So I apologize from the get-go...I wrote out this blog on my computer hoping that it would transfer when I got to the internet cafe but it came out as gobbly-gook. This will probably not go as indepht.
I know everyone has been at the edge of their seats wondering what's going on in Cara's life, I'm here to relieve any pain it may have caused to wait 2 weeks. I will be breaking this down into chapters to help those with short attention spans. Ps: there are pics!
Chapter 1: Une fete!
Here are some of the pics that I promised from the party at the PC Director's house when we were still in Younde. For anyone travelling in this part of the world, please me aware that Malta, though made by Guiness, is not an alcoholic beverage but a very sweet tasting ginger soda. I was quite disappointed at the first mouthful.
Me and my Younde roommate Ali, before the dinner.
Fellow trainees looking stoic.
Chapter 2: By Train, by Bushtaxi
We then took a train to the North province where we will be spending 2 monthes training before we get sent off to our posts. It was a night train that took 17 hours. When it got too dark to see out of the window the scenery was tropical forests and when the sun came up again we were seeing a sparsely treed landscape. During our 4 hour bushtaxi drive to the provincial capital, Garoua, we got to see the majestic rolling hills and flat grasses of the North. This is the end of the rainy season so the green hills will only be this way until around February. One of the current PCV ominously told us that her thermometer turned black when it hit 140 F in the last April. This is a far cry from a Hamilton winter.]
I'm bothering Kauleen on the train.
This is a scene from our bushtaxi ride. Apparently this will be the most comfortable one we will go on...no more space in real life I guess.
A group photo with the U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon with all the trainees and trainers.
Chapter 3: Home sweet home
When we arrived to our small towns outside of Garoua, we were immediately whisked away to our homestays. I was picked up by 2 of my brothers and was welcomed by their mom and 6 other siblings. My Cameroonian dad works for the cotton company and isn't home during the week. My siblings are the 3 oldest brothers Amadu (22), Assiss (18), and Kareem (17), my two sisters Salamatou (15), and Aminatou (13) and my 3 youngest brothers Siebou (12), Ismael (10), and Aminou (8). My family is so friendly and patient with me and my caveman French. Eventually I have to also learn Fufulde, which is their first language and the main language other than French in Northern Cameroon.
Last week was the end of Ramadan and my family, being Muslim, was fasting until then. This means no food or drink (including water) from 3am until 6pm. In this heat, this is no small feat. I'm currently trying to put up pictures that I took of my homestay family in their party finery but it isn't working. Grrrrrr slow, confusing internet! Ah well, ca va.
Here's me and some of my family finally!
I gave my little brothers balloons and bubbles for Ramadan presents. I have never seen kids so afraid of blowing up balloons in my life! Even my teenage brothers ran out of the room when I was do it.
Chapter 4: Freedom via bikes and motos
This is my moto helmet that I MUST wear. It was very exciting because yesterday we had bike training so I got a sweet bike and a helmet too. My host bros and sisters laughed when they saw me wearing it. I think it was only then that they realized that I am a dork. It was bound to happen sometime. On the taxi to internet a goat tried to eat my hair...extremely traumatic I know.
Chapter 4: Misc
I've forgotten most of what I wrote now, which is too bad. I hope everyone is doing well...I was listening to BBC news last night on my hand crank radio and it seems that the world thinks that America may be losing her super power status. I wonder what the American media spin has to say about the buy outs.
Next time, I will write out what I wanted to say using pen and paper.
A scene during a dash to shelter before a storm. I got soaked anyway.