Tongue-twisting names

OK, I live in a neighborhood called Remera. That's pretty tame for Rwandan place names. I don't have to stumble over this one. (Note: The Spanish word "ramera" means "prostitute." No connection here, just thought it was interesting.) But what about the following:

Place name:                               What it sounds like:

Kacyiru                                       violent sneezing
Gishushu                                    kid has to go to the bathroom
Kimironko                                   Japanese word for a traffic roundabout        
Nyamirambo                               aggressive ex-soldier who uses violence to solve problems
Nyarutarama                               race cars running around a track
Nyabugogo                                 disco action

For a few weeks, every time I stood at the bus stage, waiting for passing buses to pick up passengers, all I heard the conductor announce was "[something unintelligible]-GOGO." Hey, that's all I need to know! Let me on!

Here I am, sitting on a bus, on the way to my Bible study in Nyabugogo. I'm really in my element here. Like a missionary. Hey, there's this young guy who just sat down next to me. Hmm, should I talk to him? Will he give me the evil eye like people in America would? Maybe I should just let him alone while he's listening to his iPod. Here, I'll pull out a tract and pretend to start reading it. OK, now I think I have worked up enough courage to say something, but I'll have to compete with what sounds like choir music blasting from the PA system. I'll ask him if he reads English (or French). . . . Wow, he nearly grabbed the tract out of my hand! He's willing to give me his cell number also! You want to know where our meetings are? You want a Bible study? Sorry, I have to get off here, it's my stop. But I'll call you later. (To the conductor) Ndasigara! . . . Now, what was that guy's name? Fabrice, or Patrice, or Fabien, or . . . ? And where did he say he lived? Can't think of that now, because I've got to shift to Chinese.

OK, that was a composite of several experiences, not any specific incident. But it does show that, as hard as you try not to get Bible studies here, they seem to drop in your lap. (End of movie. Rolling credits.)

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