New Car, New Challenge

 6/20/2025

Today, we got our new car—bringing us to a total of two. One is strictly for official business use, while the second is for personal errands and everyday driving. Since I’m not permitted to drive the business vehicle, I hadn’t been able to get around Kigali on my own until now.

Honestly, I wasn’t ready to dive into driving here yet, but I didn’t have much of a choice. So, I just got in and went for it. Navigating through the chaotic streets—where cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians weave unpredictably—was stressful, to say the least. But I was proud of myself for managing to get to my destination without incident.

After picking up the car, we headed straight to a repair and maintenance shop to have front and rear cameras with sensors installed for added safety. While the installation was underway, we went to a nearby café for lunch. We underestimated how long the installation would take—thinking it would be done quickly—but the staff told us it might take until the next day.

We had already dropped off the business car at home, so with only one car between us, we had to choose between walking or taking a taxi. Since the distance wasn’t too far, we decided to walk—though it turned out to be a lot of uphill trekking. When we finally got home, we rested for a bit, only to receive a call informing us that the camera installation was already complete and the car was ready for pickup.

We drove to retrieve the car and then stopped by Simba Center supermarket to pick up some groceries. My wife had an errand to collect fresh eggs from a friend who raises chickens, so I drove home alone from the supermarket. On the way back, I nearly got stuck because the police were preparing to block the roads for the President or a member of his family to pass. Luckily, I made it home just in time and avoided a long wait.

All in all, a busy and challenging day—but one that marked a small victory in my journey of adapting to life here.