muzungu, donnez moi l'argent

i'm putting 2 posts on in one day. i don't think there is internet in gisenyi so i'm getting my internet fix to last the weekend. i just went to town for the first time. there were street children everywhere saying, "muzungu, donnez moi l'argent" which means "white person, give me money." i just tell them i don't have any. my search for creches was not fruitful. maybe next week. i spent 3 hours walking around the city with jessie and got my first sunburn.

it was great to be back in the city. it smells and there are tons of people everywhere and it takes forever to walk around and there are always people trying to sell you watches and candy but it is marvelous. i took a taxi back to the office and there were 24 people in the taxi which is the size of a large minivan. i was in the back row (safest in case of an accident) with 3 mothers and their babies. the babies kept grabbing my hands and smiling while their mothers said "ari muzungu" (she's white). it was so cute i didn't even mind the smell or being called a muzungu.

merry christmas to everyone. enjoy the snow for me. i'll think about you when i'm on the beach in gisenyi.