From Michelle, Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Good morning from Rwanda,

The vacation is over and work has begun. Yvon left on Monday evening and he is safely back in Canada. I’m pretty impressed he made all those connections and flights by himself! Having him with me on this journey through Tanzania and Rwanda was all I could have hoped for and more. In his own words “They say Rwanda is the land of a Thousand Hills but I think Rwanda is the land of a million smiles where the poorest take joy in helping you before helping themselves.”

The wedding on Saturday was an incredible 13 hour experience. Starting with a very traditional 3 hour ceremony of dowry exchange of cows (figuratively), gifts and representatives from each family ensuring the marriage was suitable. It was colourful, lively and very entertaining. Thank goodness for the people who translated everything for us! We were humbly treated as VIPs through the day. So wonderful to meet Christophe’s family and his beautiful wife Solange.

The rest of the day had many elements of a North American wedding….church ceremony with amazing music and then a reception. I was honoured to sit beside Christophe’s grandfather at the reception. We could not communicate verbally but we danced and I taught him how to do ” cheers” with a beer bottle.

I have attached a photo of Christophe’s parents with Patty and Franco his ” Canadian parents” who supported him with love and funding for education which helped him blossom into the wonderful young man that he is. I am now helping deliver a brand new course developed to trial in Rwanda to educate health care professionals using Simulation.

Day 1 was gruelling but amazing. It is warm out, the birds are singing.

Time to get a Rwandan coffee and go to work.

Big hug from Rwanda!

Michelle