jogging with machetes

Morning in Gitwe. I go for a jog and the people come out from their houses to watch me. I wave to everyone and they wave back, machete in hand. “Bonjour monsieur!” Machetes are so common, I shouldn't be concerned – no one is very hostile, just surprised and shocked to see this white guy in shorts (well, boxers, actually, I forgot to pack running shorts) huffing past them on their way to work... but it is unsettling to realize how this everyday work tool was turned into an murderously efficient instrument of genocide. “Ça va bien!”