So the best part of Hotel Okapi is the HOT SHOWERS! Yes, you heard me right! I took 2 a day! I never take that many showers - but I did! I loved every second of it! I even bought more shampoo, just for the occasion.
The next day, Luke and I checked out the hip and happening coffee spot - Bourbon Coffee. No there is not whisky in the coffee - Bourbon is a type of coffee bean!!!! Shout out to all my SBUX Buds!!!!! This is the Rwandan version of Starbucks and I had a Mocha Kawaccino (Kawa is coffee in swahili)! It was awesome!
Then, I went shopping for some souvenirs and thank you gifts for all my friends back in DRC! Noe's b-day was the day I left - so I wanted to get him something special. I found a really cool drum - since Noe' is super musical! Plus, I found these awesome t-shirts for Luke, Bethany, Justin and I that say "Mzungu" which is swahili for white person! I literally stopped traffic in the street I was laughing so hard when I saw them. There was exactly 4 shirts that the store had, in exactly 4 colors, and in exactly 4 different sizes. It was kismet!
Next, Luke and I went to Chez Robert - a really neat restaurant across the street from the "Hotel Rwanda" - which is not really called that - but that is the name they gave it in the movie. We followed that up with a trip to the Kigali Memorial Center, where they have the Genocide Memorial. We took the audio tour and I bawled my head off of course. It was beyond words.
One of the most interesting things about Rwanda was that they are supposed to speak English as one of their national languages. However, as we were catching motos around town, I ended up using my swahili more than my english. I was glad that I've had intensive lessons for the past three months - or sometimes I would never have been able to get around.
The next day, Luke and I checked out the hip and happening coffee spot - Bourbon Coffee. No there is not whisky in the coffee - Bourbon is a type of coffee bean!!!! Shout out to all my SBUX Buds!!!!! This is the Rwandan version of Starbucks and I had a Mocha Kawaccino (Kawa is coffee in swahili)! It was awesome!
Then, I went shopping for some souvenirs and thank you gifts for all my friends back in DRC! Noe's b-day was the day I left - so I wanted to get him something special. I found a really cool drum - since Noe' is super musical! Plus, I found these awesome t-shirts for Luke, Bethany, Justin and I that say "Mzungu" which is swahili for white person! I literally stopped traffic in the street I was laughing so hard when I saw them. There was exactly 4 shirts that the store had, in exactly 4 colors, and in exactly 4 different sizes. It was kismet!
Next, Luke and I went to Chez Robert - a really neat restaurant across the street from the "Hotel Rwanda" - which is not really called that - but that is the name they gave it in the movie. We followed that up with a trip to the Kigali Memorial Center, where they have the Genocide Memorial. We took the audio tour and I bawled my head off of course. It was beyond words.
One of the most interesting things about Rwanda was that they are supposed to speak English as one of their national languages. However, as we were catching motos around town, I ended up using my swahili more than my english. I was glad that I've had intensive lessons for the past three months - or sometimes I would never have been able to get around.
A P R I L.... I miss you. I miss your laugh. I miss your coffee. I miss you in general.
ReplyDeleteStop watching things that make you ball. :) I passed on the Holocaust Memorial in DC.... sigh!
I give you hugs and hugs. Let me know if you need anything. I also need an address to send you stuff.
Love you lots,
Sonya