amahoro!

in kirundi, that means "peace," and it's the common gretting here in bujumbura, from where i greet you now. i haven't prepared anything to write, as i am very surprised this morning to catch a strong wireless internet signal from somewhere nearby where we, help channel burundi, are setting up our new office after moving from the outskirts of the city.

burundi is incredible! after being in transit for two full days, i found myself sitting under a thatched roof drinking iced tea while looking across vast lake tanganyika to the high mountain ranges of the congo. behind me is bujumbura, the capital city, and behind it are the heavily populated hills of the countryside. there is barely a square metre in the entire country that isn't inhabited. burundi is africa's second most densely populated country (behind rwanda), and is bustling to say the least. today i have not yet seen another muzungu, which is what people yell out with a smile and a thumbs-up when they see me. but i will; at the least, i'll see one whizzing by in one of the ubiquitous white UN landcruisers.

next week i look forward to touring the various help channel operations in the countryside, and getting a better grasp of what i will be doing. for now, my orientation continues, and my french classes will soon begin. i should conclude before my connection disappears, but i promise more soon, including photographs!

for now, peace.