Yaounde Yaounde Yaounde

As Courtney eloquantly put it - I am finally "back in a city with a Hilton". This is true. The one and only one in Cameroon but yes, I am. Now, don't get confused about the city - it is nothing like an American city and still has many roads that aren't paved (the main ones are but the side streets aren't). But, I just got back from eating Chinese food. I cannot describe to you the happiness that ensued when I bit into that spring roll and my eggplant dish. It was amazing. It was such a group of flavors that I hadn't had in 5 months and so my body was happy. But, the best part of the experince here in Yaounde had to be the amazing supermarket I got to go in. Now, this supermarket is no better (and to be honest much smaller probably) than any grocery store that you would go to in America BUT compared to the open air markets or small boutiques that are available in the North it was honestly slightly overwheleming. Now, you would all be proud that I contained myself. I will be going back tomorrow to buy one box of cereal for the 14 hour train ride back but one my first trip I kept it down to 8000 CFA (about 16 bucks) and bought balsamic vinegar, mustard, conditioner (not really available up North and I am getting low on the stuff Sarah - the girl I replaced - was kind enough to leave me), haribo cola flavored gummies, and blue cheese. I am planning all of tomorrow around when I can consume the Chinese leftovers and blue cheese. Don't judge - you cannot understand my excitement. I wasn't able to attend the happy hour at the Hilton because I have spent too much money already this "paycheck" but I plan to save a bit for my next trip here because it sounds awesome.

I have been productive while here. I have met lots of volunteers in the southern part of Cameroon. I have gotten lots of administration stuff done - which is great cause I doubt I will be here more than 4 times a year! All in all this is a successful trip for me so that is nice.

People in the south are a bit different. They aren't as friendly as the northerners (in general) and I have to be super careful not to throw Fulfulde in the mix. Crazy that last time I was in this city I didn't speak a lick of French let alone Fulfulde and now I am speaking French (granted not awesome French but functional) and trying not to throw in my random Fulfulde words like I do in the north. Here in Yaounde there are also no mottos like there are in all the cities up north. There are taxis. And, these taxis randomly stop along the road while you stand there trying to get your attention and you yell out where you want to go and they either stay there (in which case your answer is yes, get in) or they say nothing and drive away (which is their way of telling you no). It's hard to get use to when you are use to the mottos who the only thing that you have to debate about (using words not just yell/drive away action) is whether your trip is 100 or 150 CFA. I can handle that. Also, I feel so out of it because I have NO idea about the food here. Nothing on the menu means anything to me! Up north I have learned most of the foods and can navigate most menus/ladies who sell food on the street. Here - not so much because it is all new foods - but I did decide for lunch to not get pizza or a hamburger but to eat some southern Cameroonian food and had some great black sauce with catfish. I was quite pleased. I know I talk a lot about food but food is big deal for me here! So, ya'll can all deal with it!

Also, it is strange to see all the men in western style clothes (not the booboos I see them in up north - think Muslim robes with basically scrubs out of the same material) and the women here don't all where pagne like they do up north. It is just less conservative all in all. I mean I think it is different in terms of the women whereing pagne if you go en brousse to the villages but here in the big city - you see lots of women in western clothes. Up in the north, it is rare to see that even in the provincial captials. Food wise and culture wise the south seems like a different country in many ways - and it is much more humid and a bit cooler too! I look forward to getting to travel about in the south and see what this humid/wetlands/jungle area is like.

Alright, signing off because I need to give other people a chance on the computer and get a decent night sleep since tomorrow night I will be sleeping on a train. Also, time to change the laundry - that's right my clothes are all being washed in a washing machine and dried with a dryer - no bucket wash and clothes line for me this week - I am so excited for warm, soft clothes! I am telling you guys, it is the little things in life....