Cameroon!

Bonjour mes amis!

I have arrived safely! (I almost started typing the post in all French haha). The plane ride was very long. I flew from Boston to Zurich, Switzerland and then Zurich to Yaounde, Cameroon. Needless to say, we were all exhausted. It's six hours later here, but parts of the year it's five hours later. I believe it's six right now though. I think I pretty much beat jet lag. I have been really tired by the time the day is over, though! Sleeping is so funny. I set up my big ole mosquito net on the bed. It legitimately took me two hours the first time. I guess I have trouble following directions for tents...And the directions were in English with pictures. Needless to say, the level of French is intimidating. It's not that I do not understand it, it's just so quickly spoken. I can understand why people have trouble understanding English. Americans really speak so fat, haha. I am actually having a French oral language placement exam this morning. I am nervous, but it doesn't really matter because whatever happens I know I will improve over my stay. Last night my papa and I were watching something like a MTV equivalent in French and I was so excited and then Lady Gaga just took over the television. I was so surprised to see American music has globalized here as well, in a developing country. I have not really started classes yet but we did an orientation of sorts. There are just ten people in the program, including me, and only one boy - lucky him, haha. I was most nervous for the food here. So far it has been alright, I guess what I was expecting. A typical breakfast seems to be bread. Lunch and dinner are more or less rice, beans, tomato etc. sauces, some type of meat, bread, and PLANTAINS. My god, I had never had a plantain but they are like God's food here. You can cook them so many different ways. They kind of look like small bananas. I really do miss American food. I am eating but I just do not feel satisfied after I eat. I was surprised at how big of portions you can have though. No one goes hungry in Cameroon...I think it's some kind of saying. I moved into my first homestay last night. I am essentially living in a MANSION. It's crazy. I totally lucked out. My papa came to pick me up and said he lived behind the Nigerian Embassy. Our house is AMAZING. We have cable television and a living room and a kitchen with a stove and a fridge. The best part is I have my own room with a queen bed and a bathroom next door. There's a really nice backyard too. My mama comes today - she was in another city for a funeral this weekend. Papa is so nice. He speaks some English which works out because I speak some French. Most of our conversations are like 75 percent French and 25 percent English. The bathrooms are so different here. There's a toilet but the flusher is at the top and it's essentially a string-ish thing made of plastic you pull up. There is usually a sink but no soap (?) to wash your hands. I am keen on making sure I have hand sanitizer or a bar of soap. Showers...well. It depends on the home, but most Cameroonians have what looks like a shower but no hot water. The house I am in now has this thing you plug in to warm up the water in a bucket and then you can bathe. The hostel we stayed at the first two nights had just cold water. I basically jumped in and out and did a back bend to wash my hair, it was freeeezzzinggg. I guess I am glad I chopped off a lot of my hair because it's easier to wash, but I do really miss it! I always forget to put on sandals here, but no one wears flip flops. Cameroonians are obsessed with shoes and dress; they always have to look nice. So much for the just-out-of-bed college look, haha. I cannot wait to get some clothes made for me because right now, mine are fine but warmer. They use a light weight material and the clothes are so traditional and gorgeous. I only have internet in the school office so I do not know how often I will get to update, but I am keeping a handwritten journal so it will be easier. I guess I am in a weird stage - mostly just culture shock and trying to adjust to the customs and language. I am trying not to let those worries as well as the worries for my safety and health impact my experience. I am sure in a week or two I will be more acclimated, but right now the idea of walking home alone from school is even a little daunting. I learned that most people you can just smile at and say "Bonjour" and they will say it back. They are not used to white people and Americans and so people tend to stare and a lot of times people on the street make weird or rude comments. I guess it's something you get used to. I am trying to keep a tally of how many marriage proposals I get; Cameroonian men just LOVE to propose, haha. Don't worry mom, I said no.

I will update again soon! A bientot!

- Brittany