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zodi being a poolside showoff in Gisenyi 

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A really fun night spent at Simba Supermarket in Gishushu neighborhood, a popular hangout spot, with friends 

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We could see the airport from Zodi’s balcony and would sit out there every night towards the end of the trip and watch planes take off and I’ll miss that

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an even more nostalgic video of my last ever nighttime moto-ride 

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nostalgic video of moto-ing

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playing card games after brunch

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Some more videos – eating brunch!

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And finally – the final pictures from the airport

1. obligatory airplane selfie with Zodi who I already miss 

2. A really cool new thing the guy sitting next to me showed me where you can watch live footage of your flight from various viewpoints of the plane!!!

3. On our second flight (the 13 hour one) it took us 2 hours to take off because a family got into a FIGHT and decided to DEBOARD so they had to take out ALL OF THE LUGGAGE and find their luggage to give it back to them, and then run a security check to make sure nothing fishy happened

4&5. At the Kigali airport there are no fancy tunnels to go through, you just walk up stairs to the plane like on a private jet and Zodi and I happened to be the first to board which we thought was hilarious so he snapped some paparazzi looking pics

6. Obligatory typical Rwandan travel snacks – salted peanuts and drinkable strawberry yogurt. i’M GONNA MISS RWANDA. wow. 

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Stirring the ugali 

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Zodi dancing at the Kiziba graduation ceremony!!!! 

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Four last random pictures – 

1. Facetiming Mom, Lyra, and Suli from Davide’s

2. Sunrise view from our apartment

3. Random picture Zodi took of me on the moto

4. Delicious loaded sweet potato fries we got at a restaurant called the Hut

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On our actual last day in Kigali, we also had a day that I couldn’t have orchestrated better. Zodi, Aldo, and I convened at the Women’s Bakery for one last iced coffee, and then we moto-ed to Nyamirambo for our last meal, which was to be lunch at la Cantine. My favorite moto ride to my favorite meal in Kigali. We had lunch there and then said goodbye to Aldo, went back to the apartment, met Bruno, and were off to the airport... 

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For our last day in Kigali, we woke up early in Gisenyi and took a bus back to the city. I went straight to the market to meet Davide and grocery shop for our brunch day, and made sure that everyone I had invited could make it. He and I got to work instantly and cooked for the next 3 or so hours as people trickled in and hung out outside, waiting for the food. Finally when everything was done we served everyone, ALL of the food was eaten (note the empty plates), and then we played card games and drinking games until dark, and people left one by one. They’re an AMAZING group of people.. I’m so grateful to have met them and to have spent this time with them. I’ll miss them all so much, and I genuinely don’t think I could have orchestrated a better last full day in Kigali.

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Our mini vacation at Gisenyi with Zodi and Aldo

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Graduation at Kiziba! Featuring (of course) the delicious meal we were served

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Our last day at Kepler! After which Zodi and I went to Masala to get a dosa, our favorite. Also, I forgot to mention – Ananya left early!! Just by a few days. So that explains her absence in a lot of these last pictures.

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1. Before Caplaki, Zodi and I took Aldo to la Cantine, our favorite milk bar in Nyamirambo, and we finally ordered the food! It was, not exaggerating, the best food I’ve ever EVER had. And Aldo was very impressed that we had discovered such a small local place that he didn’t even know, and that we introduced him to it. 

2. Then we went to Ubumwe Hotel for dinner after Caplaki

3&4. Before Ubumwe we went to a place called Heaven, because we had met a bunch of American students at the Women’s Bakery who are interning there, but it was SO expensive so we only got an appetizer and then left.