Hey Everyone!!!
Somuch has happenedin the last couple days that i cant even begin to describe it all. We are in Buea today. We started this morning in Bafang andwent to the primary school (elementary) to watch the children plant corn and beans in their garden. We talked to them yesterday in class so they recognized us today and when we got out of the van they all ran up yelling “miss kali, madame kali” and grabbed every part of my arms and waist they could get a hold of, just moving as i moved in orderto hold my hand//touch me- they were so cute!! After the school we went to Ekom Falls – three incredible water falls in the jungle of Africa. We definately did not have any of the red tape at American waterfalls– our guide took us down a rocky,muddy, kind of trail all the way down to the bottom of the waterfall. We were literally getting soaked on the rocks in the water. It was probably top 3 most incredible experiences of my life, to basically be in the waterfall, nothing man made anywhere around us…in Africa. (on the way back up I even got a rock to bring to my mom for her collection) My socks and shoes are a wreck but it was beyond worth it. We all felt this since of fulfillment that you cant quite put into words when we were leaving. I cant wait to show all of you pictures!!
On the road to Buea we bought fresh Guava and Mango from the people selling on the streets. AMAZING!!!
I know i mentioned the waterfall a couple days ago and the reason we didnt go on our way to Bafang was because there was a GIANT funeral Celebration in the street to go to the Falls on saturday. So instead, we pulled over on the road to watch the celebration [yes, celebration – singing, dancing, etc] and ended up joining the tribes in a huge dance in a circle while the local chiefs looked on.The funeral is different than a burial here -the chief had died 3 weeks before and buried then, which is somber; but the funeral is a party. These Africans basically said “our funeral parties are better than your actual parties.”
Yesterday [Monday] we spent the day at the primary and secondary schools talking about America to the children and giving them pens and pencils. Then the secondary [middle] school students had a Home Economics test where they cooked traditional African dishes in pots over rocks and some fire wood.They served us all in a littleceremony with all the teachers – some of the BEST food I have had since being here – I even got 4 recipes to make back home!! Then we spen the afternoon with them playing sports – the boys played football (soccer) and I played handball — i scored a goal in each of the 3 games i played!!! (no, they werent just going easy on me either) One girl gave me an “I Love Africa” necklace that I am wearing now — I only wish we had brought more to give them. They all LOVED playing with my hair–oh my goodness they couldnt stop touching it. As long as I wasnt running, they were touching my hair – even as we walked…I wore my hair down for that purpose since I heard they loved our hair and they certainly were not disappointed.
Tomorrow we are going to the University and then hopefully we will be able to hike Mt Cameroon — they say it is a 2 day trip, we are trying to see if we can make it in 1…
I cant believe how much I am leaving out of this blog…so many details like the food and the people… I think when i get back I will try to do small blogs with pictures on certain parts.
Hope everyone is well!!!
Kali