The way the rain comes

Standing out on our balcony this morning, I got to watch a rain storm arrive. Literally, it came from Rwanda, a massive wave of water rushing across the lake. I was inside making some Amazon purchases when I noticed that the sunny morning had suddenly become dark. With a glance outside, I grabbed my camera and ran out to the balcony. The sky had turned grey and dark blue clouds were approaching from the NE (i.e. Rwanda). At first the islands across the water were visible against the horizon, but after a few minutes of gathering winds and choppy waves, the wave of water had obscured their green outline.

Pretty soon rain was cascading diagonally to water the earth. Sometimes almost hurricane force winds blow huge walls of water sideways through the town. The streets empty and cars pull off the road as everyone waits out the storm. Those kind of rains don’t usually last very long, and are often accompanied with huge claps of thunder and lightning, taking out internet and tv satellite capacities with them.

It’s amazing to see the forces of nature in action, and especially with such quick and forceful change. I’m almost positive that it will be sunny and warm in a few hours, even though it seems like it could stay drizzly all afternoon.

People don’t really like to go anywhere when it’s raining or has rained, because for the most part, they walk to their destination. Degenerated dirt roads make it hard to stay clean until your destination after rain water has turned them into mud! Being clean and well dressed, and especially having clean shoes, is something very important to people in Bukavu, and Congo in general. Appearances are what count at first glance, and muzungus get funny looks at the dirty used tennis shoes and dilapidated flip-flops they wear outside the house. It’s pretty funny, really. Michael was talking one time about how he had to make sure and keep his running shoes away so that they wouldn’t get washed with soap and water every day!