November 9th, 2015 by Rachel | Tags: Peace Corps | No Comments »
About two months ago when I learned that I would be returning to Mengong where I lived for the first two months in Cameroon for training to give a presentation to a group of new volunteers who arrived in Cameroon last September, I immediately informed the host family with whom I stayed in Mengong that I would be seeing them again. They responded right away with excitement.
Yesterday, when I arrived in Ebolowa, a bigger tow about 30 minutes from Mengong where some of the training took place last year, one of my language instructors came to me and said, “Have you let your host family know you’re here? Your host family has been asking me for the past two weeks when you’re coming.”
Today, as soon as I arrived in Mengong, I immediately saw my host mother who happened to be at the training center. She and I greeted each other with a big hug and smiles. She immediately told me that she was inviting me over for dinner. I told her that I couldn’t stay for dinner but I could do lunch with them because I was spending the night in Ebolowa and Peace Corps would only take me back there right after I finished my presentation. She said, “We’ll take you back to Ebolowa.” I couldn’t say “no.”
Right after giving my presentation, I walked to my host family’s home like as if I was still living in Mengong and I was just a trainee yesterday. I remembered my way there. Once I arrived, the children came out greeting me. It was moment where I felt like I was Maria when she returned to the Von Trapp family after having gone back to the Abbey in the Sound of Music film. All children are doing well. Riki has grown a lot in the past year.
They went over the top by having a huge dinner feast. I have never seen them cook so much food for one meal.
By reuniting with my host family after having not seen them for a year since I swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer, they reminded me how to be a Peace Corps Volunteer – focus on building meaningful relationships and realizing that people will remember you for how you made them feel, not what you gave them. My goal for my last year in Cameroon is to really focus on continuing to build relationships with my Cameroonian work partners and community members by educating them about health issues and making them feel empowered to educate others and be change agents.
Yes, my host parents did drive me back to Ebolowa. It was so kind and generous of them to do it.
