📍 Location: Makeni, Sierra Leone📝 Episode NotesGood day — November 7th. Merel was planning to come back into town, grab a taxi, and meet up with me so we could walk into the center together. We thought we might meet Abdul and Maxwell as well — both of them Peace Corps workers just like Merel. As it turned out, everyone arrived at the same time, and the four of us set off together.They’ve all created a little support network for themselves — connected through phones, WhatsApp, and good old Peace Corps camaraderie. I hadn’t met Maxwell or Abdul yet, so this was my first chance to get to know them. We walked toward town, skirted the market, and eventually reached the bank, which they all need to visit about once a month. They were both delightful people right from the start.Maxwell is from the U.S. and is doing a teaching assignment in a small town not too far from McKinney. Abdul is doing similar work to Merel — not medical procedures like vaccinations, but administrative support and community health work, making sure people feel supported, heard, and cared for.We ended up sharing a meal together — shawarma-style wraps at Papa’s Restaurant, a little second-floor place where we were the only customers. I honestly don’t know how they stay in business, but it was a perfect spot for long conversations about Peace Corps life and everything else under the sun. What those three are doing is incredible — they don’t make much money at all. They get a stipend, and a bit more added the longer they stay, but it’s really about the experience and the service. Something they’ll carry with them forever.Eventually we split up. They headed back to Abdul’s house, and I went along with Merel to see her hangout before returning to the hotel to catch up on things I needed to do. We planned for me to pick her up the next morning to visit the village where she works — quite a journey.Later that evening, I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Roller, an American engineer — and not just one type of engineer, but practically all types rolled into one. He’s been working across Africa since 2003 and currently lives in Botswana. He’s also lived in Alaska and a whole list of countries in between. Truly an incredible person.Thanks for coming along. See you next time.⏱️ Key Moments00:20 — Meeting up with Merel, Abdul, and Maxwell01:10 — Walking into town and stopping by the market01:45 — Monthly bank trip for the Peace Corps crew02:30 — Introducing Maxwell and Abdul and their Peace Corps roles03:40 — Sharing shawarmas at Papa’s Restaurant04:20 — Reflections on Peace Corps service and their dedication05:10 — Visiting Merel’s hangout and parting ways06:00 — Meeting Chris Roller, the multi-discipline engineer with decades in Africa

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