Leonel

The following was written on September 2, 2012 at approximately 11:00pm.

Early on in my Limbe experience I got to know one of the AVFAL players on a more personal level.  His name is Leonel.  He is a great kid and a good footballer.  The first time we met up outside of the football field he introduced me to fufu and eru a local Cameroonian dish that is, for lack of a better word, gross.  We talked about football and life and he told me about his aspirations to work in development economics so that he can use his knowledge to help Cameroon and Africa.  I instantly took to Leonel and vice versa.  Once the tournament that AVFAL was playing in ended I did not see Leonel as much as I would have liked.  But I still made an effort to see him around and we still hung out and I still stopped by to see him and his dad running their corner clothing shop.  Unfortunately, we had to say our goodbyes tonight and it was a very emotional experience for him, but also for me.  I am writing this post from my room because the following story has JUST happened and I wanted to write about it while it was still fresh in my mind. 

This afternoon Andy, John, Humphrey and I were at a local bar called Mars eating, drinking and watching the English Premiere League when I noticed that I had missed a call from Leonel.  Before I was even given a chance to call him back he appeared at Mars and came to greet us.  He sat down next to me and quickly mentioned that his father had just told him that he was being sent to Bamenda, a city in the North about 10 hours away by bus, for school instead of staying in Limbe as was expected.  I asked him when he was leaving and he said at 9pm tonight and he would not be back until after I leave Cameroon.  I immediately told him that I wanted to take him out for dinner before we had to say goodbye.  Once the EPL game ended we met up. 

As we strolled around he told me about how he was still in shock about the news and how he was upset about it because he wanted to stay and hang out with me for my last 6 weeks and also so that he could continue to play football.  I assured him that we would stay in touch through email and facebook and that the better schools in Bamenda were MUCH more important than playing football or hanging out with me.  He reluctantly agreed then asked me if I would accompany him and his father to the bus station to see him off to Bamenda, and of course said that I was honoured and that I would. 

He took me to see his father who was at a bar drinking, and clearly had been for some time.  He was noticeably drunk.  Leonel said he was going to go home to finish up some last minute packing but that his father would take me there soon to go to the station.  The next 25 minutes consisted of Leonel's father explaining how he was happy that Leonel had met me and that Leonel wanted to stay because he did not want to leave me and the football team and his friends.  He wanted Leonel to go because the schools in Bamenda were better and Leonel's future had to be his number 1 concern.  I agreed and told him that I would have told Leonel the exact same thing.  After an uncomfortable 25 minutes of Leonel's father pouring his heart to me about how he had to make his own sacrifices when Leonel was born so that he could be a responsible father to Leonel, we left.  Despite his state of mind, I was happy that he felt that way and acted on it.  It does not always happen that way in Africa.

His father then took me to their house.  We walked up a very slippery, unstable, crooked, and dark staircase to the house where he almost fell over about 10 times.  We made it inside and I found Leonel zipping up his bag.  I asked him how he was feeling and he was still unsure.  Just as we were getting ready to meet the car that had been arranged to take Leonel to the station, we found out that the driver had a "complication" and was not coming.  We had to take a cab.  Then just as I was getting up to put my shoes on I was alarmed to learn that Leonel's father was not coming because he did not feel well and wanted to stay home and sleep.  Leonel left without a hug or goodbye from his father.  He will not return to Limbe until December. 

I got in the taxi with Leonel and we drove further outside the city, the station was actually outside Limbe city limits.  We arrived at the bus station and it was pandemonium.  I am going to re write that sentence with a further emphasis.  We arrived at the bus station and it was PANDEMONIUM.  Taxis, people, bags, honking, yelling, rocks, puddles, no organization, no identifiable people to assist in locating which bus was going where, or to help shove another bag into the over-flowing compartments; it was madness.  On top of all of this, Leonel realized that he had lost his cell phone, presumably the only form of communication he had with his father until he arrived in Bamenda.  He frantically tried calling it and looking for it before he gave up.  I grabbed him and looked him in the eye and said "Leonel, do not panic.  It is ok.  When you get to Bamenda someone is meeting you right? [he said yes] And you know their number right? [he again said yes] So, once you arrive you can find them and they will help you sort everything out.  You can call them if you have to and you can call your dad to let him know you're ok! Our only concern right now is getting you on that bus!" He agreed. 

We tracked someone down to help us put his bag on the bus and then we went to get him a seat.  He told me to wait outside while he put his backpack down and that he would be right back.  He came back a few minutes later and he told me he would help me find a taxi to take me the long way back to my apartment.  We found one immediately and we all of a sudden had 15 seconds to say goodbye. 

I found myself in a situation that I was not prepared for and in no way expected to have to handle in my time here.  Leonel, a terrified 17 year old, was about to get on a bus packed with strangers for 10 hours to go to a city that he is unfamiliar with to go to school for 6 months and write one of Cameroon's most difficult and important aptitude tests; and the only person there to say goodbye to him was a volunteer coach that he has known for 6 weeks. 

We hugged and I told him that he could and should email me at ANY time with ANY concern or question.  He told me he would.  I then told him that I was really proud of him for doing this and that it was the best thing for him.  He nodded and began to walk back to the bus.  He then stopped, started to cry and ran back for another hug.  The taxi, full of people, started to honk at us.  I promised Leonel that he was going to be just fine and that we would talk and that he was going to be amazing!  I promised him again that he was going to be fine and that I was proud of him.  He backed off slowly wiping tears away and nodded.  I yelled once more that everything was going to work out and that I was so proud. 

He turned to go the bus and I got into the taxi.  That was it. 

I took the taxi home, ate a quick dinner, and then came home to write this.  I still don't know how I feel about what just happened.  I came almost as close to crying as I did on my first night here when I actually did cry (from shock!) but now I'm just sad and confused.  I feel like I could have done more or should have done more for him but I can't think of what that might have been. 

All I can think of right now is my parents.  I am so thankful and grateful and lucky to have the family that I do.