‘Tis the season and all that, or nearly so, even though it is definitely still June outside here! We’ve tried to be honest about our struggles, yet still upbeat, and as we move into our sixth month in Cameroon and look ahead to In-Service Training and our first Thanksgiving and Christmas here, it seems an appropriate time to consider and share some the things we’ve enjoyed about being here.
So, in no particular order, we like…
…that it’s winter, and we’re not bundled in three (minimum) layers of clothes when we leave the house…
…the way our favorite market mammas’ and shop keepers’ eyes light with genuine happiness to see us when we do our shopping – and if we’ve been away for awhile, we’re greeted with, “You have been missing!”
…the way our neighbors call out, “You are going?,” when we leave for the day, and “You are back?,” when we come home. “Yes, we are back,” we say. “You are welcome!” they cry…
…the way our coworkers, and random strangers, greet us in the same way every day, “You are welcome!”…
…the beautiful Muslim prayer rugs and traditional slatted wood chairs we decorate our home with…
…the way, amused at us shouting, “Ntarinkon!,” at passing taxis and inexplicably (though we allegedly speak the same language) not being understood by the drivers, a passer-by will greet us, ask our names, introduce themselves, and then hail a cab with a call of, “Ntarinkon!,” that to our ears sounds exactly like what we said, yet is understood by the taxi drivers…
…laying in the hammocks we brought home from Mexico a decade ago on our front porch after a long day in Africa…
…grilled fish with basil sauce, soya (thin-sliced and seasoned grilled beef kabobs), kati kati (grilled chicken), njama njama (huckleberry greens), achu (a kind of thick, rich stew made with palm oil and beef broth), peanut soup…
…the way our community host will brag to others that we’ve eaten achu…
…the way coworkers will ask how we’re doing, and then, to a positive answer, will say, “Thank God!” Well…yes, indeed!…
…the way, if one of us is alone somewhere, people will always say to greet the other…
…how, if you ask a Cameroonian how they are doing, the answer invariably begins with, “no,” as in, “No, fine! Thank you!”…
…that bananas, pineapples, tomatoes, onions, garlic, rice, pasta, canned tuna, and peanut butter, to name a few, are readily available in Bamenda…
…that we live in Bamenda…
…that Cameroonians always express approval when you buy Cameroonian things. “Your (house, kitchen, cooking pots, chairs, necklace, clothing, etc.) is good!”…
…local honey and jams…
…hot, sun-dried laundry fresh off the line…
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