Sara and I finally arrived in Bamenda around six pm on Sunday afternoon after quite the eventful journey. Flights to Brussels and from Brussels to Douala, Cameroon were relatively fine minus a few crying babies that all seemed to be sitting right near us. But we still got some sleep in! Favourite thing of the flights, Jet Airways "feet baskets" under the seat in front of you. So much nicer than a foot rest and made for quite a nice sleeping position. Mr. Julius (the Bamenda Coordinating Centre for Studies in Disability and Rehabilitation's [BCCSDR] executive director had prepared us well for the airport and we got through customs and baggage claim pretty easily. But when we stepped outside into the extreme heat and couldn't find someone holding the BCCSDR sign we slightly panicked. Then all of a sudden I spotted someone waving across the street with a security officer and our sign! Apparently security was extra high that day so Aloys was unable to get to the usual greeting point, but we found him and were soon on our way.
I don't think it's possible to explain the feelings or what we thought when first driving through Douala, overwhelming and surreal are probably the best descriptors. And although this is a terrible North American analogy, I did kind of feel like I was in a taxi during the Amazing Race. Too much to take in so quickly. Aloys and CY our driver for the evening took us to our hotel for the night which was in a Catholic Mission House. Simple, clean and a perfect spot to finally actually sleep, but getting food was Sara and I's priority before sleep. So Aloys and CY drove us down to the seaport for grilled fish and plantains and Castel (a Cameroonian beer). The entire meal was great and Aloys gave us three rules for the evening and our bus ride to Bamenda the next day: No crying, No snoring, and No stopping while eating (we had to finish it all). Sara and I both managed to follow all three rules and there wasn't even a chance where we thought we were going to cry!
So after a great meal and a good sleep we met Aloys Sunday morning for the bus ride to Bamenda. I think this is were my first culture shock moments hit. First was when we drove into the bus station and plus guys ran towards the cab and started yelling into the driver and Aloys various cities and prices trying to convince us to use their bus company. We ended up going with a company called Garanti which as it turned out was no guarantee at all! The first half of the bus ride was fantastic we had three seats together and the bus was not even close to being full and we didn't make any stops until just over 3 hrs into the trip (midway). And then the bus broke down! Now we had been told this was a possibility with the buses in Cameroon but still frustrating and we had no idea when it would be fixed or another Garanti would come along. Well we didn't have to wait too long but the next bus to come along was already overflowing, plus add our fellow passengers from the broken bus and what you get is Sara and I sitting for the next 4ish hours on the steps of the back stairs onto the bus! Not the most comfortable, and no view but the driver kindly lent us his jacket to sit on. But we made it to Bamenda which was the goal so travel within Cameroon mission 1 accomplished!
 |
| Sara and I's "seat" on the bus! |
After descending upon the city of Bamenda from a small mountain top (amazing view overlooking the city), we met Emmanuel (BCCSDR administrative assistant) at our new home for six weeks, the Bamenda Guest Home and Hotel. We each picked our rooms and then headed to dinner of grilled fish and bread which we brought back to our house to eat (I have a feeling I will be eating a lot of fish here, good thing I like it!).
 |
| Our home and view! |
Which finally brings us to today and our first day of orientation. We met Mr. Julius and had a meeting with him and Emmanuel and the guest home's manager and assistant manager to make sure we knew the everything about the place and who to go to for anything we needed. We also discussed potential projects that Sara and I will be working on for the centre during our placement. My project is to draft a manual or guidelines regarding the practical implementation of a sports program for people with disabilities. So as you probably all guessed I'm pretty excited for that! Emmanuel than took us through the various roles of the BCCSDR (research, education and coordination) and than out for lunch in the city for ama jamma and corn fou fou. I liked the ama jamma, not a fan of corn fou fou. We then went to the bank and headed back to the centre to learn some do's and don'ts of Cameroonian culture. Biggest challenge: it is inappropriate for females to cross their legs in public. Second biggest challenge: remembering all the do's and don'ts as Sara and I both want to learn to be a part of this culture and therefore the last thing we want to is do something disrespectful that Emmanuel has already informed us about. But we both made a list of them and so pretty sure I will review it from time to time and the best way to learn is through experience so just going out in the city more and interacting with people will be a huge help and learning tool.
That was an incredibly long first post (so don't expect the others to be as long) and pictures will eventually be added (including exactly where Sara and I sat on the second leg of our bus journey :) ). But I wanted to leave you with one more story and thought provoking experience I had:
Emmanuel brought to our attention that while eating lunch today 2 other white females came in to eat at the same place and none of us acknowledged each other. Later Emmanuel asked us why and we didn't have an answer, we just don't greet everyone we see. Emmanuel said if he were to be in Canada and saw another black person he would automatically greet him and ask him how they were, it is just common courtesy and polite to do. And after he talked about it, I agree! Why don't we say hello to each other more often? Especially to people we don't know? That tiny bit of acknowledgement from anyone could completely brighten someone's day and make them feel that they matter. Imagine it really was common courtesy in Canada, or everywhere in the world? Sounds kind of simple, yet we don't do it so why not start. So I challenge all of you to say hello to someone today that you pass on the street, in an elevator, in a store wherever it may be just say hello and smile! I think you might then smile brighter too!.
No comments:
Post a Comment