I WOULD FIRST like to thank Jean-Claude Munyezamu. Without Jean-Claude, Road Trip Rwanda would not exist. His friendship, good cheer, help, and encouragement—to say nothing of his steady hand behind the wheel—were instrumental in bringing this book to life. I would also like to thank our respective spouses, Christine and Terumi, for allowing their wayward husbands to go toodling about central Africa while they stayed back and managed the households.
Support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts made this project possible, and I thank the Foundation for this.
I would like to thank Publishing Director Andrea Magyar, Publicity Manager Trish Bunnett, Senior Production Editor Sandra Tooze, copy editor Karen Alliston, and everyone at Penguin Canada for their enthusiasm and support for this project, and editor Barbara Pulling for her fine work, as always. It’s been an absolute pleasure.
In Rwanda, Jean-Claude and I relied on the kindness and assistance of many people, from the staff and students at Nyange Secondary School to the ever-patient trail guides we encountered along the way. We would especially like to thank Rica Rwigamba and Vivian Kayitesi at the Rwanda Development Board; Yvette Rugasaguhunga at the Rwandan Embassy in Washington; Jean de Dieu Mucyo at the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide; Jean Gakwandi at the Solace Guest House in Kigali; Urooj Saifi, Deo Ntirenganya, and Clementine Kayirangwa at the UNHCR camp in Kigeme; Alice Kampire and Jerry Were at Nyungwe Forest Lodge; Duncan Lewa at the Lake Kivu Serena; and Manzi Kayihura at Thousand Hills Expeditions, who also hosted Jean-Claude and me at his home in Kigali. Thank you!
A big thank you as well to Brian Carnduff and the entire Calgary Foothills Soccer Club for the uniforms and gear that Jean-Claude brought with him to Rwanda, and to my next-door neighbour Jacqueline Ford for once again transcribing endless reams of notes for me. I would also like to thank my son, Alex Ferguson, for creating the templates for the maps that the designers used.
In Canada, several people shared with me their stories and experiences—and even personal contacts—from their own travels in Rwanda, and I would like to thank Margaret McQuiston, Alina Freedman, Christine Magill, and Lynn Gran. I would also like to thank Kirsten Olson for connecting me with Lynn. (Sadly, Lynn passed away while I was writing this book, and I wasn’t able to thank her properly for her help.)
The Rwandan community of Calgary has been very kind to me, and I thank them for their support, in particular Andy Amour, President of the Rwandan Canadian Society of Calgary, and Melchior Cyusa, the Secretary General. Andy and Melchior were in Rwanda while we were there, and it was a pleasure to meet up with friends from back home while we were travelling. (Melchior was getting married as well!) I have warm memories of the laughter and food we shared with Andy at Chez Lando—the liveliest eatery in Kigali.
Murakoze!