On Jan 9, I arrived late at night so wasn't able to see much of the country side. What I've seen thus far is a modern African country with good roads and it is so clean. The hotel is vast and it is cold here so had to have a fire in my room. Thank goodness for hot water!

THe languages here are iRwandan, English and French. At least I can understand some of it!

On the way to the hotel from Kigagli airport, my guide told me an amazing personal story. In 1994, the government led by Houtu's had planned and carried out a mass 'elimination' of Tsutsi's - a genocide. Kevin was 13 as he watched his Houtu neighbor slaughter his sisters and grandparents with machetes, clubs and knives. He escaped through a window and ran to his uncles house. They were already murdered. So he ranand lived onthe streets and in the jungle for a year. He ended up in an Ugandan refugee camp. one year later, he met his parents there. He had no idea they were alive nor they him They had come from work to see their house burning so they ran, same as him. Then, the present President led 600 men against the army of Houtus and took over - the story o ftransformation and forgiveness almost had no words to describe.

As you can imagine - I was shocked and embarrassed as back then, I thought it was just another 'tribal war'. The story behind what happened is as bad as Hitler and every other modern genocide. (Cambodia, Sajeravo) and the UN did not do their job. In fact, Catholic priests and the country of France helped the slaughter.

More on this later but I cannot express my amazement at the level of forgivness and the positive attitude this young man had. This country's transformation is truly is a story to be read and told and held up for all to see - more later.

In the meantime, I am so excited to see Gorilla's.