Facing an Ending and a New Beginning

November 23rd, 2014 by Rachel | Tags: Peace Corps | 1 Comment »

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”

– Wizard of Oz

Newly sworn-in health volunteers gathered for a picture

Just when I have finally felt Mengong has truly become my home, and I have fully adapted to the life of living with my host family in the South region and intensive training, all of this has come to an end this past Thursday, November 19th when we all, trainees, swore in to officially become Peace Corps Volunteers. The Country Director, Mark Orlic, Ambassador Hoza and the Governor of South region were present at the ceremony. All of us, former trainees, wore the same beautiful African pagne but in different designs that we had our tailors make. We had a lunch party which included dancing right after the swearing in. Our host families were present during the entire ceremony. My host mother dressed so beautifully that she looked like she was ready to go to a black-tie party.

Me with my host brothers and mother

It was a very emotional day. There were so much happiness as my dream was finally becoming true. I was about to begin a work assignment that I will truly love doing.

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There were also sadness. I had to say goodbye to my host family, to whom I’ve become very close. They were my best guidance and my rock. Before I arrived in Cameroon, I was very nervous. I asked myself, “Will Cameroonians be nice. Will I like the life of Cameroonians? Will life be difficult?” Right after having arrived at my host family home’s for the first time, they showed me that life in Cameroon is truly beautiful. They taught me well the culture and how to love their country. We had wonderful conversations about cultural differences at dinner and when we hung out in the living room. I learned so much from them. They were incredibly patient when I worked on regaining my French fluency. Before I arrived in Cameroon, I thought I was going to absolutely hate the food, but they showed me that I was totally wrong. They introduced me to koke, beignets, spaghetti omelette, fish with rice and potatoes and sheep with green beans, carrots and plaintains. They taught me how to cook some of the meals. They also taught me how to do laundry in the Cameroonian way. They helped me get water from the pump. They also took care of me when I was sick.

My host family has claimed many times that they will come visit me in Bamenda. I will not believe them until they arrive there.

I also had to say goodbye to my dear friend, Mary Beth, who had to go home to the States due to medical separation. It hit me harder than I thought. A few hours after the ceremony, at the big training center, I sat down on the chair and told another newly sworn in volunteer with whom I’ve also become close friends, Alex, “I’m in a slump. I’m not in a mood to party.” I broke down in tears and said “I miss Mary Beth. I don’t want to see her go.” Alex gave me a big hug and comforted me. He reminded me that my other close friends were still here and that most of them were coming with me to Northwest. We then took a moto with a couple other new volunteers to a very fancy hotel where most of us newly sworn in volunteers stayed for the night. Alex and I spent a couple hours outside by the pool discussing the ups and downs we faced in training and what will we will have to face at our new posts.

My counterpart, Ruth, a Cameroonian work partner with whom I’ll be working on daily basis in Bamenda, texted me and said, “I know you’ll miss your family in the South, but you have a family waiting for you in Bamenda.”