CRED Team Rwanda 2014 – 17th & 18th

A 12pm meeting and photos from the press was followed by the group departing after tears from students, parents and staff. The tears were quickly dried with the news of a stop off at Fleet services for an exceptional McDonalds, the highlight being Dave Corbin devouring 5 double cheeseburgers without them even touching the sides. 

The team met with members of CRED Simon, Mike and team leader Gillian at Heathrow Airport, only for Steph Ross to cause suspicions at the security gate, followed swiftly by a full body search. After awkward hands and eyes were exchanged, the team relaxed before the mammoth 7 hour plane journey in the departure lounge. The team were rewarded with spicy, dodgy chicken and fish curries, though many remained in their packaging. 

As Addis became closer, the sunrise that greeted the team as they entered African airspace was “sunsational”. Ebola screening took place on arrival in Addis Airport, and the 3 hour wait for transfer to Kigali led to slumming it in the airport before the team entered a cramped and sweaty plane to Kigali. The plane journey was rightly described as “uncomfortable and sheiky” due to the number of high profile, high income members of a religious group allowing our group to be greeted by thousands of Rwandan locals. 

But also at Kigali airport was Helen, who had come via Uganda - the team was complete at last.

The group checked into their apartments and departed onto their first sightseeing session, viewing the city of Kigali and the hotel featured in ‘Hotel Rwanda”. A fish supper was an excellent way of closing an exhausting 24 hour journey, before the team hit the bed for a well deserved rest.

One of many victims of our intercontinental travels.

Written by Carl Butcher & Dave Corbin