Gloria Goes to Africa: December 2009

Merry belated Christmas! Or Happy Xmas, as most people say it here (pronounced ecks-mas)! And Happy New Year in advance! Well, plenty has happened since the term ended, including this blog now being brought to you by the spectacularly lightning speed MTN internet. Ok, not actually lightning speed, but at least pictures are now possible, and Skype is fussy, but manageable. So consider giving me a call sometime! Plus it's unlimited, so look for me to be updating facebook status much more than I should be considering I live in Africa.

Anyway, back to the saga of Kribi! Got up at 4am to meet my pre-arranged car (thanks to Melissa, post-mate extraordinaire!), only to wait around for 2 hours because someone didn't want to pay? Or something. It was in Pidgin, and super-early. Oops. Anyway, made it onto the road, which is now DRY, thank GOD, of course that now means that it is DUSTY, but manageable. Melissa had been “dashed” (gifted) some lettuce (a rarity in Mamfe!) and didn't want to waste it, so she packed up a salad, I hard-boiled some eggs, and off we went! That meant that around 9, when our car went “clunk-clunk-clunk-WHUMP”, we sat by the road waiting for our new car to come, and ate salad. And looked completely ridiculous, but it was fun. I think the car didn't have oil in it? That's bad.

So, made it to Buea, consumed a gang of fish pies—the bus station in Buea has amazing fish pies (fried dough wrapped around fish, sauce and veggies, nothing better to start off a day of traveling with!). Left the next morning, passed through Douala, then arrived in Kribi! Huzzah! Beautiful white beaches, schnazzy hotel (thanks Obama!), HOT SHOWERS. Amazing.

We had some sessions (look to Alec Dhuse on facebook for some pictures showing just how riveting those were), where we learned about project planning, funding opportunities, and such. There was a hot debate amongst some of the PCV's about whether or not funding should even be discussed when we're talking about doing sustainable development—the argument being that if a community funds its own project, it's much more sustainable than if there is ANY outside funding. Still awaiting resolution on that one...

And we hung out at the beach! Yes, the Atlantic ocean is beautiful and warm. I got a tan, sand in everything I own, and even managed to collect some seashells that I later managed to leave in Buea. Oops! There was plenty of beer and good food to be had at the hotel, and we all ate like we hadn't seen food for 3 months (some of the northern volunteers actually hadn't, I think).

Last day was a half day of sessions (thanks again Obama!), and we headed out to a waterfall—supposedly one of the only or perhaps the only (got different stories) waterfall that falls directly into the ocean. Gorgeous!

After that, had to head back to post (bummer!). Now, this is the part where traveling got interesting....Stanson (my post mate) and I, were both carrying WAYYYYYY too much stuff to be traveling. Why? Well, he had just gotten back from a trip to Dubai, where he'd picked up many western goods and essentials (like maple syrup). And me? Well, I FINALLY got all my packages! 12 in all—my Christmas morning was definitely in Kribi. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Amanda, Cathy, Gram, Gigi, Clara and CSLD, and Amelia and the Sacramento Assorted Chocolates. (more on packages below!) I was also carrying 3 packages for Melissa, who headed to the North for Christmas this year. Oi! So, we were both hauling 3 large bags apiece, and in addition to being unwieldy, too much luggage is expensive. And since we were leaving Kribi and passing through Douala, I had to bargain and argue about prices at every stop in French, super fun. Ugh, anyway, survived the trip back, all the stuff survived, and then we just had a few days to get ready for Christmas!

Oh, a few notes about the food—we got french fries, and pizza, and sandwiches, and shrimp, and chicken, and salad, and all sorts of yummy goodness! Real butter! Amazing. Thanks again to Obama, and Congress, keep up the funding please! Of course the irony of it is that at the end of the week, I found myself with a strange craving for fufu and eru, and beans and puff puff. Oh goodness...

Now, onto Christmas. Went to church Christmas Eve. Power outage, classic. Favorite Pidgin translation ever: Manger=Beef-dem chop box (box for cow food). HILARIOUS. “You go find that man-pikin for a beef-dem chop box” (you will find him lying in a manger). I'm going to have to get a Pidgin bible....

Morning—went to church again. After, visited a few folks in the compound, then went down to my friend Stella's in the village...had a few drinks, came back, went to town to Stanson's for Christmas dinner. Our friend George cooked fish, veggies, rice, and we had some cakes courtesy of Stanson's mom. Wonderful. Got talked into going out to Mamfe's only night-club, Perosa. Went back to the village (had to feed my dog and had made plans to hang out with Stella some more). Hung out with Stella for a bit, then got picked up in a very schnazzy jeep by some government guy that George knew (with Stella), then we went to the club. Ok, I know this isn't sounding Christmas-y, and trust me, it didn't feel like Christmas AT ALL, but this is pretty much how things go in Cameroon for Christmas—they go to church, then drink the rest of the day and night. So, we get to the club, and meet Edward. Backtrack for a minute—Edward is the former Commandant of the Gendarmerie (something like police but a bit more military), George lived in America for several years, works on many projects around town, and is just about to open a restaurant. So these are two “big men” of the town. So we get to Perosa, which is packed, and Edward commands a table be brought for us, then we go into the inner part of the club (outside you can sit and drink for free, the inside has the dance floor and costs money), fly past gate, commanded another table and a bottle of whiskey. And proceeded to drink and dance the night away! Crazy. Cameroonians can DANCE, for serious, holy crap. And then throw a bunch of American kids into that business...it was pretty funny, but we all had a really good time. Edward also owns a car, and drove us back to Stanson's house, where we crashed, until I woke up the next morning and realized my poor dog had been inside for like 12 hours. Poor Moki!

So, all in all was a very Merry Christmas. Got together at George's the next day for a hangover lunch, with the Christmas leftovers, wonderful. And that's all there is to that....

Up next....well, school doesn't start back until the 11th, so I've got some time to do something with, not sure yet what I'll do, but I'll let you know!

Packages: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! To everyone who sent stuff. I really appreciate the thought and expense you put into it all. A few tips for the future....hard candies melt, unfortunately—I think it's the humidity. Jelly Bellies on the other hand made it through quite well. The tootsie pops were a huge hit with the other PCV's and staff (couldn't make them fit in my return luggage, so we ate most of them in Kribi). Photos and letters really brighten my day! (Thanks Gram Helen for the Birthday card!). Ask Amanda where she found organic peanut butter in packets, and send me more of that! I am now thoroughly well stocked on: Baby wipes, bar soap (Thanks Molly!), sponges, kleenex, toilet paper (yes, we have that here, but thanks anyway Cousin Cathy!), Jane Austen movies produced by the BBC (thanks Gigi!), pencils and pens (thanks everyone!), and candles (Amelia, Gigi, Gram). I am still continuing to want Clif bars, snack food, drink mix, books, CONDITIONER (the quest continues!), and other personal hygiene items. And candy :).

Ok, and as this will likely be my last blog of 2009, here's a review of my year in pictures (where I've been to where I am now!) Enjoy! Here's to a fabulous 2010!