Tidbits

Don’t have too much to report this week, but I thought I might just add some interesting little cultural differences/observations that I have become (quickly) accustomed:

- Hide & Go Seek – a universal children’s pastime, right? Right. However, in Cameroon sometimes the child “seeking” carries a knife and chases. Don’t worry though; all knives in Cameroon are extra dull.

- Don’t leave the house without your…machete. Don’t let them scare you. Everyone carries one. (Agriculture contributes to about 80% of Cameroonian’s workforce – and machetes are a must for the field.)

- Is that a 10 year old getting your beer (and running the entire establishment)? Yes. Kids in Cameroon are resilient, and they start early with hard work. Probably a lot of adult Americans would complain about the same workload these babes do (I would). I’m not sure of the exact percentage, but the majority of Cameroon’s population is under 25.

- Need to get somewhere quick, but a little out of walking distance? Grab a moto. Although, Cameroonian motorcycles aren’t typically made for more than two passengers…why not try five? More than doable here.

- “La blanche, la blanche” – that’s me. If I didn’t know any better, I might get offended by being called “la blanche” as if it was my given name, but it Cameroon, using physical attributes to describe a person (like white, skinny, fat, etc.) isn’t really seen as rude. Cameroonians don’t have that same American sensitivity.

- Don’t smell food before you eat it. That is rude.

- Saying “bon appetite” before/while someone is eating is the polite thing to do. Every time.

- When opening a bank account at your local bank, you may be asked to draw a map to your house. (There aren’t many addresses in Cameroon.)

- Mercie Moser wouldn’t survive the cockroaches here.

- Need to carry something, but your hands are full and you have no backpack? No problem. Put it on your head. Really – whatever it is: a giant log, a huge stack of wood, shoes, a large dish of eggs or peanuts, pineapples... Cameroonians have an amazing talent (and strong necks) for carrying whatever they need perfectly balanced atop their heads. It’s something I would like to learn, but I’m not sure if the time has passed for me or not (they start super early).

- Right hand only, please. If it’s dirty, extend your right arm.

- Cameroonians like to state or ask really obvious things, such as “you’ve arrived?” or “you’re eating?” Picking up on that while learning French makes things more fun.

- Peeing in a small hole is difficult, but I am pretty sure I will have super strong leg muscles after two years.

These awesome lizards are everywhere - don't know their scientific names, but we like to call them "the push-up lizards" -- that's exactly what they do.

A view from a village in the West Region - very beautiful there - only a few hours north of where I will be posted

Petit a Petit...

And the envelope please...

Njombe!

Njombe (pronounced something like Jombay) is where I will be posted for the next 24 months (after we finish training). Last week, all of the stagaires (trainees) visited their posts. Definitely, made living in Africa for the next two years much more real. Njombe is a small town located in the Littoral Region - closer to the coast. I'm a couple hours north of Douala (the largest city in Cameroon) and Limbe (a black sanded beach!). The Littoral Region/Njombe is a huge fruit farming area so lots of fresh pineapple, mangoes, bananas, and papaya for me (little meat and dairy though). The Littoral is home to a giant fruit exporter and I am learning somewhat controversial.

I'm opening a new post, meaning there are no current or previous volunteers in Njombe. It's going to be a fun little challenge, but I'm super excited about the potential work I will be doing. I will be helping small local farmers with basic business practices. Peace Corps has matched me with a GIC called Esperance which is working on creating an export market for a fair trade dried fruit company called Fair Fruit. Pretty neat stuff - there's a little information on it here. Njombe is extra hot and humid - just like home (without the A/C though). My 3 room house is empty but I'm going to get pretty handy pretty quick I think. Anyone know how to do tiling?? My toilet is an outdoor hole in the ground. But I do have electricity. I think. (Definitely not "Posh Corps")

My French is progressing slowly, but it progresses ("petit a petit" is my motto these days). I'm surrounded by some pretty good trainers and trainees right now so that's been a big plus with this little transition (we're still fairly sheltered here in Bafia, and I'm pretty sure when we actually get to our posts and are left there to our own devices - it will be more of a rude awakening).

Traveling is its own adventure in Cameroon. What we think of as a 12 person van actually means a 22 person van here (animals and children aren't included). I got laughed at by other Cameroonians last week when I jumped after the plastic bag right next to me started moving. It was an adult chicken. The lady next to me (and by next to me I actually mean I was in her lap) told me not to worry - "buttocks would shift" after the bush taxi left and then "we would all fit". Lies.

That's all I got for now. Will try come up with more exciting posts sooner than later...

Miss you all beaucoup!!

In Bafia, my grand-mere invited me to watch her women's church group dance.

View from Manjo - a town close to Njombe.

Close to the main market in Njombe.

"33" - my favorite Cameroonian beer. Twice the size, half the price.

In Njombe - love all the bright colors of Cameroon. Reminds of New Orleans.