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