Lime Iro Senkitan Uncensored Version

Gazette Cameroon, Week 1

"And m ... no more water! . It is true that Murphy's law requires, it always happens when the shower, laundry or dishes, but we soon learn to organize: filtered water supplies for drinking, big buckets of water for the shower. Then gradually this kind of minor annoyance melts into everyday life and then into perspective pretty quickly.

Indeed, in the middle district of Cameroon, our apartment is really luxurious 2 bedrooms, lounge, large kitchen, a bathroom with shower (cold of course, but by a hot shower 30 ° C would have an interest in it?). Our? Yes, I forgot to introduce my roommate Matt, who also works at ISTAC. And then there 's also Fleur, a nurse who keeps us company the time to find an apartment. Live just above Nicolas (another colleague), Emmanuelle (OT) and their daughter Naomi. Small island lost in white Bonantone (district of Douala, http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartier_de_Douala ).

Matthew Flower and Coffee "The Ship"

Here, the houses all have the same corrugated iron roof. But this is not specific to Bonantone: even Bonapriso, the district expat and rich Cameroon, houses all sing the same song when specific tropical downpours come. Seen from above, these gray roofs give a monotone and appearance of slums. But when it comes down and wanders the streets, the mood changes completely: small shops where they sell eggs, drinks, hardware stores, small restaurants, cyber (without coffee!), Barbers, sellers of oranges or sticks (single cigarettes) call boxes (African concept of renting portable minute) ... Douala is not a dead city. And if you doubt, taxi and motorcycle taxi you recall, whether to offer up or advise you to store not get knocked down!

View from my room

View from the apartment and Emmanuelle Nicolas

Every morning (except on weekends anyway), I therefore take the taxi (200 FCFA € 0.30 or so the race) with Matthew and Nicolas direction based Total Bassa on the premises of which is the ISTAC. During the trip, we might be in town is the jungle! No lights, no signs, no priority right: we advance the forcing. One rule: you drive to right ... then when we do not doubt that over the threshold ... In any case it sure is better than a video game: adrenaline constantly. Pedestrian crossing is "2 times more pleasure, but remember to watch 50 times and 50 times left to right!

arrived at ISTAC, it is the holidays! Finally just for me and just for that week. It was the support missions Industrial (MI) and 3rd year internship. So I mainly participated in these defenses, which allowed me to have a clearer picture of the pedagogy of MI and begin to identify some heads. For even if a small school (classes of 40 students), it makes a lot of names to remember. I have an air-conditioned office (and the scarf still around her neck!) That I shared with two colleagues Cameroon: Prof. Louis-Aimé 'math prof and Augustus' computer. But rather I work with Nicolas who was responsible for MI in the previous semester. For lunch, I eat with Nicolas and Matthew or girls Administration (Nadine 1 and 2, Christine and Marie-Chantal) in the restaurant Aisha: rice with tomato sauce and spiced by day fish or meat. In the afternoon, I go back to school peacefully. But hey do not worry, I'm starting to really work next week: I have an appointment with a company in the forest (operating oil palm and rubber) on Tuesday. I will tell you that!

The ISTAC for entry

ISTAC The view of the parking

Otherwise, my time is preparing ¼ gradually. I went to see Father Ignatius Jesuit Parish Bonamoussadi Thursday night. He is a priest young, dynamic, friendly and very interesting. He is responsible for his young ward (10 000 faithful!) And 4 other towers. He spoke of the 16 youth groups in his parish, plans a major center of human and intellectual training for young, poor and rich, and then also his country, Cameroon. From the perspective of the mission is just me who will build gradually my post. At first, I should spend Wednesday morning at the orphanage or hospital, reserving the afternoon for the animation of youth groups. First impressions Wednesday 8!

But hey, that's not at work, we must not forget WE! A by sleep (the climate quite tired), I discovered a little town. Whether to go cyber shopping for in Desire (our dealer in fruits and vegetables) and Meno (the baker), I do not miss an opportunity to get out. With my roommate, I also discovered two "small" bars very nice with a superb view of the Wouri and fishermen: first images of a beautiful country. And the discovery also involves food. Grilled Mackerel (with the fingers is much better!), Fried plantains, sweet potato, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit not to mention the inevitable Top Pineapple, Grapefruit grenadine (soda): I go from one discovery.

The Desire store, shop from our fruit and vegetables

Viewed coffee "The Ship" back fishing

Viewed coffee "The Ship" Sunset on the Wouri

View Wouri, houses and tin roofs

Fisherman on the Wouri

cathos What my friends are reassured, the WE is also an opportunity to go to mass. Enthusiasts Masses flash 'songs and without looping in ¼ hour refrain: here is local choirs for 2 hours on Sunday regardless. 2 hours, it may seem long, but the songs are so beautiful that it goes alone. What strikes elsewhere in Cameroon, is the omnipresence of religion. Of course we come across places of worship everywhere: Jehovah's Witnesses right next to the house, evangelical church 5 minutes, Catholic church to ¼ hour walk, etc. ... But when the neighbors are too loud music is often Christian songs, radio was indeed a decade of "RCF" different in bars nobody comes screaming from the boss when pop music is clearly labeled Christian. Here, religion is an integral part of everyday life and it's always funny when you come from a country like France.

That was a summary of my first impressions of Cameroon. Meetings are little by little by little: colleagues from work for First, the parish of Bonamoussadi in 10 days and certainly other ways to create a genuine exchange Franco-Cameroonian
... I leave you with this little mouthing. Take care and see you next week!