02.01.2012
Bonjour fellow humans. It has been a while since I’ve publicly recorded my experience here and I have the energy to try and recall some of my past experiences. Right now I’m in Beartoua at the case relaxing and doing my banking. Other people from the East came to buy some other products like gas, stoves, whatever else they couldn’t find au village. Stephanie and I got here yesterday and we peace out tomorrow. I’ll be happy to get back home. I left with no water or electricity working at my crib so I hope to get that fixed the week I get back. I’ll also come back to Jessica and Jupiter, the new married couple.
I think my last entry was just about getting ready to get to post. I got to post about 3 weeks ago. I feel pretty moved in, but I was also lucky to have quite a bit furniture and kitchen supplies left over from the last PCV who ET’d. I’ve started a new routine that I plan to continue for the next three months until IST when our stage meets back up for more training. I get up, make some instant coffee, stretch, and then go out for breakfast. Its been a bean, avocado, and french baguette sandwich most every day. They make spaghetti omelets too, but all of that is what popular for breakfast here. Or chocolate bread. The guy who owns the omlet shack is named Omar. He's one of the hommies that i’ve started to trust. I also get to practice my fulfulde with him. He's got a brother who works there as well as at the baguette bakery. Random story. The day before I left Batouri I saw a guy fall down and start having a seizure. I asked Omar what was going on and apparently is a guy who takes medication for horses. I’m not sure what, but its common for people to take animal medication here. I feel they think it makes them stronger? You also don’t need prescriptions here. Maybe for certain things, but for the most part you don’t. There are pharmacies on the road with the food boutiques and then there are they actual pharmacies buildings. I wouldn’t trust a lot of it. Especially the stuff that sits out in the sun all day.
After breakfast, at least for the first week, I was shopping with Stephanie to get things for our initial move in. But now after breakfast I walk through market and just get seen. Meet new people. Get deranged. I try to stay out until it gets too hot in the afternoon just exploring Batouri and meeting people. Exposing myself and explaining who I am and why I’m there. Try to get across that I’m not a tourist. People are pretty friendly especially if you say hi to most everyone you pass by and ask how they are doing. I have found some Muslim friends who I drink chi with. Chi is the cultural tea for the muslims. I have yet to get panya made but I’m also still searching for an awesome tailor. Luckily for me the community host of Stephanie is an awesome tailor. I haven't gotten anything started, but in due time. I’ll build a better relationship with him first. He’s worked with multiple volunteers before so I feel its not a shady character.
So whats it like at my house. It is extremely nice compared to the rest of the neighborhood. Directly behind me are a bunch of traditional houses withe big families. All of those neighbors have been friendly. Get to see a lot of random naked children riding around. The rest of the neighborhood has traditional houses but with concrete external walls. From what I have observed I think I live in one of the like top 20 houses in Batouri. I like being able to start fires in my front yard. I don’t know what I;m going to do with my non perishables yet but I burn paper objects and add them to the compost pile.
Two weeks ago I went out with a friend to find some bamboo to start building furniture and a tree nursery to do trial runs on different tree species. That friend is a dude named Jude who cuts hair here. He speaks english some so I practice french while he practices english. He wants to do work with me and some GICs but really doesn’t comprehend how much work it will take. He just wants additional income than his hair show. Its like 300 for a simple hair cut.
I’ve gotten to meet some of the Catholics who are here but don’t know much about their current work. I know they help out with getting vaccines for babies. The week before I left here I went out and did all the proper introductions with the elected officials, GICs, and other possible organizations to work with. I’m interested to realize what it will be actually like to work with them because I hear many stories of frustration. Once I get my bike out to Batouri my plan is to make tracks with my GPS to fabricate some kind of map of Batouri. It will still be a couple weeks until my bike arrives.
Right now some other hommies are cooking some amazingly scented Thai food. Earlier today I helped make Tofu and soy milk which was awesome. Soy in general is fantastic. I hope I have success introducing soy in the East to curb the demand for bush meat, but realistically thats going to be a huge challenge. Last night we had mexican meat and fish tacos which were delicious encore. This change in food, American food, has been nice. I haven't been cooking at home because of a lack of gas but I’m also simple. I eat out a lot because its cheap and also lets me get seen more. Then I buy vegetables and fruit from the vegetables from the market, clean, and eat them. I want to try and get the most nutritional value out of them rather than cooking them. But I do see myself getting much more into cooking once I get gas. Reading is tres popular here. So is watching disney movies. Around noon time I come home and take a little nape before I go back out to take care of any business or et dinz.
Din din is ready so I’m done for now. I’ll finish saying it was pleasant starting my next rotation around the sun in Africa. I spent my birthday reflecting on the past year and trying to decide what I would really like to try and accomplish this next year. Get great at french is a top priority. I’m already getting pretty good at bargaining. Oh, one last thing. Stephanie and I spent Christmas in Kenzou with Geoff and Julie. We went out on a canoe ride to try and see hippos, but they were not there : ( That night we had a delicious dinner that Geoff’s neighbor/landlord prepared. Or probably his wife. I didn’t do anything for new years. Everyone here went out to one of the clubs but I was exhausted and just decided to read at the case until I passed out. Holiday season is over but now there are a lot of festivals coming up this Spring. Later humans. Nous sommes ensemble.
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