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I woke up at around 7:30am to the sound of birds chirping and roosters crowing. I know I’m leaving to my new apartment either today or tomorrow. I am trying to get used to this element of not knowing, but it is very hard. I chalked up the nerve to ask Jemen to run and buy me bread and butter which only costs 150 cfa which is about .30 cents. She ran back with my change and breakfast in hand. I can’t wait for when I go home and bring back some clothes for her and the rest of her family. As I ate breakfast, we talked about the tasks for today. The weekly market was in full swing and Betty wanted to go. I told her that I would go just to see and not buy anything because they will give me the American price. She laughed but knew it was true. If you do not speak Fulfide in the market, you will get jipped no ifs and or buts about it. I put on some shoes and off we went to the market.
It was only 10:30am and the sun beamed as if it were noon. We walked down to the market in the scorching heat. When we got to the market, Betty and Jemen started digging through used clothes to buy. I cannot recall how I felt as they dug and dug to find something presentable to buy. Jemen got 2 pairs of jeans and a shirt. Betty bought a few things for baby Djiana. I had totally forgotten how massive and intricate African markets were. Everywhere you turned, more vendors were at your disposable selling anything from fruits to fake coach wallets. If you want it, you can find it at the market. When we passed the fish and meat section, it was not a pleasant sight. Flies swarmed uncooked meat up for grabs. The fish was dried and looked like it was dead for years; no thanks. Overall, I enjoyed my first visit to the market.
We walked back to the camp sweaty and tired while Djiana slept on her mom’s back peacefully. As soon as we got back, I jumped on the other bed and just chilled. The heat can really do things to you. I took a nice cold shower and started playing with the kids. I finally took some pictures of them for my memory book. At around 1:30pm, Jemen gave me a plate of food. Unlike in Yaounde, here in Ngaoundere fish is not easy to come by and it is more expensive. Most of the dishes here have meat and so did my meal today. I ate the yams but did not touch the meat. This vegetarian thing is starting to get harder and harder but hopefully when I am in my own apartment it will be better.
After dinner, I researched some possibly job placement opportunities abroad. I am really looking forward to applying for the assistantship in France. I can definitely perfect my French and it will allow me to do what I love to do. They have some placements in France and in overseas departments like French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Reunion. I would love to go to these overseas departments because they are very rich in culture and the demographics will be interesting to study. There is a lot of diversity and the weather is beautiful. Even though Europe has never really enticed me, I guess I should visit before judging. The main reason it never enticed me was because everyone goes there instead of traveling the path less traveled. Now that I have traveled the path less traveled, I can visit the places “everyone” goes to. It will also give me the opportunity to visit neighboring countries and therefore, I can be a globe trotter like everyone says.
Day 2 of teaching one of Dr. Wirba’s classes. This time the class size was small because they are 3rd year students in the geography department. Before I started speaking, Dr. Wirba briefed them on what I am here and not here to do. I am not here to look for a boyfriend, fiancé, or husband. I am here for academic purposes only. The class laughed at this and so did I. Once that was out of the way I started my introduction like yesterday. I found out that they were not very familiar with the geography of the U.S. so I tested them on the geography of Africa. They went around naming African countries. We only forgot a few but besides that, everything went well. They surprised me with the magnitude of their questions. Questions ranged from affirmative action to women in America to segregation. I enjoyed these questions thoroughly and also prompted me to do more research on my own country. Because the class is very small, I will love to frequent more often and get to know the students.
After class, I wondered around campus until the bus. Unfortunately for me, I did not know where the bathrooms were located so I nearly pissed my pants until I gathered the nerve to ask the secretary in the President’s office if there was a bathroom nearby. I guess she realized that I was a foreigner and let me use the bathroom. I have never felt so relieved in my life. After that, I could literally conquer the world lol. I took the bus to town, ate at coffee shop and went home. Played with the kids and learned more Fulfilde. Djiana still has yet to grow fond of me but we are getting there. I shared my peanuts with them as we talked.
Woke up early to make it to campus at 7:30am was not fun. When I heard my alarm go off at 6a.m. I was not pleased. I have not gotten used to waking up so early; the time difference doesn’t help either. When I wake up at 6 here, it’s only 1am back home. I took a moto taxi to the taxi station. The taxi man crammed 6 passengers in his car; definitely not fun. Especially when the person sitting next to you reeked. I do not understand how you can smell so early in the morning. The fare to campus was 300 cfa, which is less than a dollar.
I got here at 7:25am and to my surprise, no one was here. I forgot that punctuality here does not exist. My main contact arrived at 7:40am. He told me that the class is scheduled for 7:45am but if we got there on time the class would be empty. Students complain about the distance they travel to come to school and so forth and so on. Mind you, there is a school bus that goes to town to pick up students and arrives here at 7:35am the latest. Also, the area surrounding the university is filled with student apartments so there is no excuse for lateness except pure laziness.
We made to the 2nd year engineering class which was held in an amphitheater. I thought the class was big but not as big as I expected. The students were a bit rowdy but had a lot of questions. I introduced myself and had them guess where I was from, artist that lived in New York and other introductory questions. A lot of them were shy so I had them write their questions and if they weren’t shy they can read it out loud. A lot of the questions were about life in America, how to get there, studying in the U.S. etc. Of course some of the questions were inappropriate like how old are you, are you looking for a husband, can you take me to America. . I only spoke for an hour. As I walked out of class the guys whistled and hollered. A mess, I know. I waited forever for Dr. Wirba to finish up the class. I waited in the geography department. There, I was given a magazine on African literature. I wrote down a few titles that enticed me. Hopefully, downloading books from Barnes and Noble will not cause a problem.
I waited around campus until 1pm when the faculty bus arrived to take professors back to the city. This service is very convenient but I doubt I will use it a lot once I move closer to the university. When I got to the Norwegian camp, the kids patiently awaited my arrival so we can play memory and jump rope. I have started to grow fond of my neighbors. Too bad I have so many roaches and crickets or else I would have stayed.
Today I had the day of and decided to leave the Norwegian compound and venture out all by myself. I figured the city/town is not very big and getting lost will be difficult. So of course I did not wait until the sun went down, I went at noon. Yea I know, very smart. I passed taxis and walked 30 minutes in the scorching heat. By the time I arrived at a boutique to buy some water, I was dripping wet. As I relaxed in the shade, I felt the sweat dripping down my chin. I know, gross. I also bought some credit for my phone. Phones here are pre-paid so once your minutes are up, you must buy more credit or just hope that someone calls you. Unlike in the US, you do not pay for incoming calls or texts, the sender does.
I walked around aimlessly, stopping into pharmacies to ask for Ambesol or Oragel to no avail. I guess I’ll just wait until the canker sore leaves on its own accord. Places started to look familiar as I got closer and closer to the heart of the city. I called Nafissa, one of the women from my train ride up here. She invited me to her house and off I went. I hailed a moto-taxi and said “lycee Bamyanga” and off we went. This was the 1st time I ridden a moto-taxi. I gripped to him for dear life and on arrival he said in French “next time you need to hold on to the handles on the bike, not my handles.” Lesson learned. I thought Nafissa lived in town but she did not. As I gripped for dear life, I was hoping the taxi driver was not going to try anything stupid. I’m not going to lie; I was a bit scared because he was litteraly driving through nowhere. I got to see the wonderful view of Mt. Ngaoundere. Boulders were incorporated into everyday life. Too bad I couldn’t take pictures this time, but I am sure the time will come.
I made it to Bamyanga in one piece. I sat and talked with Nafissa and her cousin who came to visit from Yaounde. I enjoyed myself and was proud of my venturing out!! Unfortunately, it started raining like crazy. It rain so much that the light when out. There was no electricity for almost an hour. I was getting worried because I did not think I would be able to get back home. Luckily for me, Mr. Hamidou drove me home in the pouring rain.
Have to get ready for my 1st class tomorrow October 14th. Wish me luck.
Bit more about Ngaoundere
Upon my arrival, the university faculty have treated me like a star. I have eaten out frequently and have eaten lunch and dinner at the Dean’s and Dr. Wirba’s home.
After being introduced to faculty and staff all day, the Dean took me to the Lamidou’s Palace. The Lamidou is the chief or head hancho in a village. Each Friday, tours are conducted for tourists at the palace. Today was a special day because members of the community were inducted to selected position for the council in Adamawa. One of the faculty members (proud to say she’s a woman) was inducted. A lot of chiefs, officials, and powerful people attended. Too bad I could not take pictures to show you.
Saturday was very eventful. The Dean picked me up with his wife around noon and we went to their home. The Dean is an extraordinary man. He built and preaches at his church. He also built a bilingual private school which contains pre-k up to high school. His wife is the director of the school. I was impressed at what one person can do in order to give back to his/her community. My mind is in a million places, trying to figure out if I too can make such a significant impact in my community; on vera, we will see. We then went to the Coffee Shop which is by far my favorite restaurant here. I normally get fillet du capitaine avec du plantain frites (fish and plantains). It is really cheap too so I think I know where my grant money will go!! I also visited Restaurant La Concord I definitely was not a fan. It was like a hang out spot for men. I felt a bit uncomfortable and the food was not good. Coffee Shop is where it is at!!
After lunch, they dropped me off back home where I waited for Dr. Wirba to pick me up. He picked me up in his motor-bike. I was a bit nervous, but I knew he was not going to drive recklessly. Upon arrival, I had to prepare myself physically because I knew that I was going to eat again. I ate rice, fish, plantains, and salad. It was very hard to eat everything because of the large portions. I kept on hearing “do you not like the food? You must keep on eating! This is how we eat in Cameroon” So I must get used to the Cameroonian way of eating, which is A LOT!!! Dr. Wirba’s 3 kids entertained me while we watched the Cameroonian Lions stomp the Hawks of Togo during a qualification match for the world cup. I thoroughly enjoyed myself today and am looking forward to my stay in Ngaoundere.
On Sunday, I went to the Cathedral for mass. I have yet attended such a colorful mass in my life. A majority of the congregation wore their traditional outfits, filled with bright and colorful patterns. The hymns were jubilant and resonated in one’s ear even when the drummers stopped playing. The homily definitely could have been cut short but besides that, I enjoyed it. The fact that there are guards that walk around to make sure everyone is fully alert and not sleeping is pretty funny. After mass, I stayed home reading, while listening to the downpour.
Welcome back from Fall Break!! I am sure you definitely needed to go home after a week of midterms. I hope you enjoyed your break, even though it probably seemed very short. Just remember that many universities do not have fall breaks!! Now that Fall Break is over, Thanksgiving Break is right around the corner and next thing you know, the semester is over. Trust me, I know!!
I have arrived to my post in Ngaoundere, Cameroon. Ngaoundere is the capital of the Adamawa Province. It took 21 hours by train to get here!! It normally takes less than, 12-16 hours, but because a Minister was on the train, the conductor decided to drive cautiously. Luckily for me, I was in good company. There were 4 people in the couchette, sleeping cart. We left Yaounde, the capital at 6:15 pm on Wednesday. I got the pleasure of meeting Nafissa, who is originally from Maroua but lives in Ngaoundere with her husband. Then there’s Georgette. She’s French and is volunteering in Maroua researching HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a big problem in Cameroon. Cameroon ranks number 18 in the number of HIV positive people in the world. Soria was also in our cart. She’s a law student at the University I will teach at. She gave me the inside scoop on the university and wished me a lot of luck because I am going to need it! Last but not least, is me. The Fulbrighter who will live and work in Ngaoundere until June.
Below is a picture of the 4 of us; starting with Nafissa, Soria, Gorgette, and ending with me.
We ate, laughed and slept throughout the entire train ride. Below is a picture of dinner on the train; fried fish and fried plantain out of a tin can. I’m not going to lie, it was very good
I was very tired because I had started preparing for the trip a few days earlier. I had to run back and forth to the US embassy to make sure everything was set for my trip. The train ticket cost 25,000 cfa which is the equivalent of $56.00. I also had to make sure that I had enough cash to get by for at least a month and a half. So we went to the bank and on our way back we took a cab back to Bastos. If I have yet to explain the way taxis work here, I apologize. There is no such thing as hopping into an empty taxi; all taxis are shared taxis. You stand on the side of the road (make sure you are on the right side pointing to the direction you are going to). You tell the driver where you are going. If he is going your direction, you can get in. If not, you must start the process all over again. It took us 20 minutes to get a taxi and once we did it was surchargee (packed to capacity). There were3 people in the back and 3 in the front. Not fun at all!! But we made it to our location in one piece.
Below are some pictures of villages and scenery we passed on our way up north
I finally made it to Ngaoundere on Thursday afternoon around 2:30pm. My phone had already died and I was freaking out because I had to call my contact. I borrowed Nafissa’s phone to call Dr. Wirba, my main contact at the University of Ngaoundere. I waited and waited until we finally bumped into each other. The Dean and Dr. Wirba showed me my 3 apartment options. The 1st one was conveniently located on campus; however, the room was very small and one must share the bathroom and kitchen. No thanks. The second apartment is within walking distance of the university. The apartment is not yet ready but the landlord will completely furnish the apartment. I love the location, the fact that it is a new building, and the tight security. My last option is a Norwegian compound in the city. I am currently staying here now. It’s about 30 minutes away from school, which I think is a bit far of a commute if I have to teach at 7:30am. So of course I went for the 2nd apartment!! I’m moving in sometime this week so I am pumped!! I have a lot more to write about but I think it will be better to post another blog.
A bientot
Hey All,
Hope all is well in NEPA. Word on the street is that Fall Break is around the corner. I am sure you are all looking forward to it. I bet this week was crazy with tests and papers. O how I remember those days...Good luck to you all through out this frenzy week. How's the weather on you end? We are still in the rainy season on this side of town. It rains sporadically, but when it rains, it pours.
Let me fill you in on the adventures of my life in Cameroon thus far. I have yet to start teaching as we are still trying to get things in order for my departure up North. I am leaving today to Ngaoundere, which is the capital of the Adamawa Province. I am taking a 12-16 hour train ride. I hear it is going to be an experience. I did learn from the notarizer that I must be extra careful on the train ride up to Ngaoundere because there are many thieves. She said I must use my bag as a pillow so that if a thief wants my bag, he must cut off my neck. I thought it was funny. I am going to ride in a sleeping cart so there are only 4 people in the room. The chances of me not knowing an alleged thief is slim to none. Stay tune for next weeks post on my train ride up north.
In other news, life in Yaounde is a bit dull. There isn't much to do in the day, but at night, the whole town comes out. We made sure to visit as much clubs as possible being that I was leaving shortly. Of course I had to show my dance moves, so I was invited to dance on stage. Check out the picture below.
This is a picture of the dancers doing there thing!! I need to practice some of their moves.
Enough about the night life. Last weekend we went over to Aunty Gla's house for lunch, here's the story. While we ate cabbage, plantains, and begnes, we introduced ourselves. I was the first person to go so I made it nice and short. I find it extra hard to talk about myself let alone in a room full of people. I was more interested in what others said.
I was touched by Justine’s story. She’s from a village outside of Bamenda, which is in the Northwest province. Because she’s a female, the chance of her going to school was slim. Yes, such practices still exist in Africa. She begged and pleaded with her father to enroll her in school, but he refused. She had to work and take care of the family. As she worked, she told her father that school was not going to cost him anything; she would pay for her own education. It took some convincing, but he caved in. She worked and went to school, mind you, she started to work at the age of 11. She did not start going to school until she was approximately 13. Once elementary school was over, she did not have anywhere to go. However, luckily for her there was a Women Organization which sponsored intelligent females who want to continue their education but cannot. Aunty Gla is from that area, so once she heard Justine’s story she sponsored her and sent for her to come to Yaounde. When Justine’s was telling her story, I cried. She was so genuine and truly loves Aunty Gla and appreciates everything she has done for her. Aunty Gla is such an awesome person. Even though she is royalty in her village, she carries herself as a regular person who has a heart and has not forgotten her people. Yes, she works for the embassy and yes she went to school in Canada but unlike many Africans, she came back and is trying to help her people. Aunty Gla made me feel homesick. She has the motherly touch that everyone needs when they are far from home.
Below is a picture of Justine (she's the one in the purple)
Everyone, including Auntie Gla
That's it for this week. Wish me luck on my adventures up north!!!
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