I’ve made it to Yaounde after a 6 or 7 hour drive…trust me, it was painful.  Our first day after arrival was spent touring the city, visiting a congressional building, watching a group coordinator lower the price of some gold framed sunglasses from 12000 to 1000, , being told we could be arrested for photographing the center of the city, and meeting with the American embassy in Cameroon.  All of this was very interesting – you’ll have to ask for details when I’m back. 

Yesterday we visited the monastary, which was…interesting.  A lot of combining old Cameroonian tribal beliefs with Christianity – it wasn’t really working for me.  Then we got a tour of the brasseries de Cameroon – now that was great.  I’ve never seen or smelled so much beer in my life, and the tasting was deeeeelicious – don’t worry Mom, just a sip.  Again – details upon request. 

Today we embarked on an even longer drive than the first to Bamenda.  Tomorrow we will be visiting the fon or chief of the city…something like that (but don’t take my word for it_.  Then we’ll be heading to the market to spend all our precious francs. 

We head back to Kumba the next day, have a farewell party on Sunday, and start home around 11 at night on Monday.  I’ll be back in the US at 6:30 p.m. Michigan time!

Sorry to be brief, but I’ll be back soon enough to explain all my adventures to everyone!  See you on the other side of the Atlantic!

When I say this church is on a hill – I mean HILL.  I was definitely about to pass out halfway up these stairs, but that may have been the fact that I’d already walked a mile or two that day.  But wow, was it worth it.  The city was gorgeous and silhouetted against mount cameroon in the distance.  I wish you all could have seen it – but that’s what pictures are for!

Saturday morning the whole group went to the market.  I ended up buying some more fabric (I couldn’t resist)  and more authentic African music of this region.  It sounds pretty cool…

Later that day, we took some alcottas – the motorcycle taxis – to the conjuction to Lake Borombi.  This was dangerous, not just because I saw one of the alcottas get into an accident the other day, but because the lake is infested with evil magic and witches (we were told by the well-informed villagers).  That lake was the clearest I’ve ever seen – again with the mountains against us.  It was another amazing sight to see!

That night we had a pool party and I chilled out to my African hip hop cd and some topamplemousse and ground nuts – it’s great stuff, let me tell you. 

Today my host parents took us out to a fancy hotel for lunch – I think I ate half a chicken, some french fries, veggies and fruit.  It was the most I’ve eaten on this trip – and that’s saying something.  Then we headed to Fiango to St. Francis school to play football with the locals.  I actually kicked the ball a few times, so I’m pretty proud. 

Sorry for the briefness – but the connection is honestly horrible.  Talk to you in Yaounde or Beminda!

On Sunday, my roommate and I attended mass – still not understanding a word of it, but they sang a familiar song, which was pretty convenient.  At least we could contribute that much.  Later in the day, our whole group took 3 taxis and visited Mah Di’s orphanage.  We stayed only about half an hour, but that was enough to bring us to tears and send us home wanting to do something for these children.  This woman has opened a home for the orphans of Kumba, with space  for twenty between the ages of 1 day to 12 years.  It is government funded, but in a developing country, that means little.  There largest donation comes to about 600 dollars.  When we walked up to the building, several of the kids ran to meet us, motioned to be held or took our hands to lead us in.  Some were shy, but most were excited by our presence and the attention that we could give.  We all watched as they were given donations from the university as well as personal gifts (I graciously sacrificed my mickey mouse coloring book and crayons).  Before we left, the older children began to sing together, mostly religious songs reflecting the comraderie among them all, and almost everyone was crying.  I only wish I could have brought more to give.

On Monday, my roommate Kristen and I went to Fiango, a poverty-stricken village near Kumba where our “host sister” Lillian lives.  Lillian works for catholic relief services and offered to take us to some of the HIV patients that she looks in on.  It was some of the most awkward moments of my life.  The firsttwo patients wanted to thank us for all that we had done for them, thinking it was our personal donations that were helping them in their illness, but Lillian was quick to correct them by saying we were merely visiting.  After walking around a few miles and getting thoroughly soaked, we came to the house of a chief elder of some sort whose daughter was suffering HIV.  We were led into a small room at the front of their house.  After a few minutes of silence, Lillian told us that we were expected to say something to them.  This brought us up short.  What are we supposed to say to someone who is clearly dying?  After some contemplating, Kristen talked of how she was blessed to still be here and that our prayers would be with her, and I silently agreed.  We came home confused about the whole ordeal.

On a different note, the clinic has been a lot busier these past few days.  We’ve seen a lot of patients and been a lot more involved in the examination process.  I witnessed my second surgery.  Actually…I should say that I tried to watch.  I had to leave several times for fear of getting sick in the operating room, and eventually did not come back because I was so faint.  I never would have though myself so weak – but perhaps it was just the bloodiness of the operation or that the patient was moving his toes the whole time.

We’ve beentrying to enjoy the last couple days in Kumba before we leave next Monday to travel to Yaounde and Beminda for a week.  I bought a lot of interesting fabric and took some to a seamstress to get a dress made.  Hopefully it’ll turn out alright.  Our group has been meeting often to discuss our experiences, and last night enjoyed a swim at one of our host family’s pool, which was much needed.

Tonight I’ll be making some no-bake cookies, if all goes well.  At this rate, I’d kill for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and something besides all the carbonation and french fries we’ve been inhaling.

Hopefully I’ll make another appearance soon before departing for the nation’s capital!

After leaving work on Friday at 9:45…my clinic buddy and I were taken to the market by one of her older “brothers” named Akwo.  He was a really nice guy – though not exceptional in the bargaining department.  I bought 3 different materials (6 yds each) for 9000 francs total – that’s barely over a dollar a yard.  I hope to take one to a seamstress soon to get myself a sweet African dress!  Akwo also said that there is another market close to us where we can buy more authentic African souveniers – woodwork, masks, etc…so I’ll have to see what I can get there.

Today we went to Barombi (I think) where the ETHOS engineers are completing a water project to get clean water to the village.  It was generally what I expected would be my situation in Kumba – much more downtrodden and the poverty more  obvious.  We hiked uphill for 1 or 2 miles to see the pipelines and then were fed a VERY generous meal by the village elders.  I had a hard time with this, as children in the town (with distended bellies) crowded around us.  Other than that, we were entertained with some drumming and a man who dressed up in burlap sacks dancing around the yard and eventually around us as we left.

Tomorrow I’ll be going to mass (hopefully not the 6:00 service) and then will visit an orphanage.  One of my host sisters also works with catholic relief services and may be showing me the homes of some HIV patients as well as orphans that she cares for.  I have just a few hours to get ready for our big 4th of July party tonight! Hope you’re all having fun in the states!

On a brighter note – the clinic really isn’t that exciting.  All of these things honestly happen in the first few hours of the day, and then we leave because there is nothing else for us to do, once we have taken the vitals of outpatients (blood pressure, pulse, etc…).  After the first day of work, one of the nursing students took us out for “foo foo,” quite honestly the most disgusting thing I hvae ever consumed.  It looked, felt, and tasted like play doh, only more sour.  We dipped it into this green herb-like mess that was marinatedwith cow skin, which was also sitting in the bowl and supposed to be eaten.  I managed four bites and quit. 

The streets of kumba are  exciting, you’re either in danger of being hit by rogue cars and motorcycles (which are used as taxis) from all sides, or  being chased by little boys screaming “white man” in excitement.  Once a pack of 8 boys did this, the smallest of them whose voice cracked when he yelled for us with a huge smile on his face.  It was adorable. 

Semi beach was my first atlantic ocean experience, and man was it gorgeous.  The sand was dark brown to the point of being black, and the waves just high enough to be extremely fun, but not too dangerous.  You couldn’t see anything in the water – but that wouldn’t have mattered.  We were all so exhausted from our travels in that first week that we just ran in.  We were out there for several hours.  Some french locals asked for our picture to be taken with them, and the proceeded to slap sand on our chests so that we would “match.”   It was honestly the most fun we’ve had yet. 

Last night my roommate and I were called from our main house balcony to join some friends and their host family for a drink.  We walked the night streets of Kumba (very sketchy, but with 5 boys, what can go wrong?)  and ended up at this really dimly lit bar.  Don’t worry mother, I got a coke, but it was enormous and I couldn’t sleep for a LONG time.  They use only glass bottles here, and recycle them often.  This is the only thing I’ve seen recycled.  Most people burn their trash, and whatever isn’t burned is simply thrown into the streets.  The pollution is extremely bad, and no cameroonian will support you in your assertion that they have a beautiful country when there’s a pile of trash in the mud at your feet.  And though our host family has a large gated house (2 in fact), they live across the street and next to the poorest of accomodations, small wooden shanties with rusted tin roofs.

This truly has been a learning experience, and the lack of development astonishing for a country that is labeled a “developing nation”

More to come!

We left after one night in Kumba and many mosquito bites (malaria?!).  So far we’ve been to an oil refinery – where I understood the process of distillation, a rubber plant, and the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC).  Yesterday, we were at a tea factory – and something else that I already forget.  Our hotel featured some live music, which convinced me that I need to pick up some CD’s.  There was a lot of dancing, and I was honored with a couples’ dance with a member of the band -hahaha, we were one of 4 people dancing at that time, and I was the only one from the group.

That’s all for now – I’ve been trying to get the internet up for a few hours, and there’s been a line up after me.

Talk to you when I’m back at Kumba and assigned to a clinic!

Don’t forget about me while I become African…I’ll miss you all!