Arriving – Saturday, March 6, 2010

We arrived on Saturday evening in the sort of dense, velvety darkness that exists in a climate that is warm all the year. The air smelled sweet as we walked from the plane toward the terminal where we waited in line with the others on our plane to present our passports for entry into the country. We waited a long time for our bags to appear on the turnstile. Both Pearl and I were quiet; I was wondering if among the throngs standing behind the barriers outside the baggage claim area, was there someone to meet us? In moments like that, you feel very very far away from home and all that is familiar.

As we grabbed our bags and hoisted them onto the cart, we walked through the doors where the people were waiting. Sure enough, I heard my name and saw three of the tutors with whom I had worked last year and the two new tutors who arrived in January. The Headmistress of the school, Sister Felcite, had come also with Paul, the driver and the school van. Paul packed us up into the van and we began the drive from Kigali out to the Maranyundo School.