My days in Kigali usually begin with a run, before I head off to the office til after the sunsets. Running has always been a yoga of mine- no not the yoga exercise imagined in the states but rather a daily practice of reflection, thinking, the rhythmic beat of my steps inspiring a rhythm of thought. An opportunity to think through events, the day, my relationships. Whether I like it or not, running provides me a portable method of turning inward.
To say that I have tried to “run” in the mornings in Kigali may be an exaggeration. It is more of a slow jogging of sorts. A steady trek up a 70 percent slope hill to the Simba Market, a deep breath in search of oxygen due to the elevation, a quick close of the eyes before red dust encumbers me, a dash across the road to beat the commuting motos and cars, a under my breath curse as I just miss a 5 feet-deep pothole at sidewalk edge.
And of course, a hearty laugh. Whether it is the approaching pedestrians who cheer and clap me on or the kids from my neighborhood joining me in the race. Those moments make the daunting hills that much more enjoyable. The laughter makes up for my usual daily distance, and as I feel the exhaustion of my legs walking to and from work that day, I am happily assured that my time to laugh and reflect is only a night’s time away.
To say that I have tried to “run” in the mornings in Kigali may be an exaggeration. It is more of a slow jogging of sorts. A steady trek up a 70 percent slope hill to the Simba Market, a deep breath in search of oxygen due to the elevation, a quick close of the eyes before red dust encumbers me, a dash across the road to beat the commuting motos and cars, a under my breath curse as I just miss a 5 feet-deep pothole at sidewalk edge.
And of course, a hearty laugh. Whether it is the approaching pedestrians who cheer and clap me on or the kids from my neighborhood joining me in the race. Those moments make the daunting hills that much more enjoyable. The laughter makes up for my usual daily distance, and as I feel the exhaustion of my legs walking to and from work that day, I am happily assured that my time to laugh and reflect is only a night’s time away.