Imagine moving to a new community where everyone knows your name within a short period of time. I step into a local shop, and as soon as I enter, everyone greets me with a warm smile, calling me by name. Good morning, Mariama and it feels nice to be recognized as I look around, I notice that everyone seems to know each other exchanging friendly nods and conversations while I struggle to remember their names or even match faces to the names I’ve heard.

At first it feels overwhelming, I attend community events and people approach me, introducing themselves with a smile. Hi Mariama I’m Fatou or Hello Mariama, you must be new here I’m Lamin. Each time I nod and smile but the names slip away like water through my fingers. I start to feel a bit anxious, worried that I might forget someone important or mispronounce their name.

One of my best memories was my encounter with a Cheerful little girl named Mama. From the moment we met she would greet me with a big smile and say, Hi Mariama every time she saw me. I enjoyed our little chats but there was one tiny problem I could never remember her name. I would smile back and say, hey but deep down I felt a little guilty for not remembering.

One sunny afternoon, as we were chatting, she decided it was time to confront me. With her hands on her hips and a playful face she said Mariama Why do you always call me Hey? You know my name. I scratched my head trying to think of a clever response. Well, you see Mama I have a lot of names in my head and sometimes it’s difficult to recall. Little Mama giggled her eyes sparkling with mischief. Mariama, you can’t just call me Hey forever what if I forget your name, I realized she had a point. From that day on every time, I saw her I would greet her with a smile. Hello Mama She would burst into laughter while I still struggled to remember her name at times. In the end, it didn’t matter if I remembered her name perfectly. What mattered was the joy we shared and the laughter that filled the air whenever we met and that’s how I learned that sometimes, it’s the little moments that create the best memories.

Determined to connect, I come up with a plan. I decide to make the best use of the notepad on my phone, jotting down names and a little detail about each person I meet. Fatou loves gardening, Ba Dembo loves sports, or Jonkunda VDC Chairman. This simple act helps me remember not just their names but also the unique qualities that make them who they are. As days turn into weeks, I find myself becoming more comfortable. I start to recognize familiar faces and associate them with the notes.

 Gradually, the community begins to feel like home. I engage in conversations, share stories, and even laugh at my initial struggles to remember names. Eventually, I realize that it’s not just about memorizing names, it’s about building relationships. 

I still may not remember every name perfectly but the bonds I’ve formed are what truly matter. In the end, being in a new community can be challenging but with a little effort and a genuine desire to connect, I turned that initial struggle into a beautiful experience of belonging.