I arrived in Kigali yesterday a little travel weary but none the worse for wear.The flight itself was actually very comfortable—Ethiopian Air earns a gold star for providing an entire row to stretch out on and snacks when our flight was delayed in Addis Ababa—and the jet lag was temporarily offset by the warm greeting I received from my friend and new housemate Susan, who works at another NGO called the Business Council for Peace.She fetched me at the airport and whisked me home for a shower and hot meal prominently featuring avocados and sweet potatoes.She knows me too well.She’s to be married soon, but since her fiancé will be working abroad for six months following their wedding, our living arrangement should work out well for us all.I’m very much looking forward to sharing this time together.
Our humble abode is lovely.A ten-minute walk down red-dirt paths from my office in Remera, it features a porch overlooking a lush garden ringed by a bamboo fence (and again enclosed by concrete walls), outdoor kitchen, cold shower, and whitewashed living/eating area.Susan and her cousin Diana share the master bedroom, while my room has a magnificent view of the rolling hills and verdant valley below (not to mention a queen-size bed).I think I’ll be quite comfortable here.
