Bienvue Au Cameroon

It has been almost a week since I have been in Africa. There is no internet in my homes-stay in Bafia in Cameroon. It is hot all the time and I feel like I am perpetually working out. My stomach and body is still adjusting. I am fatigued and overwhelmed with African life. Training starting this week and I am expected to master (almost) the French language within in a few months! Oh my God!


I have had some culture shocks. The children do the work for example cook the food and wash the floors while the parents just sit and relax. What value does that stem from? The pineapple is sweet here, delicious! Other dishes such as fish and chicken are good. However, tonight I ate couscous (Bafian) with my hands and used the bucket of water to wash my hands. Secondly, there are always people in and out of the house: friends and family.

Also whites are known here in Cameroon as Le Blanche. My host family’s neighbor was asking me if I was married (marie) or if I had children. I said no and the girl (avoisoner sp?) told me her uncle would marry me. Moreover, in the bakery (boulangerie) with a fellow Peace Corps Trainee, the bakery guy said I was his wife and that he loved me from the bottom of his heart (fon de cuer). It is crazy being the minority in this setting.

It is difficult adjusting yes, but I hope in the end this entire experience will be worth it. I am definitely out of my element: for the first time in my life.

Africa- Food preparation, doing laundry, bucket baths, walking and getting stared out by everyone but if you wave at the little kids they will smile and wave bag. They love the “High Five/Too Slow” game I play with them.


A lot has happened in the past week and half. For the first few days I stayed at a hotel in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. It was an overwhelming experience; shots, the food, being advised to not wander the city without anyone, and the “intensity” of orientation training.

The magic began in a medium size town, about 75,000 inhabitants of Bafia, about 2 hours north of Yaoundé. After a hot bumpy ride on the highway, two lanes in width. People here in Cameroon don’t respect the speed limit. They also pass you if you drive to slow, hence the many causes of vehicle accidents and a huge concern for Peace Corps Volunteers. A lot of people drive motos (downgraded versions of motorcycles).

My first bucket bath! A blue bucket held my water from the fountain. I had a smaller bucket and pour the cold water over my head a million times to get adequately wet. These are not at all bad: considering the perpetual heat here in Africa. I sweat all day.

The food! Cameroon has very delicious dishes! They eat a lot of rice, meat, fish, chicken, beans, bananas, and my favorite fruit now is pineapple. Bafia is proud of its sweet pineapple (la anana). They have powered milk and instant coffee which isn’t too bad. Moreover, I love the pain du chocolat (chocolate filled bread). The children do the cooking. Talk about reversal roles. My nine hear old host sister uses a knife better than I do! They do everything freshly, without preservatives and processed food. They eat everything; I got to actually touch a fresh fish (dead of course). My host sisters gutted the fish with their hands… it was a definite culture experience for me. Some Americans don’t really like the food, I love it. I have yet to gain weight.

Everywhere I go the local kids look and stare. I then wave at them and yell Bon jour, or Bon Soir and they smile and wave back. They are curious because I am a different color. A lot of older people ask me to be their tutor; they want to improve their English. I try to politely decline… and the bakery guy said he is my husband and loved me from the bottom of his heart… Here we go!

My French is steadily improving. I’m learning phrases every minute. I’ve even managed to start saluting in the local Bafian language: Ribkwa (sp?); Wayembei (Good Morning) and Seseeachenku (Good Evening). I say it to my host mom’s relatives that walk in they are greatly surprised this white girl knows their greetings.

I start teaching in a couple weeks at the model school. That is going to be another story. Until then… A bientôt!