A Little about Bandjoun

Hey guys - Sorry it's been so long! I thought I'd share a little bit about my village here in Cameroon, which is called Bandjoun. It is actually a pretty big village, with a population of 120,000 when you count all the surrounding rural area (which they do). That being said, it definitely feels smaller than the cities here. Right now, during the rainy season, it generally rains at least once a day here, but the rain doesn't usually last very long. It is generally warm or hot, but after the rain comes it immediately drops many degrees and, actually, it gets pretty chilly!




Though you guys might like to see (and perhaps laugh lovingly at) my African Barbie outfit...



I have also taught myself to do some pretty cool braids, which comes in handy when its been awhile since my last bucket bath, haha...




Then, there is the market day, which falls every 4 days (although now they use the same week we know, their traditional week had 8 days instead of 7 - which makes the every 4 days thing make a little more sense). I LOVE market day. The little village transforms!! Suddenly, this sleepy little place is crawling with life, swarming with business. Although I hear "LA BLANCHE, LA BLANCHE" from every direction, i still consider the occasion of market day a sort of fun challenge. Mission: enter, be friendly, keep a close eye on your purse - do not allow theft, spend as little as possible, come away with as much fresh produce as possible, lug heavy purchases up the big hills to your house, plop down with a big sigh of feeling like you just accomplished something great. haha... and i haven't even mentioned the glorious frippery - or, lovingly, "the frip." This is where all of the clothes given to Goodwill in America and whatever the equivalent is in Europe come to die or be adopted. I once came away with 3 amazingly vintage looking shirts (well, one was 80s, one 90s, and the other who knows) having spent the equivalent of about $1.20. aaaah.... talk about a rewarding accomplishment...




Market Day





Beautiful Colors on Market Day




Sea of people - Market Day



I have been working a little (and by working, I mean just showing up and sitting for a couple hours) with BATOCCUL, the "microfinance institution" I've been paired up with. I put the sarcastic quotations there because, although, technically, they do provide financial services to the poor in the form of savings, they do not loan to the poor. I am very disappointed by this, and now know that I should be more specific from now on and say that I am interested in "microcredit" instead of the more general "microfinance." However, in general, the people there are nice. My favorite coworker is probably Dorothee, who has already come (by her own invitation) to eat at my house. She is my age and I think she is very beautiful, but I'm not sure she is a very hard worker haha.... My counterpart (the coworker who is supposed to be showing me the ropes) is named Helen, or MAMIE (this is apparently what they call anyone who has given birth to twins) but she recently took some vacation days (not related to the twins - she has not given birth in years). Madame Evelyn, or MA (just a term of respect) is the branch manager. She is actually from the English speaking area of Cameroon, but is also fluent in French and Fulfude (the language of the North, mostly Muslim, areas). In general, I prefer she speak French to me (the English here is so weird that sometimes French is less frustrating), but it is nice when I don't understand a French banking term to be able to have it translated quickly.




Batoccul Outside



Batoccul Inside





Dorothee, left, Veronic (intern), right

A small glimpse at their, obviously very organized, filing system



A very serious Madame Evelyn



I live in an apartment with a big gate in front. The apartment is, laughingly, quite a bit larger than the one I lived in during college :). I feel very safe here. I have a living room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a tiny little kitchen. I don't yet (although I may never) have a fridge, and I don't have an oven, but I do have a gas powered stove top. In general, I have electricity, although it occasionally has issues. For the first month, I never once had running water, but now it comes a few times a week during the day but not at night. Every time it comes it is like a little blessing and I am in a great mood! I feel embarassed for ever having complained about doing dishes or laundry in america where there is not only running water but machines!

The little road that leads to my house, the black building on the left





My big and, I think, very pretty front gate







The inside of my concession.  There is a large family with like 7 or 8 kids who live on the whole bottom floor.  I have most of the top floor, but there is a small studio apartment all the way to the right, where a bunch of highschool boys live together.  There is also a well inside the concession, which is where my water comes from for washing clothes and dishes.  However, it is not potable, so I have to collect rainwater to filter and drink. 

My front door - 2nd floor







One of the things i like most about this place is that PEOPLE REALLY DO CARRY THINGS ON THEIR HEADS!  And i mean EVERYTHING...  suitcases, things they are selling, peanuts, multiple hats, buckets, big sacs full of, i dunno, bananas, even if all they would have in their hands is a single machette, some people will instead carry it on their head.




I followed this man around for quite awhile trying to get a good pic.  On market day, these men are numerous, and it cracks me up when they stop to talk to eachother like everything is normal.... his legs are buckling, for goodness sake!
(Sorry, no picture to demonstrate the next point, haha)



One of the things i dislike most about this place is that men pee in public.... im talking, ill be walking 10 feet behind some man, and he'll just stop right in front of me, turn to the side, and whip it out!  ugh - i feel so awkward and they are not even phased!  (I do like, however, the signs i see everonce in awhile in french that say "forbidden to urinate here" haha... those are funny.)