More busy and tiring days – I don’t know if it’s the heat, the altitude or all the new sights and sounds, or the combination of the above but its draining just doing anything.
We have looked at about 9 houses in total, mostly the newer residential areas in Kigali - Nyarutarama, including the ex residence of the Kenyan ambassador. A number of the houses seemed to have been designed by someone with a mini palace in mind and built by drunken baboons, common features include very uneven stairs, en suites for practically every room and wings!!
In the end though we will probably end up living somewhere else entirely! One of Lons colleagues is going to leave in October/November, and we would like to take over their house – its located in the old part of town, Kiyovu not the new area, so there is much more mature greenery around, and it’s a house where we felt that we could make our home. It has from memory 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, a great shaded area to sit outside and an upstairs verandah as well. All though this house is a bit older and shabbier, it has a really good feeling. This means that we will end up in furnished temporary accommodation for the in between period – but it will be worth the wait I think. We will also negotiate taking on (most) of the existing staff, and maybe some furnishings as well.
Went to the Ambassadors for dinner along with the other new intakes (there are 4 new staff at the embassy). The ambassador is an experienced host, and we all had a relaxed, sociable evening.
Lon Zomer and Hazel O'Dea - their life abroad
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Sunday, 26 August 2007
Kigali – first days, first impressions
We were met by Jaco (Lons colleague) at the airport, where our new status was apparent in that we bypassed the whole entrance / visa queue.
The drive to the hotel was very odd in that it was “Public Cleaning day” – the last Saturday of the month when everyone is obliged to perform community work. In practise this meant that the streets were virtually deserted, and roadblocks were checking vehicles that were on the streets.
Once we reached the Novotel, we were met by some more of the embassy staff who helped us by checking in for us and organising coffees.
The hotel is clean and dated, and African, and is a local hangout for embassy staff as it is a 5 minute walk away, and is also popular with wealthier Rwandans.
We went on a tour of the city, which in comparison to other African countries and capitals that we have visited is clean, orderly, small and oddly laid out due to the hills. I’m not confident that I will ever be able to navigate it successfully!
Our first priority will be to find a permanent house, a shortlist of 4 possibles has already been scouted for us, so we are hopeful that we can look and make a decision sooner rather than later.
We have been warmly welcomed by the dutchies, and it looks as if there will be plenty of opportunity to build a rich social life here.
The internet connection in the hotel is a prepaid card and not super fast, so we’re not online too much at the moment and will probably have to upload images later, but are grateful to have any connection.
The drive to the hotel was very odd in that it was “Public Cleaning day” – the last Saturday of the month when everyone is obliged to perform community work. In practise this meant that the streets were virtually deserted, and roadblocks were checking vehicles that were on the streets.
Once we reached the Novotel, we were met by some more of the embassy staff who helped us by checking in for us and organising coffees.
The hotel is clean and dated, and African, and is a local hangout for embassy staff as it is a 5 minute walk away, and is also popular with wealthier Rwandans.
We went on a tour of the city, which in comparison to other African countries and capitals that we have visited is clean, orderly, small and oddly laid out due to the hills. I’m not confident that I will ever be able to navigate it successfully!
Our first priority will be to find a permanent house, a shortlist of 4 possibles has already been scouted for us, so we are hopeful that we can look and make a decision sooner rather than later.
We have been warmly welcomed by the dutchies, and it looks as if there will be plenty of opportunity to build a rich social life here.
The internet connection in the hotel is a prepaid card and not super fast, so we’re not online too much at the moment and will probably have to upload images later, but are grateful to have any connection.
Leaving Home
The last weeks in August saw Lon learning French, and my visiting family and friends.
Finally the details came together and the big move came.
Our house changed from
to
We were successful in renting out our house, and Lon spent his birthday
cleaning it in preparation for our tenant!
So the house finally looked like
The journey was long, comfortable and uneventful. Business class meant that we weren’t completely cramped, but we still slept far too little.
Finally the details came together and the big move came.
Our house changed from
to
We were successful in renting out our house, and Lon spent his birthday
cleaning it in preparation for our tenant!
So the house finally looked like
The journey was long, comfortable and uneventful. Business class meant that we weren’t completely cramped, but we still slept far too little.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Still here
OK it's been a while since I have posted anything. This is mainly because this blog is meant for when we are abroad. In a way that is true at the moment, as Hazel just came back from England and I am still in Spa learning French.
It's been hard work the last month. A short summery of activities:
Buying car
Changing insurance (ALL: health, house, travel....)
arranging movers
send changes of address etc.
not to mention changing job
quiting job
lots of trainings at ministry
We think we got most things sorted (thanks to mainly Hazels organisation)
Busy times ahead. After a family reunion next weekend the movers will come and we will stay with all our belongings at a friends house. The painter will then be able to paint the last walls and our tenant can move in. This was something else that needed sorting.
I feel it is about time we go. It feels a bit like Christmas, but with more uncertainties and surprises. I have a fair that we forget something important, but hopefully this is ungrounded.
In short: keep watching this space. After our arrival on 25 August in Rwanda this blog will be updated more regularly.
CU soon ?!
Lon
It's been hard work the last month. A short summery of activities:
Buying car
Changing insurance (ALL: health, house, travel....)
arranging movers
send changes of address etc.
not to mention changing job
quiting job
lots of trainings at ministry
We think we got most things sorted (thanks to mainly Hazels organisation)
Busy times ahead. After a family reunion next weekend the movers will come and we will stay with all our belongings at a friends house. The painter will then be able to paint the last walls and our tenant can move in. This was something else that needed sorting.
I feel it is about time we go. It feels a bit like Christmas, but with more uncertainties and surprises. I have a fair that we forget something important, but hopefully this is ungrounded.
In short: keep watching this space. After our arrival on 25 August in Rwanda this blog will be updated more regularly.
CU soon ?!
Lon
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