Thursday 18 October 2007

Sociablity OD

Friday night we attended the Dutch ambassadors annual dutchy drinks reception, which gave us the opportunity to mix with non embassy staff - sadly we got latched onto by the one chap who thought smart casual meant white pyjama style striped trousers with a paisley shirt.

On Saturday we went for our now habitual exploratory drive. I wanted to revisit a road I remembered as being green, in a valley and quite straight with had the Kigali Institute of Management on it, Lon has gamely tried to find it for the past couple of weekends, but with little luck. Apparently all I needed to say for direction was the one down from the airport. I had no idea we were anywhere near the airport. The geography really has to be seen to be understood or appreciated. The rational, European logical sense of direction plays no role here - theres no four turns left and I'll be back here concept, as there most probably isn't a left, or indeed further lefts from that. Roads follow the contours of the hills, and probably previous popular trails. Oh and the map we have is part fiction in that some roads don't exist that are shown, others don't indicate that they are blocked due to the American embassy or the presidents residence.

Sunday saw us relaxing by the pool and attending a birthday party (dutch), so once again seeing all the embassy staff and partners.

Monday, the Landenteam (country team) arrived, and of course a reception was held with all the embassy staff and partners...so we have all seen a little too much of each other! I'll leave Lon to elaborate on the purpose / outcome of the country team visit.

Tuesday I got invited to go to Butare with Els and her guests, so I now know some more interesting places to stop (shop) along the way. Yesterday morning the dutch partners (again) got together to sort and price second hand clothes for sale at the AIC bazaar in November, and to cap it off we had an AIC (African International Club) social evening last night!!!

I can't wait for a nice quiet evening in with Lon, but tonight is yoga........

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow, maybe I should come to Rwanda, sounds like you have more of a life there than I do here in Holland - seems like being an Expat wife isn't so bad - and you even managed to find a Yoga group!!!!

M xx