This past weekend, I said goodbye to Jason, who started off as a friend of a friend when I first arrived in Rwanda, but now is a great friend of mine who made me an awesome play list that I will listen to often. I saw Ahmed for the last time, a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) that I met here, who went on many adventures with Karen and me. And also Chrissy, a PCV that lives in Rwamagana, I saw this weekend for the last time.
Last night, I exchanged contact information with my roommate, Nathalie. I feel like I just got to know her better, and now I'm already leaving! I haven't mentioned her before on this blog, so I guess its never too late to start now. She's absolutely amazing! Not only is she crazy smart, she also has a magic touch with cooking, and she's extremely resourceful and knew how to fix my bed when it collapsed in the middle of the night. And she even sneezes every time she touches water! I wish she could come back with me to the US and room with me again!
This morning, I visited Ruhunda Health Center, where I've spent a lot of time working with the staff to implement a wait time project. One of the nurses, Leopold, wrote me a song. I was so touched! He brought a keyboard to work, and sang to me when I visited his office to say goodbye. I forgot my camera at home, so I wasn't able to photograph or videotape his performance, but I wrote down all the lyrics (btw, English is his 3rd language) , which is posted below:
Song by Leopold Ntiruhoregerwa
In life in the world has no more time.
One day you're with beloved friends
Other day, you're alone in the streets
When the end go when is to forget.
Now, you return in your nation country
Now, your family are happy to see his child.
How, when, where will see you in event days.
And tonight, I'm having Charles (the Access Project District Health Advisor for my district, who has a moustash that is unriveled in all the world), Manasse (my awesome driver who is the nicest man on earth), and Kara (my amazingly cool fellow Access Project Peace Corps Volunteer coworker) over for dinner. I'll also see Brandon, another Rwamagana PCV for the last time. I'm going to miss them much.
So with that said, it's a sad day today, and it will be even sadder tomorrow when I board the plane and leave the country. I'm thankful for all the wonderful people I've met here in Rwanda, and I will keep them all close to me.
I'll end this post with a random bunch of my favorite photos from my stay here:
Above: If you look closely, you can see his eye peering out from between the leaves. He's also wearing a t shirt advertising a campaign against malaria.
Above: Karen, Ahmed and me at the top of Mt. Bisoke
Above: Some Obama pants we found at the Rwamagana market. I also saw this guy on the bus with jeans that had "OBAMA" embroidered across his butt. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to snap a photo.
Above: Some of the sweetest kids I've met here in Rwanda. Ahmed, Karen, and I spent some time with them one evening watching the sunset in Musanze. They loved playing with our cameras and also with Karen and my hair. Afterwards, they took us to their house and showed us their pet chicken and bird.
Above: On the way home from Ruhunda one day, I saw these kids playing outside. Those glasses are SO COOL! I made my driver stop so I could photograph them.
Above: I'm so proud of this photo! I think Jason looks like an explorer out of National Geographic or something like that. And I love the tree! So big and beautiful.
Above: Ahmed, on our hike on Mt. Bisoke. Looking like a nerdy boyscout. haha.Check out those hot socks in those keens!
Above: My favorite tree in Rwanda. Karen and I call them Dr. Suess trees. So cool!
Above: I was making fun of Dr. Zimy in the car on the way back to Kigali from Gashora. He was using bubblegum-pink colored chapstick, that was in a bright pink case. How could you not make fun of a guy who uses girly chapstick?
Above: In a empty classroom in Butare...
Panda= Jason, T-Rex= Me
Above: Me, Jason, and Nathalie at Lake Muhazi this past Saturday. We rotated jackets, and all fit! Nathalie's wearing Jason's, I'm wearing Nathalie's, and Jason is somehow wearing mine...
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