May 23, 2006
Well…There’s not a whole lot to update on. Life has become very routine and a majority of the craziness that is Cameroon is shocking me less and less (which is good, I think!) aside from the technical difficulties and harassment which can still ruin my day—as a few of my email recipients can attest to!! Things are going well, work is kind of slow, a lot more planning for perspective projects that actually doing much. The rains have really come though, which is nice since I also have not had running water in over a month…rainwater sustains me! I have realized, too, how much water I actually use—and this is doing everything in buckets too! It’s a good lesson on conservation…it’s all a lesson of some sort. I have also officially become a Harry Potter junkie…I was up till 3:30 AM one night finishing #4 and used it in an analogy this weekend…embarrassing? A little…but at the same time, I really ok with it. I am saving #5 for a rainy day!

So this past weekend was “20th May”…that’s what they call it, really it’s “National Day” (or 4th of July Cameroonian style, as I was calling it). Being friends with the DO (divisional officer) has many perks. One is just having fun friends but another is the holiday celebration comfort (take this as you will…we’re still talking Cameroon). For the march pass (just like Youth Day and Women’s Day…they just march, and march, and march…) I was seated under the grandstand with Linda, Debi and Lance (my missionaries—yes my missionaries). The rain started falling about 5 minutes before it started and it got really wet and really cold really fast (that is for all those not under the cover of the grandstand). Luckily that meant fewer people marched and the whole thing, which was supposed to be 5 hours, lasted 1 ½!! I retreated to mini-America (ie, Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary) and watched tennis on satellite and ate pizza. The soccer match was next and the rain had cleared up. Again, I got seated front and center—with Linda and her husband. It was a good match, Ndu vs. Wowo (a town just outside Ndu). It went to shoot out and I was nervous—aside from the anxiety of the game there were probably a couple thousand people standing around…crowds make me nervous. It went well though, Ndu winning, no riots and aside from the police beating (“controlling”) a few people with sticks, no injuries. We headed off through a crazy main street; people were psyched, to the DOs for a cocktail. Good food, good company and the Commissioners (the acapella group I mentioned last time) performed. All in all, a great National Day for me—one of the first times I have enjoyed the attention brought on by being one of 4 white people in town.

It’s hard to imagine that it’s summer since it’s just getting colder here. No snow though…that’s still a rumor (however we’ve decided they may think snow and hail are the same thing…who knows?!). I am feeling less and less like leaving Ndu, even for Internet or vacation—which is good, part of integrating, I think. Even this weekend, I was hesitant to leave aside from being out of powdered skim milk and oatmeal (my two staple food groups…besides mangos). Hopefully work will pick up and some projects will start coming around. Until next time…

*I wasn't able to post all the pictures quite yet...I'll work on it.*

April 21-April 25, 2006

Where has the time gone?! It’s almost May. I can’t believe it. I was in Bamenda this week for a quick day trip; our provincial meeting and my friend, Kelsey, got her traditional rights. It was pretty cool. The Fon of Bafut (where she did it) is pretty powerful. He has 48 wives, a beautiful palace (see picture #2) and pretty famous, as far as Fons go. Kelsey came strutting out, in only bra and skirt—perfect for a Victoria’s Secret commercial—knelt in front of the Fon (see picture #3) and had some pounded up pumas (we hope) rubbed on her as the Fon gave her a traditional name. Meanwhile, I was handed a beautiful but significantly wet (the ‘diapers’ aren’t quite up to Pampers standards!) child…Violet (see picture #1). She was very well behaved but for sure peed all over me. Kelsey then had to drink palm wine out of her hands, do a chant with the queen mother and pose for many pictures. We spent the evening eating Samoa’s (thanks Vicki!!) and chocolate covered macadamia nuts sent from America while it poured. Typical day in Cameroon, I guess.

The rains have come meaning no dust but lots of mud which I’m convinced is mixed with latrine run off—I’ve concluded this by the smell that is emitted from each of the rust colored streams that now flow everywhere. I can’t complain though, it’s cooler and no dust! And minus being eaten alive in Bamenda—and surely, in my paranoia, contracting malaria—it’s a nice change (Rain clouds coming into Ndu, picture coming next time!). I am very busy, although I’m not sure with what. Between work and random meetings I feel like I have no extra time. It’s nice, makes the time go fast, but at the same time…unnecessary stress! I am headed to Yaoundé this weekend for another meeting and on the way, will go to a concert for the acapella group from the Baptist Seminary. Should be interesting, although I heard them practicing—Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes was one selection! (Side note: The concert was great…I had some pictures but do to some IT difficulties, couldn't upload them. I'll try to soon).

Yesterday I spent 5 ½ (yes, 5 ½) hours in church. I went with my landlord/landlady for the church dedication. To make a long story short, almost the entire 5 ½ hours was in dialect and I was sitting up front—hard to hide my boredom while I’m glowing like a beacon of Caucasian-ness from the front of the room. By hour 4 I was texting like a fiend, finally positioned my bag just right so I could read my novel without being too obvious, and then watched huge black storm clouds roll in through the window. There was some serious rocking out though…these people are amazing. I’m trying to sway with the crowd and watching an eight-year-old, dressed in a gray sweat suit, alternating between blowing a cow horn with rubber tube, frantically drumming, and dancing like a pro…all of which sounds amazing and I can’t even clap on beat. Man…