So as you might know, my dad (real US dad) is coming to visit Yaoundé in one week! I absolutely cannot wait. So i drew up this study guide for him, and I thought maybe it would make a cool blog post. Or, in simpler terms, Anna's laziness towards blogging kicks in! Just kidding. Kind of. The only things I left out were the emergency contact information, no need to post that on the internet!
Cameroon 2011 Study Guide
When you arrive…
-You are going to feel like you are the only white person in the whole world (until you see me)
-Because of the above point, everyone will be staring at you. STARING. Just ignore it
-There may not be a very organized line at the airport, Cameroonians don’t really respect “no budging” rules that we follow in the US. Just budge. If you don’t, you’ll never get anywhere
-Baggage claim especially will drive you nuts, just shove your way in there, no one will be offended. I promise.
Just in general...
-It’s really, really hot. Pack accordingly
-Cameroon is also transitioning into the rainy season, which means it is extra hot and rains at least once a day, so bring a small umbrella. It might be unnecessary, but you definitely won’t need a raincoat (too hot, I promise)
-Bring some stomach medicine. I will do my best to keep you safe, but just in case you eat something a little off, you should be prepared. That said, don’t worry. I didn’t get sick until I was here for like 3 weeks.
-Don’t forget to take your malaria pills!
-Bring some travel packs of tissues and purel; the public bathrooms can sometimes be a little iffy
-The water and electricity (more often the water) shuts off occasionally, so in the event that there is no water for you to shower with in the hotel, it might be beneficial to bring wipes, if you have any kind you like so you can clean off your face and body. It’s not really a big deal because everyone is pretty sweaty and smelly anyways but if it bothers you not to shower every day then I suggest you prepare yourself
-We will buy you tons of bottle water when you get here
During your visit…
-You are staying at the Hotel Kamthe. It is located in the neighborhood Mendong, which coincidentally is the neighborhood that I live in!
-Mr. Teku’s driver will bring me to pick you up at the airport, and he will take you back to the airport on Sunday (with me and probably my host family)
-We are having a small reception at my host family’s house on Friday night, 5 pm
-We are also having lunch with Mr. Teku on Sunday
-You are going to go out with the rest of the students on Saturday night (hopefully) to our favorite bar, so be prepared.
-We will be doing a lot of exploring and walking, so make sure you have comfy shoes
-My family loves spicy food. They know I don’t like it so they tone it down (still, yikes) and I’ve told them that you are exactly like me, so hopefully they don’t make anything spicy. Still, fair warning.
Helpful Phrases
-Hello = Bonjour
Please = s’il vous plait
Thank you = merci
-How are you? = Comment ca va?
-I am good = Ca va bien or je vais bien
-And you? = Et toi? (ay twah)
-My name is Al = Je m’appelle Al
-I would like… = Je voudrais
-200 = deux cent (standard taxi fare)
-Hotel that you are staying at = Hotel Kamthe (kamtay)
-water = l’eau (sounds like owe or low)
-Bathroom = salle de bains
-Where is the… = Ou est la… (ooh ay la)
-How do you say… = comment ca va dire…
Well, I guess I also left out the section where I ask him to bring me things (only really useful, necessary things) from the US. That's just a little embarrassing. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! If you find any information I left out that you think should be on there let me know. Until next time!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
We have officially started taking African dance classes. I don't know if you've ever tried to dance like an African, but let me tell you, it's difficult. I've always felt like I had a great sense of rhythm, but after these classes I'm not so sure! It's so much fun, and we have a great time trying, but let's keep the emphasis on trying. It's great exercise, and I better get a Dickinson gym credit out of it. We dance barefoot on this wooden floor, to improvised beats that come from the talented drummers sitting alongside us.
In other news, we recently celebrated Mama Temgoua's birthday! It was a wonderful night filled with Twister (she wins every time, it's a little embarrassing for me) and a delicious homemade cake. She and I each had a beer (I had a Castel, she had a Guinness, again, time to step up Anna) and we hung out in the living room all together until bedtime. I also visited my first African club the other night, which was quite an experience! It was literally exactly how I pictured a club to be (the nightlife in Carlisle and suburban Chicago got nothin on Cameroon) with multicolored lights under the dance floor and big luxurious couches. The insanely overpriced drinks topped it off, and it was so much fun! I'm starting to explore the city more and my love for it just keeps growing.
I can't believe we have been here for two months! It's crazy. We leave in exactly three months, which makes me want to cry every time I think about it. My family here has become quite like my family at home. My host siblings and I joke and make fun of each other like real siblings, and the other day host mama called me her "enfant" (child). I can't imagine leaving. So I won't. I hope to visit my family's village soon, which they tell me is really cold. I told them they didn't even know what cold felt like. But I can't wait to see what that side of Cameroonian life is like.
I am proud to say that my stomach is essentially completely adjusted to Cameroonian food and that I am soon going to make some American food for my family. They want me to make hamburgers (yuck) but I promised I would, only if they try my favorite sauce (mayo and ketchup). I'm also planning to make them baked macaroni, and if they don't like it, more for me! Win-win!
As usual, I apologize for the infrequent blog entries, but this time I blame my sore muscles from African dance. Until next time!
In other news, we recently celebrated Mama Temgoua's birthday! It was a wonderful night filled with Twister (she wins every time, it's a little embarrassing for me) and a delicious homemade cake. She and I each had a beer (I had a Castel, she had a Guinness, again, time to step up Anna) and we hung out in the living room all together until bedtime. I also visited my first African club the other night, which was quite an experience! It was literally exactly how I pictured a club to be (the nightlife in Carlisle and suburban Chicago got nothin on Cameroon) with multicolored lights under the dance floor and big luxurious couches. The insanely overpriced drinks topped it off, and it was so much fun! I'm starting to explore the city more and my love for it just keeps growing.
I can't believe we have been here for two months! It's crazy. We leave in exactly three months, which makes me want to cry every time I think about it. My family here has become quite like my family at home. My host siblings and I joke and make fun of each other like real siblings, and the other day host mama called me her "enfant" (child). I can't imagine leaving. So I won't. I hope to visit my family's village soon, which they tell me is really cold. I told them they didn't even know what cold felt like. But I can't wait to see what that side of Cameroonian life is like.
I am proud to say that my stomach is essentially completely adjusted to Cameroonian food and that I am soon going to make some American food for my family. They want me to make hamburgers (yuck) but I promised I would, only if they try my favorite sauce (mayo and ketchup). I'm also planning to make them baked macaroni, and if they don't like it, more for me! Win-win!
As usual, I apologize for the infrequent blog entries, but this time I blame my sore muscles from African dance. Until next time!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Conquering laziness...
Sorry I’ve been so bad at updating, but between the Cameroonian heat and the growing workload (okay, not really) I’ve been slacking on my blog. I’m really just trying to keep you all in suspense. Well here goes! I have fallen in love with a five month-old baby girl, her name is Allison and she is the daughter of my host uncle. She just likes to sit and hold onto my fingers, and could not be any cuter. Literally. Other than the baby, there isn’t too much other family news to report, everything is still going wonderfully! The only damper was the other day when they killed a chicken (I know, I know, how can I eat a chicken and not be okay with killing it), which was a little traumatizing. But I’ve been learning a lot about practicality, and once it was de-plumed, I was totally able to help. Sort of. I am finding that I am a little useless in the kitchen, which I suppose is not altogether surprising.
Classes have gotten going, and a lot of our work is reflecting on our experiences and writing them out in words. I want to post a reflection I wrote for my creative writing class (I’m a nerd, I’m sorry) about one of the markets we visited, because I think it might be something you would enjoy. I could be totally wrong. But I’m gonna go out on a limb and try it anyway!
I slide into the backseat of the cab, squishing myself in beside the other two passengers, trying to ignore the sweat that is no doubt glistening on my face. The taste of sugar cane still lingers in my mouth, which is slowly but sure drying out in protest, in search of its next thirst quench. First stop, Marché Centrale. As soon as we enter the gate that guards the market, we are bombarded. People selling everything you could possibly need or want, and at prices that put Casino to shame. The vast amount of products being bartered over and exchanging hands makes me wonder how I have never noticed Marché Centrale before. It’s not exactly easy to miss. It pretty much looks like a giant swirl ice cream cone topped with a million multi-colored sprinkles, melting in the middle of downtown Yaoundé. Which is funny, because that is exactly what I am doing.
The street vendors and their products cater to every extreme end of the spectrum, from prescription drugs and glasses, to tissues and candy. Everywhere we go, we attract a large crowd of people advertising products, marriage proposals, and everything in between. We stop at a man selling oranges downtown, and he tells us about how much fruit he sells every day, which is an entire wheelbarrow. But what really amazes me is that this man and the orange vender ten feet away from him have no animosity towards each other. They simply work in harmony without worrying about the competition. And this is not unique to this street corner. Lesson learned: although Yaoundé may often be overwhelming, underneath the hustle and bustle it is clear that the city is unique in its dedication to community
So that was my lame attempt at an academic reflection of my surroundings and experiences, and there will be many more to come. I am looking forward to a visit from mon pere very soon, in just under a month! I am working on posting some photos to facebook, so if I get that up and running I’ll keep you posted! Until next time. Let me know what you think of my reflection!
Classes have gotten going, and a lot of our work is reflecting on our experiences and writing them out in words. I want to post a reflection I wrote for my creative writing class (I’m a nerd, I’m sorry) about one of the markets we visited, because I think it might be something you would enjoy. I could be totally wrong. But I’m gonna go out on a limb and try it anyway!
I slide into the backseat of the cab, squishing myself in beside the other two passengers, trying to ignore the sweat that is no doubt glistening on my face. The taste of sugar cane still lingers in my mouth, which is slowly but sure drying out in protest, in search of its next thirst quench. First stop, Marché Centrale. As soon as we enter the gate that guards the market, we are bombarded. People selling everything you could possibly need or want, and at prices that put Casino to shame. The vast amount of products being bartered over and exchanging hands makes me wonder how I have never noticed Marché Centrale before. It’s not exactly easy to miss. It pretty much looks like a giant swirl ice cream cone topped with a million multi-colored sprinkles, melting in the middle of downtown Yaoundé. Which is funny, because that is exactly what I am doing.
The street vendors and their products cater to every extreme end of the spectrum, from prescription drugs and glasses, to tissues and candy. Everywhere we go, we attract a large crowd of people advertising products, marriage proposals, and everything in between. We stop at a man selling oranges downtown, and he tells us about how much fruit he sells every day, which is an entire wheelbarrow. But what really amazes me is that this man and the orange vender ten feet away from him have no animosity towards each other. They simply work in harmony without worrying about the competition. And this is not unique to this street corner. Lesson learned: although Yaoundé may often be overwhelming, underneath the hustle and bustle it is clear that the city is unique in its dedication to community
So that was my lame attempt at an academic reflection of my surroundings and experiences, and there will be many more to come. I am looking forward to a visit from mon pere very soon, in just under a month! I am working on posting some photos to facebook, so if I get that up and running I’ll keep you posted! Until next time. Let me know what you think of my reflection!
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