When the time comes, I hope I will be ready and strong. I hope I will be able to go aboard that plane and look down from the skies without tears or obvious signs of weakness. I hope I will not be found wanting in resolve at that moment in time which will require fortitude. Letting go, of things and people and places you love, has never been easy. So I know, when that time comes, it will be hard for me to let go. I have been to many places across this planet, and some were full of wonder and surprise. I have been to the majestic islands of the Caribbean with their vibrant cultures and turquoise beaches. I have seen some of the ancient and fascinating architecture of Europe, tasted the culinary delights of Asia, and lived in one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. After all this I can say with surety, that there is beauty to be found in many places. Nowhere holds a monopoly on beauty. And here, in Africa, in the very heart of Africa, there is also majesty and beauty to be found in both the land and in the people. Writing this now feels like writing a eulogy in advance of the death of a loved one. I am here, sitting beside an enchanting lake in Kibuye in Western Province. Thinking about that time, when I have to leave this country and its people, and whether I will have the right words for that farewell. Yes, I know, the time will come for me to leave. It may be five years or more from now. It may be less. In life, nothing is certain. But when that time comes, I hope I’ll have better words than these, because a country such as this deserves more than my linguistic ability will allow. It is my first time living on the African continent, and it has made me realize that for far too many years I have lived with images and impressions of Africa created by a biased media searching for catchy headlines. And I have listened to the stereotypes of far too many people who were either too arrogant or ill-informed to see the continent for what it is. For them, beauty could only be found in Europe and North America. The rest of the world was always dark, savage, and backward. I hope to live long enough to hear more voices telling the true story of Africa and of its richness and beauty. A few months ago, my husband, daughters and I sat in the house of a family in a rural village near Kayonza. They served us milk, in their traditional way with the smoke and all. We saw there what we’ve always known: kindness has no color and no class. We saw there that there’s loveliness in the smile of a child even one who is less privileged. These were people, with their hopes and dreams and stories. This was their culture, unique and fascinating. These past few days our family spent some time by the lake in Kibuye. Yes, it’s clearly different from the Caribbean Sea. Yes, it’s different from seeing the deserts of Egypt or Arizona. No, it’s not like Rome. It was never meant to be any of those places. It is Kibuye, Rwanda. Splendid and incredibly beautiful. And so peaceful and relaxing. A place where you feel you could have a conversation with God. Where you could feel the hand of God in the water, in the land, in the hills, in the flowers and the trees. I watched my husband and daughters go for a long swim, from one island to another. Emerging on the other side of the lake invigorated and alive! The water was cool, fresh, clean, and wonderful. We had the lake to ourselves. Another day we were joined by three European ladies. They ran to the dock at the hotel and jumped into the welcoming lake, screaming with joy. On our right, a group of local boys laughed so hard their voices reverberated through the hills. Then they continued playing and swimming in the same lake. All of us appreciating the wonder and joy of this amazing part of Rwanda. There is a line in a Bob Marley song where he says, “Some people thinthat great God will come from the sky.” He was referring to a mentality that many people have, that salvation comes from elsewhere. It is the same mentality that makes many of us believe that Other places and Other people and Other cultures are not as good as ours. No. We are not better. They are different. And here, in Africa, we have our own magnificence and beauty. We have our own places where we can feel touched by the hand of God. I’ve said it before. I repeat it now. Without apology. I love this place. Rwanda. In the heart of Africa. It is not perfect; nowhere on this planet is. But it has its charms and enchantments for those willing to open their eyes and see that beauty has no boundaries. That here, in Africa, there is pride and dignity in people, and beauty and majesty in the land. That here, in Africa, people are people, not to be pitied but to be respected, no matter their class or color. That what Rwanda has is not the same as any other country. It was never meant to be. This is remarkable Rwanda. The writer is owner and managing director of Forrest Jackson Properties, a full-service real estate company in Kigali, Rwanda. TWITTER: @NatsCR The views expressed in this article are of the author.
