Mokolo!

Had a quick morning of classes then had the whole afternoon to do what we wanted. On Thursdays the office is open until 8 pm instead of 4:30 and the program staff drives us back to our homes so we’re safe after dark. Yesterday a bunch of us went into centre ville and bought African fabric so today Sasha, Abby and I went to a tailor to commission clothes to be made. I’m getting a high-waited skirt.. so excited to see how it turns out! After that we took a taxi to an enormous market. It’s amazing that we could get around on our own without feeling uncomfortable or out of our element.. what a difference a week makes. We befriended a guy named Junior who loved Sasha and he had a great leather bag that I loved so I asked where I could find one like it. We went into a back alley but they didn’t have anything great so we were about to leave when he asked if I wanted to buy his. We bartered for a while and eventually I bought it for $6 and I love it so much! I’m going to the tailor to get a zipper put in tomorrow so it’s safer to walk around with it. It was such an amazing experience. But I got back though I realized that someone had slashed a big tear in my LongChamp. While concerning, nothing was taken and I guess I just realize that I have to expect some bad things to happen here and to not let them get me down, and I was so lucky to leave with all my valuables. Hopefully someone here can repair it. When we got back we went to the grocery store to get materials for dinner. We made an enormous amount of pasta, with vegetable and tomato sauce and beans.. so delicious. We played some get to know you games because we realized while we have come to rely on each other so much we really don’t know each other yet. Now going home to skim some readings and off to bed!!

Marche Mokolo! Really doesn't show at all how crazy this market actually is.

Some small shops along the road with the mountains in the background.

Junior, our new friend who sold me his bag

Pretty light at dusk

First Thursday American dinner! (Sasha, Thyra and me)

Une Visite a l'Artisanat

First day of French classes. Wasn’t really looking forward to it because I’m so used to French class being boring. But we took a field trip to l’artisanat – a market that sells things more for tourists than for locals. It was so fun to walk around and see all sorts of masks and jewelry and talk with the vendors who are, of course, very aggressive, but also very nice. It really puts our French to the test when we have to barter and fake knowledge about how much something should cost but it’s so fun. When we came back we talked about our experiences and by then it was already time for lunch. I went to a pizzeria with some guys.. just to see Cameroon’s take on pizza. It was okay not great, but definitely overpriced. After lunch we had our field study seminar where we began to talk about the research process. It was pouring after class so no exploring today. When I got home I went on a run (so tough to remember I have to be in shape when I get back!!) and started some reading. We talk so much about being integrated that I figured I can do homework anytime but when can I hang out with my African host sisters. So I talked with Maillaka (9 years old) about her school and she asked what I was doing and I learned a lot about her life and that she’s been to France a bunch of times because her dad is living there right now. Had to stay up later than normal to finish reading but definitely worth it. We had a great dinner of pasta with bolognaise, carrots, yams and pineapple - my favorite meal since being here. Starting to get in the swing of things!

Also sidenote – please comment! I love reading them and it makes me happy to check my email and find emails from everyone!

Part of the l'artisanat 

Selfies in the market

View from the porch

My family!!

Je suis etudiante! (September 10)

Today was the first day of school and I was so excited to hear about everyone’s experiences with their host families and speak some English! There was really quite a range. One family doesn’t have running water at all and they have to do retrieve it from a dangerous trench, but on the other end of the spectrum another family has a maid and does very little manual labor. We talked about host family experiences all morning and at noon went to find lunch. We are given $3 every day for lunch and you can easily go to a restaurant and eat for that much. A couple other girls and I opted to buy supplies at the grocery store and cook it at the office though, scrambled eggs with green peppers yum. We talked for a while in the afternoon then went exploring. When I got home my host mother was wearing my scarf which was definitely weird but the culture here is very communal so what belongs to me belongs to them. Something to get used to. I gave them presents for having me stay with them, coloring books, crayons, mini lollipops, Red Sox hat and shirt and bouncy balls. The kids went wild they were so excited. I hung out with my 5 year old sister for a while before dinner and we played dolls and I showed her pictures of my family which she loved. I’m starting to feel like a real part of the family :)

Road to school

View from school

Ilana et moi!! In the living room of my house.

Moi? Je viens de Cameroon (September 8)

First morning really living in Cameroon. The girls started to warm up to me, the strange white girl in their house. We walked around the backyard and chased the chickens (and the roosters that are my new 5 am alarm clocks), two super cute kittens and the “guard dog” Julie who is actually the sweetest. Then I went out with Maman to do errands. The roads here are all filled with vendors and markets and the roads are madness with absolutely no rules. We took an enormous bag of peanuts to a guy who grinded them up, mixed them with rice and turned the combination into a powder we later made into balls of doughy stuff. It was quite the scene to observe while we waited with a vendor in front of us salting tons of sheep skins. Maman took the scraps off the ground (complete with hair) to cook for the dog and for our live-in maid who likes the meat from the pieces. After we were done Maman dropped me at the office for my language placement test. After the test I attempted to walk home and found the street very easily but for the life of me could not find the right gate. I walked for an hour up and down the street looking like a complete fool. It was a little scary because guys kept walking with me and telling me how “exquisite” I was. Trying to realize that this is just the culture and they do this to Cameroonian girls too but didn’t feel very comfortable with it happening while I was alone. But FINALLY I found my house! Such a relief. Watched French television with Maman for a while then made some dinner but in the middle of eating the power went off which is apparently very common. But pas de probleme! Dinner by lantern and off to bed. Overall great first day being Cameroonian, despite the challenges.

A picture of the whole group! 

Bye bye Monastery Bonjour Familles d'Accueil! (September 7)

Woke up for our last morning in the monastery this morning and had our typical breakfast of powered milk and chocolate powder and bread and left to see the SIT office for the first time. It’s a really cute building with a classroom and a room that the students can use to hang out or nap between classes. There is also a kitchen, which will definitely come in handy. We learned about the classes we will be taking - French, Seminar on Development, Seminar on Diversity in Cameroon and a Field Study Seminar where we will learn how to do our big research project at the end of the semester. And finally, after so much waiting, we got to meet our host families!! My host mom (Maman) picked me up and took me to her house where I met her daughter (Marisse) who is a German professor at the University. She lives in the house with Maman with her two daughters, Maillaka who is 9 and Illana who is 5. At first it was a little awkward but they are all so nice it will be great! I have my own bedroom and bathroom attached to the house but you have to go outside to get to it. We prepared dinner together – rice, tomatoes and little fish, complete with a tail and head. Gotta get used to Cameroon food!

New friend Lauren! Yaounde in the background.

Main area of the monastery.

First Experience in Yaounde (September 6)

Today the program directors paired us up and dropped each pair off in an unknown location in Yaounde. We had a list of places to find and information to gather with no map and no other help. My partner Lindsay and I were dropped off in the middle of a crowded square and it was terrifying. But within one minute of being dropped off a young guy came over and asked us if we needed help and proceeded to walk with us for an hour around Yaounde showing us places and telling us how beautiful we were. It was explained in orientation that the men here are very aggressive and they will often ask you out repeatedly but it’s normal and we should just say no. Eventually we told him that we had to explore on our own for a while and meet other people but wow it was hard to get rid of him and he insisted on giving us his number. We wandered completely directionless for a while when we eventually arrived at a huge marketplace and we asked some guys who approached us for help and they walked around with us asking tons of questions and asking if we could take them to the United States with us. It was nearing the end of the day but we wanted to find one last place so we asked a security guard if we were going the right way and he left, got changed, and walked us all the way there. People are absurdly friendly and helpful here. Finally we took a car (for 20 cents USD!) back up to our monastery. Such a cool experience and so reassuring to realize how great the people are here!! 

Walking through the mountains 

View of Yaounde through the trees

Alive and Well in Cameroon (September 5)

What a crazy couple of days it has been. Finally arrived last night and met as a group of 12. We took a crazy hour long drive weaving in and out of other cars, motorcycles and people to our orientation site at a monastery above the capital city of Yaounde. On Friday we will move to our first home stay in the city but until then we are having orientation and learning all about Cameroon culture and finally trying Cameroonian food! A bientot!

View from the balcony of my room.. the capital city of Yaounde is in the distance.