But you're just skin and bones, you need to eat...

This will not devolve into a food blog, I promise. But I like food and feel the need to discuss, ok?

Oh, and not sure how regular these blog posts will be once I am in the thick of working at the hospital. We will have to see...

Anyway, one of the highest rated restaurants in Kigali is around the block (around the block still means going uphill... Both ways... Not kidding on this point).  An Indian joint called Khana Khazana. If you are in the neighborhood, target audience of Tennesseans and Colorado transplants, highly recommend it. ("But Stringham, you're in Rwanda, why didn't you eat Rwandan food like, um, ... Hippo or, like, bush meat or something?" There are about 50 Indian places I can throw a rock at from my doorstep, and I had "street meat" otherwise known as a goat stew with rice and red beans for lunch. Get off me now, straw man of my own creation).  

Anyway, got the chicken tikka masala on recommendation of the wait staff:

Very good, perfect spice, chicken was tender, naan was freshly made, rice was flavorful. Service was impeccable. Rohith Piyaratna, your "boofeys" that you always wanted to go to in Nashville pale in comparison with this place. One of the best Indian meals I have had since I can remember. 

Beernerdness: Tusker pale lager. From Kenya, I believe. A lot like Stella Artois. Not hoppy, refreshing in the heat and to wash down the spice, but not spectacular. However according to the bottle was named after George Hurst the founder of the company who was gored by an elephant while on a hunt. Another fun fact: beer (specifically this higher end beer) is the same price as bottled water. Not sure about finding microbrews here, but will see if I can. 

I promise to eat and drink weird things in the future, or at least pretend that I did for the sake of this discussion. First on the to do list: Urwagwe, a fermented banana beer with sorghum flour. Supposed to be potent. And taste like old bananas. This is me excited about the prospect.

Tomorrow: trying to get cell service in Kinyarwandan (I still maintain that to get across information one needs only to speak slowly and loudly in English, and gesticulate madly. And if that doesn't work, speak spanglish). And a visit to the Hotel de Mille Collines aka "Hotel Rwanda." French translation: hotel of a million Colins. Or colons, I don't speak French. 

Day 2: getting to know Kigali

Looking up at the ceiling while lying in bed. 

The female anopheles mosquito can carry plasmodium falciparum and its cousins, and is responsible for a majority of deaths in this region throughout history. Thus the mosquito netting, the perfectly maintained window screens, and my am dose of the anti-malarial malrenone. I of course will also use my personality as a repellent, seems to to work with most ladies, oh and 100% DEET bug spray. Homey don't play around. 

Walking around today, trying to better understand the roads and where I live, where work will be. Streets are deserted this morning. The last Saturday of every month is called umuganda: a day of service where the locals all pick up trash, sweep the streets with brooms, etc. No cars on roads from 7:30 to 11. Everyone takes it slow (but the night before, everyone in Kigali goes to the house beside my hotel for a bitchin' party, brah). 

Oh and something no one told me about: BIG FRIGGIN BATS. Size of a football. Everywhere. Those aren't fruit in these trees...

Now it's time for a thunderstorm, so will be hanging out in the room. 

Traveling, day 1

Standing in line for first leg in Denver international airport. Feel like a pack mule with all the crap I am bringing (one 50 pound bag of medical supplies).

Best thing I've heard so far: "shoes stay on your feet, laptops and liquids stay in your bag." TSA getting smarter, but think it's more to do with the drug (or bomb)-sniffing dogs at security.