Missing Rwanda

I cannot believe almost a whole week has gone by since I was with my boys in Rwanda.  It really is crazy how time flies.  I miss Rwanda more than I thought I would. I really did find a home there.  Morocco is more like Europe than anything, but I still find the pieces of the Africa I love here, I cling to them---the moms with babies on their backs and the piles of clothes in the market with dozens of women shuffling through them.

I wanted to share my co-worker, Elena's blog so that you can still follow life in Rwanda if you so choose, she will be there until April. I am SO jealous!
http://elenainrwanda.blogspot.com/ 

Made it to Morocco

After 23 hours of traveling, I arrived in Morocco on Monday.  Pretty ridiculous, it takes just as long to get across Africa as it does to get to Colorado.  Morocco is so different than Rwanda!! I've had anxiety pretty much since I stepped off the plane and was hit by a wall of cold.  With two pairs of pants and flip-flops I am definitely not prepared for the climate and with trains and trams I am totally out of my element.  I am slowly adjusting, until I come across the Rolex stores and McDonalds, which cause a moment of sheer panic.  I miss Rwanda and my boys more than I could have imagined and I'm busy dreaming of ways to get back quickly!  But with Rwanda and my boys in my heart I am happy to be with Alex again and the French pastries are a nice perk!

 

We All Scream for Ice Cream

A wise person once said, "You can't buy happiness but you can buy ice cream and that's pretty much the same thing."  Ice cream is one thing that I can count on to always make me happy. 

When I was little ice cream was the reason I would eat dinner.  In Gambia, I would splurge on ice cream, it helped me get through the stress of having all my plans fall through and was a good way to bribe my host
brother. 

When we were traveling through Butare a month back we came across Inzozi Nziza, the first ice cream parlor in Rwanda.  A women's cooperative that has brought jobs, ice cream and most importantly happiness to the community.  With free ice cream once a month for the children of Butare, Inzozi Nziza is spreading joy.  They advertise as coffee, ice cream and dreams.  Simple and perfect! And so began my obsession of giving my boys the ice cream experience.

With today being my last official day at the center (I will go tomorrow for final goodbyes) I thought that instead of being sad about my departure why not spread some joy with a sweet treat.  Elena and I packed in the truck, headed to town and spent $97!  The best money I have ever spent.  4.5 gallons of ice cream, 150 plastic spoons, a mash of tin plates and plastic cups, and 130 boys- it was wonderful!!!!  Smiles, licking plates, ice cream on faces--it was sheer perfection.  Today I fulfilled a dream and got my boys ice cream, it doesn't get much better than that! 

YUM!

woah ice cream!

My boys! Forever in my heart.

I leave Rwanda on Sunday (with a very heavy heart) to join Alex in Morocco.  I do not know if I will really have an opportunity to blog.  Thank you so much for joining me on this journey, I cannot believe it is coming to an end...