September 9th: Living in Maroua
The streets of Maroua
Hard to describe, but they make quite an impression on you. The infrastructure is very different than anything I have ever seen. Take a look at my facebook pictures for an idea. There is a lot of garbage around. A lot. Nothing is clean like back home. The cleanest store here would be one the dirtiest back home. Also, you have to negotiation 80% of the stuff here. The person gives you a price (usually 5 to 10 times the normal price), and you bargain down from there. I find it draining, but I guess I will adjust.
Nasara
I am white! Look at me I am white! Either I am wearing a shirt that says that, or people in Maroua are just not used to seeing white people. I have been told that the latter explanation is more likely. Have you ever felt that you were perceived only by your skin’s color? Well that is how it is here, and people aren’t afraid to tell you! It’s tough enough being in a foreign country for the first time; you are already an outsider. But when people hiss and shout at you everywhere you go, it can be intimidating. And humbling at the same time. Visual minorities in Canada must feel ostracized when they are the only ones amongst a crowd of white people. I think getting yelled at will take some getting used to.
Fufuldé
I got my first lesson in the local language today. Hopefully in a few months I can send some video of me speaking it with someone. It’s pretty cool.
Friends
I have been hanging a lot with the guys here. Out of 15 new volunteers, we are only 3 guys. Hugo is a new volunteer like I am, and we share a room at the mission. He has a dual citizenship with France and Canada. I enjoy his company because he is a “do-er”, and so am I. We are not content just sitting around. We find things to do, people to talk to, projects to undertake, etc. We make the most of the moment. Then there is Ed, a returning volunteer. Ed is from the UK. I like to laugh with Ed and make fun of this whole process. Ed doesn’t take everything as seriously as everyone else, so I have enjoyed making jokes with him and Hugo. Sam, another returning volunteer, is also from the UK, and also joins in on the laughs. If it wasn’t for these guys being here, I would be having a tough time.
Basketball
I brought a basketball and soccer ball with me on my trip. I got my basketball pumped today, so I am pretty excited about playing here. People who see me in the streets yell out “Jordan!”, but only after they yell out “Nasara!”
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3 commentaires:
Merci de nous garder au courant, JP. Je montre intérêt question de te motiver à continuer tes posts, hehe.
Merci et sois prudent! Have fun!
Cher Jean-Philippe,
Je trouve ton blog très intéressant. Ce n’est que récemment que j’ai su que tu partais pour le Cameroun. Et lorsque je l’ai su, j’ai décidé de remettre à plus tard la tradition annuelle d’envoi de cadeau d’anniversaire à mon filleul car je ne savais pas trop comment m’y prendre pour la livraison au Cameroun! Entretemps, je t’envoie des vœux d’anniversaire de la part de Kevin, Sophie et moi.
Et tu continue la tradition des Latulippe quant aux voyages en Afrique. Ta sœur bien sûr, et tes grands-parents en Éthiopie. Je comprends très bien que tu puisses te sentir dépaysé. Je trouve que même un voyage en Europe peut avoir cet effet. Je ne sais pas si tu es au courant, mais j’ai passé deux semaines au Kenya il y environ 15 ans. J’ai visité la capitale Nairobi, et ensuite je suis partie en safari, à trois endroits. Nous étions plusieurs étudiants et c’était plutôt un voyage de camping. Je pense que j’ai vu beaucoup moins de pauvreté que toi mais déjà, à cette époque là, le SIDA faisait ses ravages.
L’an passé, j’ai fait du bénévolat à la Fondation de Stephen Lewis, qui a comme mandat d’offrir du soutien aux Africains touchés par cette maladie. La fondation a organisé une rencontre à Toronto entre les grands-mères du Canada, et les grands-mères africaines qui portent un fardeau difficile, celui d’élever leurs petits-enfants qui ont perdu leurs parents au SIDA. J’étais présente lors de la conférence et de certains ateliers. Un des ateliers portait sur le deuil, et les participants ont parlé d’amis et de membre de famille décédés, non seulement du SIDA, mais aussi lors des massacres au Rwanda.
Tu décris ton voyage en train… ça me rappelle des souvenirs! J’ai passé plusieurs heures en train au Sri Lanka, et ma compagne de voyage et moi n’avons même pas osé mettre le pied dans la salle de toilette. Et pas de couchette ni de première classe dans le train!
De nouveau, joyeux anniversaire!
Lynne
Hi JP,
Happy Birthday.
Sounds like an interesting adventure- experiences that you can bring into the future. Graham is doing well- with his newfound freedom. I recently sold him my Honda Accord for $400., but within a couple of days (before I transferred over the ownership) he totalled it. It was not his fault the accident. The insurance gave me $4,600 for the old car. Graham still has his other car- he had plan to sell it and keep mine to roll over for a profit in a year. Anyways, he is on the fast track. He likes his new apartment with his two 26 yr old buddies. They have a nice 3 bedroom place. He is in his last year of high school. No telling what is next- I think he wants to be a fireman this week.
Renee
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