Liberation Day

So Thursday (July 4th), was a double holiday for us. Independence Day for the USA and Liberation Day in Rwanda. The morning was pretty quiet, some studying and chores. My host siblings were mucking out the cow pens....with their bare hands. Luckily i didn't have to help! Around noon my host mom got on her fancy clothes so I knew we were about to go somewhere. (Rwandans typically wear a certain outfit for around the house, clothes they don't mind getting dirty.) We walked down to the school my siblings attend where they were having a mini performance/celebration.

Me, mama, and little sis Diane! 

At the celebration there were dances by the students. The older kids did traditional cultural dances. It was very cool to watch. They featured men dressed up in long straw wig-like hats. They are supposed to represent the lions mane that were used in the past. (Now outlawed, Im pretty sure). The boys were really into the dance and kept coming together in the middle, no idea what they were saying, but I got the impression they were two rival chiefs trying to make peace. 

After we got home from the ceremony, some of the volunteers met up in one of the central towns to hangout and celebrate. It was nice to just relax, we have been so busy with classes and trainings.