June 3

I have had several close encounters with the cockroach that lives in this guest house. First time I found him was in the bathroom, I couldn’t help but scream. I’m sure he was equally startled because he hissed back at me. I’m not sure if that was an English hiss or a KinyaRwandan hiss, regardless we were both speaking the universal language of get away.  Although I don’t like idea of killing animals, I wish I could say that is why I haven’t killed him. But he’s huge, about the size of my thumb, and that would leave a very disgusting mess to clean up… something I’m not prepared to deal with. I’m also trying out my new KinyaRwandan words on the locals, I’m sure I have been providing the local entertainment for the last few days because I am awful. Today I was at store practically playing charades with the clerk when a lady came up to help me. She was very nice and did a great job at trying. When I was about to leave I told her “murakoze”, which means thank you. Not kidding she looked at me and said “what does that mean”, shocked I explained “that’s thank you in your language”. She then starting laughing hysterically at me and then pronounced it the correct way, I guess I really butchered that one… fail.