Well everyone, the countdown has begun, only two weeks untill my glorious return to Canada. This feeling of acute homewardbound-ness has been brought about in part by the departure of two good friends today. This morning I went along with a seeing-off party to the airport to say good-bye to my friend Tom, an English chap who has been here for just over two months and working part time at TESOL with me. After I teach my class tonight, I will also go to Douala International to see of Daisy, a friend who has been here for about the same length of time and who accompanied on my trip to the north as well as various other smaller excursions. Its a bitter sweet feeling, the longer these two were here the more I got attached to them and enjoyed their frequent company on my balcony in Ange Raphael. Im sad to see them go, but also, it makes me think, thatll be me in 2 weeks! Also for you curious folks, I will be landing in Ottawa on the afternoon of September 7th. It is likely that I will remain in Ottawa andgo directly into the start of the school year since classes and my new job on campus will begin soon after. So, come visit!
Marché Centrale-On Saturday, Diogo, Kaisa, Tom, and I decided to take a dive deep into the largest market in Central Africa, Douala’s Marché Centrale. I may have written of this behemoth before, but on Saturday I REALLY got down and dirty and got a good feel for the market. Its huge, chaotic, and crazy, and best of all, we chose to go when it was pouring rain. Not the best time when the market is little more than thousands of wooden stands, tarps, shoes, clothes, food, gadgets and people strewn haphazardly on a muddy field. Nonetheless, I LOVE the market. This market really allowed me to gauge my development here in Cameroon. The first time I entered the market with my friend Danny, I was overwhelmed, confused, disoriented, uncomfortable, and a little bit frightened. Now I thoroughly enjoy wandering through the market, finding the most unique and interesting things you could imagine, being pushed by passerbyers, having ppl clutch your arm to get your attention and people advertising their products (the sales tactics are the best -Le blanc! Tu as besoin des pantalons/tomates/chaussures! Tu viens!” or in other words “White! You need pants/tomatos/shoes! You come!”) Even more amusing is being continuously mistaken for a Chinese person. If someone on the street assumes Im French, German, American, or English, I figure, okay, these guesses are reasonable enough, I wont play along, and Ill correct them and say, “non non mon amie, je suis canadien!” But on the other hand, when someone assumes Im Chinese, I cant help but have a laugh at their expense “ooooh chinois!!! tu as besoin des pantalons?”, my response, “oh oui oui, je suis chinois, mais, je n’ai pas besoin des pantalons, je peux les acheter en chine.” Ohhhh the market…
My favourite find on this particular trip was a tiny little bar tucked in the middle of nowhere in the centre of the market, sandwhiched between clothing stalls, and a decaying old building. Having walked for a substantial amount of time, we felt that we had earned a cold one, so we settled onto the little wooden benched undernearth a tarp and enjoyed a beer. We also partook in some cajoling and laughing with some local guys who had also stopped in to have a drink and to watch a heated and competitive game of checkers.
The legacy reaches a new level- As mentioned in an earlier post, I purchased shisha a few weeks ago for myself, the aiesecers, interns and other friends to enjoy when they come to visit my place in Ange Raphael. Due to the location and the comfortable outdoor sitting area at my place, chez Matt has become the primary meeting and hang out place for many good people. Many fun times have been had sitting, laughing, enjoying Akwa-isms (the term I use to describe the amazing expressions my pigeon, English, and French speaking roommate Akwa has come up with including “my 18 metre box” “keep on knocking” and of course “jacka jacka pot”), the occassional drink, and of course the shisha. Late last night we had a little good bye gathering for Tom and Daisy who were regular figures at my place. We stuck to the usual routine, and during the last hours, we became very nostalgic, and the topic of the shisha legacy came up. At that moment we decided to all add a really personal touch. A small group of us drafted a brief decleration and message to future generations of Douala shisha-smokership, passing on the responsibility to take care and enjoy our shisha, around which we shared many good times. We all signed our names and countries as well. Although really lame, this moment was one of my favourites since I arrived in Cameroon, and I think it helped to give a better feeling of closure for those who have already left or will soon leave this crazy place known as Cameroon.
Beau, nice!-Beau is the little town nestled at the foot of Mt. Cameroon in the English speaking region of Cameroon. A few us travelled there the weeekend before last. Tom and Daisy wanted to take on Mt Cameroon, while Diogo, Kaisa and I just wanted to relax in the little town. Its really quite a nice place, very different than Douala, and we all agreed that if we could relocate ourselves and all of our friends there, it would be even better than Douala. In Beau one evening we stumbled upon a random restaurant which was actually similar to a club house, like the shriners or rotary club at home, but instead called the Beau Mountain club. Here I ate the most delicious chicken and fries Ive ever had. This is also where we had an interesting run in with Princess and Verra. Princess was a woman of maybe 35 years…wild hair, slightly resembling a witch, drawn on eyebrows, and a bit of moustache. Verra was older, and a bit more stately, but really cool and enjoyed her beer. Both are school teachers in Beau. It is from these two woman that I learned that the “modesty” that many ppl claim to be found in Africa does not exist- and it was hilarious!
My brief encounter with Princess began with her first telling me “im a widow with a child” and then proceeding to ask me if i was, “strong down there” being confused and innocent, it took me a second to realise what she was talking about and I answered “ummm, I hope so?” Cameroon is always full of surprises. Ha, modesty my ass, never ONCE have I been asked that question at a shriners club in Canada!
Anywho, credit almost out, untill next time!
