I’ve been in Bujumbura for a week. It’s the economic capital of Burundi, however, the country has another capital which was officiated by their former president and parliament, called Gitega.

Their airport is called the Melchior Ndadaye-Bujumbura International airport. With the advent of COVID-19, this has got to be the only airport I know that demands you pay $100 (in that exact currency) for a covid test as a foreigner-upon both arrival and departure.

I landed here from Nairobi and immediately loved it, given that it’s summer here and the temperature is 27 degrees Celcius. The tropical weather is also due to its proximity to Lake Tanganyika and as a nation, they export coffee, cotton and tin. I got to visit the beach and walk in the sand on a hot Sunday afternoon-they have a lot of establishments along the beach-and you can choose which ones to visit and what to eat while you listen to some awesome afro-beats music.

The other thing that came as a shock for the Kenyan in me are their taxis. In Kenya, the Probox Succeed vehicles are known as “gari ya biashara,” and in Mbita where I reside, these vehicles carry at least 10 passengers plus the driver-but here they can carry only a maximum of four! The country is undergoing a fuel shortage crisis and they queue for hours to get fuel, but these people still carry 4 and not even six or seven!

The other shock, is their portions- they serve a lot of food and I love my soda, so getting to drink Fanta Citrus here was like getting my fix. Their vegetable is called ‘lengalenga’ and it’s got to be the most delicious ‘mboga kienyeji’ I have had.

Give the influence of expats here, and having been colonized by the French- most of them speak in French and Kirundi (I can only say good morning in this language, everything else is lost on me)- and few speak English. I got a treat of awesome cake and coffee at Le Café Gourmand in the city.

It’s been a week of me just accepting the fact that I am not in Kenya and loving the kindness and company of the team I am working with here, and above all getting to understand and empathize with this country for the tumultuous history its had, and the frustration of young people who desire grow and prefer to leave and not look back. Everything here takes time, more like no one is in a hurry to do more than one thing and the Kenyan in me is learning not to be frustrated after coming to know more of their history and culture.

Have a great weekend wherever you are.