Day 1

(Four of our travelers in transit in Amsterdam, en route to Kigali.)

Julie:

We’re here! Our plane touched done in Kigali Airport just after dark so our first impressions of Rwanda have been by night. Initial observations—it’s so clean!! And the traffic is incredibly orderly. After my time in Asia I was expecting a similar level of craziness but apart from a slight running of a stop sign all lanes were acknowledged and no speeding was undertaken! The lovely Adele from Opportunity’s US office met us at the airport, along with Molly who is our fellow Insight Tripper from Chicago. I have a great feeling about this week, can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Veronique:

Anti-malarial treatment has started! Drinking gin and tonic at the bar of Hotel Serena where we are staying. It is around the corner from Hotel des Mille Collines which inspired the film Hotel Rwanda, based on the story of its manager. Charming staff; mix of French- and English-speaking; heavy tropical smells but not the usual heat and stickiness as Kigali lies at 1400m. Lovely, truly.

Elizabeth:

After a VERY early start we had a great flight and arrived in Kigali. Felt amazing taking my first steps on African soil! Lovely people—have learnt murakose, which means “thank you.” Seem to be using it a lot! Comfortable room—after a bit of furniture reorganization with Veronique it’s great. Really looking forward to an amazing day tomorrow. Watch this space! 

Dorthe:

Finally we are here! I’ve been looking forward to this day! An early start. Shared the flight with a Danish UN soldier who was on his way to southern Sudan & spoke warmly about Rwanda, confirming all that I’ve heard about the smiling population and low crime rate. His stories of Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan left me grateful for my destination. We are missing two girls in the group but by morning we should have all seven women all raring to go! A day meeting clients in the field as well as meeting the staff at the head office of Opportunity Rwanda. Another G&T and time for bed.

Anne:

Just arrived at the hotel to join the group after a lovely day in Kigali with dear Belgian friends: church, market, gathering of expats on a hill with lots of interesting aid or NGO projects, and fascinating discussion over dinner with Rwandan friends. I felt spoilt and very grateful. There is lots to say, lots to understand, and getting an insight with Opportunity International staff and clients will no doubt be a true experience.

This post was published on Opportunity-UK’s travel blog at opportunityinrwanda.wordpress.com.

Our journey starts here…

Our party sounds a bit like the start of a good joke—a Belgian, an American, an Aussie, a Frenchman and a Dane walk into a bar…

But we’re not walking into a bar, we’re flying into Rwanda. And it’s not a joke. Over the past few months, in anticipation of this trip, I’ve learned so much about this wonderful African country. I’ve shared some of Rwanda’s story with my children—the story I’ve learned from books, social media, movies, newspapers—all someone else’s perspective. But soon, I will have my own perspective to share, my own story to tell.

Five of us, all women, all living in the UK and all members of the Women’s Opportunity Network (WON), are joining with another four women from the US to experience Rwanda and her people firsthand. We’ll start in Kigali and visit staff and clients of Opportunity International’s implementing member Urwego Opportunity Bank (UOB), spending three days with those impacted by this microfinance institution.

After what are sure to be very full days, within many different communities from rice farmers to market stall owners, we’ll move onto the Musanze district. Here we hope to see gorillas in their natural habitat—quite a hike so I’m hoping my winter fitness is up to it. Finally, we’ll return to Kigali, debrief and then head home, with my own story to tell.

The five of us will be updating a travel blog for the week we’ll be in Rwanda, and then that blog will be no more. We’ll take turns writing a brief report each day, and post loads of photos so friends and family elsewhere in the world can see a bit of our time as it happens.

This piece was posted on the Opportunity-UK travel blog, opportunityinrwanda.wordpress.com, on March 28. Check out the UK WON members’ posts there and we’ll also be cross-posting them here along with posts by US staff and travelers. Some of the travelers are already on their way to Rwanda, and they’ll begin arriving on Sunday. Follow along with their week-long journey.

This post was published on Opportunity-UK’s travel blog at opportunityinrwanda.wordpress.com.