The most
important thing I take with me when I leave is the memory of all the good and
friendly people I have met here. I can’t describe how much it meant to me, to
be embraced (or hugged) by your warmth and kindness. There are so many people
who have left an everlasting impression on my soul and who I will carry around
in my heart - guys, you are kind of heavy ;)
First,
there are Oili, Seppo, Mikko and Esko who made it so easy to feel at home in a
new and strange place. Oili, always chatting friendly with everybody or playing
with her dogs, Seppo, who has been established as a bear, who might growl
sometimes but always means well with his cubs. Mikko – you could once in your
lifetime let go of the rope! Esko - please don’t be afraid of the thunderstorms
in rain season - I promise you they won’t get you.
Then of
course there have been all the other lovely volunteers from Finland, who were
going more or less through the same experience as me. Satu, who arrived with me
and was the best person I could ever imagine to share these experiences
together – whether it was eating Sadza, teaching Geography or having a Sport’s
Day. Then there are Jenni, who always made us laugh and Sara with her beautiful
voice and musical talent, which she so generously shared with everybody. Of
course we can neither forget Simon, the poor guy who had to work with four
females as his partners. He will be remembered for his love of nature and especially
birds and unforgettable “mottorisahalla menän metsän jokes”. Let’s also remember all the lovely helpers,
who I only met for a short time: happy Bo, the great Seinäjoki teachers, knowledgable
Prof. Olavi Lukanen, nice Hanna and experienced Jussi.
Even more
important are all the Zimbabweans at Dzikwa, who taught me so much about their culture.
First in the office you can find Levita, who has the most amazing memory ever
when it comes to the names of the children, their family situation and their
home address. Edina, who is a social worker and kind of the right hand of
Levita, while Tatenda is the left hand and a student on attachment for
Development Studies. Both of them are really lovely and have taught me so much
about how life is in Zimbabwe for a youngster. Then there are so many others
whole-heartedly engaged in Dzikwa: Priscilla, I have no clue how she fits 30
hours into the day, Assan, our loyal accountant, Farai, the “rejoicing”
assistant IT teacher, Tinotenda, our nutrition specialist, Alouise, who is not
only a great teacher but also organizes the culture club and benefits in both
through his eloquence. Neither can I forget our five lovely kitchen ladies (Karuwa,
Shingirayi, Beauty, Yeukai and Stella ), our brave cleaning staff(Belta, Albert
and Linda), our creative culture club teachers (Takawira, Samudan and Michek)
and our watchful guards(Pardon, Jimmy, David and Ronald). All of them have
unique characters and will be remembered.
I have
already told you about all my great Shelter mates, but I still want to mention
them here once more, because they are the ones I shared my daily ups and downs
with. First of all there is our Shelter Mom, Nyaradzai – I miss even the
moments when she called me “special”. Edina, so lively and funny, Tonderai,
more thoughtful and observing, Bless - ing joking around the house. Happy
Rachel, whom I have to say I admire very much, “Mother” Theresa, who was always
there for me to accompany me to the shops, and Bridget, who doesn’t miss me at
all, even though I miss her terribly. Letwin and Michelle with their beautiful
voices – I wish I could hear them now or simply be spending time with them. And finally Joyline - our little Joy – who
initially shy, warmed up to us and was a great playing companion. Of course,
there were also other regular visitors, mainly friends of Joyline: entertaining
and cute Ropafadzo, Nomsa with her huge smile under her hoodie, my “sisters”
Talent and Nyasha.
At the
Center there were so many other faces, names and personalities, who would take
too much time to describe. I am just going to give you a few, but be assured
that just because they get into this blog, everybody else whom I can’t mention
also owns also a piece of my heart. Let’s start with little acrobatic and
extremely talented Betsy and her loyal friend Rachel(Radzschii).
In Primary
School: Cute Spale, brave Loveness, cheeky Ever, sharp-witted Patrick,
affectionate Lucy, pretty Hazel, opposite-to-everything-she-is-told Charlene, always-there
Tabeth, open-hearted Munashe, the quick-witted twins Tamsanq and Spiwie + their
smaller brother Tinotenda, high-voiced Progress, dancing Lilly, Tanyaradzwa, Ruvarashe,
Rutendo, whose name I never could pronounce correctly, Charmaigne, who improved
incredibly, Tinotenda, the drama-queen, and Agnes, cheeky in her own right, Plaxcedes
with her beautiful smile and cool new earrings, Amanda, Lianah, Mercy, Leah, Nancy,
Isabel, Hazel, Chantel and Charmaigne, sincere Thandiwe, great at Maths
Mitchel, Russel, smiling Trish, Tanyaradzwa, welcoming Shamiso, Nyasha, who
will always remind me of a brave lioness, quiet but still trying to do her best
Norma, always making fun Courage(I … don’t know), Isheanesu, who had to move
while I was there, mischievious Munashe and Takudzwa, provoking, but
warm-hearted teenage friends Melissa and Gladys.
Tinotenda and me
From
Secondary School I particularly remember lovely and very thoughtful Moilah, who
wrote me the most beautiful goodbye letter, so very happy Precious, really nice
and musical Tawanda and Edwin, quiet and intelligent Ramus, chatty Natasha, Lucia,
Nelyssa, Kundainashe, Moreblessing, Norvella, Chido, Emily, sporty Chantelle, Moreblessing,
who lives up to her name, Thelma, who is like a flower starting to bloom, funny
Michelle(and I am hundred percent sure that is your name!), Sharmaigne Muriva,
the most eloquent person I met in Zim, Dassy, Locinda-e, who I mixed up one too
many times, Mitchel with her new self-belief, Samantha, anxious Nobuhle, Lynnet,
the poet. I neither can forget Munyaradzi, Wisemen, Tafadza, clever Quinton,
Tendai, Takudzwa, Glory and especially Bishop, Samuel, Gibson and Zvidzai whose
names I finally got right.
Satu, Antioch and me
A totally
different group of “Zimbabweans” are the Finnish Society of Harare, whom I got
to know more or less. Definitely more I learnt to know was Larry, who gave so
much of his time to Dzikwa and also to us volunteers - as a driver, guide,
barbecue master, extra hand unpacking the container and so much more; not to
forget his dog Heinz(named after the Ketchup!). Then there is Virva, who once
started as a volunteer like me and now has been living many years in the warmth
of Zimbabwe and is even married to a Zimbabwean. Although she has a household
to do and no car, she often came to support us with our projects especially
when it concerned our precious environment. Kaisa was the one who gave me so
many hints how to cope with my gluten allergy in Zimbabwe and has been
travelling all around Southern Africa to look after the sick as the responsible
Red Cross member for this area. Not so well I got to know Hasse, the
Palestinian embassador, who however has strong ties to Finland, and Tertuu.
THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL TIME IN ZIMBABWE. WITHOUT ANYONE OF YOU IT WOULDN’T
HAVE BEEN THE SAME FOR ME. I MISS YOU ALL LIKE CRAZY AND WISH THAT I WERE THERE
WITH YOU. YOU ALL LIVE FURTHER ON IN MY HEART.
ALL MY LOVE
RUVA