Some Ridiculous Lines

These are just a few quotes from our adventure so far:

(in airport)
Laurie: "My goal for this trip is to bathe more often."
Me: "My goal is to bathe less."
"Another goal is to not get too sick."
Laurie: "I wouldn't keep that as a goal. It won't happen."

(on our 5 hour bus trip from Douala to Bamenda)
Lady preaching/leading songs on bus:
"Travelers should not travel with bad thoughts."
"How many people like to hear my voice?" -real question. people raised their hands.
"I am finished. People clap for me!"
"One more time."
(ps. she followed her "preaching" by selling soap)

(Nini is the very old woman in our compound-Laurie wrote about her on her blog.)
This was translated for us because she only speaks her dialect.
Nini: "If you were husband and wife, you would have a child in that house and name
her after me."

(Anna is the Cameroonian woman in charge of the after school program Laurie and Baine helped to start four years ago.)
Anna: "People are just people." -explaining why someone had made the mistake they had made.

Laurie: "I really like yelling at you. It makes me happy."
(Separate occasions)
: "Being mean to you makes me really happy."
: "I'll get my own granola bars!" -I don't really remember what was occurring.
: "I always keep chocolate in bed with me."
: "Pope smiking"

Laurie and me: "I smell really good..."

Me: "I can't wait to have clean clothes!"

(Kindness is a 2 year old Cameroonian girl living in the compound)
Kindness: "Wabana(white man), carry me!"

Cameroon!!

Well, I'm not sure where to begin. So far this adventure has been exactly that, an adventure. I still feel like we are at the beginning of this story and am anxious to know what we will learn and what we can do to help. But I am also beginning to miss home, friends, and family. However, there is much more to do and experience here for now.

The extreme change in culture began quite quickly, even in the Paris airport, which was definitely the most diverse place I have ever been. I am excited about spending time in Paris in a couple weeks! But the airport in Douala, Cameroon was quite an experience. After going through the somewhat mild customs booths, we arrived at the baggage claim, which was quite intense(probably more for me than the rest of the people that seemed to be quite comfortable with the situation). Laurie and I were 2 of maybe 5 white people in all of the airport, so needless to say we drew some attention. Surrounded by a mass of very loud and seemingly aggressive(this is just part of the culture and not actually threatening once you get used to it. I wasn't used to it yet) strangers in a strange place one's survival and protective instincts come alive in full force. After traveling for two days straight with hardly any sleep you would think there would be no energy left to be aware of what is going on, but I haven't felt that awake or aware of my surroundings in quite awhile. My brotherly protective instincts were at an all time high. I was extremely awake and anxious now. All this was probably unnecessary because we were actually not in any danger, but it was my first full immersion into this new culture.

There were many people that were not actually flying in to Douala, but were there to "help". Everyone speaking French to us and Laurie making sure I just say "no" instead of asking what they are saying because we already (very thankfully) had a man coming to pick us up. Enock, who is one of the hardest working people in Cameroon, it seems, found us among the masses and we were shortly on our way.

This trip is allowing me to view a very different culture(to me) up close, which is, in turn, allowing me to analyze my own culture from a very different perspective. I am very thankful for this opportunity. Those that have helped us and prayed for us so graciously, THANK YOU!

I have been writing down things that have happened on a daily basis, so I will share more soon.