Coming Home

For the last 14 days I have been on med hold in Kigali. Which means the Peace Corps doctors asked me to come in after I called experiencing pain on my right side. After countless tests, 2 ultrasounds, x-rays and a CT no one could find a problem with me. So I’m here to say GRANDMA AND GRANDPA I’M FINE. While being in Kigali is normally a treat and I spent days eating amazing food, it quickly

grew old and expensive and I found myself want to go

home. Not home to the US home, but home to my village. After several days of being in enough pain that I couldn’t leave Peace Corps I slowly started getting better. Once I could lie on my right side again I was finally free to return to my village.

I slowly made my long journey back to the south, picking up my care packages on the way. As I pulled up on a moto taxi my students came running to my house to see me.

This morning the children woke me up to ask to read and play soccer. Quickly after, I had knocks on my door from fellow teachers to visit our colleague who recently had a baby. In true Rwandan style this gathering was full of Sorghum Beer

and talks of me marrying a Rwandan while we passed the baby around each taking a turn to hold the beautiful girl. After our small party, my co-teacher, Celestine, invited me to her house for ichai c’amata (milk tea) and dinner just because she knows I love it.

Through this simple but amazing day I realized how much I truly missed my village in the 2 weeks I’ve been away and I can’t believe I’m about to leave again for South Africa. In a few short months, this place has quickly become my home and my neighbors have become my family and I can’t even imagine leaving this amazing home.

Also thank you Aunt Mary-Lou and Aunt Mary-Lee for the amazing packages filled with soccer balls, jerky, tuna and m&ms.