The kids

The kids here are my favourite in the world. The first night we got here, the 6-year old son of our local partner grabbed my hand and didn't let go till he had to say goodbye. And all that started it was my looking at him and taking notice.

At the place where we set up the telecentre, there were tons of kids in rags running around, shouting 'umuzungu' (person who has taken away the power, nice nickname indeed for a white person in East Africa) and 'bonbon'. They were genuinely happy when we gave them any attention whatsoever. Sure, they liked to get sweets from us, but just walking along with us, being seen holding our hands, was cool. I happily obliged. Communication happened, by teaching them to 'high 5' and to limbo-dance (another one of Kylan's good ideas of the day). Happy kids, all of them. I'm still working on smuggling one or two back with me in my suitcase.

The kids in the schools I visited were the same, even though they were older and could speak at least French. They liked to get close, and touch my skin - so most times I went to a place like that, the teachers had to create a wedge into the pie of kids surrounding me so that I could get out and talk business. And I had enjoyed myself so much.. They were polite and just incredibly interested, though we didn't always understand what the other one said.

And then my favourite kid-story happened; Ash and I went to Irene's place, one of our local co-workers. His 2-year old sister looked grumpy when we arrived, she'd just woken up. When I went up to her she streched out her arms, let me pick her up, and spent the rest of the time I was there on my lap. When we decided to leave, she burst into tears and didn't stop crying while we left. I've never made such a big impression in such a short while in my life!!

When I talk to Rwandans about how unafraid of strangers the kids are, then those who've lived in Europe or the US tell me the equivalent story, the other way round. They had been shocked at how little kids were handed round during a gathering, and how the kids stuck with their parents all the time. They also told me that kidnapping is non-existent in Rwanda, so there's no need to sensitise kids to the potential danger that a stranger represents.

I like it this way round. Maybe I'll buy myself a bigger bag.