Real World Rwanda

When I say Real World Rwanda, I am not talking about getting to see life like the locals, I have done lots of that already. I am talking about "when people stop being polite, and start getting real." Things got real in our house last night. I only wish there were camera crews to capture it all! Let me tell the story.

First the characters... Me. Ari. Jamie. Monique. Kelly. Antwon. And a Rwandan family of three. The first six live in the house, the Rwandan family is living behind the house in what used to be servant housing, a 10x10 brick room. The landlords of our house offered this space after the family was evicted, sick, and desperate. They cried with happiness for the safety it would afford them.

The scene...Antwon was home alone while the rest of us were at a friends house boozing it up. After a night of Gin & Fanta's, we headed home.

The situation.... When we walked in Antwon alerted us that his bag had been stolen from just inside the front door while he was there - he had only left the room to use the bathroom. The bag had his passport, credit cards, money, etc. All the important stuff. Last week Kelly's Ipod had been stolen from the same location. Mind you the house is behind a brick wall and locked gate, so the obvious suspects were the family that is living behind us. Lots of speculation and guessing, hemming and hawing, before a local friend put Antwon in touch with the neighborhood security team. They arrived did all the usual questioning, grilled the family who is here (they would not allow there room to be searched), brought in the milkman from down the street to question him, searched the yard. Meanwhile the rest of the cast was inside creating all the scenarios, discussing safety, why we dont have a guard (most houses do), and generally being tired and slightly tipsy investigators. Hours later the mystery had not been solved, and the family in back was very upset. They may lose their ability to stay safely here and be put back out onto the street. Eventually everyone went to bed, feeling a little uneasy about the safety of our stuff, and ready for the family to leave.

The next morning... Kelly woke up and was going about her routine when she noticed the missing bag just inside the door to her room. She had inadvertently picked it up and put it there the previous evening. Mystery solved.

Needless to say, some apologies were issued. The very nice Rwandan family is still here. People are not being real anymore and I am happy we are all back to being polite.

Kelly's Ipod was stolen and some legitimate concerns over the security of our stuff will still have to figured out, but all in all it was a interesting lesson in what our minds will do with a bunch of clues, but no real evidence.