By Zekeh Gbotokuma and Madeleine Rothe
Nationwide — For Thanksgiving 2024, Madeleine and Zekeh decided to do something special on behalf of Polyglots In Action For Diversity, Inc. (PAD). Instead of getting together with the usual family members and friends, they chose to do something that is reminiscent of their mixed and international backgrounds. Both of them are naturalized Americans of Canadian and Congolese descents. They went through the pleasures and pains of traveling and living in many countries as well as learning other languages for cultural immersion and other purposes.Madeleine and her family moved to the U.S. from Canada in the 60s when she was nine years old. Zekeh migrated to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after twelve years in Western Europe, mostly in Italy and Germany, where he studied and worked as an international student worker, respectively.
One of Zekeh’s best and most memorable experiences is when he was invited to dinner by European friends, especially during holidays. Sometimes the invitation was for a whole weekend or several days. He is a beneficiary of many international and interethnic hospitality best practices. Both Madeleine and Zekeh – especially Zekeh – understand the contributions of these practices to the quality of their intercontinental experiences and cultural immersion.
That is why a few years ago, they served as a host family to several French high school students who traveled to Baltimore for a few weeks through Global Friendship, Inc. That is also why they decided to celebrate this year’s Thanksgiving with four educators from Colombia’s Antonio José Camacho Institucion Universitaria, namely, Ana Maria, Sandra, Hans, and Manuel. They spent about four weeks in Baltimore, Maryland, as part of an educational partnership with Morgan State University’s Gillian College of Liberal Arts (GCLA).
Zekeh joined Morgan colleagues in carrying out a few hospitality duties, including but not limited to having them in classes. But hanging out with professionals and students on the university campus and being locked in hotel rooms are not necessarily the best recipes for cultural immersion. That is why in response to a suggestion from the GCLA Dean Dr. Mbare Ngom and in coordination with Dr. Anita Pandey, Chair of GCLA Hospitality Committee, Madeleine and Zekeh invited the Colombian educators to celebrate Thanksgiving Day at their home just two days before they flew back home. They definitely understood that their hosts, just like millions of people in this ‘AliensNation’, were immigrants from Canada and DRC. This was apparent when Zekeh taught them how to say ‘cheers’ in Ngbaka, his native language. Everyone took turns in saying, “GBA YOMBE!” SALUD!
Last but not least, this Thanksgiving event is consistent with Polyglots in Action for Diversity, Inc. (PAD), an organization that Zekeh founded in 2005 to promote international friendship and positive diversity through multilingualism. Below are the Colombian guests’ comments in English and Spanish.
“Thank you for this special invitation Dr. Zekeh. I have an amazing Thanksgiving Day.” — (Ana Maria)
“Thank you for your hospitality, you and wife are fantastic. I will carry this day in my heart and it will be a story to tell and never forget. Thank you God. Thank you for having the joy of this experience. Happy Thanksgiving!” — Sandra
“Muchas gracias por invitarnos a su hogar en un dia tan especial para como lo es Thanksgiving y compartir esta tradicion con nosotros. Muchas gracias.” — Manuel (in Spanish)
“Muchas gracias al Professor Zekeh y su esposa Madeline. Muy amables por invitarnos a su casa y compartir en un Dia tan especial como lo es Thanksgiving. Esperamos que nos visiten en Colombia y poder tambien compartir de nuetra cultura. Gran abraso y Esperan verlos de nuevo. Muchas gracias.” — Hans (in Spanish)
Dr. Gbotokuma is a Philosophy Professor at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and founding president of Polyglots in Action for Diversity, Inc. He is the author of numerous publications, the most recent of which is the three international literary award-winning book, Obamanomics and Francisconomics (Europe Books, 2022). Madeleine Rothe is Zekeh’s wife and a Realtor® with the Bob & Ronna Group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty.
For press inquiries, contact 443-622-3033 or zekehgbotokuma@gmail.com