I am such a chicken!
Basically, there are four ways for me to get around Kigali, by foot, bus, taxi or motorbike taxi.
Foot is fine in the few flat areas, but the hills are long, steep and many, so you can't get very far very fast, especially in this heat (its about 28 degrees and everyone thinks its freezing).
I don't have a clue how the buses work, or as of yet anyone to show me.
And the taxis are really expensive (I've spend £30 in 2 weeks).
So that just leaves the motorbikes.
I’ve been putting it off since I got here. You have to understand that the traffic here isn't like it is in England. Its chaos. There are vehicles, pedestrians and goats everywhere. But the bikes are so cheap, even with inflated muzungu prices, so it had to be done. And today was the day. I was ready at 10am, but it took an extra hour and a half of psyching myself up before I could leave. As soon as you get on the main road, you can hail a bike. They bib you as they drive past, and stop if you nod your head or wave. Well I walked along the main road for 20 minutes before I plucked up the courage to hail a bike. It was probably the fortieth one to pass me! And I'm thinking to myself, 'If you can throw yourself out of a plane, you can get on a motorbike. But I’m telling you, it was so much fun. They dodge in and out of the traffic, and go really fast – I like it. So now i'm able to get around Kigali.
My first trip was into town. I bought a couple of books at the supermarket, one about the war in the Congo and Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'. They had such an interesting selection of books. I was really impressed. I don't like reading that much but there were loads that I wanted to buy. But you're restricted by how much cash you have on you – there's no credit/debits cards here or ATMs.
Then I took myself out for lunch at Bourbon's, which is a really nice restaurant, usually packed full of muzungus and their laptops. I had a cheeseburger with chips and a fanta for about £4.50, which is quite expensive here. And I read The Art of War. Its really good.
Then I went to the Ubuzima general meeting in the afternoon. The people are so lovely, mainly widows I think, and mostly HIV aids sufferers. We prayed and praised together in Kinyarwanda, then continued to make beads for the jewellery to be sold in Canada.
Basically, there are four ways for me to get around Kigali, by foot, bus, taxi or motorbike taxi.
Foot is fine in the few flat areas, but the hills are long, steep and many, so you can't get very far very fast, especially in this heat (its about 28 degrees and everyone thinks its freezing).
I don't have a clue how the buses work, or as of yet anyone to show me.
And the taxis are really expensive (I've spend £30 in 2 weeks).
So that just leaves the motorbikes.
I’ve been putting it off since I got here. You have to understand that the traffic here isn't like it is in England. Its chaos. There are vehicles, pedestrians and goats everywhere. But the bikes are so cheap, even with inflated muzungu prices, so it had to be done. And today was the day. I was ready at 10am, but it took an extra hour and a half of psyching myself up before I could leave. As soon as you get on the main road, you can hail a bike. They bib you as they drive past, and stop if you nod your head or wave. Well I walked along the main road for 20 minutes before I plucked up the courage to hail a bike. It was probably the fortieth one to pass me! And I'm thinking to myself, 'If you can throw yourself out of a plane, you can get on a motorbike. But I’m telling you, it was so much fun. They dodge in and out of the traffic, and go really fast – I like it. So now i'm able to get around Kigali.
My first trip was into town. I bought a couple of books at the supermarket, one about the war in the Congo and Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'. They had such an interesting selection of books. I was really impressed. I don't like reading that much but there were loads that I wanted to buy. But you're restricted by how much cash you have on you – there's no credit/debits cards here or ATMs.
Then I took myself out for lunch at Bourbon's, which is a really nice restaurant, usually packed full of muzungus and their laptops. I had a cheeseburger with chips and a fanta for about £4.50, which is quite expensive here. And I read The Art of War. Its really good.
Then I went to the Ubuzima general meeting in the afternoon. The people are so lovely, mainly widows I think, and mostly HIV aids sufferers. We prayed and praised together in Kinyarwanda, then continued to make beads for the jewellery to be sold in Canada.
This is Mamma Deborah and the lady that teaches beading.
No comments:
Post a Comment