Midnight train to Yaounde

Okay so at last weeks provincial meeting, I got elected to be the North Province (actually i think we are now the North region but whatever) representative who serves on the VAC (volunter advisory counsil). So, that meant that I had to come to a meeting in Yaounde the next weekend! So, I am currently in Yaounde (where there is decent internet - hence the 20 pictures I just put up!)!

Not much went on the few days I was in Bibemi between the provincial meeting and leaving to come to Yaounde - it's a long trip that takes a number of days if you do it at a normal pace. My wall got finished! That was exciting. But, apparently the price of the new door wasn't included in the price of the wall soooo my guardian and I are fighting over the 4000 CFA that he signed a paper saying was included but now claims wasn't. It's only 8 dollars but it is the principle of the thing! I don't like prices changing on me no matter by how much.

Thursday after eating lunch at the Adoumri market with Phil I headed into Garuoa to spend the night. I bought some cheese and crackers and treated myself to that fabulous dairy filled meal. Despite that fact that I arrived in Garoua by 4pm to check the mail - they wouldn't let me check the mail. So, I went back Friday morning only to find that all the packages were for PHIL! But, I was a good friend (as Kauleen had been to me) and brought Phil's packages to the office on the motto and will later bring them to him in Adoumri. I am hoping when I pass through Garoua on my way back I will have some packages in Garoua - I know they are on route!

Friday morning, along with the VAC representative from the Extreme North named Fleurange, I traveld down to the Adamoua (the cooler province)on a bush taxi. Our bush taxi got chased by Baboons at some point but other than that it was fairly uneventful. Strange how normal the travel here has become to me - I don't even want to right about that 5 hour bus trip. I did get to buy some papaya from some kids that was pretty amazing! Then, when I got to Ngaoundere (which I am sure I a misspelling)I got to see some of my stage mates and eat the most amazing street meat in Cameroon. While I know I haven't tried all the street meat in the country - this was amazing and I ate soooo much of it. Beer and meat was a fabulous dinner for me! I will have to do it again on the way back up!

Saturday we did't have to leave on the train until 6pm but we picked up our tickets (we splurged for the sleeper cars) and I ate some more meat with a cream sauce - though I was going to die of happiness! Anyway, enough of meat. I managed to super glue my headphones back together (again! things here have a short shelf life) and bought another whiskey bottle full of peanuts for the train - that was my snake on the first train ride and you cannot break tradition. We arrived at the train about 20 minutes early and found our sleeper compartment - there were 3 of us and 4 beds so we would be sharing with one random Cameroonian man. The window in our room didn't open which made me sad but hey - everything cannot go right I suppose! But, the window in the hallway did and I spent the first 2 hours of the trip watching the sun set out of that window while listening to my ipod. Love it. I was actually able to sleep a tiny bit with the sleeper car (unlike the first time in 1st class when I didn't sleep a wink). We stopped a number of times during the night for a bit but all in all it was good. Every time we stopped people would approach the train trying to sell you things and you could almost track the progress of the trip by what people were selling. In the Adamoua it's mostly just honey. As you get further south you see oranges, bananas, and batons (so type of Cameroonian food that I don't yet like). I finally got out of bed around 5:20 and was back maning my window waiting for the sun to rise (which I knew it would circa 6am as we are so close to the equator. The sky was purple and then gradually gained color. We stopped for about an hour from about 6-7 and I got to watch the sunrise, and take pictures of the whole thing while many other people got off the train. At some point a lady came around selling Palm wine (the local brew down south like bil bil is in the north) and so I tried some Palm wine out of a tangi (water) bottle. It was milky looking but not tasting. I liked it but I prefer bil bil so far. But, I will certainly have to try it a few more times. As I stood there on the stopped train watching the sun rise and drinking palm wine I was super content and realized I don't mind the train ride so much. It can be beautiful and fun.

Today it rained in Yaounde. You cannot understand how big of a deal that is for me or how it took me a bit to realize what the sound was unless you also haven't heard or seen rain in 5 months. It's so much cooler and wetter down here than up North where I am. It's strange to me that the north of somewhere can be warmer and than the south since I am use to the climate patterns in America but Africa is a whole other ball game. When I got the the Peace Corps house in Yaounde (called the Case but pronounced Cause) I got to take my first hot shower in 5 months - also was a huge deal for me and something I enjoyed more than I could ever explain over a computer. Alright, time for me to find some food for myself here in Yaounde. But, since I have internet for the next few days I will try to write again while I am here! Enjoy the pictures!