The reason we were staying so long in Kigali is to check out the Fields of Knowledge conference about the genocide. It started on Tuesday, but we decided we had more important things to do instead so we skipped the start of the conference, it was just drinks and registration anyway. We checked the schedule and Wednesday also seemed to have nothing that pertained to us, so we skipped that one too, and Thursday and Friday were the days we really wanted to see. Two of our friends were presenting today, Jobb Arnold from University of Manitoba and Josias Sebujanja from Montreal, so today was actually the first day we went to the conference. We even skipped breakfast at Bourbon to get there at 9.
The conference was really interesting, probably the most interesting one we’ve been to yet, but I am just done with conferences I think. Maybe it was because I didn’t have a coffee. Some of the talks were excellent, but I found that if they weren’t incredibly gripping I was practically nodding off. Just so so so so much talking. I was so relieved when it was coffee break, I was practically dying. We had other meetings and things to plan, so we stuck around long enough for Jobb’s presentation in the morning and then we had to take off at the afternoon break. We were going to meet with Candace, a contact we made through Josh, who works for the Rwanda Community Works. She’s the one who’s working with the things closely related to our work with COVAGA, with making a brand and establishing markets and developing products to then export.
Before we left though, I ran into Martin the microphone guy. He’s filming the conference we’re at. So I talked to him for a while and it sounds like we’re going to figure out some way for me to work for the mic. He says he wants to train some new guys to hire, and he wants to know if I can hold some workshops and teach them. I told him I most likely would and that would be a great trade. I just don’t have that much money and I can’t afford to be renting a mic for the rest of the trip. So if we can swing this exchange of services I would be very happy. I also ran into Yves for the first time, the mystery of a man who put me in touch with Martin in the first place. It turns out they are partners together and they have started their video business from the ground up. The dream is to save enough money to go to Canada and go to film school.
We held the meeting at with Candace at our office, I mean Bourbon, and she and her friend Margaret arrived at 5. The meeting was great, they’re awesome girls in the same train of thought as Josh as far as quality and support of the local community. Unfortunately they leave on Saturday but it was great to touch base with them and possibly open a route for the COVAGA women. If we can develop a product with them, RCW might be interested in picking them up and the market and distribution would already be in place for them. It feels like we’ve got a shot at something now, but we’ll have to see how it unfolds. Still, a very promising meeting.
Candace and Margaret also said they might want me to shoot something for them, just footage of their weavers working and making their products to show to their designer back in the states. Apparently they’re hooked up with some famous designer who has ties to the show the Hills, but I have no idea about any of that. Although Kara said I’m not allowed to pass on that gig. Normally she would support me saying we’re too busy, but I guess this designer is too famous and Kara won’t let me say no. Oh well.
So Ndambe showed up at Bourbon to meet us after the girls took off, and him and Kara wanted to go get some dinner. I was still doing some uploading that I couldn’t walk away from so I passed and Lama took off to do his own thing. About 10 minutes after Kara and Ndambe left the internet crashed and I lost all my progress anyway, so I retreated to the hotel by myself for some dinner. I ordered room service and since I had the first free evening I’ve ever had, I decided to call some friends. Some people were busy and others didn’t answer but I got a hold of Claire and she invited me out with her. I met her at a place called Pasadena, a salsa dancing joint. It was pretty sweet. This one girl was absolutely cutting up the dance floor. Everyone would clap after every dance, but it was just for her. I never danced, because a) I can’t salsa dance, b) I don’t want to dance too much, I only like it once in a while and c) I could not stop thinking about that scene in Along Came Polly where Ben Stiller salsa dances like a freak. I didn’t want to look like him and I couldn’t imagine my salsa dancing looking any other way. Claire’s roommates and friends were there, including Kevin from H20 and we all hung out for a while. I didn’t want to stay out too late, and Claire had an assignment due tomorrow she hadn’t started. So around 11:30 I walked with them back to their house and then took a moto back to the hotel around 12. Overall, a pretty solid day.
