The past three years of my life people have been telling me I
should be a teacher. So it seems only
fitting to combine my passion for wildlife conservation with education. Who
says I can’t do both? Peace Corps has offered me a unique opportunity to integrate
with the people of Sierra Leone and continue to do what seems to be, what I do
best...
and that’s Teachin Science!!!
My first class in Tinkonko, Sierra Leone during training
I landed with 43 other Peace Corps Volunteers in Freetown, Sierra Leone on July
19th. I believe it’s accurate to say we hit the ground running.
Salone 4 at the Independence Day Football Match
With my biological family in Oregon, I never considered the
possibility of being adopted by another family. But that wasn’t the case when I
arrived in Bo for training. Upon arrival I was adopted by a friendly Mende
family, the Hotaguas. I remember my 5 year-old sister, Josephine crying as she
was thrust into my arms. We have been inseparable since. There is many a time
my pale appearance frightens African toddlers. But I believe their parents get
as much pleasure out of it as I do. Since move-in, the Hotaguas have managed to
tolerate my endless consumption of food, and the presence of toads within their
food jars. I am still working with them on snakes.
My sisters Halema and Mami J (Josephine)
My African name is Dauda Hotagua. I have 3 brothers, 3 sisters, 2
grandchildren, several aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. I’ve become
accustomed to meeting new family members each weekend. I sketched a family
tree, but I find myself continuously adding more and more branches. With large
extended families in Sierra Leone, it’s more like a forest. And as the first
Peace Corps Volunteer to stay with the Hotagua’s, I continue to have countless opportunities
for cultural exchange. Thus far I have learned to wash my clothes by hand, beat
kasava leaf (kasava and rice are staple foods), juggle boku pikindem (many
children), and to always pack extra food and water on long excursions with my
friend Jeff.
Beating kasava leaf and catchin toads at the house
I will be serving as a junior secondary and secondary
(middle school and high school) science teacher in Madina Junction, Sierra Leone.
Madina is far northwest about 10 miles from the border of Guinea and just a
stone’s toss away from the Outamba-Kilimi National Park. OK National Park is
home to forest elephants, pygmy hippopotamus, chimpanzee, crocodiles, and
countless other critters waiting to be discovered. I have a beautiful science
textbook just outside my door! I couldn’t have asked for a better placement!
The children greeting us during our first village visit to Tinkonko
The people of Sierra Leone are extremely grateful to have us.
Sierra Leone’s education system and infrastructure were greatly affected by the
war. Since its stability in 2010, I’m among the 4th Peace Corps
group (Salone 4) to return since the war. During our welcome ceremony Ambassador
Steven’s words resonated with me, “Uneducated youth in Sierra Leone are a ticking
time bomb, they can be used for any means”. So with our presence along with
currently serving Peace Corps Volunteers (and the work from past PCVs), we hope
to make a difference through education, integration, community development, and
secondary projects. With deforestation, exotic trade, and bush meat prevalent
in Sierra Leone I have my work cut out for me.
Language training at its finest
Special Thanks to my uncle and my friend Annie for taking photos!
A wi go si bak (I’ll see you again in Krio),
Matthew Solberg
