Preparing for Rwanda

I can't believe I'm headed off to Rwanda tomorrow night. Time has gone by so fast and it sucks that it's already time to leave. Lugano has become home and everyone has become family and these past two months have been incredible. We're all packing now (we have to packed by 10pm tomorrow - we're leaving for the airport at 2am) and it's horrible to watch as our rooms become more and more empty. I know the adventure's not over yet, but it's still so sad to be leaving Europe.

However, on the other hand, I am so pumped for Rwanda. The Rwanda groups is splitting into two small groups, and I'm starting off the in Kigali for the first two weeks to discuss entrepreneurship with university students. I will probably have at least some internet connection because Kigali is the capital and because we'll be on the university campus a lot. The next two weeks, the groups switch and I'm going to Nyamyumba, a small southern village. Here, we'll be teaching primary and secondary school children English, as well as working on agricultural terraces and building houses. The last week, the entire Rwanda group will meet up again and we're going on an excursion to see memorials and national parks. I cannot wait to experience such a strong and unique country. This will definitely be a huge culture shock, but I'm just excited to explore and become more educated.

Here is an awesome video that is making me want to be in Rwanda now!

I'm still terrified that we'll bring too much Western culture with us which will negatively influence the students we will be working with, but I think it's just something I'll have to be super conscious of. I'm there to learn more than I am to teach.

Not sure when I'll be able to blog next, but I'll try and keep everything as updated as possible. If I don't get many chances to blog while I'm in Rwanda, I'll definitely be posting lots when I return to the States on December 10th. I'm already looking forward to being reunited with my family and friends, as well as everyone else here who went through this amazing journey with me.