A Wonderful International Evening in Kigali

At the end of October, on our last Tuesday of the month, we had an unexpected and memorable experience here in Kigali, one that reminded me just how small and beautifully interconnected the world can be.

During our recent trip to Belgium, my wife visited a hair salon in Brussels. As it turns out, the stylist who helped her was part of a Japanese family living in Belgium. Fast-forward a bit, and we learned that this same family would be visiting Rwanda and staying with a local Rwandan family in Kigali. Even more surprisingly, the Rwandan family’s son, who also lives in Belgium, already knew the Japanese family. Those unlikely connections set the stage for an evening we’ll never forget.

They invited us over for dinner to meet everyone and spend some time together. What followed was a warm, lively evening full of conversation, laughter, and cultural exchange. Around the table we had Japan, Rwanda, America, and Belgium all represented, a mix of languages, stories, and perspectives that flowed together naturally. We talked about life abroad, travel, family, and all the little coincidences that had brought us into the same room.

There’s something special about moments like this: when continents and cultures weave together effortlessly, and strangers become friends over a shared meal. It was one of those nights that felt both perfectly ordinary and wonderfully significant.

We left with full hearts and new friendships, an experience we’ll remember fondly for a long time.