Well, my stomach finally got the best of me. But would it really be a trip to Africa without some food poisoning? I'm still recovering, but doing much better. I'm surprised I went two weeks completely healthy. Here's another journal entry from just a couple of days ago:


6/29/07
I'm on a very narrow road heading for Giseyni ( a town on the western border of Rwanda). The view is absolutely breathtaking. I think this could be the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. Yes, more beautiful than the Mexican Riviera, and very comparable to Israel's varied landscape.

Hill rolls after hill until you can no longer distinguish one from the next. They are lush and green with terraced farming up and down the steep hill sides. Bannana trees are scattered between the sour ghum and corn creating a stunning contrast between brown, green and yellow. If you look closely, sometimes you can spot the colorful headwraps of women working in the field.

Yesterday we went to a secondary school in Kibuye to watch a play put on by the students about sexual reproductive rights and health. The play was great - with a lot of humor too. Afterwards one of the actors approached me asking for money for his school fees. I'd never spoken with him before and was uncomfortable because of his request. I don't blame him though. He lost his entire family (except for one aunt) in the genocide. I told him about an organization that pays for school fees of orphans in Rwanda. Hopefully that helps him. It took a long time for me to explain that not all Americans are rich, and that I couldn't afford to pay for him.

So many children can't afford school even though it's supposedly free and public. Extra fees are imposed ot supplement the teacher's salary and to cover uniforms.

The other night a group of street children greeted us begging for money. We asked why they were not in school and they explained that their parents were killed in the genocide and could not afford the fees.

Ah, Rwanda has more challenges to overcome than the average African state. But the strides they are making are incredible.