13/02/2012

13/02/2012

This post will be about the first two cultural events I got to witness.  A celebration of bilingual week and Youth Day.  Bilingual week is supposed to be a week signifying the importance of knowing both french and english in Cameroon because it was colonized by the French and the British.  Each year has a theme and this year’s theme was “Bilingualism for responsible citizenship.”  Jessica, the ED volunteer, had some of her kids perform a skit at the lycee bilang where she works.  Schools all over Cameroon celebrate this week doing things like debates, soccer games/ other sports, skits, songs, poems, faux news reports, and dances.  We only went to the celebration on Thursday at Jessica’s school, but there was also another celebration Friday at the place de fait. Usually clusters of schools will meet at one school to do whatever actives were planned.  There were three schools that met at Jessica’s school that Thursday.    

  It was scheduled to start at 8, but ended up commencing around 10.  All the student’s desks were put out for the audience (students), there were chairs for the officials in the front rows, and a judges table for 3 individuals.  I don’t know who they were.  I don’t know where to begin.  They commenced the celebration with the Cameroonian national anthem.  On the program it said they would sing it in french and english, but it ended up only being in French.  Students here have a deep lack of respect.  Once the events started no one got quite, maybe a couple of people.  People talked continually throughout the actives or yelled out things to derange the people performing.  The skits were consisted of messages of why it is important to know english.  The poems were usually about why education is important or had some kind of  religious message. The dances and songs dominated the schedule.  Most of the dances were pretty risqué too.  A lot of hip and chest movement, both with men and women.  It was bizzare to see teenage girls showing their backside to display how well they could move their hips after there was a poem about Jesus.  All of which was encouraged.  The  kids were cheering for these excellent dance skills.  Sometimes a girl would come down and get down right in front of the school officials.  Its all normal here, but I found it very bizarre.  I couldn’t follow the skits or most of the poems because all the students were just talking in their own world.  It seemed like a waste of time to me.  The faux news reports were all the same.  Each school had to perform the same one which was about 15 minutes, too long for the attention span of most of the kids.  We didn’t get to see Jessica’s skit because we had to leave at twelve for another meeting, but she didn’t mind.  She said her kids didn’t do that well anyway.  I’m missing quite a few details but this was a while ago and I really don’t have many positive things to say about bilingualism week.  The PC teachers I talk gave the same consensus that the students don’t really care about performing well.  Bilingualism week is kinda like “dead week” in college before finals.  Theres no school except for practicing for the celebration.

Now Youth Day.  Youth Day is supposed to be a celebration of the next generation of Cameroon.  This celebration was a lot bigger because schools from all surrounding villages of Batouri came out to march in a parade.  This parade was in front of the place de fait.  Another instance where things are supposed to start at one time, but usually run an hour late.  I forgot to mention what the place de fait is.  Thats an open structure that is just a place for officials to sit.  The schools/orgranizations spend an hour or two lining up and getting ready to march while the spectators line up on one side of the road.  The opposite side of the road from the place de fait so they don’t block the site of the officials.  There are 4 white lines on the main road, kinda like a track at the Olympics, so the people can walk in a straight line.  On the spectator side there are police and gendarmes with belts and batons to whip kids if they get too far into the road.  Not everyone from each school gets to march in the parade.  I don’t know the selection process.  On the other side, place de fait side, there are officials in suits making sure people march in lines which seems to be one of the most difficult tasks.  It was rare to see any school or organization match together in an organized fashion.  There were schools, muslim schools, nurse schools, teacher schools, organizations against rape, organizations against corruption, groups of people who looked like cheerleaders, one band, a private high school, a women’s group that Stephanie marched with, and many more.  The whole parade, once the marching started, was about an hour an a half.  As the groups pass the officials they turn their signs representing their club and hold out their left hand horizontally, kinda like a salute.  Each school or group was yelling out a song of some sort.  Some schools had their students with ribbons tied on the wrists of their left hand.  I couldn’t discover the significance of that.  Maybe just some flair.  The teachers who were marching with their students had on their flyest dresses with embroidery.  Between the teachers and the officials in suits kids were constantly being yelled at to be a certain position so they were aligned vertically and horizontally.  

Does anyone remember dragon sticks?  The things that were popular in the 90’s?  They were popular with the older kids at my day care.  I saw two guys with those in the parade.  There were also kids on the side lines yelling at the students marching deranging them.  Once the parade finishes the older groups or organizations go out and drink to celebrate Youth day.  Stephanie was invited out to go drink with her women’s group after the parade.  Drinking is a big part of Cameroonian culture, but these celebrations just give all the more reason to go out and drink.  

I’ll finish this with the main mode of transportation here, motos.  Motos are just motorcycles.  But the cheapest kind you can find from China.  They cost between 400.000 - 800.000, the average ones.  Theres no real “rules” for becoming a moto driver.  It seems like anyone can buy a moto, just post up somewhere, and wait for someone to ask for a ride.  I know in Beartoua, the regional capital, there is a certification that drivers must pass to get a green vest that shows they are “legit”  Some wear helmets but most don't.  Most moto trips cost 100 CFA, but sometimes 150 CFA at night.  I know in Batouri its always 100 CFA night or day because the town is so small are there are moto drivers everywhere.  Being white some moto drivers will try to ask for more money and give bogus reason why it cost more.  All you have to do it walk away because they won’t do anything.  I’m also impressed with what moto drivers can load up on their crappy bikes.  I’ve seen goats, pigs, 6 50 kilo sacs of cements, motos on the backs of motos, furniture sets, motos with 4 people including the driver, motos taking 4 kids under the age of 8 to school.  Motos with a guy dragging 4 meters of rebarb behind them.  I’ve seen motos carrying 6 crates of beer.  Africans make it work.  There is also a good chance your moto driver is drunk.  I’ve seen it multiple times where moto drivers are sipping on whiskey sachets.  No laws against that.  There is also no real age limit to drive motos.  I’ve seen muslim kids in Beartoua on motos who looked like they were 13.  Their feet could barley reach the ground when they were on the moto.  There is a good reason why PC requires its volunteers to wear helmets while on motos.  Moto drivers also pay to get like a custom leather covering for their gas tanks ans seats.  They also somtimes keep the bubble wrap over the parts of their motos to keep it clean as long as they can.  Decorating motos is also popular just to make theirs‘ stand out from others.  Flowers or little sticker pictures.  Not much more for now.  I’m about to meet my community host and counter part.  Toodles for now.                           

07/02/2012

07/02/2012

Its been a while and I have a lot to share, but I’ll start off with the random event that finished my day of work.  I just came back from meeting a potential counterpart with Steph and her host country hommie and we stopped at a bar to get some juice.  We were talking for a while and then a dispute broke out over something.  I think this dude had a tab and wasn't going to pay it.  He was very intoxicated and was a grown man.  He was arguing with a girl who looked to be 18 or something.  I heard a slap from outside the bar so I started to pay attention.  Then he started to grab her shirt and she grabbed his.  Thats how fights seem to go around here, from the ones I’ve seen.  Each person will grab each others’ shirt and hold their arms stiff and just kind swing each other around.  Then the dude grabbed her throat and I got up to separate them.  Other people in the bar just watch.  Thats another thing I’ve noticed.  Cameroonians usually don’t get involved until its escalated into a fight.  I got them separated and assumed the girl just left to get a way from him, but she ended up grabbing a bottle and trying to hit him in the face.  At that point I just left because other Cameroonians came in.  Then the guy started yelling at me and went crazy, throwing a tantrum like a child.  He’s yelling loud at everyone while taking his shirt off.  He threw his shirt on the ground picked up a glass and threw it at his head, but it bounced off and just broke on the ground.  Then he started crying and smashing his head on the metal door that closes the bar.  Thats when Ahmadou suggested we leave.  So we all left and he just kept yelling.  In Africa, at least in Batouri, no cops show up.  They have “jungle justice” here.  Jungle justice is if someone steals something from you and you yell out “vouluer! Vouler!” (Thief)  There is a high probability that people will hear that and then attack the thief.  Not just attack, but beat the life out of him.  It may be more applicable for Cameroonians or white people in large cities, but thats how things are taken care of out here.

Quite a bit has happened since I got over giardia and went to Beartoua for the regional meeting.  I got back to post at the beginning of February.  When I was walking through centre ville one day there was this old lady, probably drunk, who was just dancing in the middle of the street.  I think thats a cool freedom because no body cares and there are no police or gendarmes to take her away to the “sidewalk”.  People can just do that here.  Cameroonians atleast.  In centra ville any electronic shop blasts music on their speakers, all with different songs.  She was just getting down in the middle of the road.  Radom note: did y’all know Seth Rogan is in Donny Darko?  He’s the friend of the bully with the mullet?  I also saw 16 candles for the first time and noticed in the opening credits 2 high schoolers were holding pinkies.  Was the cool in the 80s?  It sure is cool here.  I hold hands with dudes all the time in market now.  Actually, 3 main dudes.  I think they are showing off that they are close enough to the white person in town to hold their hand.  Or maybe its just simply a sign of friendship.  I’ve also been told by my female post mates that Cameroonians ask where Sampson is.  “Ou est votre frere Sampson?”

Culture experience.  Lemme talk about bus rides.  I might have touched on it in a previous entry, but I’ll go in depth here.  I’ll use my last trip to Beartoua as an example.  I wake up at 6 am and grab my bag that I packed the night before and head over to the agency.  I get there and wait in line to buy my ticket.  There are 3 separate counters, but each counter sells tickets for 2 or 3 cities/villages only.  So I get in the line for Beartoua and Kenzou.  Lines also don’t really exist here.  People cut and its just part of the culture.  Cut anywhere.  At the bank, grocery store, buying credit for phones.  I dunno if its people trying to show how “macho” they are (males and females both do it).  So when I do get to the counter I say where I wanna go give my ID and money and she writes me a ticket with the bus license plate one it and a number.  We ride in old prison buses out here.  They use the prison buses Eastward from Beartoua, the regional capital.  They have another type of bus, I forget the name, but its not used much because it goes slower on the crappy dirt roads.  I also don’t remember the name of the company that makes the buses, its starts with an S, Sacam?  They put 5 people to each row, sometimes 6, and there are 5 rows.  No isle way.  A seat folds down to be an isle seat.  There is barley any leg room and the seats resemble the cushions of those cheap floding stadium seats you can bring to ball games.  Babies in laps and always an odorous person.  Odors don’t bother me.  Makes me more comfortable when I break wind.  There are usually 2 people from the agency who ride with each bus, the driver and then the “woker”.  The “worker” for the agency either stand behind the back row, stand on the back bumper outside the bus, or the stand on the top of the bus holding on to the straps that hold down all the luggage or goods that are strapped.  I’ll get to the top of the bus in a minute.  By “worker” I mean the person who changes the tires, opens the back door for ID checks, load and unload luggage, or work on the engine.  There are also 4 places in the cabin up front.  One for the driver and 3 for more passengers.  The engine is right under the middle seat of the cabin, so there is a lot of vibration and heat.  Lately whenever I sit in the back with everyone else an employee will tell me to move to the front for a cabin seat which is more comfortable.  It seems they only put white males and “grands” in the front.  White males because they made Stephanie stay in the back.  “Grands” are the important Muslims, the ones who have been in the game for a while and have the fliest boubou outfits.  I don’t mind because I barley have leg room in the back, but I don’t like to perpetuate the stereotype that the “white man” always gets a better seat.

Buses also don’t leave until they are completely full.  A bus may be scheduled to leave at 7, but may not leave until 8 because its not full.  Its more of a problem for afternoon departures.  So the top of the roof.  People are moving all sorts of products.  People go to regional capitals to buy products that smaller towns don't have, or to just get them cheaper.  They have any kind of animals, 50 kilo sacks of grains, rice, petrol, or gas bottles, ect.  Motos, and all sorts of bags.  The space that takes up the roof luggage rack is usually equivalent to what could be fit inside the bus.  Once everything is loaded up and everyones on we roll out.  Going out of and coming into cities we pass check points with gendarmes.  Gendarmes are like the “military” here.  Most all are corrupt.  The white people always have to show their IDs.  Sometimes its everyone.  If a Cameroonian doesn't have an ID they fold up a piece of paper with money in it and give it to the guard.  A small illustration of corruption.  The ride itself is pretty bumpy and very dusty.  Bumpy because of all the traffic from logging trucks.  There are some stretches of road that are like ruffles potato chips, some with big dips.  There is no left and right side.  There is usually one path that both directions take, and when two buses/cars are  traveling at the same time they just space out a bit but are about 2 feet within each other.  Going up hills is like 5 mph, and going down hill is pretty fast.  I don’t know exact speeds because I haven't been on a bus yet where the gauges work.  The buses will stop for people who just wanted to get to their small village along the way to the larger cities, or they stop if someone wants to buy something on the side of the road.  They just yell at the driver to stop, buy their food or whatever product, it gets thrown on top and then we continue.  Once people start leaving the bus for their village there are also people waiting by the side of the road to hitch a ride to the big city if there is room.  They usually get picked up, but sometimes the driver picks up too many people.  That was the case on our return trip to Batouri.  We were about 10 km out going up a hill and the bus just died.  I waited with Steph for a bit, but then decided to walk the rest of the way.  I have faith in Africans and their ability to jimmy rig anything, but I didn’t want to wait beyond the 30 minutes I already had.  The bus did get fixed and they picked me up 2 km outside of Batouri.  Another thing about the dust on bus drives is the African spray tan.  Everyone gets sooooo dusty.  Jersey shore tan.  You could take your fingernail and scrap off the dust and draw pictures in your face.  There are also signs in the bus that say “Throwing up, spitting, and talking to the driver are forbidden”.  Most of the tires have different patterns because they just put on what works.  Even the replacement tires on the roof of the bus are old and sometimes close to bald.  Another things is we usually have to take 2 breaks so the driver’s “worker” can add new water to the radiator so it doesn't over heat.  I believe most of the drivers are Muslim so they don’t drink, or shouldn’t.  I’ve  heard from people in the North and Extreme North that the Muslims drink, just in private.  Its only 100 km from Beartoua, but our trip usually takes 3-4 hours.  On the bus people like their music.  There are usually 3 people who are playing their own music on their telephone for everyone to enjoy.  A lot of Rhianaa.  Buses honk when there are people on the road walking from village to village so they step off a bit as to not get hit.  Its usually people who went out collecting wood or are bringing back clothes after washing in the river.  I really am impressed with the durability of these buses.  These are also jus the small buses.  There are large charter buses that go from Yaounde to Beartoua or other regional capitals.  PCV’s are told never to travel at night because of highway bandits.  We have a really solid human here in Batouri who runs the Alliance agence in Batouri.  He always makes sure we have a safe departure and return.  At least with our buses we don’t have the problems that are in the west with very diverse topography that makes traveling hard during the rainy season.  I’ll have to see what traveling it like during rainy season here.

Another thing I really appreciate about Cameroon is how most things can be custom made.  Security doors, furniture made out of solid wood, shoes/sandals, grills, shops.  I got some nice leather sandals made for 7.000.  I wanted some for my bou bou outfits.  I also got another pair made just to wear around because I get made fun of for wearing my “babouches” (shower shoes) all the time.  I do it to look poor, but they wear down pretty quickly.  But this other pair of sandals is too small.  Its cool with me, helps me bargain down the price.  The same people who custom make shoes fix shoes.  If anything detaches they resow it.  Or you can get your shoes reenforced before they break.  Thats like 500 CFA, just a dollar.  There are people with established stands and there are also people who travel around with their tool box looking for work.

I’ve also mentioned this before, most every product can be bargained.  Which I love because I’m frugal.  It really comes down to who has a better argument or puts in more time.  I also bargain down the price for my fish or tools from the hardware shop.  First of all, the original price given is much high just because I’m white.  So when they give me a price too high I just low ball them and explain I’ll give them a price too low since they think they can give me a price too high because of the color of my skin.  Sometimes the vendor just gives up and asks for the money I say I’ll pay.  Or I’ll make deals, like I get these plastic trash cans to make wine in and tell the dude to give me a good deal on them and I’ll give him the wine I make in them.  Two other good techniques is just walk away or say I’m going to another vendor.  Or it could go the other way and the vender just says leave.  Its all a game.  I Love it.  For more established stores, not boutiques, prices are set and cannot be bargained.  But established stores are weird.  You pick your products, go to a guy that write you a receipt, then take that receipt to another guy where you pay and get that receipt stamped.  Then another guy records the money received in a log book.  I’ve only seen computer systems in regional capitals.  

I’ll finish this entry with photos and how much Cameroonians‘ love photos.  There are always group photos of GICs or when any group of people meet up (organizations, friends, celebrations).  Developing photos is one thing, but there are also these photo studios.  They have both 35mm and digital.  Black and white or color.  In the studio there are these weird backgrounds.  Like waterfalls, jungles, egyptian pyramids, a fancy looking house with a Benz in the garage.  They also have flowers, chairs, and other accessories to accent your photo.  I decided I want to get head shots of PCVs that visit me or Cameroonian friends that I make here.  Silly pictures.  Good memories.  Things I can laugh at and reminisce about when I need a cane.  It only cost 500 CFA to get the photo taken and developed.  If you give the digital files of photos is 300 CFA to develop.  Cameroonian’s like photos of themselves.  When I was in PST there were a couple of the language teachers with pictures of themselves as the background on their computer.  I have also noticed in some houses of Cameroonians I’ve been invited to that they have pictures of themselves.  I dunno why.  Maybe they felt they looks super fly and want that to be a reminder to not loose it.  This is already a long entry.  I’ve got two cultural celebrations to write about that were both bizarre.  Bilingual week and Youth Day.  I’ve got pictures from both for fb, but I’ll write about that after I visit Mindourou.  Oh yea, I’m finally gonna visit where my community host lives.  I am blessed to have my post mate Janelle accompany me on this trip so nothing is lost in translation when I try to discover what work is actually possible in his village.  I leave this Sunday, the 12th.  Wow.  In about a month is will be IST.  Toodles for now. Du courage Americans.  I’ve heard how crazy some things are in America.  I’m glad to be in Africa except for the fact that my loved ones are across an ocean. 

12/01/2012

12/01/2012

I’ve been back at post for a couple of weeks and its my usual siesta time, but I’ll share some thoughts instead.  I found out the Tobacco man of the east will be coming out the 16th.  I think our last post mate Janelle will be returning at the end of this month.  Also at the end of this month we, the East, have a regional meetings where all volunteers meet up at the regional capital to discuss how things have been going at post and what possible collaboration projects we could do.

Some new things.  I have some hired help.  Originally there was an older man named Beroko who worked for the previous volunteer in this house, cleaning and doing laundry, but he is now a chef.  He asked me if he son could do the same work.  I didn’t want the help but he doesn’t go to school or have other work, like most of the youth here and in all of Cameroon.  I didn’t want him here as frequently though.  The previous volunteer had Beroko come by 8 times a month, so twice a week.  I have his son, Harris, come by twice a week, but only 2 times a month.  He gets paid 5.000 CFA a month.  My place is now not as dusty during the dry season and he cleans my clothes better than I ever have.  He's 22 I think.  He’s coming by tomorrow actually, and he actually shows up on time, which isn't very African.  But he also lives right across the street.  By recommendation of my parents I have also started a daily recount journal.  Not really a journal, but just what I did that day.  Thank you mom and dad, the idea has been facile and beneficial.  I think it will also be nice when I am old to go back and read about all the random things I did day by day.  I have a blog, but these are mostly rants or observations of culture.  I am also using the awesome journal my sister gave me as a gift right before I left : )  I Love and miss you all very much : )  

I bought a couple of street DVDs one night and have only watched the music video collection of Michael Jackson (like 20 videos).  Let me enlighten you on how random some of these illegal street DVDs are.  One DVD called “Pirates de Caraibe 3” has all 3 Pirates of the Carabian, The Medallion with Jackie Chan, Walking Tall with The Rock, Sin City, and National Treasure.  The second DVD has 8 Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.  Thats usually how movies are sold here.  Either by genre, or by actor(s).  My last DVD is 4 movies by Stallone and 4 by Chuck Norris.  Everything but the Michael Jackson DVD is in French, so I figured it would be good listening practice.  Let me get back to MJ though.  I don’t remember a lot of MJ music videos, maybe the big name ones that are recreated for talent shows, but his videos are wild. Or bizzare.  Like BAD.  Super unique which I like, but I didn’t fully appreciate his style of creation.  It makes me want to see “This is IT”.

I read a book called “My Life as an Experiment” by A.J. Jacobs and would highly recommend it.  This is a book that was sent to me by my awesome Bybee.  I feel I would get along well with A.J. and look forward to reading his other book that was sent to me.  He just puts himself into different experiences and reports about them.  I like putting myself into experiences as well, comme le corps de la paix.  

I don’t know if I’ve shared this before but street manicures are popular here.  I don’t know the cost, but there are individuals who walk around clicking scissors to get peoples attention who need their nails tidied up.  Must be interesting to see hands all day, and feel different hands all day.  I usually see the Muslims getting this work done.  I’ve also only seen it on the hands and never the feet.  

In PST I did a presentation on the Neem tree (the magical tree) because its an awesome species.  One fact I brought up was that its popular to use the young stems as a tooth brush, especially in India.  One morning I saw a guy walking around rubbing a twig in his mouth and he confirmed with me that it was neem.  Called it the “La brosse au Afrique”.  Side note.  I love how popular salutations and good byes are here because of the variety of selection.  Its going to be weird to go back and visit America with that sense of friendliness with strangers and it be accepted, for the majority.  

One night for dinner I was having fish and baton with Stephanie and I saw some stuff gong on behind the fish mama stands that caught my curiosity.  So while my fish was cooking I got up to investigate.  One place, where I thought kids were playing foosball, they were playing craps.  Everyone was very inviting but of course I had no interest.  The next was a theatre.  But it was a porno theatre.  At least at night it is.  I walked in through the curtain and theres porno playing on a 90’s TV with a bunch of benches and men in a dark room.  They all yell at me so I peace out pretty quick.  I asked my friend Omar and its a theatre throughout the day, 100 CFA per showing, but they just save the dirty stuff for night time.

When electricity goes out here, which has been happening more frequently, people can go to boutiques and pay to have their phone charged.  The boutiques with generators bien sur.  100 CFA a charge.  Or its also popular to charge your phone at the travel agencies.  There are just open outlet plugs where people get to mooch off of.  

Another interesting thing, in the clothing or sheet market area shop keepers will spread water on the soil in front of their shop to keep the dust down so their product looks good.  This is because dust is everywhere during the dry season.  I like getting to pee on the side of the road and watch a plant turn green again because my tinkle washes the dust off.  This is another reason why washing shoes is so popular.  I usually wear my bathroom sandals or Chacos out and my feet always come back gross.  Shoes area really big here, like status wise.  I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that before.  Which is why its important to keep your shoes looking fresh and cleaning them probably daily.  I don’t yet, but assume I will.  I’ve only cleaned my Chacos a couple of times and my mountain boots after the field trip to the NW region where we had to help push the bus up a hill.  I bought some nice “leather” sandals to wear with my bou bou ensembles.  Since they’re made in China I need to take them to a shoe dude to reenforce the work so they actually last.  

The local water spot recently broke as well.  Its not a pump forage, but just a spout that people fill their bidons and buckets at.  I don’t know why its broken, my neighbors say its because kids play on it all the time.  I think there’s more too it.  Anyways, I am blessed at my post because I have a well that has a pump in it to move water to this water tower that is then gravity fed into my house.  There are maybe a handful, < 5, other houses that have this in Batouri.  My immediate neighbors asked to use my well so they didn’t have to travel to the other forage to get their water and I had to deny them because they then word would spread out that the white man opened up his well to the neighborhood.  Its also really deep and empty since its the dry season and in my post book a previous volunteer mentioned that they let their neighbors use the well but when the bucket dropped it hit and broke the pump.  So a large sum was paid to replace the pump.  Getting asked for water, money, or a way to America has become very common.  Kids usually ask for 100 CFA.  Adults ask for a “financier” for a project they want to do or just for work.  Then some people apparently have money, but need help getting to America.  I have no idea how that works so I just tell them to visit the embassy in Yaounde to find out the process and application.  I need to load a picture of what it looks like from my water tower just so you get an idea of what its like to live in this house with all its amenities.  Initially over sight visit I thought I would like all the space, but now its just too much.  I am surrounded by traditional houses with earth bricks and subtle tin roofs, but most have electricity and even satellite TV.  Omar, my breakfast homeboy, lives in one room with a bed and shares that with another dude who I guess is a friend.  Having this place makes me very hesitant to invite people over.  There have been quite a few people who insistently ask when I’m going to invite them over to party or just to visit and I just say “one day” or “patience”.  Patience is the common phrase if someone is sick or not doing well.  “Just have patience and it will be ok”.

My community host, Hubert, who lives in a small pigmey village called Mindourou, actually came to Batouri for a visit.  I didn’t get to see him over site visit because there was not enough time.  From Batouri its about another 3 hours on the prison bus and if I miss the bus in the evening I’m spending the night there I would assume at his place on the floor.  Well, last Sunday I get a random call from him at about 8 am saying he will arrive in Batouri in about 30 minutes.  About an hour later he shows up and one of his sons is with him.  I found out his son lives here in Batouri to go to school.  So I assumed Hubert came into town so we could meet with the institution he works, CODAS, with together and come up with some ideas, plans, maybe a visit to his village.  We walk to CODAS and its closed like most places on sunday.  Apres ca we head to my place where we can rest for a bit, since he just traveled for 3 hours, and come up with a game plan.  The plan was, meet later that evening, for dinner I guess, and visit CODAS Monday morning at 9.  Time is very different here so I knew it was going to be around 11.  I wait at my house all evening and never hear from Hubert again.  I actually end up falling asleep waiting for him and wake up around 11 pm and get into bed.  The next day I get up ready for the meeting at wait until about 11 and then head to CODAS to see if he was there.  When I saw the guy in charge of CODAS I asked if he’s seen Hubert and he said “Oh, hes in village”, but I informed him that he came into town to visit.  When Hubert arrived he informed me he would be leaving here Tuesday so I figured the meeting was not going to happen.  I called him up Tuesday night to see if he got back to village ok (He has a village phone, its 1 phone for everyone to use in the village).  Someone else answered and said Hubert would call me back.  He calls me back and says he’s still in Batouri.  So I make another attempt at setting up a meeting.  I ask him if he could meet at my house tomorrow morning, Wednesday, and we go to CODAS to discuss possible work.  He says sure, we’ll meet at 9 and head up there.  He also apologized for not making the last meeting because he was too tired.  I’m making the assumption he was just spending time with family here because he probably doesn't get to see them often which isn't a problem with me.  I waited until noon Wednesday for Hubert at my house.  I didn’t call him this time or go to CODAS.  I feel if he’s not going to put in the effort in a meeting, he’s not likely to put effort in the possible work that could be done in his village.  I haven’t talked to him since.  I told him I would plan on visiting his village at the end of the month, but I would like to do with Janelle whose french is much better than mine.  Its a 6 hour round trip and cost 3.000 and I know my french wouldn’t comprehend most of what would be brought up.  Hubert only has like 12 teeth and he speaks very quickly.  But then I remembered our regional meeting at the end of the months, so maybe it will be early February when I visit. 

I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time out of their day to keep in touch, write a letter, or send a google text.  It makes a big difference.  The loneliness has sunken in for me after this first month.  I get out explore, try to make conversation with people, explain why I’m here.  But I finally feel the “fishbowl” effect that was constantly described to us throughout PST.  Being in such a large “different” house doesn’t make it any easier.  Its also a time period where we aren't doing much but integrating.  Thank you again, it really makes my day.        

One last random thing before I end; I saw a chimpanzee today when I was walking around as someones “pet”.  I’ve seen other “pet” monkeys around, but never a chimpanzee.  All I really got to see was this lady bothering the monkey and treating it like a child whose been in trouble.  Yelling at it and trying to hit it with her sandal and then laughing.  All thats going through my mind is that monkey biting this ladies calf or that story where the huge chimpanzee in America nearly ripped that ladies face off.     

Nous sommes ensemble et du courage.    

02.01.2012

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. 

10.12.2011

10.12.2011

Bonjour tout le monde.  I’m half awake on the couch at the case in Yaounde.  I left Bafia yesterday and am now in route to Bertoua.  Left it because the PST est complete!  53 people swore in yesterday and pushed Cameroon's volunteer number over 200.  The swear in ceremony induced a sureal feeling in my corps.  It wasn't super fancy or anything, but it was interesting sitting there knowing it was the event waited upon after PST and right before post.  Everyone was looking super fly/ beautiful in their panya.  We got to hear many speeches.  Three were given from the new volunteers about their experience in PST.  One in French, Fulfulde, and Pidgin.  The director of training, country director, and ambassador spoke.  Its got to be a unique experience to work for the PC and get to see groups of enthusiastic Americans going out into Cameroon after training and see how their doing a year, or at COS.  Human interaction is interesting.  There was boucoup de photographs that day.  So many cameras.  Serving in the Peace Corps in the new millennium is a very different experience than all previous decades.  From what I could assume.  Internet, Computers, Instant pictures, Facebook.  Its a trip.  Its a trip being in the case and seeing over half the volunteers on their laptops using the internet to skype or fb.  Its a blessing to have that connivence to keep in touch with loved ones rapidly, but its just different.  There are a lot of old school pictures here from volunteers in the 70s and 80s. Back to the last day in Baifia.  After the ceremony we had a homestay family appreciation lunch that was delicious.  My mom got super dressed up and even put on a weave to have straight hair.  I didn’t recognize her at the ceremony when I was searching, but everyones family got super dressed up.  The CD went around to each family and gave a certificate and took pictures with them.  Then anyone got a picture with the Ambassador that wanted one.  My mom had to peace out early because she had to get back to work.  My dad was sick and couldn’t even make it to the lunch.  Ensuit people started going to the hotel for the big shin dig that went goes down at the end of every stage.  I went early to take a nap to have energy for all the dancing that was gonna go down.  That was the first night after 4 months where we didn’t have a curfew or get one extended.  The party that night was a lot of fun.  There was so much dancing.  People could wring out their shirts and some people changed into new clothes throughout the night.  Our formatures and formatreces where there.  The people who have been teaching us all throughout PST.  I went to bed early compared to most, but I had to say peace out to my family the following morning before loading up to come to Yaounde.  It was nice walking through Bafia at 6 in the morning.  That was the first time I’ve done that.  The sun was barley up.  The air was real cool and there was fog everywhere.  The roads were pretty empty, not many people or motos running.  It was also quite.  No school children.  No deranging.  It was a nice atmosphere for my final promenade in Bafia.  When I got home mama told me my dad slept at the hospital because of work.  My sisters were in different, the 8 year old didn’t want to give me a hug.  Mama was nice and gave me a speech that I didn’t completely understand, but I got the gist.  I gave my last hugs and before I left on the road I turned around for one last goodbye they were just back in the routine of morning chores.  

***********

Okay, this is another entry where I changed locations and let a lot of time pass before I finished.  I am not in Bertoua staying at the East case waiting for 2 more volunteers to come in for the night.  We arrived yesterday, but stayed today to get some things in the regional capital for our new homes.  All I needed was a stove and gas tank and there is currently no gas in Bertoua.  There are also 2 visitors here from the SW region.  A SED and ED volunteer.  Their school is on break so they are traveling to the East and then to the North.  Its lucky that we even got into the case.  We were given keys, but the one for the outside door didn’t work.  Although the cleaning lady just happened to be there that day and at the time we arrived.  It only cost 200 CFA to stay at the case per night.  Thats less than 50 cents.  Its cheaper than other cases because it gets less traffic.  The one at PC headquarters cost 500 CFA a night.  That place is more like a frat house.  A majority of people don’t clean up after themselves or come home at 5 in the morning because the gates close at 11. 

Jessica and Jupiter will be at the agency to meet us tomorrow, but they depart the following day to head to Yaounde for their wedding.  Once I get to post it will be another welcomed change.  “Nassada” is the word for white person in Fulfuldie.  That spellings not correct.  Its what the Muslims call us.  Side note, I was right about that Amanda homegirl getting the star trainee award.  Hommies just arrived now.  The cost of the trip was 4.000 and we paid 5.000 to get all of our property on the bus.  So like $20 to go over 300 km with all the stuff I’m moving with.  Its gonna be like 4.000 cfa to get from here to Batouri.  First thing I’m doing when I get to post is changing my locks.  Theres not much I need to do with my crib.  Get a mattress.  I’m going to be pretty frugal like I am in the states.  There is already a good amount of furniture and other household supplies waiting at my crib.  I lucked out with that.  I’m distracted.  Im trying to write and talk at the same time and I know will just end up making another break in this post.  Toodles for now.                            

5.12.2011

5.12.2011

Today is awesome!  I am high on el eye eff eye.  It is a Monday afternoon at the training house and I am relaxing in the main chambre listening to De La Soul.  Its a very laid back day today because we swear in on Thursday and peace out to our post on Friday.  I’ll probably get to Batouri around Tuesday because I have to do banking in the regional capital on monday.  Agros have a presentation to give tomorrow about something you would possible present at post.  I’m sharing the benefits of improved cook stoves.  We only have one language class today and the rest of day is preparation for the presentation tomorrow.  Thats the final thing  Its wild to know we are gonna peace out at the end of the week.  I will miss the freedom of getting to see all these people that I’ve gotten the opportunity to meet.  We would have never met under any other circumstance.  Maybe two of these human who were from Texas.  This stage group is a solid bunch of humans.  It sucks that the Agros and YDs were kind of separated from the Sante volunteers, but theres 2 years of possible visits.  There have been quite a few dance parties in the recent past since we are all leaving.  We are also going to have a grande party the night of swearing in.  There were multiple times where I just sat and watched everyone interact.  I did the same thing because I said peace out in the US and got to hang out with some people.  It can seem pretty creepy from an observer, but we wont have that at all in a bit.  Soon we will all be alone at our post building our own schedules and trying to communicate with the local languages.  Some people have other Americans as post mates, but some are au village.  There are big clusters of volunteers in the Western part of the country.  I have 3 other volunteers in my town.  I’m ready for the next change.  I’m ready to get to my crib and interacting like an amebia in a foreign solution.  Making new friends.  Filtering through the snakes.  But you can’t blame the people for looking at Americans, or people of different colors, as a hand out.  More often than not they recieve hand outs and have come to expect it because they don’t necessarily differentiate between all the organizations here.

I’ve got a lot of plans for my crib.  Many are probably not feasible, but time is something PCVs have.  I wanna make a shawshank redemption hole.  That wont work because it would fill up and be destroyed during the rainy season.  I plan on making all my furniture out of bamboo.  Theres a lot of that for free in the east.  I want to make a structure to hang my bed from so it dangles like a swing.  I’m gonna see a fence of moringa.  Moringa doesnt grow freely in America, but it is an amazing tree.  Google it.  I wanna get some chickens and goats, once I’m sure they won‘t get stolen from my crib.  I want to paint murals on my walls, but I think coming across quality paint would be difficult.  There is a PC project called the World Map project.  You basically break down a world map into tiny squares to make it easier to draw with accuracy.  Speaking of painting, there is a dude here in Bafia who does these amazing oil paintings from photos.  You just bring in a photo and he turns it into amazing artwork.  I dunno how much it cost but I really want a ridiculous picture made.  Like me riding a polar bear on Mount Cameroon with a bunch of plantains on my back.  I also wanna get a painted picture of my host family and me.  I’m sure we will get a nice one on the day of swearing in.  

I’m also sweating happiness because I got mail today!  I got 2 packages and 3 letters.  Magical.  One package was from my awesome human in Carrollton named KIM!    No last names because theres a lot of creepers. If you know a solid human in your life write them today.  There is a good chance you have more than one, but just take the time to write one.  It really illustrates the message if you take them time to do it, je ponse.  Boucoup de hygiene products and some books.  My grandmother wrote me too!    I also recieved letters and a packaged from my el aye dee why in Colorado : )  I’ve gotta get down on some letters ASAP.  Since I’m going to post I would love picture of humans from back home.  Cameroonian love pictures of the people American’s know.  It blows the minds of certain people when they see that there are blacks, asians, and anyone whose not white in America.  They also are just curious as humans are.           Anyone whose got the time it would make my month.  Address be:

Mike Burbidge

Corp de la Paix

B.P. 215 

Yaounde, Cameroon, Africa

C/O U.S. Embassy Cameroon

My address isn't going to change once I go to the East because I’m not going to trust the post to the East.  If it makes it to Yaounde no problems I’ll trust it with PC.  Volunteers traveling back and forth to Yaounde pick up each others stuff for the East.

I wonder what little kids think when they see me.  I’ll be getting water at the well or forage and little kids just stare.  I can stare back and it doesn't phase them, but when I speak to them in French most don't respond and look away.  But whats going on in their head.  How do they precieve white people.  For some people au village a PC volunteer is the only American they will probably ever see.  Its also interesting to observe the expression of really old people au village who see Americans.  Some are amazed because they’ve gone that long in their life and finally see one.  I don’t think its that frequently since the PC has been in Cameroon for 50 years.  

Side story.  I got home last night and drank palm wine with my dad and his friend.  Then they whipped out some i dunno what from village.  I think it was bark.  But they rubbed it up in their hands and then licked it off, or put it in the palm wine.  I dunno what its supposed to do.  I thought I was going to hallucinate for a bit, but I think it was just a spice that compliments palm wine?  Palm wine is alright.  Then my dad started saying how he was going to hook me up with a Cameroonian.  He went into detail but I didn’t pick a lot of it up.  Then I got to meet the sister of my mom whose married to a chief of a village.  Apparently if my mom here dies, my dad gets to have her little sister as his new wife.  I dunno how that works out of she's already got a husband?  I finally comprehended why my family is getting a second house built here.  They are building a second house for their family.  They have a bunch of extended family in Bafia or close by and they just wanted to have a house built so they could all live together.  I still havent seen it.  I probably will when I come back to visit.  

I shaved myself except for a mustache today.  For those who have seen me with a mustache know how giggly it is.  I think its gonna trip out my family when I go back home tonight.  They already told me they are going to get me pimont and a gourd to drink out of.  My hommie, the first hommie I encountered on this journey, is going to be giving a speech at swearing in au francais.  There will also be a speech in Fulfulda and Pidgin.  If you don’t know anything about Pidgin google it.  Its hilarious.  Oh, there is also going to be a “trainee of stage”.  Stage is what training is called here.  I think I mentioned it earlier, but I see how it might be confused as reading it in the english context.  No voting by the trainees, just a choice from the teachers based mostly on integration.  I found out a dude who is in Bokito started up a boys and girls club during PST.  Wild.  Boucoup kudos to him.  I think its a Sante named Amanda.  I think they’re going to announce it at swearing in.  I wish Paul Biya and his wife would come to swearing in.  That would be mind boggling.  I’m gonna miss these human.  Miss the frequency of seeing their faces and interaction.  But it will also be good to have the rare experience of seeing them months after this to see how different or not different they will be.

I wanna give a verbal salutation to the superbe parents of Lauren Ayers : )  I got to very briefly meet these humans through a computer from the catalyst called Skype.  But I have heard multiple stories about how amazing these two people are.  I’m shoutin out because I know its going to get read : )  I wan’t you to know I’m very protective of the females in my life and Lauren is one of those females now. 

I don’t know if I’ve said this yet.  90s music is awesome in Africa.  Awesome for me.  I liked 90s music in the states, but it feel fantastic getting down on a decade old music with Africa in the background.  I dunno how the gens au Cameroon like it, but I bet it would be popular in the club.  Speaking of which I love the clubs here, or the one I have gotten to visit in Bafia.  Something you wont find in America, a hard boiled egg sales man outside the club door.  Why is he there?  Because Cameroonians get ripped when they dance and need the protein.  I love mirror dancing.  I love dancing in Cameroon in general.  There is no judgement.  You do something weird and the usual reaction is “wow, creative dance move”.  Or they just find it funny to see Americans dance.  I wish I knew how to pop and lock.  That would blow le gens away.  They like the bernie dance.  Don't know what that is.  Google it.  An homage to the classic 80s film.  I’m gonna go play volley ball matena.  A brain break before I run over my presentation.  We just have presentations and a bridge to post session tomorrow.  I think we also get to learn about what makes a lock good here.  How to tell the difference in quality and what things should cost.  Tres important.  Dude, 2012 is less than a month away.  No one forgot the world is going to end in a year right.  A day after my birthday.  Better make this year of the chain.  If the world doesn’t blow up you can always count on the stability of governments and economies today. Je bloge, about the world blowing up.      

23.11.2011

23.11.2011

It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  I will not experience many things “cold” over the next two years, especially with the weather.  All of the trainees are getting together this weekend for a pot luck Thanksgiving in Bokito.  A host mom here is killing, cleaning, and preparing 3 chickens for us at 500 CFA a head.  Everyone is bringing a dish, side, or drink on top of that.  There is only 2 weeks of training left.  Not even that, but I don’t know the exact day count.

This week all trainees had their IEP presentations.  You had to pick a cultural topic and present it in french in front of the other trainees and a panel of language trainers.  Mine was on bush meat and the impact on the sustainability of the jungle here.  Some other interesting topics were: marriage in Cameroon, breast ironing, and sorcery.  Everyone has to do an “animation” 2 days before swearing in, which is a longer presentation.  Something that you would probably share with a community group at post.  Actually, its only Agro that has to do it.  Youth Development doesn’t have to and Health has been doing group Animations with different community groups during training already.  

Originally I was going to write all about my site visit once I returned, but that obviously didn’t happen.  That was two weeks ago.  I’ll give a synopsis and not get too much into detail because once I get to post thats where I will be having my experiences.  The East is awesome though.  Super duper awesome.  I’m in Batouri, which is a pretty large city, but its surrounded by jungle.  Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, and the DRC have the most rainforest in the whole continent of Africa.  Cameroon has most of it.  There are people in my neighborhood with pet monkey.  My post house is nice because it was owned by catholic missionaries before PC started renting it out for volunteers.  There are 3 other volunteers at my post, a YD (Youth Development), an ED (Education), and a SED (Small Enterprise Development).  The SED volunteer is getting married to a Cameroonian in December.  I won’t be able to go to the wedding because I will have just arrived at post at the beginning of the month.  There is tons of possible work and I appreciate that I have other volunteers to do collaboration projects with.  But it will really all depend on what the needs of the community end up being.  Or what they are motivated to do.  The best honey comes from the East, and thats great because I like apiculture.  I didn’t get to visit the community of my host country hommie because that was another 3 hours from my post.  I didn’t have enough time just over site visit, but I’ll be going out within the first week of getting to post.  The only thing I know about his village is its en brousse and is about 7000 people.  The guy has two GICs (Community Groups) One for the men and one for the women.  Another thing I like about Batouri is there is a large Muslim population so I’ll get a fair sense of the Islamic culture over the next two years.  There was actually a big festival the first Sunday I was on site visit where a goat gets sacrificed and eaten.  People go from house to house and just eat.  

I got my outfit made for swearing in.  I’m addicted to panya.  Panya is the cultural fabric here that is amazingly beautiful and original.  I’ve talked about it multiple times before, but I’m reiterating.  Its like this Ed Hardy parrot design, but no where near as crappy, with green trimmings.  I’m actually going to centre ville tomorrow to get some more panya for 1 more outfit before I leave and 6 yards for my sisters and mom here.  Matching panya.  

I hope I get the opportunity to teach at a PST after I get to post.  PST is the training all of us are going through before we swear in as volunteers.  Its seems like a very unique experience.  To get to see all the ambitious trainees going through training, getting to see where they get posted, watching them struggle with the language like most of us do.  It will also be cool to reconnect with other people from my stage and see whats changed.  Or whats gone down at their post.  One thing I forgot to say about site visit is there are more jaded volunteers than I thought.  I didn’t come across any personally, but after talking to other trainees I found that out.  Volunteers who are really just over their service.  Over trying to continue any kind of development effort.  I know things will be very difficult at times, but thats what you signed up for.  This experience is what you make of it.  It was disheartening to hear people are using the rest of their time to travel and see Africa or remain here since America doesn’t have any more opportunities since they left.  You know Cameroon has the lowest ET rate of any country in Africa that PC is in?  ET is early termination, when people leave for personal reasons.  I don’t know the exact statistics behind that fact.  On site visit I also got to talk to quite a few ED volunteers here.  If you think you’re a good teacher, try teaching in Africa.  These are some of the most difficult environment and situations I could imagine.  Class sizes from 75-180 kids.  In the North and Extreme North the classroom is always over 100 degrees.  Some school systems just have 1 test for the quarter that determines if a person continues or repeats.  You could have 25 year olds in your 8th grade class.  The age varies so much with each class.

Just today the Agros were at the “middle school” here in Bafia to give a presentation to the environmental education club and I swear I saw a dude who was low 20’s.  But I’m not good at guessing African’s ages because they usually look much younger than they are.  There are discipline masters at the schools whose job is self explanatory.  When we entered the school today that guy just had a leather whip attached to a wooden stick.  Another way to punish kids is to have them crawl across the floor on their knees.  Why? Because when the go home and their parents see their outfits are dirty they will know why and then get disciplined at home.  There are different education systems for the Anglophone and Francophone regions.  There is much much more on the education system on Cameroon, but thats enough for now.

Volleyball has gotten popular at the training house.  We have a very small makeshift court, but its been a lot of fun.  The teachers and guards play with us now.  One girl’s IEP was about volleyball so they got to play during their presentation.  Mary, the volunteer who welcomed the big group of new trainees in Yaounde, is now a trainer for us this week.  She's teaching mostly about the theory of teaching, the education system, and Agros 3rd goal of Environmental Education.  She teaches in the Extreme North.  Very solid human being.  It was here and a dude named Carlos who welcomed us.  Carlos is also in the North.  

Last weekend we got to go to Bokito for the afternoon and spend time with the Health volunteers.  They have a nice set up in that town.  They school house is in a compound with another family.  The most ripped old man I’ve ever seen lives there.  They were showing him how to slack line.  He's ripped because he's been working in a farm all his life.  We had some drinks and then danced beaucoup.  After 10 minutes of dancing word got out in village and the next thing I knew there were a dozen little kids dancing with us.  There was one kid who stood out.  This kid must have had access to a TV and music videos.  He was trying to do pop and locking and gave very skeptical looks when someone tried to challenge his dance skills.  Later that night I went with a couple people to the local “club” here in Bafia called Hotel New Palace.  Its a hotel with a club next door.  Beaucoup du mirrors.  I finally got to witness the phenomenon of mirror dancing.  Locals are very serious when they dance with themselves in the mirror.  Or freak dance with a lady in the mirror.  People here love Rihanna.  Those were the only songs I recognized.  All the other jams were local and are just a continues rapid beat.  Oh, theres a song called “Chop my money” which is about spreading your seed.  There is also a song here called “I want you my wifey”.  Both of which are VERY popular here.  The club was weird in some ways.  The only sold liquor by the shot or bottle.  Its also hood liquor, like the stuff in sachets.  No one touched that.  I don’t know if I talked about liquor sachets, but simply, they will make you crazy.  Crazy because there is nothing like an FDA here to verify was goes into that product.  Its not distilled liquor.  There is also the belief by some mothers that giving your child a sachet of liquor does the job that vaccines would normally do.  Guys at the club derange too much.  Another wierd fact here, its not common to hold hands or kiss in public, but being upfront with how you want to insert your penis in someone is very common.  Oral sex isn’t common either.  People just get to the point here.  Theres also no such thing as “returns” with purchased items.  Maybe in big name stores in the largest cities, but I don’t think I will ever experience a “return” situation here.  Then again, I’m wont be buying many items.

Another quinky dink.  My future post mate, the SED volunteer, had the same host family as me.  Its really random that 2 volunteers from different programs in different stages would get sent to the same region and city.  Its even more rare since very few volunteers get sent to the east.  Maybe like 5% of all volunteers are in the East. 

It’s time for sleep.  I saw a terrible movie this week called 13.  You can watch it to find out for yourself, but 50 cent is in it and the dude from the transporter.  Just a terrible movie because of the plot.  Bonne Nuit mes amie.