Eglantine Riviere,
France

by Portia Chimutu
(Harare, Zimbabwe)

I met Tina through the Student Letter Exchange programme.

At that time, I was staying in a small town called Bindura. It was in 1998 before we moved to the capital city. It was so sudden as my dad got transferred.

I know she had long blonde hair, and she loved playing the guitar. She told me she stayed in a town south of France, since then I have been in love with that country.

She was my first penfriend and I still have her photo in my album. It was taken with her playing the guitar with her legs crossed over the other.

She used to write to me in french and then I would try and write back in french as well although I knew I was lousy.

If you are out there Tina, I miss you. I hope you are fine.

I am married now and have a 6 month old baby girl.