Girls Conference in NgaoundereWednesday, September 10, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Rain, Ramadan, Work and Wisconsin
It has only been roughly 2 weeks since being back from my trip home. It feels like I never left. When I was home it felt like I was never here. This is probably because there are barely any similarities between the two “worlds” that I live in—my world here in Cameroun and my world in WI. When I got back there was one observation and one question that nearly everyone said; “You became whiter!” and “What did you bring me from the US?” I guess the first comment is self-explanatory but the second question really became quite disgruntling after a while. Still two weeks later people are waiting for their gifts. The people that DID receive gifts were very appreciative. For instance, the Obama shirts and bumper stickers were a hit… Could I be hired to be the Obama spokesperson in Cameroun??? Little stuffed animals, toys and photos I developed of cows and corn back home were also greatly received. In addition, I brought back Scrabble (not my fav. Game but can pass the time) and Connect 4. Connect 4 is probably the coolest thing in Tourningal since the electrical poles were put up a few months ago (we’re still waiting for the electricity).
SO….life has sloooooooooooooooowed down in village. It has been nice. With the start of Ramadan a few days ago, things are even less active in village— if that is possible. During the 30 days of Ramadan all the women get up at 3 am to cook what they would at noon. Then the family eats loads at 430, prays and goes back to sleep for a few hours. They pass nearly 13.5 hours sans eating or drinking. At 630 pm it is breaking of the fast when people make up for a day without food. It is quite nice because they eat a lot better than they normally do. Lately I have been eating loads of greasy beef. I have probably eaten more red meat these last few days than I have eaten all year. Lots of greasy potatoes and greasy donuts accompany the greasy beef. My face is not appreciating all the grease. I have fasted a few days mainly to experience what they all are going through. Normally as a person who eats, runs, and guzzles water, it has not been very easy. Surprisingly a lot of people tell me not to fast. Since I do not pray five times a day for me fasting is obviously not a religious endeavor. Oh well…it does make me appreciate the availability and abundance of food and water.
The rains are beginning to cease. With the rain halting the roads are actually passable. For a few days no cars were passing through my village because the roads were so dangerous. It’s never a good feeling to know there is no way of getting home. As evidence of the poor roads, I have scars up and down my legs from falling on motorcycles and on my bike. Because of the roads, work has been rough, never knowing if the weather will hold up to have meetings and be able to go out of the house. Some accomplishments of my village have made me very happy these last weeks. These include; after 4 months them finally whipping up the money for a bookshelf or two to start a library and the start of “community clean-up days” twice a month. My Supervisor helped motivate the community to start these days, or really 2 hours in the morning, when everyone is supposed to be working together on a specified area in village and stores all have to close. So far the turn out has been wonderful and even the griots come out with their drums to add ambiance. We hope that Tourningal will become the cleanest village in the area….but first let’s hope that people turn out for the next days in the near-future.
Well, I hope that everyone is healthy and happy. Thanks so much to everyone that welcomed me and saw me in Madison. I feel so blessed to have had such a great trip home and to be surrounded by great friends and family. Sey yeeso himbe Pat, Amina
Random comment—I received a package about a week ago that my parents sent last November. 10 months late, not too bad, eh?
SO….life has sloooooooooooooooowed down in village. It has been nice. With the start of Ramadan a few days ago, things are even less active in village— if that is possible. During the 30 days of Ramadan all the women get up at 3 am to cook what they would at noon. Then the family eats loads at 430, prays and goes back to sleep for a few hours. They pass nearly 13.5 hours sans eating or drinking. At 630 pm it is breaking of the fast when people make up for a day without food. It is quite nice because they eat a lot better than they normally do. Lately I have been eating loads of greasy beef. I have probably eaten more red meat these last few days than I have eaten all year. Lots of greasy potatoes and greasy donuts accompany the greasy beef. My face is not appreciating all the grease. I have fasted a few days mainly to experience what they all are going through. Normally as a person who eats, runs, and guzzles water, it has not been very easy. Surprisingly a lot of people tell me not to fast. Since I do not pray five times a day for me fasting is obviously not a religious endeavor. Oh well…it does make me appreciate the availability and abundance of food and water.
The rains are beginning to cease. With the rain halting the roads are actually passable. For a few days no cars were passing through my village because the roads were so dangerous. It’s never a good feeling to know there is no way of getting home. As evidence of the poor roads, I have scars up and down my legs from falling on motorcycles and on my bike. Because of the roads, work has been rough, never knowing if the weather will hold up to have meetings and be able to go out of the house. Some accomplishments of my village have made me very happy these last weeks. These include; after 4 months them finally whipping up the money for a bookshelf or two to start a library and the start of “community clean-up days” twice a month. My Supervisor helped motivate the community to start these days, or really 2 hours in the morning, when everyone is supposed to be working together on a specified area in village and stores all have to close. So far the turn out has been wonderful and even the griots come out with their drums to add ambiance. We hope that Tourningal will become the cleanest village in the area….but first let’s hope that people turn out for the next days in the near-future.
Well, I hope that everyone is healthy and happy. Thanks so much to everyone that welcomed me and saw me in Madison. I feel so blessed to have had such a great trip home and to be surrounded by great friends and family. Sey yeeso himbe Pat, Amina
Random comment—I received a package about a week ago that my parents sent last November. 10 months late, not too bad, eh?
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