My time here in Bangangte has quickly come to an end and it is with so many emotions that this week culminates. I am proud to have completed the intense 11 weeks of Peace Corps training, excited for what is to come as I become a Volunteer and move into my new community, but sad to move on from all the memories and relationships that have been created here in Bangangte over the last couple of months.
The past few months have been full of huge life adjustments moving from Colorado and flying to Philadelphia for pre-service training where I met the 29 other volunteers who will be serving throughout Cameroon over the next 2 years, then leaving Philly to arrive in Yaoundé for our first week of in country orientation, and leaving Yaoundé to move in with my host family in Bangangte where all 30 of us have completed the intense language, culture and technical training for our role as volunteers. Now, we find ourselves getting ready to make the biggest transition yet: on Thursday the 20th each of us will part our separate ways to different regions of the country where we will serve in our own community over the next 2 years. Throughout each of these adjustments one learns to role with the punches, patience in all situations, excepting of uncertainty, and that laughter is always the best medicine.
My move this week is filled with uncertainty as I have just a small idea of what my life will be like over the next few years there. However, along with the uncertainty comes the certainty of new friendships, new experiences and new adventures yet to be had.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Snakes, Machetes, Marriage Proposals
I think it is now officially rainy season here in Bangante. I had been told it was rainy season when we arrived in Cameroon, but I guess that was the light rainy season. Now it pours everyday and the dirt roads turn to pools of mud or sometimes rivers of mud. The season lasts until around December when dry season begins. This past Saturday started off to be so beautiful and after finishing class at noon I was convinced that it would be a perfect day to take my new mountain bike out for a test ride. Test ride it definitely was, after convincing three other Peace Corps trainees that it would be a great day for an exploration ride outside of town we departed under sunny skies. About 40 minutes out the clouds stretched in and the skies immediately opened up on us leaving us on the red dirt road in the pouring down rain. I loved it! Well that was until my bike refused to go any further because the chain ring was so full of mud that it couldn’t turn itself any more and kept derailing. We made it back to town soaking wet and covered in mud only to find out that the electricity in town was cut off as usual. When the electricity is cut off unfortunately the water is as well. So here we were covered in mud soaked to the bone and no way to clean off. Luckily when we arrived at the Peace Corps house, where we have our training classes, there were a couple buckets of water sitting on the balcony just enough for all of us to share for a bucket bath. Good thing, as even though there is nothing comparable to the boue (mud in French pronounced boo) of Bangangte the Cameroonians are terrified of being dirty.
We are coming to a close with Peace Corps training and will officially become volunteers on the 19th. As we reach the end of training our schedule remains intense this week we have each given 30 minute presentations on anything culturally Cameroonian and I am in the process of working on a report for a small business I have been consulting with over the last month I am currently on my 8th page (in French) hence the break of typing a blog! Being a bit tired I did what I know best to be rejuvenating for me, I went out on a run. This was my first one in Bangangte that I was not joined by either Karen my Peace Corps running partner or Stefon my Cameroonian running partner. I ran out to a village several miles away and allowed myself to escape all of the stresses of completing training and arranging moving across country to my new post within the next 10 days. On my way back, following the small dirt path that led from the village into the town of Bangante, I came upon a hill and had my heart sink at the site of two men standing in the middle of the trail with their arms up in the air, one clenching a machete the other a wooden bat. The two of them yelled something at one another and it didn’t sound to me like either French or Pidgin, though I wasn’t sure with their rushed harsh voices. I stopped in my tracks hoping maybe they haven’t seen me I have time back away, then I noticed them glance down at the same moment and that is when I caught a glimpse of what was causing the ruckus…a green snake stretched across the path, and at that moment the machete came down right on its head. Well, that was the end of that situation. The two men looked at me and started laughing, I thanked them telling them I don’t like snakes and that they saved me and ran off. Endless adventures around every corner!
Well, that covers the snakes and machetes that I mentioned in the title…now what about the marriage proposals you may ask? Well, passing a week here and not receiving a marriage proposal may cause me to look back and wonder what went wrong in that week. This week though was extra special as during one of the marriage proposals my friend Sequoria decided to make it into a game and see how much she could “sell me for” apparently I was worth 100 chickens, 50 head of cattle and 25 goats…nothing like a boost in confidence than to be told you are worth more than 175 animals!
The mention of marriage proposals also ties nicely into my day yesterday as I had the honor of meeting a chief who has 150 wives! All of us Peace Corps trainees were invited to the palace of the village chief of Bamougoum. This was quite the experience. We arrived at the palace of the chief to groups of dancers surrounding the entrance chanting and dancing their welcome to us. We were then given a tour of most of the palace grounds, though that did not include viewing the “secret forest” which most intrigued me. Afterwards we got to feast with the chief and a select few of his wives. I have had the opportunity to meet several chiefs thus far during my time in Cameroon but the chief we met yesterday was my favorite as his dynamic and welcoming personality radiated to each of us making us feel right at home on his palace’s grounds. Not too at home though...I definitely don't want to become the 151st wife!
We are coming to a close with Peace Corps training and will officially become volunteers on the 19th. As we reach the end of training our schedule remains intense this week we have each given 30 minute presentations on anything culturally Cameroonian and I am in the process of working on a report for a small business I have been consulting with over the last month I am currently on my 8th page (in French) hence the break of typing a blog! Being a bit tired I did what I know best to be rejuvenating for me, I went out on a run. This was my first one in Bangangte that I was not joined by either Karen my Peace Corps running partner or Stefon my Cameroonian running partner. I ran out to a village several miles away and allowed myself to escape all of the stresses of completing training and arranging moving across country to my new post within the next 10 days. On my way back, following the small dirt path that led from the village into the town of Bangante, I came upon a hill and had my heart sink at the site of two men standing in the middle of the trail with their arms up in the air, one clenching a machete the other a wooden bat. The two of them yelled something at one another and it didn’t sound to me like either French or Pidgin, though I wasn’t sure with their rushed harsh voices. I stopped in my tracks hoping maybe they haven’t seen me I have time back away, then I noticed them glance down at the same moment and that is when I caught a glimpse of what was causing the ruckus…a green snake stretched across the path, and at that moment the machete came down right on its head. Well, that was the end of that situation. The two men looked at me and started laughing, I thanked them telling them I don’t like snakes and that they saved me and ran off. Endless adventures around every corner!
Well, that covers the snakes and machetes that I mentioned in the title…now what about the marriage proposals you may ask? Well, passing a week here and not receiving a marriage proposal may cause me to look back and wonder what went wrong in that week. This week though was extra special as during one of the marriage proposals my friend Sequoria decided to make it into a game and see how much she could “sell me for” apparently I was worth 100 chickens, 50 head of cattle and 25 goats…nothing like a boost in confidence than to be told you are worth more than 175 animals!
The mention of marriage proposals also ties nicely into my day yesterday as I had the honor of meeting a chief who has 150 wives! All of us Peace Corps trainees were invited to the palace of the village chief of Bamougoum. This was quite the experience. We arrived at the palace of the chief to groups of dancers surrounding the entrance chanting and dancing their welcome to us. We were then given a tour of most of the palace grounds, though that did not include viewing the “secret forest” which most intrigued me. Afterwards we got to feast with the chief and a select few of his wives. I have had the opportunity to meet several chiefs thus far during my time in Cameroon but the chief we met yesterday was my favorite as his dynamic and welcoming personality radiated to each of us making us feel right at home on his palace’s grounds. Not too at home though...I definitely don't want to become the 151st wife!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
This photo was taken in Manjo, the town where I will be working over the next two years. While there visiting last month I was invited to the ceremony for the new mayor and got to see my first traditional dance with the chiefs of the surrounding villages. The man dressed in red and black is one of the village chiefs. 
My host mom and I on my birthday wearing the new outfit that she sewed for me. She was quite proud that I looked like a vraie Cameroonaise wearing the traditional pagne and fular.
Mon petit frere Luic helping prepare dinner in our backyard.
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