le beau monde

so, we had a somewhat eventful day today. it started off with me getting a full 12 hours of sleep (yes, 12!). then, we went up to the market that was set up outside the PEPFAR conference (held in kigali this year) at the serena hotel: think white tents vomited all over the hotel grounds and massive security (yes, police with *rifles*).

i bought some stuff from the local sellers - there were people there from an organization which employs people living with hiv/aids (PLWHA). i got some earrings and postcards. those of you who gave me mailing addresses...

my friend, ajanta, got sick from the food (possibly) we had at 'salt & pepper', the poorly-lit cousin (we think) of 'ice & spice', the indian restaurant at which we celebrated emily's birthday a few weeks ago. emily, taylor (housemate), and i had stomach issues, too. our PI, who is visiting for the next 9 weeks (and referenced before on this blog), raved about s & p as 'cheap and good, a tradition!'. it will not be a tradition i engage in.

*end of tangent* so, ajanta calls on ty's phone to tell us she is sick. 5 minutes later, ty's phone (which had been in my backpack) is gone. so, yes, i got pickpocketed. at the stupid street fair i had already dropped $10 at, to patronize local businesses. so, now i get to go a) buy a new cell phone (~$50), and charge it with 20,000 FRW (~$40).

then, we went to a prime people-watching spot, 'bourbon coffee'. i don't know why i go back (we've only been once before) because its clientele is the beau monde. seriously - gorgeous expat women with beautiful expat children and husbands. i walk in (typically) having taken my last shower two days prior, with skirts that have not been washed in 3 weeks, and having forgotten deoderant. but it also reminds me that i won't ever be a beautiful expat. which i'm fine with.

we also made crepes tonight, which turned out great! unfortunately, in the process, we made the batter in a plastic bowl that had a crack in it, and then ended up squirting milk all over my skirt (finally, a reason to wash it!).

up next (that's right, the night is not over!) is 'cadillac', a club in kigali that bunch of folks from the project are going to...i'm a bit ambivalent. on the one hand, the day could end on a great note. on the other hand, it could be an extension of what i've already experienced in the workplace - except that the passes in this case would be made in a dimly-lit nightclub, as opposed to the fluorescent data room.

in order for the good juju to flow, as i type this, at the admin building i spend every work day and night in: toto's 'africa' is blasting from my computer.