Drying clothes in front of the fire cause it's too wet and rainy to do it anywhere else...at least without them getting mildewy and taking a week to dry. Thank God for fireplaces!!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
September 7, 2006
Flashy hats, God, and Roadblocks
Since I’ve been back it seems that one of my co-workers finds in necessary to wear a new hat every day. These aren’t the normal hats you see around—like a Domino’s Pizza baseball hat or the common black Adidas cap. Nope, these are a variety of cowboy hats, in all colors. We’re talking florescent orange Jagermeister, shiny teal with sparkles, and woven with a red sash. Not only are they quite fetching but he always, without fail, has the chinstrap drawn so tightly that the skin around his neck and cheeks puffs out along the edges. It all adds nicely to his Canadian tuxedo, always well pressed.
Among my many cultural lessons here, one is about God. In the Northwest province, specifically, God is everywhere. Every taxi is painted with a slogan of some sort (“Jesus Saves” “I Am Covered With the Blood of Jesus” or, my favorite, “Thy Will Most (yes, most) Be Done”), people will bring up God on a regular basis, sing church songs ALL the time, very loudly, and love to argue about the difference between divorce and polygamy. I try very hard to steer clear of these conversations because I’ve found, also, that my cultural (and likewise religious) perspectives are quite different. Recently, however, I got into an argument about why I wouldn’t bring this man back to America with me. He thought that bringing up God would convince me because, after all, he wanted to have money and mansions and nice cars—America is full of stuff like that, waiting to be taken. I tried to find the correlation between his desire to have money, mansions and cars with God…he cleared it up for me. You see, God had told him that that was his way in life. To have many material possessions. Obviously. I didn’t argue, just put in my headphones and said I had to work.
After surviving my second roadblock in the past four months I feel informed enough to add this among my insights and thoughts on la vie Cameroonaise. So, it seems the tea works just outside Ndu haven’t been working in the best conditions—i.e., haven’t been paid regularly in years. They finally got mad enough to chop down approximately 100 trees, pile them in the road and seed them with bee hives. Obviously this wasn’t the easiest thing to get ride of…may have had something to do with angry men with axes, guns, and machetes, or the swarming bees, I’m not sure. Either way, it lasted almost a week and caused great distress among travelers (me included), anxiety and stress on the part of local government trying to calm the situation especially after a gendarme was hospitalized and possibly killed by a rock to the head, and talk among the entire province about the privatization of the plantations around the country. The highlight of my 6+ hour trip (84 miles) to Bamenda was the point wherein our driver had all 18 passengers get out, carefully walk down a very steep, very muddy hill while the driver tried to slip down. At one point about 9 men who were working on cramming rocks into the potholes were actually holding the van up so it didn’t plummet over the side of the hill. Eventually the roadblock was cleared but not before I was slightly scarred by the massive gun I saw sticking out from a pillow case in a passing car, the jabbing pole I sat on for 6 hours, and the feeling of having our van almost flip over as the driver daringly tried at another hill. I’m alive, the road is cleared, and we’re all happy up here in Ndu…that is, until the next attempted revolt.
Some insights on life back in Cameroon. Flashy hats, God and Roadblocks.
Flashy hats, God, and Roadblocks
Since I’ve been back it seems that one of my co-workers finds in necessary to wear a new hat every day. These aren’t the normal hats you see around—like a Domino’s Pizza baseball hat or the common black Adidas cap. Nope, these are a variety of cowboy hats, in all colors. We’re talking florescent orange Jagermeister, shiny teal with sparkles, and woven with a red sash. Not only are they quite fetching but he always, without fail, has the chinstrap drawn so tightly that the skin around his neck and cheeks puffs out along the edges. It all adds nicely to his Canadian tuxedo, always well pressed.
Among my many cultural lessons here, one is about God. In the Northwest province, specifically, God is everywhere. Every taxi is painted with a slogan of some sort (“Jesus Saves” “I Am Covered With the Blood of Jesus” or, my favorite, “Thy Will Most (yes, most) Be Done”), people will bring up God on a regular basis, sing church songs ALL the time, very loudly, and love to argue about the difference between divorce and polygamy. I try very hard to steer clear of these conversations because I’ve found, also, that my cultural (and likewise religious) perspectives are quite different. Recently, however, I got into an argument about why I wouldn’t bring this man back to America with me. He thought that bringing up God would convince me because, after all, he wanted to have money and mansions and nice cars—America is full of stuff like that, waiting to be taken. I tried to find the correlation between his desire to have money, mansions and cars with God…he cleared it up for me. You see, God had told him that that was his way in life. To have many material possessions. Obviously. I didn’t argue, just put in my headphones and said I had to work.
After surviving my second roadblock in the past four months I feel informed enough to add this among my insights and thoughts on la vie Cameroonaise. So, it seems the tea works just outside Ndu haven’t been working in the best conditions—i.e., haven’t been paid regularly in years. They finally got mad enough to chop down approximately 100 trees, pile them in the road and seed them with bee hives. Obviously this wasn’t the easiest thing to get ride of…may have had something to do with angry men with axes, guns, and machetes, or the swarming bees, I’m not sure. Either way, it lasted almost a week and caused great distress among travelers (me included), anxiety and stress on the part of local government trying to calm the situation especially after a gendarme was hospitalized and possibly killed by a rock to the head, and talk among the entire province about the privatization of the plantations around the country. The highlight of my 6+ hour trip (84 miles) to Bamenda was the point wherein our driver had all 18 passengers get out, carefully walk down a very steep, very muddy hill while the driver tried to slip down. At one point about 9 men who were working on cramming rocks into the potholes were actually holding the van up so it didn’t plummet over the side of the hill. Eventually the roadblock was cleared but not before I was slightly scarred by the massive gun I saw sticking out from a pillow case in a passing car, the jabbing pole I sat on for 6 hours, and the feeling of having our van almost flip over as the driver daringly tried at another hill. I’m alive, the road is cleared, and we’re all happy up here in Ndu…that is, until the next attempted revolt.
Some insights on life back in Cameroon. Flashy hats, God and Roadblocks.
Friday, August 18, 2006
18.08.06
I am officially back in Cameroon after an amazing trip home. I hauled two huge bags with me full of presents and one or two things for me. I think my mom was glad to see me go after I spent 20 minutes throwing things at her that wouldn't fit, to "send me later." I did make it back with a few jars of peanut butter; some great smelling candles lots of books and about 12 remaining Twizzlers. Somewhat successful, I am excited to get the package and see what great items I threw out at the last minute!
Travel took some time and patience (luckily for everyone involved I am still going strong on my quest to be patient), I was lucky enough to miss the terror-chaos and get to Ndu unscathed...after a few days in bush taxis. Some great British missionaries gave me a ride half way up the now muddy and pot hole filled Ring Road. They had me over for tea and shared some random facts; like that the UK didn't have photo ids until recently. Who knew?
I am happy to be back despite my hesitancy in the days leading up to my departure. Everyone seems excited for me to be back and I'm hoping with school starting in a few weeks that work will pick up then. For now, I'll just enjoy the rain and cold-have some fires and pretend it's winter. This is the closest I'll get for another year. It was great to see everyone! Keep in touch.
I am officially back in Cameroon after an amazing trip home. I hauled two huge bags with me full of presents and one or two things for me. I think my mom was glad to see me go after I spent 20 minutes throwing things at her that wouldn't fit, to "send me later." I did make it back with a few jars of peanut butter; some great smelling candles lots of books and about 12 remaining Twizzlers. Somewhat successful, I am excited to get the package and see what great items I threw out at the last minute!
Travel took some time and patience (luckily for everyone involved I am still going strong on my quest to be patient), I was lucky enough to miss the terror-chaos and get to Ndu unscathed...after a few days in bush taxis. Some great British missionaries gave me a ride half way up the now muddy and pot hole filled Ring Road. They had me over for tea and shared some random facts; like that the UK didn't have photo ids until recently. Who knew?
I am happy to be back despite my hesitancy in the days leading up to my departure. Everyone seems excited for me to be back and I'm hoping with school starting in a few weeks that work will pick up then. For now, I'll just enjoy the rain and cold-have some fires and pretend it's winter. This is the closest I'll get for another year. It was great to see everyone! Keep in touch.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
08.06.06 Wow...America has been wonderful. I was lucky enough to be able to take a few weeks off to come back for Lexie's wedding (see above). Aside from some anxiety about America and being shocked at the clothing on teenage girls in the Atlanta airport, the transition was easy. I feel like I never left. I got to see many friends--who came very far to see me :) and had a great time in Denver, Boulder and Steamboat. I am getting packed up now and realizing how much stuff I am taking back...I feel like I may be taking more this time than when we left in September! I keep telling myself that most of it is for others but a fair amount belongs to me. I have had fun enjoying the luxuries here but am excited to get back to life in Cameroon. Hopefully work will keep me busy until the next group of health and agro trainees arrive. Then, we'll be distracted with PCT drama and whatnot. Thanks to all my friends and family for putting up with me during my trip. Thanks for the dinners and coffees, the movies, the shopping and dealing with my deep thoughts on changing the world. Give me another year and I'll be ready for more ladies' nights and Kappa reunions! Nobody else get married while I'm gone!!! I love you all!
Picture 1) Me, Harry and Katie pre-hike, acting like tourists at Fish Creek Falls.
Picture 2) How beautiful is Colorado??
Picture 3) Yay Kappa...
Picture 4) Lexie and all the Kappa girls in a typical sorority pic :)
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
PICTURES:
1. The commissioners (a capella group)
2. Serve the Orphans Foundation marching in the rain on National Day
3. My view one early morning
4. Talla farms...lots of corn and huts
5. The 'doctor' in Talla at one of his infant welfare clinics, he's weighting a smol pikin.
6 Months “Au Village”
As the days near the big red mark on June 14th (for reasons aside from Lexie’s birthday and the unfortunately non-recognized holiday of Flag day), I begin to reflect on 6 months in Ndu—thus what the red mark stands for, in case you were wondering. So, I’ve compiled a list of some of the 40 wonderful things I’ve learned over the past half-year in Ndu. While the list isn’t all-inclusive and I’m sure I forgot some key things, it gets to the point, which is…well, I’m not really sure. There is a point to it all, although I am beginning to think that I may not find out until I’m packing my bags in 2007, or possibly much later. But for now, here’s some lessons learned after 6 months au village.
1. There is such a thing as a stupid question. Below are a few that you just shouldn’t bother asking. They are, by definition, stupid questions.
*Will there be palm wine?
*Will there be kola nuts? *Will there be corn foufou?
*Is it too early for a beer?
*What time does it start/will we leave/will it end?
*Does this match?
2. Kids in America snack on fruit snacks and juice boxes, kids in Cameroon snack on sugar cane, fried fish heads, and anything they pick up off the ground.
3. “Ca va” and “Ashia” are always appropriate responses.
4. It’s ok to yell—they probably deserve it.
5. Careless squatting never did anyone any good—likewise, wash your shoes often.
6. Don’t plug your Ipod into anything, just don’t.
7. Eto’o Fils. Enough said.
8. Vache Qui Rit and Coca Light weirdly taste like pumpkin pie when taken together.
9. There is a proper way to burn trash.
10. They’ll flat out laugh in your face…just accept it.
11. Running water is a wonderful thing. So are clean carpets, sinks, hot showers, ice cubes, and seatbelts.
12. Nothing happens on time. Nothing.
13. National holiday or church event to attend? Bring snacks and a good book.
14. After a while it is possible to block out children screaming, “White” or “Kingba.”
15. Don’t waste energy fighting about women’s rights with men who’ve been at the bar for more than an hour or are obviously slurring and/or telling you about the power provided eating by bush meat. It’s a worthless struggle.
16. There’s no poverty, crime or sadness in America. Amazing huh?
17. Who needs an alarm clock when you have children pounding water jugs on the side of your house at 5:45 AM?
18. You can never have too many mangos.
19. It is possible to transport up to 15 people in/on a two-door Toyota. Plus goats.
20. Calling someone “my friend” usually means you want something.
21. There’s something about a Phil Collins song playing from a hut as you walk in the rain that can really brighten your day, you know?
22. It is possible to go through 5000 CFA phone credit in less than a week and not actually talk to anyone.
23. You can win 2 games of Spider Solitaire in a row—and few games are as addicting.
24. The phrase, “Don’t be a fool, stay in school” has NEVER meant so much to me.
25. There’s a real joy in ironing.
26. Take advantage of sunny days to dry clothes. There’s nothing like a mildewy towel to ruin a nice bucket bath.
27. Pretending you can’t hear and/or don’t understand can get you out of a fair amount of unwanted conversation.
28. Lying is completely acceptable.
29. Careful with a camera—they’ll make you ‘snap’ and ask you, one million times, for a copy.
30. There’s something truly wonderful about special English.
31. Muddy hills are REALLY slippery, and I am really ungraceful.
32. We are all “really suffering.”
33. “Wundaful” means quite the opposite.
34. You can easily communicate through strange noises and weird words.
*The deep breathing “I understand”
*Ab-ba!
*Teeth sucking
*The disapproving click
*Etc.
35. Keep candles ready and matches near.
36. If there are trees piled in the road and drivers all have beers, you’re in for a long day.
37. I can’t overemphasize the necessity to always have Purel ready…and, similarly, worms are not a joking matter.
38. Texting into the BBC is nothing to be ashamed about…you’re just contributing to the “Global conversation.” And, it’s a great feeling to hear your text read aloud. It can really make a candle-lit, rainy night worthwhile.
39. Dr. Atkins’ would have committed suicide here…corn foufou alone would have driven him to madness. Ah, the wonders of a “loaf” with easily 6000 calories, 75% of them carbohydrates. It gives new meaning to the spare tire that’s for sure.
As the days near the big red mark on June 14th (for reasons aside from Lexie’s birthday and the unfortunately non-recognized holiday of Flag day), I begin to reflect on 6 months in Ndu—thus what the red mark stands for, in case you were wondering. So, I’ve compiled a list of some of the 40 wonderful things I’ve learned over the past half-year in Ndu. While the list isn’t all-inclusive and I’m sure I forgot some key things, it gets to the point, which is…well, I’m not really sure. There is a point to it all, although I am beginning to think that I may not find out until I’m packing my bags in 2007, or possibly much later. But for now, here’s some lessons learned after 6 months au village.
1. There is such a thing as a stupid question. Below are a few that you just shouldn’t bother asking. They are, by definition, stupid questions.
*Will there be palm wine?
*Will there be kola nuts? *Will there be corn foufou?
*Is it too early for a beer?
*What time does it start/will we leave/will it end?
*Does this match?
2. Kids in America snack on fruit snacks and juice boxes, kids in Cameroon snack on sugar cane, fried fish heads, and anything they pick up off the ground.
3. “Ca va” and “Ashia” are always appropriate responses.
4. It’s ok to yell—they probably deserve it.
5. Careless squatting never did anyone any good—likewise, wash your shoes often.
6. Don’t plug your Ipod into anything, just don’t.
7. Eto’o Fils. Enough said.
8. Vache Qui Rit and Coca Light weirdly taste like pumpkin pie when taken together.
9. There is a proper way to burn trash.
10. They’ll flat out laugh in your face…just accept it.
11. Running water is a wonderful thing. So are clean carpets, sinks, hot showers, ice cubes, and seatbelts.
12. Nothing happens on time. Nothing.
13. National holiday or church event to attend? Bring snacks and a good book.
14. After a while it is possible to block out children screaming, “White” or “Kingba.”
15. Don’t waste energy fighting about women’s rights with men who’ve been at the bar for more than an hour or are obviously slurring and/or telling you about the power provided eating by bush meat. It’s a worthless struggle.
16. There’s no poverty, crime or sadness in America. Amazing huh?
17. Who needs an alarm clock when you have children pounding water jugs on the side of your house at 5:45 AM?
18. You can never have too many mangos.
19. It is possible to transport up to 15 people in/on a two-door Toyota. Plus goats.
20. Calling someone “my friend” usually means you want something.
21. There’s something about a Phil Collins song playing from a hut as you walk in the rain that can really brighten your day, you know?
22. It is possible to go through 5000 CFA phone credit in less than a week and not actually talk to anyone.
23. You can win 2 games of Spider Solitaire in a row—and few games are as addicting.
24. The phrase, “Don’t be a fool, stay in school” has NEVER meant so much to me.
25. There’s a real joy in ironing.
26. Take advantage of sunny days to dry clothes. There’s nothing like a mildewy towel to ruin a nice bucket bath.
27. Pretending you can’t hear and/or don’t understand can get you out of a fair amount of unwanted conversation.
28. Lying is completely acceptable.
29. Careful with a camera—they’ll make you ‘snap’ and ask you, one million times, for a copy.
30. There’s something truly wonderful about special English.
31. Muddy hills are REALLY slippery, and I am really ungraceful.
32. We are all “really suffering.”
33. “Wundaful” means quite the opposite.
34. You can easily communicate through strange noises and weird words.
*The deep breathing “I understand”
*Ab-ba!
*Teeth sucking
*The disapproving click
*Etc.
35. Keep candles ready and matches near.
36. If there are trees piled in the road and drivers all have beers, you’re in for a long day.
37. I can’t overemphasize the necessity to always have Purel ready…and, similarly, worms are not a joking matter.
38. Texting into the BBC is nothing to be ashamed about…you’re just contributing to the “Global conversation.” And, it’s a great feeling to hear your text read aloud. It can really make a candle-lit, rainy night worthwhile.
39. Dr. Atkins’ would have committed suicide here…corn foufou alone would have driven him to madness. Ah, the wonders of a “loaf” with easily 6000 calories, 75% of them carbohydrates. It gives new meaning to the spare tire that’s for sure.
40. There’s nothing wrong with a Rent sing-a-long in the bush taxi, while trekking through the jungle, or alone while cleaning your floors. And openly bawling to any part of the movie is quite acceptable. After all, “live for 2day” right?
Saturday, May 27, 2006
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…
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…
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
*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…
Friday, April 07, 2006
04.03.06 It is Monday morning (11 AM) and I’m in the office to “work” for a little. Just to make myself feel productive, I don’t have much to do today. We were in Talla yesterday for the Foundation Stone celebration for the Presbyterian Church. I’m exhausted! The night before, we spent two hours watching Rent on Kelsey’s laptop (amazing!!) while the boys cooked. We drank wine and didn’t eat dinner until 9—way too late for me. There ended up being a few fights (not serious fights, just fun ones—involving brooms and air pumps) wherein Matt became a ninjap-see above picture-and then Reese whapped him in the face with a portable tire pump. We laughed to the point of tears a few times. The next morning we walked down the hill—dressed in our African clothes—to the church, I—of course—rolled my ankle so I limped down. We were immediately ushered straight to the front of the church where we sat with the D.O., Fon, and other important people. The service itself lasted about 5 hours. The first 4 we were really patient—I had to stand up and introduce all the whites since the pastor only knew me and we danced up front while making our donation—which they loved! We heard a few new great songs including one that went: “Allo, Allo…Allo, allo…Allo Jesus me telephoné. Allo, Allo!” Each time they “allo”ed they’d make the phone sign, like they were actually chatting with Jesus. Too funny. Then we took a short break, walking to the market (really just about 15 shacks along the road) to have some mimbo (palm wine). After finishing off three bottles we went back to the church where the crowd had dwindled greatly. They were auctioning off donations of food…it’s really fun. We went to sit with the kids who were staring at us…hoping that us sitting with them would be exciting/scary enough so they’d stop staring. It worked; they kind of freaked out and just sat very still :). Then we all auctioned—mostly against each other—for a calabash bowl full of fruit and some pink sparkly wine of some sort. Everyone thought it was great, cheered and laughed each time we shouted out prices that were usually much too high. Afterwards we were ushered to a meeting with the Fon. It was a small room with only men and two of the queens (who aren’t married to the Fon but are his second in command and just take concubines—I think). We were allowed, against tradition, to sit inside with the men. Matt and Reese drank palm wine from horns with the Fon. As we were leaving to go eat, the Fon signaled to me…then asked why I had not been answering his calls (apparently people are catching on to the fact that I don't answer my phone, ever…oops). He said he wanted to see me before we left to go back “up” (meaning to Matt’s village). Being the paranoid person that I am, this made me nervous, but slightly flattered since the Fon is pretty much as powerful as it gets aside from the president. Especially in the Northwest province, tradition is much stronger and more respected here than any other province.
So we ate lunch, drank some more palm wine, chatted with some of the pastors and funny women from Talla, and realized that it was already 5—we had to make the hour hike up the hill and get back before dark. So we went outside to go meet with the Fon again only to get sidetracked by a dance party…we were handed pompoms and danced around the drums with some women for a while. I kept pulling little kids in the circle to dance with us…they got nervous but became popular after dancing with the white girls. We greeted the Fon and agreed to come meet with him on Wednesday when we go back…I was informed later that he wants to talk about going to America (I made sure they knew I was “engaged” at home so I couldn’t bring another man back…they assured me he was only kidding about marrying me but did want to give me a position in the palace. I said only if I got a higher position than Matt…that spurred another “argument” and disagreement of cultures. It’s all just one big cultural exchange!) We then hiked back up the hill, I walking with a few Cameroonians explaining how they could prevent bird flu…they got very sad when I said the fowls shouldn’t sleep inside. We got home just after dark, tired, hot and full of palm wine. I am exhausted today!
I wish you could see us, five Americans dressed in African clothes, sharing palm wine and kola nuts with Cameroonians and explaining one thing or another about America…yesterday it was how cold it was there, what you make houses out of, what sort of alcohol we have and some gender equality things…it’s always entertaining!
Pictures:
#1. Ninja Matt
#2. A mimbo break with the men of Talla.
#3. Just us girls with some more kids...we pulled out the camera and they came runnin'!
Thursday, March 30, 2006
03.28.06
Hi! I have been back in Ndu for a week now. It was kind of a hard adjustment after a week at the beach and two weeks with my friends—but I made it. Just after I got back we had a training seminar for health club coordinators so I jumped right in, leading that seminar and teaching six sessions over two days. I opted to spend almost all Sunday inside, listening to the radio, doing WAY too many crossword puzzles and relaxing. It was great. Yesterday we went down to Talla to “meet and greet.” There’s a big celebration this weekend for the Presbyterian church so the whole village is super busy planning—not so busy that they couldn’t share one too many bottles of palm wine with us, but busy all the same. I promised to wear my African outfit and dance on Sunday…I’m hoping they won’t remember but not betting on it! We also bushwhacked around some farms looking for Matt’s nursery and I was sure we’d come across a poisonous spider or get a chigger or something…just paranoia, thankfully! They are so welcoming there and we always get one or two speeches in our honor, which is entertaining…especially when it’s from the men who’ve been at the mimbo house all day. So I am staying busy, I have so many ideas for potential projects that I need to sit down a figure out which ones are realistic for me to accomplish in my time here. That’s the next thing on my ‘to do’ list…after buying bunk beds and a new mattress.
Cameroon is often overlooked on the world-scale. I mean, honestly, did you know where Cameroon was before I came here? I did only after looking it up. But it’s been in the news a lot recently; Goodwill Games athletes running away, bird flu, and Nigerian boat crashes…but I assure you, things here are fine. Just waiting the rains and dealing with a few measles, rabies, and cholera outbreaks (don’t worry, among my 853 vaccinations, I received both of those and I boil and filter my water like a pro). It’s funny to hear about Cameroon on the BBC or VOA or even see it on CNN.
I can’t believe that it’s spring there! I missed winter…it’s a strange feeling. When I came into work today the screen saver on my computer was entitled, “Winter Wonderland. Steamboat Springs, Colorado”…Yeah, I was so excited. I brought all my co-workers in a proudly showed them. Made my day but also made me a little sad that I missed the snow. It has felt like summer since…well since I arrived in October (for those of you who are keeping track—and I am—that’s 6 months ago!!). Aside from a few rainy days and cool nights, it’s felt very much like August since I got here. Mind you, it’s still “very cold” here in Ndu according to all Cameroonians. It’s not uncommon to see my neighbors setting out to work wearing coats and hats and children playing in one-piece ski suits. I just laugh now and may stock pile scarves to give as gifts.
Since rainy season is a bit delayed (after two weeks of “early rain” in February it’s stopped) the sky has been super clear. Each night when I go out the stars amaze me. It’s even more amazing than in Bandjoun since we’re higher in elevation and further from a big city. I heard a BBC special on the “African night sky” and people who set out to see and study it…I can understand why. There are billions and billions of stars and I can only recognize some of the constellations—I think it may be that some of from the Southern Hemisphere and some are just too far away to be seen elsewhere. It’s incredible.
So that’s all for now. Hope all is going well there. Happy spring break for those of you still schooling (“schooling” is some of my special English slipping in, sorry). The rest of you, enjoy the warmer weather not ignoring the chance for a May snowstorm in common Colorado fashion. Keep in touch!
Oh…and thanks for all the emails regarding my mumu.. I appreciate the supportive/sarcastic thoughts. And no…I have not gained that much weight, but thanks for asking!
Picture: There are a few bugs here...this one was killed and stuck to the wall just like that so we were able to document it's size.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
20.03.06 I just got back from IST (in-service training) in Kribi…because we’re lucky and our APCD is great we got to have it there, along the coast. It was great. The beach was beautiful and aside from the 8-5 “training” part the week was really fun—just kidding Kim, the training was great too :) It was really weird to be in francophone Cameroon again since I’ve been speaking only “special English” for 3 months. But I survived and realized how badly I need a French tutor. Kribi is great…it’s a tourist spot since it’s along the beach so they’re more used to white people—we still paid too much, got deranged, and stuck out (especially when traveling in a pack of 15). We ate fresh seafood each day, one night we went to a restaurant (a friend of a counterpart) and had shrimp, fish and crab for free…amazing. We also ate at a little rasta restaurant along the beach that was just picnic tables on the rocks-had flowers and shells everywhere, the waves were crashing on the rocks as we ate fish and shrimp that they'd just caught and the owner (I think) played music in the background. I could detail all the wonderful food but I’ll just say that it was some form of fresh fish each day. We had some karaoke-like singing each night at the hotel bar too—it usually involved one or two European tourists having one too many, buying drinks all around and the ‘singer’ (if you will) leading the whole bar in a rousing rendition of “When the Saints.” There were Glamour Shot meets Little Mermaid photo shoots on a rock along the beach, a few jellyfish incidents, waterfalls right into the ocean…a great week. Now I’m back in Yaounde on my way back to Ndu.
Before IST was International Women’s Day (March 8th) and holiday I was quite unaware of before coming here. But it’s a huge deal…parades, singing, dancing, every woman in town in dresses made from matching material. Intense. I had my Kaba (or mumu) made and I’ll just say that if the camera adds 10 pounds, the Kaba adds 40! It was an interesting experience. The women were very proud, marching up and down the street holding signs and singing—all the authority figures came and watched. And then everyone retires to the bar to celebrate “their day.” I was leaving the next day for Yaounde and had an “ant incident” to take care of, so I didn’t join the women at the bar. I’m a little disappointed, however, because it seems there were a few entertaining events—one including a full out brawl in the street. There’s always next year.
It was great to see my friends from training…many of them I hadn’t seen since we left Bandjoun in December. We were able to tell about our posts and work, talk about possible projects, ideas, etc. I think we’re all planning a few trips to each other’s posts to help with camps or trainings. We also watched a “Globetrekker” movie on Cameroon. It was really interesting and I’m sure is available in America…isn’t everything? I think Globetrekker is a PBS show but the movies are available on the Internet and at libraries I’d think. Anyhow, if you’re interested, it’s pretty cool. That’s all for now. Hopefully I’ll have more soon!
PS-My March Madness bracket sucks…apparently knowing nothing about any of the teams this year + a few upsets, is ruining the whole thing.
PICTURES:#1. Lindsey and me at the beach. We were all hoping for a great sunset but the haze/clouds didn't allow for that all week...amazing how easy it is to find somthing to complain about :)
#2. Jenny, Stacy, Lindsey, me and Lindsay at the beach in our pagnes.
#3. The waterfalls into the ocean.
#4. Women's Day 2006. Me with a few of my co-workers, Emmaculate, Patience and Rose. Like I said before, the camera adds 10 pounds, the Kaba adds 40! Very unflattering but I felt like I was wearing a tent all day and almost tripped on it once...I plan to wear it often, especially when pounding laundry or something like that.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
02.13.06
Things have been interesting recently. I thought that getting settled meant getting boring, (sort of uneventful) but it seems that each week something happens that makes me realize that there are always surprises. I mean Ndu is the same…dust, dust, pigs, goats, screaming children who run down the path by my house pounding their water jugs on the ground on their way to get water at 5:45 AM, taxi drivers cutting pieces of the tire off when there’s a problem—then continuing, rationing water because it only runs 2 days a week, the complete happiness of finding a new short wave station, and did I mention the dust? Yes, there are things like bird flu and road bandits that scare me a little…but for the most part, it’s the same old!
Today I saw a young boy, an orphan, at the clinic who is suffering from epilepsy. His guardians don’t really care for him…he hadn’t eaten at all that day, is responsible for getting medication for his illness (which luckily he can get from the SOF clinic), doesn’t go to school, and just has old, torn clothes. It was so sad for me to look at him and wish I could do something—wondering what it would be like …and then realizing how common it is here and how I am just beginning to see situations like his. That’s a big problem for me here, realizing that many of the problems around are just too big. They stem from much bigger problems—ones that are far beyond my, or any one person’s, reach. It’s hard to look at simple acts that I can do and hope that it will help a little, knowing that the larger problem will remain far after I am gone…does that make sense? However, there is other work that is quickly rewarding, my hopes of bigger projects seem hopeful too. So work is keeping me busy—both literally and generally emotionally challenging.
I bought a tree. Woody. He’s being cut down this week and I’ll let him dry in the yard until about March 15th (the day rainy season officially starts) when I’ll store him in my traditional kitchen (which has still yet to be opened) so I’ll be fully prepared for rainy season. Apparently it’s “so cold” (this is said by all Nduians with a shivering action and a sacred look on their faces, even after I explain to them that in my home there is “this much snow”—which I say holding my hand above my head). I’m excited about the tree. I feel like I am really “in” now that I am purchasing my own lumber.
I also got a cat…well not yet, she/he still lives with my landlord, but will take official ownership next week. I am a little nervous about the fleas, ringworm, and other strange diseases that animals pick up frolicking around in latrine components, or with pigs. But I will completely inquire of the vet in Bamenda and wash the cat regularly, which should be worthy of a few blog entries. Anything to avoid another rotting mouse in my bed! Ew.
I also got a wasp sting (sucked…whole arm went numb and itched for days!), shattered a bottle of wine after tripping on the stairs in Kumbo, and have taken up a new obsession with frying…I don’t eat most of it, but really like to fry things—could be the fearful rush of splattering oil, I’m not sure (I hope you’re all taking note of the sarcastic undertones to this…otherwise I sound a little crazy). Youth Day was Saturday and was…interesting. The kids prepared for weeks to march down the main street (slightly resembling communist soldiers in training…straight arms, high knees, matching uniforms and black shoes…you get the idea!). There was traditional dance, singing, some races, and absolute craziness. I swear everyone in town was lined up along the street. I sat under the grand stand where I met the other white woman in town…a Baptist missionary. It was great…I was sure I was the only one here. I may start walking with her and another woman (yep, that makes three white people in town…aside from Matt…but he’s just the Blanc Savage, that’s different) …I have all of a sudden become middle aged, but can’t wait—too bad I can’t wear spandex, that may be frowned upon! (PS, after spending the other afternoon with them, they’re awesome. It’s a mini-America up there…a great refuge!)
That’s all for now. Trying to keep track of more fun/crazy/African experiences. I’ll be updating soon!
Things have been interesting recently. I thought that getting settled meant getting boring, (sort of uneventful) but it seems that each week something happens that makes me realize that there are always surprises. I mean Ndu is the same…dust, dust, pigs, goats, screaming children who run down the path by my house pounding their water jugs on the ground on their way to get water at 5:45 AM, taxi drivers cutting pieces of the tire off when there’s a problem—then continuing, rationing water because it only runs 2 days a week, the complete happiness of finding a new short wave station, and did I mention the dust? Yes, there are things like bird flu and road bandits that scare me a little…but for the most part, it’s the same old!
Today I saw a young boy, an orphan, at the clinic who is suffering from epilepsy. His guardians don’t really care for him…he hadn’t eaten at all that day, is responsible for getting medication for his illness (which luckily he can get from the SOF clinic), doesn’t go to school, and just has old, torn clothes. It was so sad for me to look at him and wish I could do something—wondering what it would be like …and then realizing how common it is here and how I am just beginning to see situations like his. That’s a big problem for me here, realizing that many of the problems around are just too big. They stem from much bigger problems—ones that are far beyond my, or any one person’s, reach. It’s hard to look at simple acts that I can do and hope that it will help a little, knowing that the larger problem will remain far after I am gone…does that make sense? However, there is other work that is quickly rewarding, my hopes of bigger projects seem hopeful too. So work is keeping me busy—both literally and generally emotionally challenging.
I bought a tree. Woody. He’s being cut down this week and I’ll let him dry in the yard until about March 15th (the day rainy season officially starts) when I’ll store him in my traditional kitchen (which has still yet to be opened) so I’ll be fully prepared for rainy season. Apparently it’s “so cold” (this is said by all Nduians with a shivering action and a sacred look on their faces, even after I explain to them that in my home there is “this much snow”—which I say holding my hand above my head). I’m excited about the tree. I feel like I am really “in” now that I am purchasing my own lumber.
I also got a cat…well not yet, she/he still lives with my landlord, but will take official ownership next week. I am a little nervous about the fleas, ringworm, and other strange diseases that animals pick up frolicking around in latrine components, or with pigs. But I will completely inquire of the vet in Bamenda and wash the cat regularly, which should be worthy of a few blog entries. Anything to avoid another rotting mouse in my bed! Ew.
I also got a wasp sting (sucked…whole arm went numb and itched for days!), shattered a bottle of wine after tripping on the stairs in Kumbo, and have taken up a new obsession with frying…I don’t eat most of it, but really like to fry things—could be the fearful rush of splattering oil, I’m not sure (I hope you’re all taking note of the sarcastic undertones to this…otherwise I sound a little crazy). Youth Day was Saturday and was…interesting. The kids prepared for weeks to march down the main street (slightly resembling communist soldiers in training…straight arms, high knees, matching uniforms and black shoes…you get the idea!). There was traditional dance, singing, some races, and absolute craziness. I swear everyone in town was lined up along the street. I sat under the grand stand where I met the other white woman in town…a Baptist missionary. It was great…I was sure I was the only one here. I may start walking with her and another woman (yep, that makes three white people in town…aside from Matt…but he’s just the Blanc Savage, that’s different) …I have all of a sudden become middle aged, but can’t wait—too bad I can’t wear spandex, that may be frowned upon! (PS, after spending the other afternoon with them, they’re awesome. It’s a mini-America up there…a great refuge!)
That’s all for now. Trying to keep track of more fun/crazy/African experiences. I’ll be updating soon!
Friday, February 10, 2006
02.10.06 This posting got erased, somehow...hopefully it won't be on there twice after I post it again. If so, sorry. Anyhow, last weeks Thursday night included a dead mouse rotting under my mattress, me taking him out with rubber gloves and a cardboard box, not sleeping at all, and my urgent search for a cat! Here's the ''Arfrica Experience'' I had last week!
We left from Ndu, me perfectly content in my jeans, long sleeved tee shirt and huge moto helmet (while I won’t say it’s “cold” here, the temperature definitely drops at night…sort of desert-like; cold at night, hot during the day). We bounced along past the miles and miles of tea plantation (just hills almost emerald in color) and finally hit paved road (“tar” road, as they say here). That went curving down, down, down. There were hills all around us, dotted with farmland, big trees and small huts. It was beautiful. The road kept turning and turning down into the valley (into the plain where we were going), and I just stared off at the hazy hills and farms everywhere I looked—wondering how they possibly farmed on that steep of an incline. Finally we passed through a small town and it started to get hotter, especially under my helmet where there were now pieces of hair plastered to my forehead. On one side of the road the hill went up, still covered with eucalyptus trees and shrubs but down the other side it was a mixture of banana trees and palm trees. They created little jungles in the valley below. The road was very steep and there were sharp turns (almost switchbacks) and as the moto turned sharply, I gripped for dear life onto the handles and squeezed my eyes shut. I hate motos. At this point my right foot was completely numb so I tried to wiggle my toes, refusing to remove them from the foot-stand. The road kept going down and down—we passed an old Fulani man riding his horse bareback along the side. Soon we hit dirt road again and the air was hot! We paused for a minute to make plans in the town and when I took my helmet off, my hair didn’t move and my face was hot and red.
We were on the road soon there after and I stared in disbelief as we passed jungle on one side and savannah on the other. The plain is hot and dusty, hazy from fires and from the dry air. The jungle (to my left side) was rows and rows of palm trees and deep, thick shrubs as far as I could see. To the right (the savannah) was straight from Lion King—trees branching in front of the sun, dry shrubs, dirt spotted with large rocks and low trees, white birds perched on branches flying in packs, their color contrasting the brown and yellow of the landscape. I kind of expected to see a cheetah or lion leap out and scamper along—no luck. The road just intersected these two different scenes for miles. We passed through some towns that shocked me…I saw the “3rd world country” aspect for sure; houses missing roofs, doors and parts of walls and children running and splashing in the dirty, grayish water—missing shirts and shoes, their skinny arms and legs flailing and their big stomachs sticking out—while their mommies, babies strapped to their backs, pounded laundry and gossiped, looking up only to check to see that all the kids were still there. We blew by on the motorcycle and I waved from the back, eliciting big smiles from the children below. There were herds of cattle strolling slowly along the dirt road—controlled by a few thin men, dressed in long, flowing cloth and big sticks—that would barely notice as we’d honk and breeze by. And, of course, there were many women, carrying large baskets on their backs and huge ones on their heads, walking in flimsy flip-flops along the dirty and bumpy road to their farms. When we stopped for lunch we were swarmed by flies and the hot air was now humid and sticky. I tried to peel my long-sleeved shirt off (which I’d kept on to protect myself from the dust—and in my mind, from the imminent fall we’d take. Yes, I realize a shirt wouldn’t save me, but I need all the reassurance I can get!). My clothes were stuck to me, and my hair…well; I’ll leave it up to your imagination. We strolled through the market, long enough for me to get many stares and “Nasara!”s (another form of ‘white man’).
As we drove off again I pulled out my camera in attempt to capture my surroundings, which were still amazing me. As my vision was blurred by sweat and it dripped out from my helmet, I tried to imagine how I could possibly describe this but realized I probably couldn’t do it justice. I wish I could just have had you along with me on the moto…bouncing and having your back realigned as we drove. I could feel all the bones in my spine and pelvic girdle (Thanks Anatomy) shifting and jamming into the seat as we’d hit bumps in the road and my counterpart (who was driving) would mutter something resembling, “oops.” We road wound back up into the hills, now the sun was low—it being five-o-clock—and it made the horizon very hazy while smoke from farmers burning land rose as well…I could barely see the mountains and hills anymore, they were just faint lines in the distance. The road was crowded with women returning from the farms, their baskets now full. By the time we got back to Ndu, I had pulled my sleeves back down and felt a chill as the 3 pounds of sweat I’d lost now cooled on my skin. When I returned home (after 2 ½ hour ride back due to a Gendarme stop and a petrol refill) my entire butt, right calf and three of my left toes were numb for an hour afterwards. I slept well!
There’s so much to tell this time! I haven’t written in weeks and feel like there have been so many cool things going on. I wish I could have a video to record it all…however, I don’t think all of it is interesting enough to deserve recording! Either way, I thought I’d just put a few points below, for now.
-Les Lions Indomptable! It is now week two of the African Cup of Nations (the biggest soccer tournament after the European Cup and the World Cup). Cameroon is playing in the quarterfinals this Saturday (the 4th) and the whole country is obsessed…for good reason, they’re awesome! We watched the first game at the bar (yes I have “a bar”) and it was insane. People were lined up three and four deep at the door trying to see through to watch. When they scored…singing, cheering, dancing, and complete jubilee! The “Eto’o” song is my favorite…basically you just chant “Eto’o, Eto’o” over and over…I plan to name my dog after him when I get back to the U.S. My moomoo—the first of many I hope—is soccer/Lions and I promised that if they make it to the finals I’ll wear it out in public …hmmm.
-Matt and I visited the Fon of Talla (a nearby community) this week also. Since he’s a pretty powerful Fon (Chief) there was a whole process that Matt had to go through including letters and buying “mimbo” (palm wine)…me, I just went along. We both wore our African clothes and met with him and some elders in the community to describe our work and get acquainted if you will…he promised Matt a beautiful wife and said he’d marry me…great. It was cool; he posed for a picture with us and seemed very excited about our work. I plan to do some work with the clinic there—some nutrition and water sanitation stuff.
-Apparently there is some confusion about my job. Understandably, I didn’t really understand it until about a month ago. So I’ll do my best to describe it…basically I am a health resource for the community. I am based with an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization). I help them with trainings, projects, organization, basic work in the office, and helping at the clinic. We work in schools around the community implementing projects (funds come from other organizations for school supplies, uniforms or school fees and we pick orphans and vulnerable children to benefit) and in trainings of teachers, peer-educators and mentors. Outside my work with the NGO (Serve the Orphans—SOF) I mostly teach about health. I work with groups (HIV/AIDS group, women’s group, etc) teaching them about nutrition, HIV/AIDS, basic disease prevention, water sanitation/treatment, hygiene, income generation projects…you get the idea. I like to say that I’m a resource for health information here. If they have questions, I try to answer them. If (when) they’re all sick with diarrhea, I try to explain why and how they can prevent it. I try to help those living with HIV and AIDS how they can live positively and how to protect their health. I will also work in the schools, eventually, with kids focusing on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention and girls empowerment. So I hope that answers some of the confusion about my work here!
-I had my first entire outfit made last week…it’s pretty great. We’re getting matching outfits made for International Women’s Day (March 8th)…I’ll post pictures for sure!
-That’s all for now! It’s lunchtime. Hope all is well there! I’m in Bamenda for the weekend, enjoying a well-needed (if you ask me) break J Talk to you soon.
We left from Ndu, me perfectly content in my jeans, long sleeved tee shirt and huge moto helmet (while I won’t say it’s “cold” here, the temperature definitely drops at night…sort of desert-like; cold at night, hot during the day). We bounced along past the miles and miles of tea plantation (just hills almost emerald in color) and finally hit paved road (“tar” road, as they say here). That went curving down, down, down. There were hills all around us, dotted with farmland, big trees and small huts. It was beautiful. The road kept turning and turning down into the valley (into the plain where we were going), and I just stared off at the hazy hills and farms everywhere I looked—wondering how they possibly farmed on that steep of an incline. Finally we passed through a small town and it started to get hotter, especially under my helmet where there were now pieces of hair plastered to my forehead. On one side of the road the hill went up, still covered with eucalyptus trees and shrubs but down the other side it was a mixture of banana trees and palm trees. They created little jungles in the valley below. The road was very steep and there were sharp turns (almost switchbacks) and as the moto turned sharply, I gripped for dear life onto the handles and squeezed my eyes shut. I hate motos. At this point my right foot was completely numb so I tried to wiggle my toes, refusing to remove them from the foot-stand. The road kept going down and down—we passed an old Fulani man riding his horse bareback along the side. Soon we hit dirt road again and the air was hot! We paused for a minute to make plans in the town and when I took my helmet off, my hair didn’t move and my face was hot and red.
We were on the road soon there after and I stared in disbelief as we passed jungle on one side and savannah on the other. The plain is hot and dusty, hazy from fires and from the dry air. The jungle (to my left side) was rows and rows of palm trees and deep, thick shrubs as far as I could see. To the right (the savannah) was straight from Lion King—trees branching in front of the sun, dry shrubs, dirt spotted with large rocks and low trees, white birds perched on branches flying in packs, their color contrasting the brown and yellow of the landscape. I kind of expected to see a cheetah or lion leap out and scamper along—no luck. The road just intersected these two different scenes for miles. We passed through some towns that shocked me…I saw the “3rd world country” aspect for sure; houses missing roofs, doors and parts of walls and children running and splashing in the dirty, grayish water—missing shirts and shoes, their skinny arms and legs flailing and their big stomachs sticking out—while their mommies, babies strapped to their backs, pounded laundry and gossiped, looking up only to check to see that all the kids were still there. We blew by on the motorcycle and I waved from the back, eliciting big smiles from the children below. There were herds of cattle strolling slowly along the dirt road—controlled by a few thin men, dressed in long, flowing cloth and big sticks—that would barely notice as we’d honk and breeze by. And, of course, there were many women, carrying large baskets on their backs and huge ones on their heads, walking in flimsy flip-flops along the dirty and bumpy road to their farms. When we stopped for lunch we were swarmed by flies and the hot air was now humid and sticky. I tried to peel my long-sleeved shirt off (which I’d kept on to protect myself from the dust—and in my mind, from the imminent fall we’d take. Yes, I realize a shirt wouldn’t save me, but I need all the reassurance I can get!). My clothes were stuck to me, and my hair…well; I’ll leave it up to your imagination. We strolled through the market, long enough for me to get many stares and “Nasara!”s (another form of ‘white man’).
As we drove off again I pulled out my camera in attempt to capture my surroundings, which were still amazing me. As my vision was blurred by sweat and it dripped out from my helmet, I tried to imagine how I could possibly describe this but realized I probably couldn’t do it justice. I wish I could just have had you along with me on the moto…bouncing and having your back realigned as we drove. I could feel all the bones in my spine and pelvic girdle (Thanks Anatomy) shifting and jamming into the seat as we’d hit bumps in the road and my counterpart (who was driving) would mutter something resembling, “oops.” We road wound back up into the hills, now the sun was low—it being five-o-clock—and it made the horizon very hazy while smoke from farmers burning land rose as well…I could barely see the mountains and hills anymore, they were just faint lines in the distance. The road was crowded with women returning from the farms, their baskets now full. By the time we got back to Ndu, I had pulled my sleeves back down and felt a chill as the 3 pounds of sweat I’d lost now cooled on my skin. When I returned home (after 2 ½ hour ride back due to a Gendarme stop and a petrol refill) my entire butt, right calf and three of my left toes were numb for an hour afterwards. I slept well!
There’s so much to tell this time! I haven’t written in weeks and feel like there have been so many cool things going on. I wish I could have a video to record it all…however, I don’t think all of it is interesting enough to deserve recording! Either way, I thought I’d just put a few points below, for now.
-Les Lions Indomptable! It is now week two of the African Cup of Nations (the biggest soccer tournament after the European Cup and the World Cup). Cameroon is playing in the quarterfinals this Saturday (the 4th) and the whole country is obsessed…for good reason, they’re awesome! We watched the first game at the bar (yes I have “a bar”) and it was insane. People were lined up three and four deep at the door trying to see through to watch. When they scored…singing, cheering, dancing, and complete jubilee! The “Eto’o” song is my favorite…basically you just chant “Eto’o, Eto’o” over and over…I plan to name my dog after him when I get back to the U.S. My moomoo—the first of many I hope—is soccer/Lions and I promised that if they make it to the finals I’ll wear it out in public …hmmm.
-Matt and I visited the Fon of Talla (a nearby community) this week also. Since he’s a pretty powerful Fon (Chief) there was a whole process that Matt had to go through including letters and buying “mimbo” (palm wine)…me, I just went along. We both wore our African clothes and met with him and some elders in the community to describe our work and get acquainted if you will…he promised Matt a beautiful wife and said he’d marry me…great. It was cool; he posed for a picture with us and seemed very excited about our work. I plan to do some work with the clinic there—some nutrition and water sanitation stuff.
-Apparently there is some confusion about my job. Understandably, I didn’t really understand it until about a month ago. So I’ll do my best to describe it…basically I am a health resource for the community. I am based with an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization). I help them with trainings, projects, organization, basic work in the office, and helping at the clinic. We work in schools around the community implementing projects (funds come from other organizations for school supplies, uniforms or school fees and we pick orphans and vulnerable children to benefit) and in trainings of teachers, peer-educators and mentors. Outside my work with the NGO (Serve the Orphans—SOF) I mostly teach about health. I work with groups (HIV/AIDS group, women’s group, etc) teaching them about nutrition, HIV/AIDS, basic disease prevention, water sanitation/treatment, hygiene, income generation projects…you get the idea. I like to say that I’m a resource for health information here. If they have questions, I try to answer them. If (when) they’re all sick with diarrhea, I try to explain why and how they can prevent it. I try to help those living with HIV and AIDS how they can live positively and how to protect their health. I will also work in the schools, eventually, with kids focusing on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention and girls empowerment. So I hope that answers some of the confusion about my work here!
-I had my first entire outfit made last week…it’s pretty great. We’re getting matching outfits made for International Women’s Day (March 8th)…I’ll post pictures for sure!
-That’s all for now! It’s lunchtime. Hope all is well there! I’m in Bamenda for the weekend, enjoying a well-needed (if you ask me) break J Talk to you soon.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
2.6.06 Photos, photos, photos!! Some are not loading, but I'm trying.
#1) The sun setting on my way home, on my moto adventure.
#2) Just outside Ndu, on our walk to the Fon's palace last week.
#3) Palm trees, the jungle via moto.
#4) Kate, Kelsey and me in the bathroom at a restaurant. You can't tell but the bathroom is basically on a deck...from the toilets (where we're standing) you just look out into the city...wide open.
#5) Kate and me...and the bag of carrots I almost died (via pous pous to the kidney) getting during a CRAZY rush at the market...Ashia.
#6) My house!
#7) One of the views from the moto.
Hope that this actually works and I'm not just getting my hopes up! I'm headed back home today, we were not able to see the Superbowl, and we searched hard until about 3 AM. Oh well, it was a fun weekend anyway. Keep in touch! Hope you're all doing great!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
1.18.06
Yesterday I went to Nkambe (a town an hour North of Ndu) for a meeting/ceremony with the Senior Divisional Officer—it was his New Years address. We went to represent the NGO (and other NGOs in the area, although there were only two others there). It was also a chance for me to meet him, since I’m supposed to meet all the administration figures in the area. The ceremony was pretty cool, lots of important people. A representative from each “group” would give a little speech talking about needs/wants/recommendations for the year, say ‘happy new year,’ and then the whole group would pose for a picture while nice classical music played over the speakers…it was quite pleasant! However, some speeches lasted a little longer than I would have hoped but they were important, talking about countering corruption, the HIPC initiative (Highly Indebted Poor Countries), the unity of Cameroon and such things. I was able to meet mayors, deputies, divisional leaders, etc. The day was long and dusty, the road there is not good, but good to see and I enjoyed meeting all the important people!
The African Nations Cup starts on the 20th…every one is psyched! Hopefully Cameroon will do better than the last important game they played (losing in October and not qualifying for the World Cup)! It’ll be an experience, these people live for futball! We are giving a peer-educator training next week. It will be good experience for me—I’m leading a few sessions of HIV/AIDS and peer education—plus it will be good to see what information is already out there.
Hopefully soon I can start going to schools and working there as well…I’d still like to start a girls group but since there are many schools in town it is hard to decide which one to go to…maybe I’ll start two! I am surprised at the amount of work I do have, it’s nice though. I am glad to be able to go somewhere each day, even if some days I just read or type to you all, I do have planning to do and preparation for a few trainings. I like having work, it keeps me busy and when I look at my calendar I am shocked…it’s already January 18th!! The time is flying by. I am excited for the Superbowl in a few weeks (crossing my fingers that the Broncos will be in it!!) and can’t wait for another weekend with my friends to watch! We hope to find a place with a satellite showing it.
Miscellaneous:
-Usher, Celine Dion, Brian Adams…playing ALL the time. There are moments when I’m feeling very “African”—walking down the dirt road with goats, children and women carrying massive baskets on their heads, traditional clothes everywhere…and then I hear Celine Dion blasting…it’s like a clash of cultures.
-I am buying a machete this week!
-I used almost all my water store on Saturday washing my floors and doing laudry. I pounded so hard that I was sure I’d developed carpel tunnel syndrome in my writs…they’re fine though.
-When I was running the other day I had three little kids run along side me for a little while (maybe 25 yards) laughing the whole time. I gave them high-fives and told them to run with me next time. I have no doubt that they’ll be waiting when I go back.
-My neighbor who has satellite tv (with an amazing number of channels!) LOVES WWE (apparently the new version of WWF…lost of drama, body slams, and oiled up, half dressed bodies). They cheer and have favorites. I’ve been lucky enough to watch it with them a few times, they don’t understand why I don’t know all the wrestlers by name…I haven’t tried to explain!
-More next time :)
Yesterday I went to Nkambe (a town an hour North of Ndu) for a meeting/ceremony with the Senior Divisional Officer—it was his New Years address. We went to represent the NGO (and other NGOs in the area, although there were only two others there). It was also a chance for me to meet him, since I’m supposed to meet all the administration figures in the area. The ceremony was pretty cool, lots of important people. A representative from each “group” would give a little speech talking about needs/wants/recommendations for the year, say ‘happy new year,’ and then the whole group would pose for a picture while nice classical music played over the speakers…it was quite pleasant! However, some speeches lasted a little longer than I would have hoped but they were important, talking about countering corruption, the HIPC initiative (Highly Indebted Poor Countries), the unity of Cameroon and such things. I was able to meet mayors, deputies, divisional leaders, etc. The day was long and dusty, the road there is not good, but good to see and I enjoyed meeting all the important people!
The African Nations Cup starts on the 20th…every one is psyched! Hopefully Cameroon will do better than the last important game they played (losing in October and not qualifying for the World Cup)! It’ll be an experience, these people live for futball! We are giving a peer-educator training next week. It will be good experience for me—I’m leading a few sessions of HIV/AIDS and peer education—plus it will be good to see what information is already out there.
Hopefully soon I can start going to schools and working there as well…I’d still like to start a girls group but since there are many schools in town it is hard to decide which one to go to…maybe I’ll start two! I am surprised at the amount of work I do have, it’s nice though. I am glad to be able to go somewhere each day, even if some days I just read or type to you all, I do have planning to do and preparation for a few trainings. I like having work, it keeps me busy and when I look at my calendar I am shocked…it’s already January 18th!! The time is flying by. I am excited for the Superbowl in a few weeks (crossing my fingers that the Broncos will be in it!!) and can’t wait for another weekend with my friends to watch! We hope to find a place with a satellite showing it.
Miscellaneous:
-Usher, Celine Dion, Brian Adams…playing ALL the time. There are moments when I’m feeling very “African”—walking down the dirt road with goats, children and women carrying massive baskets on their heads, traditional clothes everywhere…and then I hear Celine Dion blasting…it’s like a clash of cultures.
-I am buying a machete this week!
-I used almost all my water store on Saturday washing my floors and doing laudry. I pounded so hard that I was sure I’d developed carpel tunnel syndrome in my writs…they’re fine though.
-When I was running the other day I had three little kids run along side me for a little while (maybe 25 yards) laughing the whole time. I gave them high-fives and told them to run with me next time. I have no doubt that they’ll be waiting when I go back.
-My neighbor who has satellite tv (with an amazing number of channels!) LOVES WWE (apparently the new version of WWF…lost of drama, body slams, and oiled up, half dressed bodies). They cheer and have favorites. I’ve been lucky enough to watch it with them a few times, they don’t understand why I don’t know all the wrestlers by name…I haven’t tried to explain!
-More next time :)
Friday, January 13, 2006
01.13.2006
Last night I went to my neighbors to see the new baby. He's adorable! They were taking a bunch of pictures and had me stand in most of them which I thought was funny. They also made me put on a nice pair of her shoes, apparently my dirty flip-flops weren't quite picture material! It was great...Especially when they handed me the baby and took some of just him and me...Made me feel important! They had me open the bottle of champagne (made me nervous because I was sure the cork would break something important! It was ok though). Later I went outside with them women and ended up plucking leaves off of vegetables for an hour with them. They were hilarious, laughing and yelling, it was great. It was my first real glimspe into women together in the kitchen, usually I'm sitting inside with the men, which is also entertaining but much different! They're always finishing off beers or palm wine and watching TV...It's fun either way to be included. They love to show me "Cameroonian" things and laugh when I try to do them!
01.11.2006
Ah, Cameroon wins again! I had a good two pages written for the blog when the power, naturally, went out. This shouldn't surprise me, yet I continue to not save things regularly and only remember when I'm staring blankly at the blank black screen thinking, "Ally, you should have saved it!" Oh well. Everything is going well here. Just working on little things here and there, days are passing quicker and quicker. I have many things on my 'to do' list including going to schools and churches to discuss work options with them. With SOF we're working on peer educator trainings and maybe a business training for my co-workers. Now I am not giving this training (obviously for those of you who know a, how I feel about business or b, how much I don't know about business) but another volunteer will give it. Aside from those things I am trying to learn Limbum, the local language, which I'm sure will be of great use to be once I return to the States. But it will be very helpful here to communicate with more rural villagers and women. I am still trying to learn some Pidgin too, always entertaining, and I know will be useful someday in giving wedding speeches and such! I hope to find a French tutor soon too, I'd like my 3 months of French to not be a complete waste! I still have random stuff to do around the house and am trying to meet my neighbors and others around town. So, I am staying busy, or at least trying to!
I was in Bamenda this past weekend friends for our Provincial meeting. It was a lot of fun. Shopping, hanging out at the hotel watching bad movies and CNN, eating out, and even a little karaoke (which pretty much involved me laughing the whole time while Kelsey tried to sing "Favorite Things" from Sound of Music and we ended up "singing" about 10 words of the chorus from "Angel" by Shaggy). At lunch one day we watched a group of men chopping wood. We were sitting outside on the balcony of a restaurant playing an intense game of "BS" while they were chopping wood below. Over the course of a half hour we watched them start and finish a bottle of whiskey and then proceed to dance, sing, chop wood with flimsy sandals on their feet, and toss the axe back and forth. I stopped watching after a while because I could clearly see someone's hand or foot being cleanly cut off...it made me nervous.
The dust has been amazing...it's everywhere. I sweep my house daily and still (even though I keep the doors and windows shut) there is dust, everyday. But, yesterday it rained! It was wonderful! After about an hour the plants were green again, the roofs were shiny and there was red mud & dirty water dripping off of everything. This morning town just looked so clean, it was great! It was cold last night and unfortunately all the firewood just sits outside, so no fire to warm up the house. I just made some tea, some dinner, and sat and read Newsweek by candle light...it was a nice night and even nicer when the power came back on just in time to charge my phone before bed.
Today a woman walked up to me on the street and said, "I am eating carrot!" I smiled and responded, "Great! Is it good?" Then she handed me the whole bunch of carrots from her bag. I politely took one and thanked her...this is the kind of weird, yet nice, stuff that happens daily. This, and I am laughed at about 56 times a day. Among the many lessons I am learning here, one is humility! I try to take as much as I can with a grain of salt and laugh along with them even though 9 times out of 10 I have no idea what I did that was so funny. I still have children who stare and point at me as though I am an alien. I just smile and say, "Gooooood moooorrrnniiinngg." There is generally just blank stares and continued pointing but I hope that I'm making some progress and maybe by 2007 they'll just stare, or just point, or maybe even speak...we'll see! Last week was the last market before a Muslim holiday (Feast of the Ram) and at one point I was passed by a truck with (easily) 75 goats and sheep inside and probably another 15 tied to the outside. I stood there staring in awe wishing there were someone around who found it as amazing as me...nobody seemed to notice!
The other night, while we watched WWF on satellite (humiliating for me seeing as they associate America with WWF and I didn't attempt to explain the ''entertainment'' factor), my neighbors told me that I spoke well. They asked if I had been to Africa before and were shocked when I said no. They told me that I spoke English so they could understand, and that was amazing. "It's like you are talking to children!" They explained. So thanks to the Ferreros and Schmitz (specifically) for helping my language skills develop to the point they are now. It has been almost a month in Ndu, and time has gone fast! Most days drag on but weeks seem to fly by. I have been lucky enough to talk to a few friends and my family on the phone this week, which is very nice. Even if there isn't much to say or anything meaningful to share, it's just nice to hear their voices and hear the little stuff that's going on (or big stuff, like engagements and such!). Hope that 2006 has started out well! Talk to you soon.
Last night I went to my neighbors to see the new baby. He's adorable! They were taking a bunch of pictures and had me stand in most of them which I thought was funny. They also made me put on a nice pair of her shoes, apparently my dirty flip-flops weren't quite picture material! It was great...Especially when they handed me the baby and took some of just him and me...Made me feel important! They had me open the bottle of champagne (made me nervous because I was sure the cork would break something important! It was ok though). Later I went outside with them women and ended up plucking leaves off of vegetables for an hour with them. They were hilarious, laughing and yelling, it was great. It was my first real glimspe into women together in the kitchen, usually I'm sitting inside with the men, which is also entertaining but much different! They're always finishing off beers or palm wine and watching TV...It's fun either way to be included. They love to show me "Cameroonian" things and laugh when I try to do them!
01.11.2006
Ah, Cameroon wins again! I had a good two pages written for the blog when the power, naturally, went out. This shouldn't surprise me, yet I continue to not save things regularly and only remember when I'm staring blankly at the blank black screen thinking, "Ally, you should have saved it!" Oh well. Everything is going well here. Just working on little things here and there, days are passing quicker and quicker. I have many things on my 'to do' list including going to schools and churches to discuss work options with them. With SOF we're working on peer educator trainings and maybe a business training for my co-workers. Now I am not giving this training (obviously for those of you who know a, how I feel about business or b, how much I don't know about business) but another volunteer will give it. Aside from those things I am trying to learn Limbum, the local language, which I'm sure will be of great use to be once I return to the States. But it will be very helpful here to communicate with more rural villagers and women. I am still trying to learn some Pidgin too, always entertaining, and I know will be useful someday in giving wedding speeches and such! I hope to find a French tutor soon too, I'd like my 3 months of French to not be a complete waste! I still have random stuff to do around the house and am trying to meet my neighbors and others around town. So, I am staying busy, or at least trying to!
I was in Bamenda this past weekend friends for our Provincial meeting. It was a lot of fun. Shopping, hanging out at the hotel watching bad movies and CNN, eating out, and even a little karaoke (which pretty much involved me laughing the whole time while Kelsey tried to sing "Favorite Things" from Sound of Music and we ended up "singing" about 10 words of the chorus from "Angel" by Shaggy). At lunch one day we watched a group of men chopping wood. We were sitting outside on the balcony of a restaurant playing an intense game of "BS" while they were chopping wood below. Over the course of a half hour we watched them start and finish a bottle of whiskey and then proceed to dance, sing, chop wood with flimsy sandals on their feet, and toss the axe back and forth. I stopped watching after a while because I could clearly see someone's hand or foot being cleanly cut off...it made me nervous.
The dust has been amazing...it's everywhere. I sweep my house daily and still (even though I keep the doors and windows shut) there is dust, everyday. But, yesterday it rained! It was wonderful! After about an hour the plants were green again, the roofs were shiny and there was red mud & dirty water dripping off of everything. This morning town just looked so clean, it was great! It was cold last night and unfortunately all the firewood just sits outside, so no fire to warm up the house. I just made some tea, some dinner, and sat and read Newsweek by candle light...it was a nice night and even nicer when the power came back on just in time to charge my phone before bed.
Today a woman walked up to me on the street and said, "I am eating carrot!" I smiled and responded, "Great! Is it good?" Then she handed me the whole bunch of carrots from her bag. I politely took one and thanked her...this is the kind of weird, yet nice, stuff that happens daily. This, and I am laughed at about 56 times a day. Among the many lessons I am learning here, one is humility! I try to take as much as I can with a grain of salt and laugh along with them even though 9 times out of 10 I have no idea what I did that was so funny. I still have children who stare and point at me as though I am an alien. I just smile and say, "Gooooood moooorrrnniiinngg." There is generally just blank stares and continued pointing but I hope that I'm making some progress and maybe by 2007 they'll just stare, or just point, or maybe even speak...we'll see! Last week was the last market before a Muslim holiday (Feast of the Ram) and at one point I was passed by a truck with (easily) 75 goats and sheep inside and probably another 15 tied to the outside. I stood there staring in awe wishing there were someone around who found it as amazing as me...nobody seemed to notice!
The other night, while we watched WWF on satellite (humiliating for me seeing as they associate America with WWF and I didn't attempt to explain the ''entertainment'' factor), my neighbors told me that I spoke well. They asked if I had been to Africa before and were shocked when I said no. They told me that I spoke English so they could understand, and that was amazing. "It's like you are talking to children!" They explained. So thanks to the Ferreros and Schmitz (specifically) for helping my language skills develop to the point they are now. It has been almost a month in Ndu, and time has gone fast! Most days drag on but weeks seem to fly by. I have been lucky enough to talk to a few friends and my family on the phone this week, which is very nice. Even if there isn't much to say or anything meaningful to share, it's just nice to hear their voices and hear the little stuff that's going on (or big stuff, like engagements and such!). Hope that 2006 has started out well! Talk to you soon.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
12.31.05 I am in Kumbo for New Years Eve. I have been able to write some on computers at work over the past week so I wanted to post some of what I'd written. Things are going well. Just getting used to life in Ndu. My house is getting cozier (still big and echoey, but better), my co-workers are nice and I enjoy the office, I get to hang out with my post-mate every few days and my landlord & landylady are wonderful. Things are coming along well. I am really glad to be in Kumbo for the weekend, for internet and to celebrate the holiday here...Christmas was different being all alone! I made it though! Keep in touch, thanks for all your emails and support. I'll be posting and sending pictures and my new address soon! Happy 2006!
12.21.2005
Hi. I am at work, trying to put together a training session for peer educators. It is good to have something to do and I will be doing my community “rounds” and analysis after Christmas/New Years I think. I still have much to do at my house; buy a big barrel for water storage (it seems that water is really unreliable an it has already been out for two days which makes bathing and flushing my toilet very difficult!), buying plates/bowls/cups/etc, a mirror, iron, broom, pillows, rugs, curtains, and other household necessities. Last night I hung out at my landlords house, they are pretty great and houses some American missionaries a few years back so they sort of understand Americans—at least more than others in Ndu, which is nice! They’re great.
12.27.2005
Back to work after the weekend off for Christmas. It was nice to relax however less fun without TV or friends to relax with! I spent Saturday around Ndu with my friend Matt, the PCV about 15 minutes away. People around town think we’re married but I don’t mind because the marriage proposals and “I love you”s have decreased. I went to Christmas Eve service with my landlord and landlady (Pa and Ma). We were there for 3+ hours. Long to begin with but especially when you don’t understand 90% of what they say…it was in the local dialect. Cool. But I survived and the singing at the church was really amazing…kind of reminds me of those sound-bites you hear from Africa with drums and wonderful singing. The next morning I got up and made a fire in my fireplace (it actually does get cold and it’s nice to have the fire to warm up the house, and I just like to have fires), listened to Christmas music on my short-wave radio and drank some gross coffee. I had a few presents from mom that I opened. It was almost like Christmas back home…ok, not at all, but I tried to tell myself that! I got two phone calls—thanks Mom, Harry and Katie!!—That made my morning! Then I got ready and went back to church. This time they brought Glen, their grandson. Since Pa is a deacon and Ma is in the choir, I got Glen for the morning…least for about 45 minutes until he started hitting me and screaming and someone came and took him outside. I had no idea what was going on but was glad he was gone J. I still understood very little of church and this time it lasted 5 ½ hours. So I sat, and “listened” and brainstormed about writing my novel for 5 ½ hours. I spent the rest of the day listening to Christmas carols on my Ipod and reading, curled up on the couch. I made some popcorn for dinner, burned my pan, went next door to have some socialization, after being locked away and a little sad all afternoon, came home, had a quick Christmas chat with dad, and went to sleep. I’ve had better days J. But it passed, I survived and I don’t have to deal with another Christmas for 363 more days!
I made it through my 500+ page book in two days and am now on my third book since post (12 days for anyone keeping track) which I think is great…I’ll measure my productivity for the first few months on how many books I read, how many scarves I knit, how many coloring books I go through, and how much credit I use up texting my friends! It’s amazing how fast my credit goes and how few people I actually talk to.
I have actually gone running twice, it’s gone better than expected (especially considering the only exercise I have had for 3 months was a weekly soccer game). Besides being the town spectacle, having children run beside me for a while, and trying to say “good afternoon” to people without them wanted to chat, it went well. I do feel better afterward so that’s a plus. It is a bit difficult though considering I live in the dustiest place on earth…I am not kidding! We still have 2 more months of dry season too! Seriously, it’s hard to walk down the street, I have to wash my shoes and feet at least once a day, things beside the road are tinted brown…it’s not pretty. Along with tons of dirt there are HUGE pigs everywhere…we’re talking the size of small humans. They smell and snort at me as though they’re saying, “white man” like the rest of town. I try my hardest to ignore the “white man” callings but it’s hard cause I know they’re talking to me…there aren’t a whole lot of other white men running around here.
Anyhow, that’s a quick update on my life. Not too exciting but it’s going.
12.29.2005
Hi. I am in the office again. Today is the second day (of 6 I think) of the Mayors funeral. I tried to understand the funeral process yesterday and explain the difference from American funerals…everyone involved in the conversation just ended up more confused. I told them that there was usually a 2 hour service and then a reception at the persons home with close friends and family…they wondered why the corpse wasn’t laid in the house for 3 days, paraded around town, and why it was only one afternoon and not a whole week…I wasn’t quite sure how to explain that it couldn’t be more opposite. Ah, chalk one up for American vs. Cameroonian cultural differences. My friend Matt, my post-mate and “husband” as I mentioned earlier, found a bar with CNN (along with ~10 other international channels)! It was one of the most exciting discoveries I’ve made in the last 3 months, aside from weird bucket showering techniques, the easiest way to hang a mosquito net and the best seat in a bush taxi. We have been there the past few days, hanging out for hours. We hang out on the enclosed porch where I sometimes forget that it’s a dusty almost “wild west” strip of road out front. I have started to master computer Hearts and Solitaire…as another friend reminded me “Ally, solitaire is a lonely man’s game.” I responded, “Yes. You’re right, but this lonely man can win a game in less than 5 minutes.” I am taking pride in that. Plus, when I am playing it in the presence of others, that’s different right? Well, either way, that’s how I’ll rationalize it. I am also proud to say that I have mastered the Cameroonian oily rice making process. Granted I make my oily rice on a gas stove while they cook over open fire, they usually cook for all 7 kids and a few neighbors, and there’s has way more flavor, but I’ve mastered it for me! I have also figured out the different short-wave stations in the morning and night. I’ve figured out when BBC dies and I need to switch to Deuchavella or VOA and vice versa. It’s exciting. Plus I am getting weirdly addicted to the programs. BBC is starting one next week on Mozart that I can’t wait for…stop laughing; these are the things I have to relish in! The moment I start texting in, that’s were I’ll draw the line, but for now I am thoroughly enjoying my numerous discoveries of the week. Very excited to head to Kumbo this weekend for New Years, to check my email, send this, send the many letters I have accumulated since arriving here, hang out with friends and maybe eat some “American” food. That’s all for now. Happy New Year!! Hope that you all have a wonderful 2006!
12.21.2005
Hi. I am at work, trying to put together a training session for peer educators. It is good to have something to do and I will be doing my community “rounds” and analysis after Christmas/New Years I think. I still have much to do at my house; buy a big barrel for water storage (it seems that water is really unreliable an it has already been out for two days which makes bathing and flushing my toilet very difficult!), buying plates/bowls/cups/etc, a mirror, iron, broom, pillows, rugs, curtains, and other household necessities. Last night I hung out at my landlords house, they are pretty great and houses some American missionaries a few years back so they sort of understand Americans—at least more than others in Ndu, which is nice! They’re great.
12.27.2005
Back to work after the weekend off for Christmas. It was nice to relax however less fun without TV or friends to relax with! I spent Saturday around Ndu with my friend Matt, the PCV about 15 minutes away. People around town think we’re married but I don’t mind because the marriage proposals and “I love you”s have decreased. I went to Christmas Eve service with my landlord and landlady (Pa and Ma). We were there for 3+ hours. Long to begin with but especially when you don’t understand 90% of what they say…it was in the local dialect. Cool. But I survived and the singing at the church was really amazing…kind of reminds me of those sound-bites you hear from Africa with drums and wonderful singing. The next morning I got up and made a fire in my fireplace (it actually does get cold and it’s nice to have the fire to warm up the house, and I just like to have fires), listened to Christmas music on my short-wave radio and drank some gross coffee. I had a few presents from mom that I opened. It was almost like Christmas back home…ok, not at all, but I tried to tell myself that! I got two phone calls—thanks Mom, Harry and Katie!!—That made my morning! Then I got ready and went back to church. This time they brought Glen, their grandson. Since Pa is a deacon and Ma is in the choir, I got Glen for the morning…least for about 45 minutes until he started hitting me and screaming and someone came and took him outside. I had no idea what was going on but was glad he was gone J. I still understood very little of church and this time it lasted 5 ½ hours. So I sat, and “listened” and brainstormed about writing my novel for 5 ½ hours. I spent the rest of the day listening to Christmas carols on my Ipod and reading, curled up on the couch. I made some popcorn for dinner, burned my pan, went next door to have some socialization, after being locked away and a little sad all afternoon, came home, had a quick Christmas chat with dad, and went to sleep. I’ve had better days J. But it passed, I survived and I don’t have to deal with another Christmas for 363 more days!
I made it through my 500+ page book in two days and am now on my third book since post (12 days for anyone keeping track) which I think is great…I’ll measure my productivity for the first few months on how many books I read, how many scarves I knit, how many coloring books I go through, and how much credit I use up texting my friends! It’s amazing how fast my credit goes and how few people I actually talk to.
I have actually gone running twice, it’s gone better than expected (especially considering the only exercise I have had for 3 months was a weekly soccer game). Besides being the town spectacle, having children run beside me for a while, and trying to say “good afternoon” to people without them wanted to chat, it went well. I do feel better afterward so that’s a plus. It is a bit difficult though considering I live in the dustiest place on earth…I am not kidding! We still have 2 more months of dry season too! Seriously, it’s hard to walk down the street, I have to wash my shoes and feet at least once a day, things beside the road are tinted brown…it’s not pretty. Along with tons of dirt there are HUGE pigs everywhere…we’re talking the size of small humans. They smell and snort at me as though they’re saying, “white man” like the rest of town. I try my hardest to ignore the “white man” callings but it’s hard cause I know they’re talking to me…there aren’t a whole lot of other white men running around here.
Anyhow, that’s a quick update on my life. Not too exciting but it’s going.
12.29.2005
Hi. I am in the office again. Today is the second day (of 6 I think) of the Mayors funeral. I tried to understand the funeral process yesterday and explain the difference from American funerals…everyone involved in the conversation just ended up more confused. I told them that there was usually a 2 hour service and then a reception at the persons home with close friends and family…they wondered why the corpse wasn’t laid in the house for 3 days, paraded around town, and why it was only one afternoon and not a whole week…I wasn’t quite sure how to explain that it couldn’t be more opposite. Ah, chalk one up for American vs. Cameroonian cultural differences. My friend Matt, my post-mate and “husband” as I mentioned earlier, found a bar with CNN (along with ~10 other international channels)! It was one of the most exciting discoveries I’ve made in the last 3 months, aside from weird bucket showering techniques, the easiest way to hang a mosquito net and the best seat in a bush taxi. We have been there the past few days, hanging out for hours. We hang out on the enclosed porch where I sometimes forget that it’s a dusty almost “wild west” strip of road out front. I have started to master computer Hearts and Solitaire…as another friend reminded me “Ally, solitaire is a lonely man’s game.” I responded, “Yes. You’re right, but this lonely man can win a game in less than 5 minutes.” I am taking pride in that. Plus, when I am playing it in the presence of others, that’s different right? Well, either way, that’s how I’ll rationalize it. I am also proud to say that I have mastered the Cameroonian oily rice making process. Granted I make my oily rice on a gas stove while they cook over open fire, they usually cook for all 7 kids and a few neighbors, and there’s has way more flavor, but I’ve mastered it for me! I have also figured out the different short-wave stations in the morning and night. I’ve figured out when BBC dies and I need to switch to Deuchavella or VOA and vice versa. It’s exciting. Plus I am getting weirdly addicted to the programs. BBC is starting one next week on Mozart that I can’t wait for…stop laughing; these are the things I have to relish in! The moment I start texting in, that’s were I’ll draw the line, but for now I am thoroughly enjoying my numerous discoveries of the week. Very excited to head to Kumbo this weekend for New Years, to check my email, send this, send the many letters I have accumulated since arriving here, hang out with friends and maybe eat some “American” food. That’s all for now. Happy New Year!! Hope that you all have a wonderful 2006!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
12.15 Hi everyone! We officially swore in as volunteers yesterday! It already feels like forever ago! Packing up all my stuff plus the million and one PC books, water filter and the things I have acquired here was slightly difficult...I made it though. I spent my last night in Bandjoun playing a killer game of Uno with my friends and going home to play another enthralling card game with my siblings. This morning I left early, after literally inhaling the breakfast my mom gave to me 1 minute before I had to leave. In true Cameroonian style we left later than planned but it gave us time to hang out together before splitting off. About half the group headed down to Yaounde and most of the rest to Bamenda. Saying good-bye was really hard...it is amazing how close you can get with people in 10 weeks! I already miss them a lot (hi guys who are reading this from the cose!) :) Tomorrow I head up to post to attempt to get all my stuff there and to my house. Hopefully along the way I can buy a mattress...we'll see! My time is already running low but I will email you all soon and hopefully post another blog soon too. Miss everyone lots, hope finals and the end of the semester went well for everyone! Thinking of you always.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Things I have learned after 10 weeks in Cameroon:
1. Baby goats are cute, adult goats are not-and they cough like old men.
2. Cold showers can be slightly exhilarating, until you lose sensation, then it's more like hypothermia.
3. You can never have too much bug spray, or Purel.
4. If the food comes in a pot, is sort of warm and doesn't have a bug in it, it's probably fine.
5. Nescafé and coffee...NOT the same thing.
6. There's rarely a bad time for a cold Pomplemouse.
7. A good pineapple or crunchy papaya can make most situations much better.
8. Roosters crow at ALL hours of the day.
9. Marriage proposals are not a compliment.
10. Bargaining and/or yelling at a cab driver is cheap therapy.
11. It's vital to squat the right way.
12. Before asking 'why' think twice--nine times out of ten, there is no answer.
13. Machetes, burning wood and knives are normal toys for kids and they can probably use them better than you.
14. Flip charts, animations, and PACA are life.
15. Toilet paper is a sacred thing-use sparingly.
16. Charish cold dairy products.
17. Checking the snow report at home is not good for your sanity.
18. However, being thousands of miles away when your school loses the Big 12 Championship game 70-3, makes it a little easier!
19. Anything that can be lifted-purses, buckets, bushels of bananas, or furniture-can be more easily carried on your head.
20. A moto without a singing horn is just a disappointment.
21. WAWA.
22. Pavement is a wonderful thing, smooth pavement is even better-neither are to be expected.
23. Worms are not a joke.
24. The music won't be changed or turned down-learn to love the 6 song rotation and buy a Westlife poster.
25. Who needs fake and bake when you have red dirt?
26. The side of the road, apparently, is a public toilet-share the experience with everyone.
27. So many tubbers!
28. Cameroonians-men and especially girls-take futball VERY VERY seriously!
29. My sense of humor just isn't funny here no matter how many times I try, I just get accused of a) not caring or b) not understanding.
30. How wonderful the daily power outage can be and how amazing complete silence is.
31. If it has to do with poop, we've talked about it!
32. If it sounds like or rhymes with gumbo, be cautious.
33. 5 people in a cab=ideal, 7 in a cab=normal, 8 people, a goat, and three bags of rice=probable.
34. Just laugh.
35. Expectations will just annoy you-lower them.
36. Chacos, headlamps, swiss army knives, Ipods, quick drying towels and hand sanitizer are seven of the greatest inventions ever.
37. No matter how hard you try Cameroonian dirt clings...try bleach, scrub hard, and wear black.
38. Mosquito nets may protect you from malaria but they cause countless problems when trying to make your bed.
39. Petit-a-petit.
40. Tears-whether from sadness, laughter, Pidgin class or lack of sleep-are very necessary!
*Pictures:
-Sunset in Ndu.
-Me, Kate and Lindsey with lunch one day...
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
12.6 The first picture is of Ndu, my new home for two years (this is close to where I'll be living) and the second one is of most of my siblings...Octavie (in red), Franc, Gladyce, Armine and Brice (in purple)...Achille and my host parents are missing. Aren't they cute?
I'll work on more soon! Hope you are all having a good week and surviving the cold!!
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