The boys.
Elsa’s boys.
My boys.
My brothers.
Just had dinner with Egide, Eric, and Hilaire. Tomorrow Egide will go back to Butare, and Eric will make the grueling 10 hour bus ride back to Kampala. And as for Hilaire, well, he will still be around – thank god. I told Egide and Eric to quit school and move back home so I can see them all the time. I am most selfish when I get to spend time with them, I never want them to leave. There was a moment tonight at supper when I really realized that these boys are home. Not that they make me feel at home, but that I truly am home when I am with them.
The boys (I really should say men, but I just can’t bring myself to do it) are so special. Each one has so many amazing qualities. I could go on forever about them. But, I’ve heard that forever is a pretty long time, so I will give the extremely condensed version. (Heads up: There are some inside jokes in this blog, and I’m very sorry for the exclusiveness, but for the people who know what I’m talking about it is gold.)
Egide is the kindest person you will ever meet, has amazing mannerisms (for those of you who know me well, you know what that means), and always smells what I imagine perfection to smell like (a contender to Johnny Atwin if that gives any indication to some of you). He has dreams that you just can not doubt he will achieve. I can’t wait to see what his life will be like – the house with the view. He is sincere and passionate, two qualities that are – for me – two of the most important. Egide has a spirit in him that inspires me every day. I am so proud to hold his hand and call him my best friend. I think I was spoiled in April, having Egide around all the time. Now that we are living in different places, I am realizing how much Egide was a huge part of my experience here, how much he affected my time here. How he – and all the boys – were a big part of why I fell in love with Rwanda.
Eric. Eric, Eric, Eric. What can’t I say about Eric. Eric is a great man. I always think about how great of a father Eric is going to be. How great a husband he will be. Eric has such an amazing character, as Dad would say he is “a solid guy”. He says what he thinks and means it every time. I appreciate that so much. Eric is an innocent, through and through, a romantic to the core – but a realist at the same time. I’ve never seen that kind of mix before. He is gentle and considerate and insightful. At the very least Eric is way too wise for his age. He has everything going for him and more. I envy all the people that get to see him every day.
Hilaire. Oh. My. God. I don’t even know what to write about Hilaire. I’ve tried to explain what Hilaire is like to people before and I never do him justice. Hilaire is one of the top 5 funniest people I have ever met (and probably in the world), and there is not one cell in his body that tries to be funny. The things he says and the way he says them are just, ridiculous. I am laughing just writing this. In fact, I am going to text him right now (if you’ll please hold on a sec). Ahh, I can’t wait to see what he texts back. This is what I do all day – I bug Hilaire just to see what he is going to say. What would I do without him? I love having him around and even though he lives in the neighborhood next to me I still miss him every day. (PS: His text back was even funnier than I expected). [side note: coincidence that the word “hilarious” seems to have the root word “hilaire”?? Waka waka?]
I know people want to know about what life here in Rwanda is like, and that is why I wrote about the boys. They are a huge part of my life here. Whether I see them every day or not, they are always with me. I know none of my descriptions do any of the boys justice; you could write a book about each of them, but they are so much more than what I can put into words. I’ve heard so many people say that when you leave Rwanda you leave a part of your heart here. Having left, I know that it is true. Having come back, I’m starting to appreciate where I left it. I left it with the people that I love.
Damnit Caro, stop making me cry. I'd like to blame it on being overtired but after sleeping for 10 hours I doubt I can use that anymore....
ReplyDelete:) SEE YOU (and the boys) SOON!
Hook a sister up!!
ReplyDelete