From Pittsburgh to Kigali: How My First International Trip to Rwanda Shaped My Worldview

It's 2013. I'm clutching my brand-new passport, heart racing as I board a plane to Kigali, Rwanda. My first international journey is about to begin, and the anticipation is high.

Growing up, I dreamed of traveling the world, but the opportunity didn't present itself until my junior year of college. I always assumed Nigeria would be my first international experience, but fate had other plans—and I couldn't be more grateful.

Taking the Leap to Travel Internationally to Rwanda

Rewind a few months earlier. I didn't even own a passport when I first heard about my university’s spring break trip to Rwanda. The idea of traveling was both thrilling and intimidating—especially since I would be one of two civil engineering majors joining what was mostly a mechanical engineering department excursion. None of my friends were interested in going.

After unsuccessful attempts to convince them to join, I approached our department about the possibility of participating. Their response changed everything: they offered to cover all expenses if I could get my passport in time. How could I refuse? This was my chance to experience the world, even if it meant being a little uncomfortable, and I'm so glad I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.

Touching Down in Rwanda: The Land of a Thousand Hills

After landing in Rwanda, our first stop was Muhanga, where the green rolling hills seem to stretch for miles and miles—I understood why they call Rwanda the land of a thousand hills–and it was absolutely breathtaking.

In Muhanga, we stayed at a local orphanage where we volunteered to rebuild their basketball court. We managed to complete the demolition, but the real magic happened off the court: playing games with the kids, having late-night conversations, and sipping Uganda Waragi under the starry sky.

Kigali: Connections and Reflections

Later in Kigali, we visited Carnegie Mellon University Africa, where we connected with Rwandese grad students. The food, the games, and the company all felt more familiar than I had anticipated. From playing mancala to eating ugali, I was fascinated by the cultural parallels and how community transcends borders.

Our visit to the Kigali Genocide Museum was sobering but essential historical context. Even with the heaviness I felt afterward, I'm grateful for the experience—it deepened my understanding of Rwanda's complex past and remarkable resilience.

The Transformative Power of International Travel

And that is the true beauty of travel: immersing yourself in other cultures, absorbing history, and taking in local perspectives firsthand—an experience a blog or photos can only slightly capture.

My first international trip to Rwanda wasn't just about seeing new places; it was about fully experiencing something new, and it confirmed how I wanted to see the world and myself within it. 

Every college student should jump at the opportunity to travel internationally when it presents itself. Even if you have to do it alone, even if it's not the destination you initially imagined, leap.

I stepped onto that plane with a fresh passport and some uncertainty. I returned with friendships, new perspectives, and lasting memories that continue to shape me to this day.

You absolutely will not regret it.

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