Monday 3rd

i am struggling for words again. we went to the main kigali memorial today, and i am still trying to absorb what i saw. we have found information that twice a week at the memorial they have survivors come to speak and tell their story. i believe all of us have decided to go. as a compassionate human being how can any of us here not go.
i am not quite ready to write about todays museum so i will write about a past experience...

customs in rwanda are different. the culture here is in some ways what i feel the world should be. rwanda is a beautiful example of what love can do.
one of the customs i absolutely love here is rwandans love to show love. holding hands is very common here and same sexes holding hands is no big deal. in fact, there are lots and lots of "straight" men that hold hands and are not afraid to show their friendship. life here is about relationships. rwandans always stop to say hello to everyone. shaking hands and hugging are extremely important upon arrival and departing. there are several different hand shakes which i am still trying to figure out all the meanings. but when you hear rwandans are friendly and welcoming there is no other place i have ever been that made me feel so welcomed. i walk down the street and everyone will say hi or strike up a conversation. if someone you know holds your hand it is the biggest sign of respect and love to be shown.
i wish other countries would take example that holding hands, hugging, letting others know they are loved are wonderful things. men, women, whomever should be able to walk down a sidewalk and not be bothered by insults.
just to be clear, rwandans do not agree with sexual type communications and touching in public. what i am trying to explain here is that rwandans are so full of love and respect for one another that they welcome the ability to show it. unlike, some countries at this time where someone can sue someone else for touching them or whatever...it is sickening for some life has come to the loss of showing affection.
to explain a rwandan handshake is amazing. the enthusiasm and pure respect each of them show when shaking hands and/or greeting people is unbelievable. each one of them truly makes me feel like i am a part of their families. it is difficult to explain but the emotion is shown through their body language, their faces and your heart literally swells because they make each of us and themselves feel so special. i wish we could all be so wonderful.

i start my job tomorrow. i will be teaching english to "street boy" orphans. i forget the age range but these are boys that are orphans and live on the street. they come in at their own will and want to learn. i am excited to meet each one of them and i have so many ideas i would like to discuss with my supervisor. and i also need to work on my kinyarwandan. i am getting words mixed up but i am improving a bit everyday.
stephanie (my roommate) and i have planned out all our weekends while we are here. we will be traveling every weekend to different parts of rwanda. we have also planned 0ut a few nights here so far and hope to continue.

i can't remember if i told you all previously about last nights supper. we ate at an italian restaurant that is just down the street from the house. the view was absolutely amazing with all the city lights. we had a couple liters of house wine and pizzas. yes pizza in rwanda. and it was one of the best pizzas i have ever had...all the volunteers plus one friend rachel all went. it was really a great time.

oh and pictures...there are so many wonderful pictures i can imagine in my head but taking pictures here is very sensitive. we must always ask if we can take a picture of someone or at any building. so when in public or in the public market or on the street it is taboo to take pics. so those of you that know me and my picture addiction know that i am really having issues with the picture rules but i do understand that the people of rwanda are worried of terrorism or wars starting again. and to be in another country it is of the utmost importance to show respect for the people and their customs. i am getting pictures but i will need to improve on my blogging so you all are able to visualize some of the places i talk about.
i really can't believe i have only been here for 4 days. i feel so at home here and really have since about saturday.