I’ve been at post for over two months now. My days consist of exercising, learning Fulfulde (Mi don ekkita Fulfulde tum tum – I learn Fulfulde everyday), passing the time at my community host’s house, learning to cook traditional Cameroonian dishes, cleaning my house, washing my cloths by hand, exercising and taking care of my adorable puppy and kitten.
This is Kiikide, my Cameroonian kitten. He is named after the Fulfulde word for night since he is all black. They are also superstitious about black cats here. So, I took him in to save him from his inevitable future of being used as a sacrifice in the practice of black magic. My counterpart takes care of him when I visit the city. She LOVES him and so does her four-year-old son. They love him so much that he sleeps in their bed when he stays at their house (simply does not happen in Cameroon). He is obviously the village favorite between my two pets, which isn’t surprising because the village recognizes the use of cats for rodent catching. He loves to sit on my shoulder and is obsessed in having my attention at all times.
This is Kalankalank, my Cameroonian pup. He is named after a traditional Cameroonian sauce. He is really cute but also very evil. He likes to pick up Kiikide (my kitten) in his mouth and swing him around … a bit of a problem to say the least. He has this obsession with sleeping in the dirty dish bowl – very weird. He also loves to chase the village children. The kids love to play with him and have slowly gotten over their fear of him. Dogs aren’t viewed the same here but since it’s the Nassara’s (white woman) dog he is treated differently.
I have met with my GIC, the group of women that save money, several times. Currently they are saving money for security or sick fund and a fund for special events in the group. After they have saved enough money for the two categories they plan on saving money for pagne – the gorgeous fabric they use for outfits (photo below) and plan on getting matching outfits made for the group.
Recently, I got to participate in the Ramada fete. It was a ton of fun and I was decorated with cipa. It’s a semi-permanent ink and lasts for about 3 weeks. The Peace Corps assigned a community host to help me integrate into the village. Below ..
Two of Sahabo’s wives, Mama (left) and Kingu (right). The other lives in the city.
Kingu has three children. Twins – Yusani, the oldest in the photo, and Halmata (she is currently visiting her grandmother). Along with Marmet (youngest in photo)
This is Raima. One of Mama’s children. She has six children. I have only met Raima (photo) and her youngest Hadja didi.
I had the responsibility of choosing my counterpart since it is a new post. My counterpart is the individual that will help me initiate projects in the village. I choose Sahabo’s second wife, Kingu, to be my counterpart for several reasons. She speaks French (which only a handful of people do in village), she runs two businesses out of her house and she understands several of the business concepts I have discussed. She is also the one currently teaching me Fulfulde (Kingu don jangina Fulfulde). She is very different for a conservative Fulbe woman. She is incredibly independent and voices her opinion. I know when I return to the US I will miss her terribly.
She also feeds me all the time! She is trying to fatten me up but I refuse to let it happen, it’s a constant battle. Lets just say I have learned how to say NO! I also exercise a ton to combat the food they are constantly giving me. I do have to admit the beef here is really good. She taught me this fantastic recipe to fry the meat so that it keeps for a week, it is super tasty.
Usually a traditional Cameroonian dish consists of cous cous and a sauce. There are three different types of cous cous – cous cous de maize, cous cous du riz, and cous cous de manyunk. It is basically corn flour, mushed rice, or manyunk flour. You add the powder of your choice to hot water and then stir into a paste. I don’t really understand the concept of cous cous du riz. You cook the rice until it is finished and then you take a long pole and stir it until if forms into a paste, seems like an unnecessary step to me. The sauces are usually some type of plant that they somehow transform into snotty-like goo (only way I can think of explaining it). For the longest time the texture made my stomach turn but I actually like it more and more everyday. There isn’t a ton of flavor in things and they don’t like to use salt. I’m sure after two years of living on the food here I will miss it when I am back in the states.
I promise to post more frequently. The last couple of months have been so crazy. Time is flying by way too quickly and I can’t seem to learn Fulfulde fast enough. At least French is somewhat similar to English. The construction of Fulfulde is easier but the words are so different!! I keep reminding myself to take one day at a time! Also, I am sending out air grams at the end of November! Sorry for the delay to the people that wrote letters. Specifically my neighbors – I truly appreciated every letter and the photos were fantastic, currently posted on the wall in my house!
