Graduation

Yesterday we had model school graduation. It rained hard the night before (like is-the-house-going-to-wash-away? hard) and was continuing to drizzle into the morning. Scott and I got there right at 8:00 and the school was deserted. “Lansana,” I said, “You told me to be here at 8:00!” “No I didn’t,” he replied. “The cars come from Doe Palace at 8:15 and 8:30.” Scott and I exchanged looks and sat down to read.

We finally started after 9:00 and about five minutes before Garrett asked me to make a speech on behalf of the trainees. Um, sure? I ran through some things in my head while Alonso and Vince spoke and winged it. Success (I think)!

After the ceremony I collected my box from Vince and headed home in the rain. It rained and rained and rained! While I was eating my mom said something about calling Cecelia to teach me to bake. I nodded and said that we could also get things and she could teach me banana bread the next day. She looked at me funny and there was a pause. Miscommunication! She never called Cecelia.

Princess, Sattah, and I went to the market around 4:00 when the rain finally stopped and I dropped a “ton” on ingredients for bread, donuts, and groundpea candy. It felt like a lot, but was really probably $10US–much less than if I’d gone to Monrovia with everyone else this weekend. This is also about the last weekend here. I move to Sanniquellie in exactly 10 days.

We swear in Friday and have a big party with our families Saturday. It feels too soon! I’ve grown so comfortable here. It feels crazy to say, but Kakata feels like home. I can only hope I feel the same way about Sanniquellie in another two months.

My mom just picked a tick out of my ear. I guess we’re family now.