A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

The title sounds cliche, but the experience I had in this picture was far from being that. It was taken in Kinigi, Rwanda, during my three-week trip to East Africa in July of 2006. I had always wanted to write about the wonderful, eye-opening experiences I had there. It's been more than two years, but it feels just like yesterday that I was dancing with the Batwa in Rwanda. Most people have only heard of the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, especially after relations between the two exploded into the horrific 1994 genocide.

More than a decade later, Rwandans are still trying to heal from this tragedy. Despite all they've been through, some Rwandans have chosen to feel the pain of their past treating it like an open wound. Not because they're masochists, but because many believe it's the only way to make sure something like this will never happen again. Our tour operator Greg Bakunzi told us he believes it's important for Rwandans to talk about what happened and to tell visitors the truth, not only because it's cathartic, but it's also a way of facing mistakes of the past head on without denial.

My visit to Rwanda may have only lasted 3 1/2 days, but I felt so connected with the people I met there. Most of all, as the picture of me dancing with the Batwa may not fully convey, I felt alive and filled with hope. If Rwandans can survive such a painful past, my heart is hopeful that the rest of the world can one day be at peace. But what do I know...I'm an eternal optimist =).