I haven't had the opportunity to post anything in the last month because my schedule has been very intense. I also have been sick more than I have been well which is a constant struggle. However, my homestay family here in Bafia takes great care of me. My mind is on constant overdrive. Somehow I've started to speak French in only 4 weeks!!! Je parle francais! This week I had the opportunity to visit my post.
POST:
Brand new - opening post myself
Kognoli, Cameroon
Region: Adamaoua
Population: 1,500
Climate: AMAZING - In the 70s year round! No humidity!!
The trip to my post was very long. I have to take a bus from Bafia to
Yaounde which can last from 2-4 hours. Fortunately, we (group going to Adamaoua, North & Extreme North Regions) didn't encounter any problems, it only took us 2 hours. Then we hung out in
Yaounde for a bit.
Next, we took a taxi to the Train Station. The train ride was probably one of the most amazing experiences. We get sleeper cars!! Each room sleeps 4 people. Just think Harry Potter. Every stop has people selling bananas, ananas (pineapple), honey, etc. We had a 3 hour delay, so the train was 18 hours but it worked out for the best because we got to see the beautiful mountainous adamaoua region! Since I was sick (again); I decided to stay the night in the regional capital, Ngaoudéré. This is probably the most amazing city I have seen so far in
Cameroon. It is super clean! The next morning I woke up bright and early and took a bush taxi to my village with my community host. This took us only 2 hours (typically 4)!!
My village is so happy to have me. Which is incredibly overwhelming and fantastic at the same time. Majority of my village only speaks Fulfude. Meaning, that I now have to continue to learn french in the next 6 weeks but I also have to start to learn Fulfude (should be very interesting).
My village built me a brand new house right next to the chief's compound. My house is huge and my village painted it pepto-bismal pink outside and inside (pictures will be coming soon!). It has two bedrooms. One bedroom is a guest room and has a separate entrance. It has a huge salon (living room/kitchen/dining room). An indoor latrine and outdoor latrine ... that's right une toilette traditionnelle. But I can totally manage. There is no running water but there are plenty of sources in the area. I also only have electricity on Monday & Friday and from 5/6 pm to 10/11 pm every night, which is really the only time you use it.
The only problem is that there is no phone service! There are call boxes in my village but they are out in the open. I'm planning on getting an internet antenna and internet key but I hear that skype doesn't work with them. But I can always do email. I do have to travel to the capital every month for banking so I can get my phone time in during my monthly visits.
Currently, I am staying in Ngaoudéré. Tomorrow, I open my bank account in the capital which can sometimes be a very very very lengthy process. Then on Friday I am back to Bafia to complete training. I wish I was staying here in my village. I am so excited to have my own private space and start work with my village. They are supper motivated as well! Should be an incredibly difficult but rewarding two years!!!
