“When you are younger, you wish you’re older. When you get older, you wish for time to turn around” – Older by Ben Platt
A list of things I don’t want to forget when I go home:
Don’t forget that Rs and Ls are used interchangeably.
Don’t forget that Mama Fred is a big hugger.
Don’t forget that it’s warm all the time in Kigali, unless it’s raining.
Don’t forget that Mama Davis wants to do another sewing project when you visit next.
Don’t forget that everyone will charge you too much money because you’re white.
Don’t forget basic greetings like; Muraho, Amakuru? Nimeza, Mwaramutse, and Mwiriwe.
Don’t forget that Papa Barn likes the smell of Lemongrass, but not the taste, and much prefers ginger (what I like to call the devil’s root) in his tea.
Don’t forget that Chappati is super delicious and better than any bread, tortilla, pita, whatever.
Don’t forget that Mama Kidumu laughs at literally everything.
Don’t forget that omelettes in Rwanda are somehow 300X more delicious.
Don’t forget that Monica and Mukama are two of the most dedicated English students you’ve ever seen.
Don’t forget that everyone is always late.
Don’t forget that pronouns are often mixed in English, because the language Kinyarwanda doesn’t have two genders.
Don’t forget the struggle of trying not to touch the driver of your motorcycle taxi. That’s awkward.
Don’t forget the joy that singing in the choir brought you.
Don’t forget that people will hit on you constantly when you return, and try to set you up with someone if you come back unmarried.
Don’t forget that on Sundays you could hear singing from a church on the opposite hill as you walked to church.
Don’t forget that your year in Rwanda was one of the most challenging, rewarding, exhausting, and fulfilling years of your life. Don’t forget that you have so many friends and family in this beautiful country that will miss you as much as you miss them when you leave. It’s impossible, but don’t forget anything. Keep it all close for as long as you can.
A list of things I don’t want to forget when I go home:
Don’t forget that Rs and Ls are used interchangeably.
Don’t forget that Mama Fred is a big hugger.
Don’t forget that it’s warm all the time in Kigali, unless it’s raining.
Don’t forget that Mama Davis wants to do another sewing project when you visit next.
Don’t forget that everyone will charge you too much money because you’re white.
Don’t forget basic greetings like; Muraho, Amakuru? Nimeza, Mwaramutse, and Mwiriwe.
Don’t forget that Papa Barn likes the smell of Lemongrass, but not the taste, and much prefers ginger (what I like to call the devil’s root) in his tea.
Don’t forget that Chappati is super delicious and better than any bread, tortilla, pita, whatever.
Don’t forget that Mama Kidumu laughs at literally everything.
Don’t forget that omelettes in Rwanda are somehow 300X more delicious.
Don’t forget that Monica and Mukama are two of the most dedicated English students you’ve ever seen.
Don’t forget that everyone is always late.
Don’t forget that pronouns are often mixed in English, because the language Kinyarwanda doesn’t have two genders.
Don’t forget the struggle of trying not to touch the driver of your motorcycle taxi. That’s awkward.
Don’t forget the joy that singing in the choir brought you.
Don’t forget that people will hit on you constantly when you return, and try to set you up with someone if you come back unmarried.
Don’t forget that on Sundays you could hear singing from a church on the opposite hill as you walked to church.
Don’t forget that your year in Rwanda was one of the most challenging, rewarding, exhausting, and fulfilling years of your life. Don’t forget that you have so many friends and family in this beautiful country that will miss you as much as you miss them when you leave. It’s impossible, but don’t forget anything. Keep it all close for as long as you can.