News Desk

I am ever so thankful for the fair amount of news I intercept here. Voice of America, although the bane of my persistent search for diversified news sources, is also a great comfort. I also occasionally get BBC news too, a personal favorite of mine.

In case you haven't heard, a scathing report came out of the United Nations regarding Rwanda. There were accusations of discriminatory violence perpetuated by Rwandans living in the Congo. I won't regurgitate my limited news brief but I will share the weird feeling that came over me. I can see my old self sitting in front of my work computer scanning the headlines of the New York Times, seeing all that horrendous news that comes out of Africa at large. It was easy to analyze and speculate, critique and shake my head at the mess because I was so very removed. Now when I hear news it's in my backyard. As large as Africa is, it's my continent now. And I'm beginning to feel a little claustrophobic. Let's face it, Rwanda is bringing up the average of a very poor performing East Africa. I'm not jumping at the occasion of living in any of the other countries surrounding it. And as strange as I feel here when I hear my 'local' news, in a couple years, I will once again be sitting in America, enjoying my posh country, sitting in front of my computer, reading those sickeningly ugly African headlines.

I'll sign off with the concise, defeated reply of a fellow PCV when hearing the news of the UN report. I sighed, Oh Rwanda. and she summed it up with, Home sweet home.