Love, Pasta, and a Perfect Night Out

Last Saturday evening, my wife and I enjoyed one of those simple but unforgettable date nights, the kind where everything just feels right. We decided to have dinner at Pasta & Basta here in Kigali, and what a fantastic choice that turned out to be.

From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The Italian owner, who is married to a local Rwandan lady, greeted us with genuine enthusiasm and a passion for food that was contagious. After chatting for a bit, we happily put ourselves in his hands and went with his recommended courses for the evening. When an Italian chef tells you what to eat, you listen!

What followed was a beautiful three-course experience, topped off with dessert.

We began with burrata cheese served with fresh tomatoes and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Simple ingredients, but when done right, simplicity becomes perfection. The creaminess of the burrata paired with the freshness of the tomatoes was the perfect way to start.

Next came porcini ravioli, rich, earthy, and comforting. Each bite felt like something straight out of northern Italy. But just when we thought it couldn’t get better, the truffle ravioli arrived, filled with a spicy sausage mixture that had just the right kick. The truffle aroma, the savory filling, the perfectly cooked pasta, it was indulgent in the best way possible.

And of course, no Italian dinner is complete without dessert. We finished with panna cotta and tiramisu. The panna cotta was silky and delicate, while the tiramisu delivered that classic coffee-infused richness that makes it such a timeless favorite.

By the end of the evening, we were happily full and already talking about when we might return.

In Italian, instead of “magnifique,” you’d say magnifico (if describing something masculine) or magnifica (for something feminine). Either way, our dinner was absolutely magnifico.

Kigali continues to surprise us with its growing food scene, and evenings like this are a reminder of how special it is to slow down, share good food, and enjoy good company.

If you’re in Kigali and craving authentic Italian flavors, this spot is definitely worth a visit. 🍝🇮🇹

Getting my Rwandan Driver’s License wasn’t exactly a straight line.

 Getting my Rwandan Driver’s License wasn’t exactly a straight line.

As a U.S. passport holder who lived in Japan for over 22 years as a permanent resident, I wasn’t converting an American license. I was converting my Japanese driver’s license into a Rwandan one while living in Rwanda.

That detail made all the difference.

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The Standard Requirements

For most foreign residents, the process is fairly clear. These are the usual documents required:

• Application Form – Completed and sent to:

  • licence@police.gov.rw

  • commtl@police.gov.rw

• Proof of Identity – Valid passport or Rwandan resident card (for foreigners)

• Valid Foreign Driver’s License – Original and copy

• Valid Rwandan Visa – For foreign citizens

• Test Results – Proof of passing a Rwandan theoretical or practical test (if required)

• Passport-size Photo

• Fee Payment – Typically Rwf 50,000

Simple on paper.

In practice? Not always.

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Where My Case Became “Special”

Because my passport is American, but my license was Japanese, the authorities needed more than the usual checklist. They had to confirm not only the validity of my Japanese license but also my legal status in Japan at the time it was issued.

Here’s what I additionally needed to provide:

1. Proof of Residency in Japan

I submitted my Japanese Residence Card to demonstrate my long-term legal status there.

2. Marriage Certificate

Because my residency in Japan is tied to my marriage, I was required to submit a marriage certificate proving that I am married to my Japanese wife.

3. English Translations

I needed official English translations of:

• My Japanese driver’s license

• My marriage certificate

This was critical. Without proper translation, the process simply could not move forward.

In short, my case wasn’t just a foreign license conversion; it was a documentation chain linking the United States → Japan → Rwanda.

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The Unexpected Organ Donor Issue

Just when I thought I had submitted everything correctly, there was an unexpected pause in the process.

Apparently, the Police Commissioner had never seen the organ donor designation on a driver’s license before, something quite standard in Japan (and the U.S.). Because of that small symbol on the back of my license, the application was temporarily put on hold.

I was called back in to clarify what the designation meant. Once I explained that it was simply an optional organ donor registration indicator, they were satisfied, and only then did they begin processing my application.

It was one of those cross-cultural administrative moments that remind you how “normal” in one country can be completely unfamiliar in another.

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The Waiting Game

After submitting all documents and resolving the organ donor question, I was told I would be contacted once the license was ready.

Ten days passed.

No message.

Although they had said they would notify me, there was no clear communication about whether it was ready for pickup. So I followed up with them, and only then did they confirm that I could come collect it.

And just like that, after a few extra loops and clarifications, I finally had my Rwandan driver’s license in hand.

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Lessons Learned

If your case is even slightly outside the “standard foreigner” category, here’s my advice:

• Bring documentation that connects your residency history clearly.

• Prepare certified English translations in advance.

• Anticipate questions about anything unfamiliar in your documents.

• Follow up politely if you don’t hear back when expected.

• Be patient and flexible.

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Final Thoughts

After Oregon → Japan → Rwanda, this small plastic card represents more than driving privileges.

It represents:

• 22+ years of life in Japan

• Marriage and cross-cultural family life

• Relocating to East Africa

• Navigating three bureaucratic systems

There’s something grounding about holding a license issued by the country you now call home.

It took a bit more paperwork, one unexpected organ donor explanation, and a gentle follow-up email, but I’m now officially and legally on the road in Rwanda.

And that feels pretty good. 🚗

Car Free Day in Kigali – Walking, Friendship, and Perfect Timing

Sunday, February 22, 2026 | Kigali, Rwanda

This past Sunday, my wife and I joined Car Free Day here in Kigali for the very first time, and what a memorable one it turned out to be.

We woke up around 6:30 am to the gentle sound of light rain tapping against the windows. For a moment, we debated whether we should still go. The sky looked uncertain, and crawling back under a warm blanket felt tempting. But then, just as we were getting ready, the rain stopped. That small break in the weather felt like a sign, so we grabbed our gear and headed out.

We parked at Question Coffee and walked over toward the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to meet a small group of Japanese expat friends. The plan wasn’t just exercise, we were also playing Pikmin Bloom together, enjoying one last Car Free Day walk with a dear friend who will soon be leaving Rwanda and returning to Japan. It made the morning feel a little more meaningful.

An Unexpectedly High-Security Morning

As we approached the area near the Kigali Convention Centre, it became clear that this Car Free Day was not typical. Security was tight; police, military, and even undercover personnel were visibly present. There was even a bag screening required to enter certain areas.

We later learned that President Paul Kagame was participating in the event that morning. Since it was our first time attending, we weren’t sure what “normal” looked like, but our friends confirmed that this level of security was unusual. It certainly added a unique atmosphere to the morning.

Despite the heightened security, the energy was positive. Families were out walking and cycling, runners filled the roads, and the usual hum of engines was replaced with conversation, laughter, and footsteps.

10 Kilometers of Conversation

From 8:00 am to 10:00 am, we walked nearly 10 kilometers together, catching Pikmin, talking about life, reflecting on Rwanda, and discussing what comes next for our friend heading back to Japan. There’s something special about walking side by side with people you care about. Conversations flow differently. Memories settle deeper.

After our walk, we stopped at Rubia Coffee for drinks before heading home. As we pulled into our driveway, the skies opened up. Heavy rain and rolling thunder followed shortly after. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

A Well-Earned Rest

With 10 kilometers in our legs, my body definitely felt it. We ordered fried chicken and French fries through Vuba Vuba and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing indoors while the storm passed outside.

It was one of those beautifully balanced days: community, exercise, friendship, meaningful goodbyes, good food, and perfect timing with the weather.

Car Free Day gave us more than just steps on a fitness tracker. It gave us a shared memory with friends before one chapter closes and another begins.

And next time? We’ll know that security checkpoints aren’t always part of the experience.

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 2026

 Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 2026

 Welcome to the Year of the Horse!

The Lunar New Year is a time for renewal, gratitude, and hope for the future. Across cultures and communities around the world, families gather to celebrate fresh beginnings and wish one another prosperity and peace.

May the coming year bring strength, endurance, and success in every journey you take.

新年快乐! 🧧🐎

The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the traditional lunisolar calendar used in China and many East Asian cultures. It is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, sharing festive meals, giving red envelopes for good fortune, and welcoming a new zodiac year. Each year is associated with one of twelve animals. 2026 welcomes the Year of the Horse, symbolizing energy, strength, and forward momentum. 🧧🐎

Canal Olympia Rebero to Shut Down Operations; Facility Awaits New Operator

🎬 

Canal Olympia Rebero to Shut Down Operations; Facility Awaits New Operator

https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/31964/entertainment/cinema/canal-olympia-rebero-to-shut-down-operations-facility-awaits-new-operator

#Kigali #Rwanda #Cinema #Entertainment

A beloved spot for film lovers and entertainment seekers in Kigali is entering a period of transition. Canal Olympia Rebero , the popular cinema and entertainment venue located in the Kigali Cultural Village at Rebero, has announced that it will cease its current cinema operations effective December 28, 2025. 

🎥 

End of an Era, Beginning of a Transition

After five years of bringing movies, events, and cultural experiences to audiences in Kigali, Canal Olympia management confirmed that it will step down from running the facility. A statement released in December 2025 confirmed that while the cinema will stop screening films, the venue itself will not close for good — it will await a new operator to take over management and resume entertainment offerings. 

Facility manager Jacinthe Isingizwe noted that Canal Olympia’s management contract has come to an end, and discussions with prospective new operators are underway. However, no official timeline has yet been provided for when the cinema will reopen under new leadership. 

🍿 

A Cultural Hub With More Than Films

Canal Olympia Rebero opened in 2021 as part of the larger Kigali Cultural Village project — a collaboration between Vivendi Group and the Rwanda Development Board designed to boost cultural and entertainment offerings in the capital. The complex includes:

• A 300-seat cinema hall screening local and international films in French and English

• A large outdoor amphitheater capable of hosting up to 15,000 attendees for concerts and festivals

• Conference spaces and events facilities

• Rwanda’s first Escape Game experience for immersive entertainment 

For years, the venue served as one of Kigali’s main destinations for shared film experiences — particularly after the earlier closure of Century Cinema — giving families, friends, and movie enthusiasts a local place to enjoy the big screen. 

📉 

Challenges in the Cinema Scene

The temporary halt in Canal Olympia’s operations comes at a time when traditional cinemas in Rwanda are facing challenges, including competition from streaming platforms and changing viewing habits among audiences, according to regional entertainment reports. 

Yet, management has expressed confidence that film screenings will soon resume under new direction, maintaining the cultural importance of cinema within Rwanda’s growing creative landscape. 

🛠️ 

Looking Ahead

As the city awaits an announcement about the new operator, many Kigali residents and movie fans are hopeful that the venue will soon return to life in a refreshed form. With its rich mix of entertainment and cultural programming, Canal Olympia Rebero’s evolution could mark a new chapter for cinema and live events in Kigali.

A Small Visitor, A Gentle Exit

 This morning, the house briefly became a place it was never meant to be.

A baby variable sunbird had somehow found its way indoors, tiny, wide-eyed, and clearly overwhelmed. It wasn’t injured, but it also wasn’t confident enough to fly properly. Instead, it alternated between short, frantic flutters and exhausted little hops, burning precious energy with every burst of panic.

My first instinct was to help it directly. But every step closer sent it fleeing again, ricocheting off walls and windows, confusion compounding confusion. The more I tried to intervene, the clearer it became: this was not a situation that needed action, it needed space.

So I changed tactics.

I closed the interior doors, opened the patio door wide, dimmed the room, and stepped back. No chasing. No grabbing. Just one obvious path toward light and outside air.

When I checked again later, the bird was gone.

Not hidden. Not collapsed in a corner. Simply… gone.

And that, I realized, was the best possible ending.

Sunbirds, especially fledglings are fragile but capable. Sometimes all they need is a pause in the chaos and the chance to make their own decision. By removing obstacles instead of forcing solutions, I’d given it back control. Somewhere just outside, it was likely perched low in a bush, catching its breath, parents nearby, the world making sense again.

It was a small moment, easy to miss or dismiss. But it felt like a quiet reminder: not every problem needs to be solved with hands. Sometimes the kindest help is knowing when to step away, open a door, and trust life to find its own exit. 

Good Food, Old Friends, and a New Chapter for Legend Chinese Restaurant

One of the quiet joys of living in Kigali is how small the world can feel when the right people come together. This week was one of those moments, meeting up with Japanese expat friends for dinner, catching up over shared plates, and celebrating both friendship and a familiar restaurant in a brand-new place.

We chose Legend Chinese Restaurant, which has recently relocated to a new spot near Amahoro Stadium. If you’ve been in Kigali for a while, you probably know Legend already. It’s one of those dependable places that many of us have memories tied to, casual meals, long conversations, and comfort food that always hits the spot. Seeing it settle into a new location felt a bit like watching an old friend start a new chapter.

The new space near Amahoro Stadium is easy to find and has a fresh, open feel, while still keeping the relaxed atmosphere that makes Legend what it is. From the moment we sat down, it was clear this was going to be one of those evenings that stretches effortlessly from dinner into late-night conversation.

The food did not disappoint. Dish after dish arrived at the table, perfect for sharing, flavors that were familiar, satisfying, and exactly what you want when the focus is really on the people you’re with. There’s something special about sharing Chinese food family-style: reaching across the table, recommending a favorite bite, laughing when someone goes back for seconds (or thirds).

But more than the food, it was the company that made the night memorable. Spending time with Japanese expat friends always reminds me how international life creates its own kind of family. Conversations drifted easily, from life in Kigali, to work, travel, and the small everyday stories that only make sense when you’re living far from your original home. Different backgrounds, shared experiences, same table.

There was plenty of laughter, the kind that comes naturally when no one is in a hurry to leave. It wasn’t a “special occasion” dinner in the traditional sense, but it felt special all the same. Just good friends, good food, and the simple joy of being present.

Walking out into the Kigali night afterward, full and happy, I couldn’t help but appreciate moments like these. Restaurants move, cities change, people come and go, but nights like this are what make a place feel like home.

If you’re near Amahoro Stadium and looking for a familiar favorite in a new setting, Legend Chinese Restaurant is well worth a visit. And if you’re lucky enough to share a table with good friends, even better.

Frisbee, Friends, and a Break in the Rain

 This past Saturday, my wife and I once again spent time with members of the Japanese expat community here in Kigali, this time playing ultimate frisbee together.

The weather was uncertain for most of the day. With clouds overhead and light rain coming and going, we weren’t sure if the game would happen. Luckily, the rain gave us a break at just the right time, and we were able to play for an hour or two.

It turned out to be a really fun and refreshing experience. Running around the field, throwing the frisbee, and sharing plenty of laughs made for a great evening. It’s always nice to find opportunities to exercise while also building friendships and connections with others living here.

Experiences like this make life in Kigali even more enjoyable, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next time we can get together to play sports again.

When the Storm Doesn’t End with the Rain

Yesterday’s thunderstorm over Kigali was one of those classic rainy-season previews: heavy rain, booming thunder, and the kind of lightning that makes you pause whatever you’re doing and just listen. At some point during the storm, the power went out at our house. At first, I assumed it was just another neighborhood-wide outage. That’s nothing new here.

But as time passed, it became clear something else was going on.

It turned out we were the only house without electricity.

When I checked the breaker, the main switch had flipped off. Easy fix. I turned it back on… and it immediately tripped again. No matter how many times I tried, it refused to stay on. With no obvious cause and no way to safely troubleshoot it myself, we ended up spending the entire night and most of today without power.

My biggest worry wasn’t the darkness or inconvenience. It was the refrigerator and freezer. I had just bought a good amount of meat and stocked the freezer, only to lose power for over 12 hours. Every time I opened the fridge, I could feel the cold slipping away and my stress levels climbing.

I contacted the landlord, and eventually an electrician was sent over. After checking things out, he found the culprit: the garage. Water had leaked into the electrical circuitry there, causing the breaker to trip repeatedly. In hindsight, this likely explains why our Christmas lights mysteriously fried back in December, another heavy rain, another unseen leak.

The immediate solution was simple but not ideal. The electrician turned off the breaker specifically for the garage lights. As long as that breaker stays off, the rest of the house has power and is stable for now. The bigger question is where exactly the water is leaking from, and how extensive the repair will be remains unanswered.

And of course, I had to pay 10,000 RWF for the electrician’s services.

What happens next is anyone’s guess. Will the landlord take responsibility for fixing the underlying issue? Or will this turn into another long back-and-forth over repairs? Right now, I honestly don’t know, and that uncertainty is exhausting in itself.

Just when things seemed settled, another problem popped up. Once the electricity was restored, our internet router decided it was done cooperating. The network and password stopped working entirely, likely reset during the long outage. That meant another round of troubleshooting, this time with the ISP. After contacting them and having the router and password reset, the internet finally came back online.

You’d think that would be the end of it.

But this evening, the entire neighborhood experienced at least four separate power outages. On. Off. On. Off. Each time, there is a familiar flicker of lights and a moment of tension.

And this is only the beginning of the rainy season.

If this is what things look like now, I can’t help but worry about how much worse the outages may become in the coming weeks and months. Power instability isn’t just an inconvenience; it affects food, work, communication, and peace of mind.

It’s been a stressful, rough couple of days. The kind that leaves you mentally drained even after everything is technically “fixed.” For now, we’re grateful to have electricity and internet again, even if it’s a fragile truce with the weather.

Here’s hoping the rains ease up… or at least that the wiring holds.