Integrating into the Rwandan community has been interesting. Rwandans are very welcoming and are known for their hospitality. They are very happy to have visitors in their homes and churches. Rwandans like to exchange contact information right away so it has been nice to stay in touch after meeting new friends.
Although being noticeably different comes with its definite ups and downs, Rwandans are very interested in talking to me and learning about where I am from. Rwandans are generally very open and love having new people in their country. I have found that being from the U.S. is a very intriguing topic to locals here. I've learned that there is a lot of media content (news, social media, music and TV) around the world regarding the United States. People from other countries seem to have a really glorified view of the U.S.
Being a visitor in a new country does come with its challenges. In most parts of Africa, if you are a foreigner, Africans will call you a "muzungu." The term comes from the Swahili language and literally means "someone who roams around aimlessly." While walking around town, many people will call me and my American classmates "muzungus," and it always makes me laugh.
