In November I travelled to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi with my good friend Rob for a scouting trip that we did for our families.
![sunrise from the plane over Ethiopia](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_45891-500x373.jpg?resize=500%2C373&quality=89)
The purpose of the trip was to investigate Hope Africa University and to see what kind of ways our skill sets could fit in with what they are trying to accomplish. I will be finishing my PhD this year – so we’re thinking about what will come next. I’ve been in some preliminary discussions with a couple of Universities back in North America – but this opportunity to serve in Africa came up, and we are anxiously very excited about it.
![banana for scale](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_5937-500x328.jpg?resize=500%2C328&quality=89)
![Burundian break-down tow-truck](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_59531-500x333.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=89)
![Bujumbura skyline towards Lake Tanganyka and DR Congo](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_6083-500x333.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=89)
I’ll put up some more thoughts on the details of what we’d be doing there, and why, and how – but I wanted to just give you some idea of that this is the direction we’re heading – and give some sense as to what Burundi feels like.
![African head conveyance](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_6037-303x500.jpg?resize=303%2C500&quality=89)
![Happyness restaurant](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_6360-500x333.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=89)
Of course there are similarities to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (where I was last May doing research) – but it was quite different in many ways. Being 1/5 of the size – it just feels so much smaller. Not anywhere the same kind of traffic, or noise, or commotion. ( if you want a quick overview of the country, click here for one from BBC)
![Burundian carb-loading](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_5838-500x339.jpg?resize=500%2C339&quality=89)
![Hope Africa University, Bujumbura Burundi](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_4591.jpg?resize=418%2C560&quality=89)
![Rob, chicken, baby](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_4587.jpg?resize=418%2C560&quality=89)
![Riddler on Burundian roof](https://i0.wp.com/www.pardonourfrench.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_4603.jpg?resize=478%2C478&quality=89)
Feel free to comment….