The Ride of My Life
I’m on the most amazing ride of my life, through the hills of Rwanda to a village where we’re going to help build houses for the next two days. I’m so filled with a plethora of emotions. This place is so beautiful, yet so poor. The children we pass and exchange waves with are so pure, and yet so rough. They’re in ragged, overused clothes, worn to tatters. Their faces have the dirt streaks of neglect; of a world that has neglected them. And I struggle as I decide when to film. These are not zoo animals on exhibit. They are people. They are children. My heart aches to share with the world their existence. An existence that should shame the world. Here are we, a caravan of buses with police forces. Observers that will simply leave; return to our comfortable lives. I decide not to film yet – not until I develop relationships with the subjects. Instead I concentrate on the magnificent landscape, speckled with homes that look as though they grew from the ground just as the mountains did. It’s also a landscape that just 16 years ago was drowned in blood, during the genocide that took a million Rwandese lives. We’ve learned, over these past few days, the remarkable lengths Rwanda has come since then. It is truly an impressive transformation. Yet these hills still appear haunted by those memories. I am really looking forward to our on the ground work; to make a difference in some way. But I know it will be much smaller than the difference this trip will make in my...
A Rwandan Welcome
Another jam packed day today! This country and these people have been so incredibly welcoming to us. Last night we were invited to Kigali Serena hotel – a five star hotel here in Rwanda. It was a beautiful place where we were treated with a banquet of food and drink, as well as a performance by traditional Rwandese cultural dancers. And today we were able to hear from various speakers about the Millennium Development Goals; a framework for tackling global poverty and other inequalities. I think the best part though, has been interacting with all of the other incredible participants. Being together, in solidarity, with impassioned individuals from Rwanda, India, Australia, Peru and many many more countries, is truly a gift. I have so much more I want to share, but so little energy left after this packed day. Of course I filmed it all too so I was extra...
Land of a Thousand Hills
This place is breathtaking. Seeing it all in daylight for the first time today. The photo is just a glimpse of the view we have outside. We’re staying at a catholic retreat house atop one of the many hills in Rwanda. Its very nice, clean, and safe. Even gated off and protected with armed guards! People here are incredible. Meeting some great Rwandans and people from all over the world. So much more to share, but I’ll spread it out...
What Am I Doing?
Right now I am sitting in a very empty Brussels airport terminal, waiting to board a flight to Kigali, Rwanda. This is the first of what I hope to be a series of blog entries on this pretty incredible journey. If you are reading this, it’s likely you already know why I’m on my way to Rwanda. Just in case though: I’m on my way to the UNESCO International Leadership Training Programme: A Global Intergenerational Regional Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. Quite the title, but what does it mean? Essentially it is a forum that will bring together young leaders in the human rights field from all over the world. The goal is to further human rights through education, capacity building and leadership training. I encourage you to checkout the official blog for the forum, which you’ll find linked on the right side of my blog. I’m honored to be part of this forum and cannot wait to enter Africa for the first time in my life. To make things even better, not only will I be a participant in this program, but I am also a member of the Media Team and will be filming the entire forum! Now I shall sit and wait for the next flight…a bit tired and recovering from a New England cold (just to remind me of where I am coming from I guess!) that has left me almost deaf in one ear from the plane ascension/descension. Haha, but regardless of all that, I am so excited for what lay ahead! I hope to share as much as possible along the way, but there are many unknown factors, such as the internet availability where I am staying. This may be my last post from overseas or my first of many; I hope for the latter! At any rate, I will come back from Rwanda with much to share, show and...
Engaged!
Some very exciting news to cap off this year! On Christmas night, I proposed to Bethany, my girlfriend of 5 years and love of my life. Even better, (and the reason I’m able to share this news) is that she said yes! Gathered around the Christmas tree, opening presents with her family and mine, Bethany began opening a present that she had thought was a perfume she wanted. It just so happened that she was with me when I bought this perfume for her two weeks prior and it also just so happened to come in a clear box. After much brainstorming, I decided to put the ring, in it’s opened box, inside of the perfume box; a perfect fit! And so, when Bethany unwrapped the perfume box she was (somewhat) surprised to find a ring! I say somewhat because apparently women have a sixth sense when it comes to these things. She had some inclination based on the fact that I made a big deal of opening our gifts with her family (instead of by ourselves the night before). Both our families were very surprised and (fortunately) very happy with the events that transpired. As I said, this really was a wonderful way to cap off my year. I’ve been together with Bethany for just over five years now and she is a truly amazing woman. I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I’ll gratefully accept! You can expect a wedding sometime in 2011 – until which we will enjoy being...
Recent Comments