Day 1 in Cameroon

I left the luxury of the Hilton around 6:30 AM and headed for the airport. Par for my trip so far, we were quite a bit late taking off from Paris. The flight was also packed, packed, packed. Though it was not noted on my original ticket, there would be a stop in Douala, Cameroon before we reached our final destination of Yaoundé.

As we prepared to board, they began taking carry on baggage away from approximately every 5^th person in line because there were too many bags to fit in the overhead compartments. My carry on contained items that I had not trusted to be lost in the checked baggage – my camera, my computer, my malaria medication etc.

As I approached the boarding agent, I silently prayed that my bag would not be selected. For one thing, it was REALLY heavy and I was gently swinging it by my side pretending that it was light as a feather. It had a tag with only my US address, not my final destination. No one seemed to speak English around me and I was desperate to hold on to my bag as I could picture it being unloaded in Douala and not making it to Yaoundé with me. The very French ticket agent fixed his eyes on me and asked for my bag in French. I tried to use the “Je suis désolé, je ne parle pas français” line, but he continued to insist. I finally, and VERY reluctantly, handed over my bag. Now – keep in mind, it is full of my precious, not to be lost items . . . this thing is HEAVY! I think it weighed in at almost 35 pounds – WAY overweight for hand carry. He began speaking very quickly in French, obviously reprimanding me. And then – one short phrase in English – “your bag is too heavy.” He then began to speak in French again – I had no idea what was going to happen to my bag, but he began to motion me toward the plane.

As I sat in my seat – I weighed my options. No way could I sit and worry for the next 10 hours of the flight over my bag. I prayed for a few minutes for the safety of my bag and its contents and then, decided that should something happen and the bag not make it with me, God would provide me with a means of communicating with my family (the computer and camera) and I knew that there were pharmacies all over the city and the drugs were probably cheaper anyway. I sat back in my chair – and began to relax.

The flight over Africa was uneventful and very fast. We managed to make up quite a bit of time flying over the continent and landed in Douala back on schedule. I was one of few that remained on the plane for the last leg of the trip. We landed in Yaoundé about 5 minutes behind schedule. As I made my way through immigration I could see Mickey (my host) waving and smiling at me. As I later told him – it was one of the most welcomed smiles I have ever experienced.

With my passport, visa and health records stamped, I moved into the baggage claim area. Mickey was able to get in to help me. WOW – it is HUMID here!!!!! The belt began to move and guess who’s bag was the first one out????? My small, but very heavy hand carry rounded the corner and I just about cried with joy!!!! Thank you LORD!!!!! My other two bags made it without a scratch as well. I then mentally prepared myself for customs.

As a kid, when we would fly into Colombia, customs was always a nightmare. They went through every bag, pulling things out in a mess. My suitcases were stuffed full and I knew it was going to be a big, big mess. However, Mickey – amazing man that he is – flashed some paperwork and we were quickly whisked out of the customs area and I found myself hugging Barbara (Mickey’s wife and my email buddy over the past six months). I couldn’t believe it had been that easy!!!!!

Mickey and Barbara had dinner ready for me at their house and then took me to the AOC where I will be living for a while. Waiting for me in my room were to the two trunks that I had shipped in November. I was exhausted, but excited too and knew that I would want to spend my first day meeting people not unpacking. So – I went ahead and unpacked and organized my room and little kitchen area. I think I finally crashed about 1:30 AM. I am the only one at the AOC right now, so it is REALLY quiet, very unfamiliar, and a little warmer than my air-conditioned apartment back in Texas. Hopefully, I will be able to purchase a fan in the near future.

Sooooo . . . . Day 1:

I just ate a delicious, authentic Cameroonian meal - absolutely wonderful!!!! It’s called Poulet DJ --- chicken, plantains, green beans, carrots all cooked in a wonderful red sauce, wonderful red beans (with rice) on the side and my favorite thing about the tropics --- fresh papaya!!!!!!

They sure eat a lot of starch here - I've got to figure out how to make this work with the plan to lose weight!!!! :-)

My living arrangements are a little up in the air for a while . . . because of conference, housing is totally booked for a while. In the meantime, I am staying at the AOC all by myself - a little freaky, but I will manage!!!! :-) Really, the only thing that bothered me was going to the outhouse around 11 PM last night.

So, that answers question #1 - no, I don't have my own bathroom, and YES, I need to wear flip flops when I take a shower. hee, hee!!!!

It is very humid here (last night, it wasn't raining, but water was dripping from the tree leaves), but not too hot . . . it is certainly much more pleasant than Texas is in August / September and this is the hot time of year (I think) - so, that part of things will be just fine!!!!

I'm wearing a dress and to look at the plants outside, I have to keep reminding myself that I am not in Colombia.

Yaounde is a lot like Puerto Llerras -- I haven't seen the city part of things, but the 30 minutes driving in from airport was on a dirt road and the little 1 room houses looked a lot like Port.

My job description has changed a bit - I guess they have decided that I would make a really good full-time hostess and they are going to begin using the AOC for other training groups, including groups from non SIL organizations. Anyway, I'm going to have my hands full for a while as there isn't a kitchen manager on board yet -- I think for the time being, they want me to shuffle both . . . we'll see how it goes. My boss is on furlough, but working via email while he is gone. Hopefully, I'll live up to his expectations while he is gone - I think he gets back in July.

I do not have internet in my room - but will when I move again in a month or so. In fact, when I move, they have just set up wireless which is cool.

It just seems so surreal that I am here . . . I'm not sure if it just hasn't sunk in yet or what - but, it seems natural, not weird at all.