Weekend at Kigali

Our training director Mup allows us certain freedoms, such as letting us cook our own food every once in a while and letting us take day trips, however overnights anywhere are typically prohibited. So, a few friends and I decided to make use of these freedoms and take a day trip to Kigali. We left in the morning and enjoyed a leisurely ride the 2 hours it takes to get there. When we got to Kigali, we decided to check out the art market, which turned out to be a bunch of art shops selling typically African stuff. It was approaching lunch time so we went to look for an Indian food place that is basically out of this world. While walking in the general direction, who should pass us but the Peace Corps car. Of course, they stop and proceed to drive us the extra 200 meters to our destination. We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the 'mazungu' store and enjoying being adults. By the time we are getting ready to leave at 4 it has started to sprinkle. We are already a little late since we are supposed to be back by dark as we can't travel at night. We get to the bus station and go to buy tickets only to be told 8:00 meaning the next available bus leaving... 2 hours after we are supposed to be in Nyanza. After trying several more bus companies we realize that there are no available buses. We are huddled in the rain, calling out Nyanza in the hopes there is another bus, and dreading having to call Mup and explain.

We look up and who should walk by but a current volunteer we had met a few weeks ago. "Tom!!!!!" Tom is confused at first at seeing us there, but quickly understands our situation. He decides to call Mup. "Mup, I have found six of your trainees." Mup, being the overprotective father figure replies, "What? Sick trainees? I will be there in 10 minutes!" "No Mup, 6 trainees. No they aren't sick. I found 6 of them. We're in Nyanza, not Kigali." After a few more attempts Mup understands that we are not sick, only stuck without a bus. "Stay there, I'm sending a driver!" All the way from Nyanza?? Ok, we will stay Mup. We move to a gas station and wait. 10 minutes later Mup calls again. "I can't send a driver. They can't drive at night. Stay there, I'm sending someone!" How is that any different Mup? At this point we have no idea what is happening. Pretty soon we get yet another call. "Go to the Nakumat Shopping Center, you will meet the driver there!" So, we trudge back to where we had just spent 4 hours and are waiting in the parking lot for the Peace Corps car. We get yet another call, this time the driver. "I am inside, where are you?" How did we not see them drive by? Eventually we meet up with the driver and we go to the hostel, a full minute away.

Finally, we are sitting around in the tiny hostel room, laughing and eating leftover Indian. Suddenly we hear a voice at the window, "Peace Corps?" We open up the door and in come 10 more current volunteers circus car style into our room. The rest of the night goes by with friends and a lot of laughing. The next morning, bright and early, the good ole Peace Corps car shows up to cart us back to Nyanza with the PC Medical Officer who was on her way down as well. A perfect end to a fantastic weekend. What an amazing experience!