I felt it only necessary to write a post about our wonderful host Jean D’Amour. After me only knowing him for almost a year, Aria knowing him since not too long ago and Megan and Jack knowing him for many years now, with our only communication being WhatsApp and Zoom, he is better than words can describe. Jean is thoughtful, caring, smart, funny, a wonderful host, a good friend to all…the list is long.
As we drive through the ‘African massaging’ streets and near towards Kadahenda, you hear songs filled with his name. Kids jump on the tire on the back of his car, swarms of 15+ kids unite and follow us down the road running to the site. He is friends with and laughs with the masons, the children, the community members, us, and even random people we drive past on the road. He is famous here in Musanze, to say the least.
What I’ve learned about him so far (even though we are only on day-4) is that he cares so much for his country and it’s people, that where he stands is that he is a humanitarian and has made it his life’s goal to provide rural communities with food and water here in Rwanda. He is well-traveled, speaks 4 languages (English, French, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili), is very smart, having earned is PhD in 4 challenging years from the University of Michigan, and is a member of the rotary club and works with the team based in Boulder. He knows and cares much for his county, friends, family, community and making global connections with us and his students at the university.
Jean D’Amour has many lessons and stories to share and I cannot do him justice with this writing but am so excited for our next 10days spent with him in his lovely home and lovely county.
Murakoze
Catherine
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