Source – https://linetekeu.substack.com/p/cameroon-through-new-eyes-2-a-pilgrimage
This recent trip to Cameroon was truly an eye-opener. It also marked the first time in over 20 years that I traveled and shared a room with one of my sisters. Also, for the first time in a long time, I was traveling home alone—no husband, no kids—just my sister by my side. This unique opportunity allowed me to truly soak in my surroundings and really engage with the people around me, something I hadn’t really done before because I was always busy with my children’s needs. This trip profoundly engaged my five senses as never before.
My sister and I embarked on this journey to Cameroon to commemorate our beloved sibling, who left us two years ago in a very tragic circumstance. We had been planning this trip for quite some time, searching for the perfect time. Initially, we had hope to travel during the summer of 2024, but that didn’t pan out as we had envisioned. We considered October, then pushed it to December, ultimately deciding on the two-year anniversary of Alice’s passing in February 2025. However, in January 2025, while we were finalizing our plans, the new administration of President Trump issued a stop-work order that shook the entire industry of international development I am part of. It left me, like many of my colleagues, pondering the possibility of imminent job loss and whether it was wise to travel at that time, given the specter of unexpected unemployment lurking just around the corner. In the end, I weighed the pros and cons and decided to take the trip anyway.
