The house hunting continues....

Did you guess where we chose to live? Almost every answer would have correct one day or another!

After a 10 day stay at the wonderful Hotel Gloria, waiting for our modern 2 bedroom apartment in Kychiru, we "lost" the apartment due to a crazy turn of events. The best we could do was wait another 10 days for a 3 bedroom in the same complex to be available. The hotel was great but I couldn't take living out of a suitcase for another 2 weeks. (The sheets were really scratchy!)

So, we moved to the nearby Altis apartments in Kiyovu for 2 weeks to wait it out.

It only took one night and we decided to stay here permanently. The place is not as modern and nice as the other but we are centrally located and can walk everywhere! It's totally convenient and I've already found a cafe nearby that serves great cappuccino and teas all for about $1.50! We're here.  Finally!! The view from our balcony is lovely and peaceful, yet we are in the heart of Kiyovu.

Looking out over the hills of Kigali

Tambo and Gheryi exchanging rings

Meanwhile highlights of last week included a traditional Rwandan Wedding (Zoe's friend Tambo invited us)

We started with a traditional ceremony including ring exchange followed by a reception in which the wedding party change from traditional clothing to more western attire. The traditional dancers, drummers and singing were amazing and we were very grateful to be included in the event.

The dancers troop in to loud drums and cymbals on the feet and legs!

Performing for the audience

The costumes were amazing

We've spent quite a bit of time learning the "new" bus system and feel confident about getting around. We took a bus to Nyamirambo a great little area of the city known as the Muslim quarter. Lots of shops and markets and people out and about. We've decided to visit each quarter of the city, taking the bus to the end of the line to learn the bus routes and whenever possible walking home.

This woman was very friendly to us

Street scenes in Nyamirambo- only the main road is well paved and the streets are hard packed red dirt. There are many street type vendors selling tomatoes, huge avocados and vegetables very cheaply. We found a fresh fish market here but our stomachs are not quite up to more adventurous meat and fish other than a little chicken in the restaurants.

looking down a side street, notice the taxi motos

I've been so impressed with how women carry nearly everything on their heads. No hands, perfect balance. I've discovered they have these little hat things made out of scarves wrapped around which form a little concave cushion. Not to take away from this woman who is balancing about 20 pounds of tree tomatoes on her head as she leisurely walked up the  hill. I haven't tried it yet.

Loved this picture

Everyone is very friendly and they are seemingly appreciative and amused alike in our attempts to speak Kinyarwanda. We'll start classes at the US Embassy in a week or two and probably sign up with a private tutor we found.

My last big find was the fabric market where I made a small purchase and will find a tailor to make me a traditional wrap skirt. I'm trying to blend in!

Each section of the shop has it's own vendor. I could barely choose!

 There were a bunch of small shops like this crammed full of gorgeous fabrics. I never would have found this little alley of shops inside a tiny doorway on the Rue de Commerce without my new friend Christiana. She is a German anthropologist who works on cooperative projects in developing countries that mainly help women earn money & become financially independent. She left for home today but will hopefully come back before we leave.

Well, we're finally unpacking and making our apartment feel like home. School doesn't start until 9/21 so we'll spend next week looking for volunteer opportunities for me. Write / email how you doing back home!

Caio! Deb