This is the sixth year that Frieda’s has hosted an intern from EARTH University in Costa Rica. (Remember Isaiah from last year?) Every third-year student from this amazing international university gets to spend four months interning at a company somewhere around the world as part of the university’s learning by doing philosophy.
Our intern this year is Rumbidzai Hove. Twenty-two-year-old Rumby — pronounced room-bee — is originally from Zimbabwe. She and her brother were raised by a single mom. Before Rumby moved to Costa Rica for her four-year college education, she attended the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Rumby is quite determined to effect change in her home country. For example, while Zimbabwean young people may get an amazing education, the lack of jobs is discouraging and creates a non-motivating environment for them. Why bother if there are no jobs to be had anyway?
Now, Rumby is living with me for four months, so we get to have extensive conversations about all kinds of things.
When I came home earlier this week, I was surprised to find a Kiwano® Horned Melon sitting on the kitchen counter. I forgot that we’d had a mini-marketplace at our office that day to encourage all employees to take a few of our products home to try.
Rumby said, “Did you know those Horned Melons are native to Zimbabwe? They grow everywhere in my country and I love to eat them. They are actually my favorite fruit!”
Frankly, I was kind of surprised to hear that as I never thought these spiky orange things could be someone’s favorite fruit; everyone who sees them here in the USA always makes a face before asking, “Do you eat them or throw them at people?”
“So, how do you eat them, Rumby?”
“With salt.”
“Do you peel them or just scoop the insides?”
“Why would someone peel them? The skin is the best part!”
The look on my face must have been priceless as I have always told people to either peel the horned melons or scoop out the insides. I never knew the skin was edible!
It is so interesting to have an international student staying with you! At first you think that they are there for YOU to teach, coach, and mentor. I now know that the learning goes both ways.
Then Rumby reminded me that watermelons are also native to Zimbabwe. I wonder if they also eat the rind and salt them? I guess that will be our next conversation.
And now you know!
Karen
P.S. Our marketing team decided to put Rumby on Instagram to show us how it’s done!
