On our way to Rwanda

The fact that I will be returning to Rwanda just became a reality for me. At long last and after much planning and anticipation, I will finally be hopping a plane to return to one of the most intriguing places I have been.  Now  all I have to do is finish my packing and take a couple of deep breaths as I endeavour to fully absorb myself in the experience. I am officially incredibly excited!

The pre-departure excitement leading up to a tour is always part of the overall experience, and the anticipation around travelling and experiencing something new has always been a pleasure for me. Yet, as traveling and earning my livelihood have come together, this exciting window of time  has shrunk dramatically for me.  As I am constantly imagining, preparing and organizing other trips, it is easy to be distracted until the last minute; the narrowing pre-departure excitement is strictly a function of my unique lifestyle, and certainly not because the experience itself is any less exciting. Indeed, I fully expect and know that what awaits me will fall nothing short of what I have become used to as I travel: inspiration.

So, what am I so excited about? Well, Rwanda is a beautiful place to be and this time of year I can’t say I am too sad to be heading to warmer weather. I am excited to see my good friend Lama Mugabo and I am sure that  it will feel as though only weeks have passed since our last visit. Beyond being a great guy and fun to be with, Lama is someone I have a profound respect for; his work, his vision and his commitment are admirable. I feel a kinship with people like Lama and I fully intend to feed off his enthusiasm and passion.

I am excited to visit the Golden Monkeys and experience new parts of Rwanda. I am excited about celebrating New Years with our group and the villagers in Gashora. I am excited to meet new people and forge new relationships. And, let’s face it, it’s just time for me to get away and get present.

My excitement is also rooted in getting to know Rwanda better…. in getting a stronger pulse on the heartbeat of this country that  inspires me.  ountry on the rise that affords me a sense of hope. We  often live in a cynical world, and I am in need of a healthy shot of hope ... and Rwanda is a country on the move! Rwanda is rising and I’m rooting for it. If Rwanda can do it, maybe we all can. I often feel so distracted in day to day life ….. so this is an opportunity to connect closer to that intangible and redeeming spirit that I know awaits me.

But most notable, I think I am most looking forward to observing how those in our group connect to Rwanda. I have learned to live vicariously through the experiences of others and this is my juice… this is what I feed on to keep me driven and connected to why I do what I have chosen to do. - Jess