Leaving Cameroon

Welp, I didnt finish up my service very well re: blogging. My computer died last year around december and it made it much more difficult to do. Even emails I didnt do a great job with, same deal. I havent forgotten about anyone and I cant wait to see everyone when i get back to the states. Ill arrive June 9th but wont be around CT til the 15th (bonnaroooooo). When i get back ill have a phone and I will see everybody over the summer while im looking for jobs. that reminds me anyone who has a job, let me know ill send in my resume. ill do almost anything. see you all in a few weeks!

Waterfalls and Pickpockets

Hey guys...sorry for the long wait. I've been busy and since my computer has died I'm finding even harder than before to get updates up. Despite possible rumors I am in fact alive and well. I've had an interesting few months. First, as you've seen dad came in mid December to visit and stayed for Christmas. It was fun having him here, hearing his first impressions and showing him how I live here. We stayed a little poche for a bit in the tourist sites but then went to village. Even Cameroonians are surprised that my dad came out to post and took a 1.5 hr moto ride back to Dschang. I'm glad he came, its nice to be able to say names of towns and people and have him know what I'm talking about.

We had a meeting at my post a few weeks ago and went to a waterfall by my post, but since I'm running out of time and I'm lazy Ill refer you to my friends blog who went, he describe it pretty well: http://jimeroon.blogspot.com

Finally Ill tell you about one of the worst days I've had in country, and of course it involves travelling. I took a small car from Dschang to Bafoussam (1hr) to take a car from there to Yaounde (3-4 hrs) because its faster than going straight from Dschang. I was wearing mesh shorts because the previous day I'd walked from my post to Dschang (about 45km or 28 miles) and was sore as s***. Getting out of the car I paid the driver, then followed a friend I'd made in the car also going to Yaounde. Two guys bumped into me for an unusually long time, and i was suspicious and checked my bag but there were no hands there (turns out wallet was in my pocket). Only after I'd gotten on a car to Yaounde and police came to give our new driver crap for staying on the side of the road too long did I check to make sure I had my id and realized my wallet was missing. I shouted explitives and threw my bag against the window getting everyones attention. I explained what had happened and finally the people inside the car convinced one of the police officers to help me try to get my wallet. My friend took his wife and child off the bus and said he would help me. As we were walking back to the spot where it happened the police officer told us to walk seperately so they wouldnt know he was with us. I never saw him again. My friend talked to some people who had seen it happen (turns out there were about 10 witnesses) and there were some guys who offered to go get the wallet. 2 hrs later they came back with the wallet, missing the 50000cfa (about 100 dollars) that was inside. I was relieved to have my id and bank card and immediately went to the bank and refilled my wallet. The guy was so nice he paid the guys 5000 for finding the wallet for me and was going to pay for my transport to yaounde. I paid him back and have talked to him a few times since. Then i got in a bush taxi with a crazy driver who tried to blow through a police stop, they blew one of our tires, i jumped out the window when he stopped, it was scary. unfortunately im out of time. hope everyones good, see you in a few months
brad

Christmas in Cameroon

This post is from Brad's father, Brad Melius, Sr. I spent 13 days with Brad around Christmas (December 15-27) traveling around Cameroon - Kribi, Limbe, Dschang and Brad's post in Menji. The trip was amazing, thought-provoking, humbling and altogether wonderful. Here are my observations:

I would describe Cameroonians as friendly, sometimes aggressive, extremely self-interested (though understandably so) and kind to others in need in a way you don't see any more in the US. The country is naturally beautiful, the infrastructure limited but improving, and the towns and villages very dirty by American or European standards. On the other hand, there is much, much less waste of resources than in developed Western countries. During my trip, I happened to be reading Tom Friedman's most recent book about climate change, and the contrast -between, for example, piling seven people into a Toyota Corolla taxi vs. Americans driving to work alone in SUVs - is quite obvious and stark.

I also had the opportunity to meet several of Brad's fellow Peace Corps Volunteers during the trip. I found PCVs to be dedicated, hard working people who have adapted to a very different environment and culture more easily than they realize. I also found them to be sometimes frustrated by an inability to discern their palpable impact on a daily or even weekly or monthly basis. My advice to them, to use a sailing metaphor, would be as follows: If your goal is to change the wind, you may well be disappointed and frustrated. A more workable objective is to try to reposition your sail, and perhaps the sails of a few others along the way. Having said that, my admiration for PCVs is extreme. I certainly lack the combination of guts, perseverance, patience and sheer determination needed to be a volunteer, as I think do most people I know.

Christmas in Cameroon was delightfully subdued. Brad and I attended Mass at the Catholic church in Menji and stopped at his neighbor's house for lunch. Brad and Marcellius then prepared a feast that included both American and Cameroonian fare. The cornbread was particularly delicious. I saw no Christmas trees (save for the blow-up tree sent to Brad from the States), very few lights, no presents being exchanged. However, people gathered in the village on both Christmas Eve and Christmas night to celebrate the holiday, wishing each other a "Happy Christmas," or simply "Happy, happy." It reminded me of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas: "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

The most obvious evidence of the holiday was how well dressed people were in the village, particularly at Mass. Most really took pride in their appearance, and seemed to enjoy wearing a nice suit or dress.

This leads me to a Cameroon Christmas story. Marcellius, Brad's dear friend and a great guy with a ready smile and wonderful sense of humor, owns a small clothing shop in Menji. About 9 pm on Christmas Eve, as he sat down for a beer with Brad and me, Marcellius's cell phone rang. It was one of his customers, a young girl for whom he had set aside a dress on layaway. She wanted desperately to wear the dress for Christmas, and asked Marcellius if she could pick it up despite not having paid the full purchase price. After consulting Brad momentarily, Marcellius agreed to the arrangement, scratched out a formal IOU, and reopened his shop so the girl could pick up her dress before the big day.

Welcome, Christmas, where we stand

Heart to heart, ... and hand in hand.

I want to thank Brad for escorting me around an extremely foreign land and giving me a glimpse at his experience in Cameroon that I would never have gleaned from pictures, emails, phone calls or stories.

Above are a few pictures from the trip. One is taken from inside a bush taxi, others are mostly from Christmas day at Brad's house. Those in the group photo are (left to right) Marcellius, Brad, me, Marcellius's mom, and Bertrand. Plucking chicken feathers was a first for me. Introducing Cameroonian kids to baseball was one of many experiences I will never forget.

Happy New Year to all

Brad Sr.