The rains down in Africa have returned!

Okay first things first, IST (in service training that all volunteers go to after 3-4 months at post) is over and the rains have begun. Craziness. After not seeing rain here up North for 6 months it was insane to see it again. The first big rain in Garoua was on Easter, it was awesome. Okay, so Easter in Africa. I went to church – I wanted to see what an African Easter service was about. A group of us volunteers in the Garoua area all went to church at the Anglophone (English speaking) church in Garoua. Oh, did I mention that when I say English I mean Pidgin English (which I speak small small :)) It was truly interesting. We showed up at 8am for church and no one was there (Cameroonians have a very different concept of time then Americans) and we were told by another person heading to the service that they were meeting a couple “blocks” away and walking to church while singing songs and telling people the good news (that the Lord had risen). I couldn’t miss seeing that and so we drove over to this corner they were all meeting at. All in all about 20 people were there and walked to the church together singing. Once church started we sang songs that they taught us as we sang them. They passed out fans to each person in the congregation (did I mention this church was a tiny concrete building lacking fans or AC or real windows and it was 120 degrees?) and so I began fanning myself vigorously. Oh, did I also mention that I had bronchitis (super nasty flemmy cough) and was making some loud noises myself that got me many looks that said “that nassara has TB or something else nasty”. It would have been embarrassing to me in a previous life but I have grown a much thicker skin in my 7 months here. I did get a few of the songs on video so some of you will be lucky enough to see this scene for yourself one day. Oh, the service was also translated into Fulfulde so we had Pidgin and Fulfulde going on at the same time. Throughout the service, the preacher would get the congregation to participate by saying “Hallelu…” and we would follow with “jah”. That was pretty entertaining. Then, once the sermon itself started the fun truly began. We got to clap for Jesus who had conquered death. Some of my favorite quotes that I managed to write down during the sermon were – “the stone had been placed by strong heftic (is that a word?) men and couldn’t be moved by no women” ; “they had a problem, the weak women could not roll that stone” ; “maybe your mother in law is like a big stone before you” ; “if left to man, Jesus Christ would not have risen from dead, the stone was too big” ; and my personal favorite “why aren’t you the happiest of people now?”. It was a fantastic experience and despite the fact that it lasted 2 ½ hours and we left early and I haven’t sweat so much in a long time – it was worth it. Also, I was wearing a very festive Easter moo moo with giant fish on it and a crotch pocket (yes, that’s not a type-o). Pictures will eventually come, if you are lucky! After church we all went to the missionaries house and had a delicious brunch and watch a movie together. We also got rain so that was a special Easter treat!

When I got back to post with bronchitis I learned a few interesting cultural beliefs. First, to treat my cough I needed to eat lots and lots of raw onions. Also, I had my bronchitis because I had gone swimming in a pool when it was very hot outside. I tried to explain that this whole pool theory was not true but they wouldn’t hear any of it. But, I did give in a eat some onions (along with my erythromycin and inhaler) and I did get better soon so who knows – that could have been a good health tip! I find it interesting all of the taboos about illness that people have here. For instance, this week I also learned that they don’t like to drink water when they are sick – they don’t see the point. Also, cold drinks are bad for your health in hot weather – this one I have fought vigorously against because it means I don’t get cold beer in the hot season unless I bring it home and make it cold, but so far, I haven’t won that battle either.

So, last weekend Phil was sick and he came over to Bibemi to be nursed back to health – his words not mine. So, I played nurse and made him soup and we watched movies with my two fans pointed at us. Phil had been sick for about 2 days when he showed up and was better by the next day. He stayed until Saturday because there was a dedication ceremony for the new computer lab at the CETIC (like a technical high school) in Bibemi. The Peace Corps had been involved with getting them these computers so one of the Peace Corps staff and a handful of volunteers showed up for the opening ceremony of the Barack Obama Information Center. Yes, they are truly obsessed. Anyways, by Monday morning I was not feeling well. Phil had been kind enough to give me his bacterial dysentery. I will spare you details about this illness (you can google them if you really want) but it is disgusting and you feel like you got hit by a truck for 2 ½ - 3 days. Lucky me, right? But, this is the afternoon of day 3 and I feel much better. Not 100% or anything but the fever has left and I can move around now.

I got another invitation to an event here in Bibemi that was addressed to me. This time I was not Madame le Blanc but rather I was Madame Obri. Apparently that is the Fulfulde spelling of Aubrey. Hey, it’s shorter, it works! That is improvement though – it is an attempt at my name – that is all I ask for! It’s not nassara, le blanc, or Sarah. Progress is being made. Just wanted to keep you all posted on that!

Okay, I wanted to close this blog with a list I have started (with the help of another volunteer Kauleen who was equally bored during a special IST session). It is a list of all the most ridiculous things we have seen on pagne (the African fabric, but I hope you all know that word by now!). Okay, here goes the list for now – I will update it every so often as need be.
- dresser on round carpet with only bottom 2 drawers in it
- loaves of bread
- king kong and a bus – yes, together!
- Severed hand with spray paint can
- Wrenches
- Modern living room set (chair, lamp, carpet, table, etc)
- Computer with mouse
- Pope
- Jesus
- Virgin Mary
- Paul Biya (Cameroon’s President since the early 80s)
- Bird 3x the size of the accompanying bird house
- Toasters
- Toothpaste and tooth brush
- Electric fans
- Chairs
- Lamps
- Eyes
- Saucer and coffee cup
- Phones of all types (cellular, finger dial, etc)
- Sodecoton with peanut oil bottle
- Coo Coo clock
- Oyster with pearl
- Ladybugs put together in shape of large flower
- Computers with linked hands symbolizing the internet
- Hand with eye in the middle
- Diploma with hat and gown (more ridiculous here than you’d think)
- Different types of houses
- Game controllers (like for an Nintendo)
- Western Kitchen (sink, table, cabinets, etc)
- Alka-Seltzer in a glass
- Luggage at a hotel front desk
- Champagne glasses
- Badminton birdies
- House burning
- Sewing machines
- Spoons and forks
- Combs
- DNA strains
- Binoculars with eyes peeping out
- UFOs
- Rubber duckies
- Ears of corn
- Razor blades
- Bowling pins with bowling balls
- Men wrestling each other
- Personal CD player with CDs
- New Years part scene
- Western Bathroom (tub, shower, toilet, sink, etc)

Now, would you really want to been seen in a dress or shirt made out of any of these? Come on now, some of them are hilarious right – if I ever find some of these for sale and not just on someone – some of you will be getting the world’s best gag gifts!!! Be prepared. More to come…