My first few weeks in Kigali were a little wild. When we landed, the first text we got from the U.S. Embassy read: “You have all arrived at an interesting time in Rwanda--we are going through a Marburg outbreak.” (Marburg is a severe virus.) This meant our orientation went online (I felt like I was back in Zoom school), and our start dates at the local schools were pushed back. Luckily, the Rwandan Health Ministry was very proactive and was able to stop the outbreak within a few weeks. Now life is back to normal here!
As an ETA, I spend a lot of my time at Saint Ignatius High School, teaching 8th, 10th and 12th graders English, Model United Nations and college prep. I also work at the U.S. Embassy once a week at their cultural engagement center. I teach a class on professional development for women. We work on resumes, job applications, interviews and personal finances. I have learned just as much from them as they have from me.
Of course, my whole life isn’t work! On the weekends in Kigali, my friends and I hop on motos (the best local transport--motorcycles used as taxis) and try new restaurants, check out museums and see musical performances. We also have left Kigali to explore some of the breathtaking natural sites here. In December, we went to Volcanoes National Park and did a Golden Monkey Trek (I’ll talk more about the monkeys and gorillas in my next post, but here’s a quick peek). I’m excited to share more about my experiences in Rwanda and meet with you all soon! Tuzabonana (see you soon)!
