our spirits were lifted considerably with a jaw-dropping cultural dance performance. For me at least, it was the highlight of the day. After the dancing and drumming, we toured the museum. Many of us had no idea how complex and intricate Rwandan society was and is.
Some Quotes So Far!
Izzy- “You are all my puppets!”
“Look Tiger. I could be those 30 women.”
Will- “You know what, Alexa? I can’t wait to get my arm bitten off by a shark and then smack you with my other limb.”
Jess- “She projectile drooled.”
“Here you go, dumbass. That’s how normal people poop.”
Alexa- “We’re just being Africa’d out.”
Becca- “The petite!”
“I just want to squeeze you right now!”
Zoe- “Shit, Peter!”
That’s all for now! Tomorrow morning at 6am, we’ll be off to Arusha, Tanzania!
-Jess
