The Pirogue

Cow dung? Martian barf? Termite nest? Wasp nest? No idea, just thought it was cool looking.
Meredith and Tom checking us out.

The pier where we got on and off the pirogue.

Biggest tree yet

Pete is with our guide in front of the biggest tree so far. The guide jokingly said that there was fresh beer hanging from the first branch, if we could get to it. That shot is of the first branches we could see through the understory. It was amazing and so many things growing out of it. An excellent example of a symbiotic relationship.

The Great Outdoors

After several stops, asking for directions, and only one u-turn, we made it. Pete and I rode in a priogue with the "manager" who told us all about his English lessons. He was saying that all the parts of speech are easy except for the irregular verb. Do any of you remember what that is? He proceeded to ask us/quiz us

to make sure he was correct.

Brewery

One of the most important buildings here--the brewery. All of the country was in an uproar when the "higher ups" decided that beer should go up 100cfa (about 25 cents) or more. It was right around the holidays and everyone was upset. They lowered the price to its original and then brought it back up again. We are seeing the prices of food stuff that is used daily going up, up, up. For example, milk went from 800 cfa to over 1000 cfa. Yes, that is only about 50 cents, but for the average person here that is a big jump. We have noticed that our money is not going very far and the exchange rate keeps dropping. It is more expensive here than you might think.

On the way out...

Meredith and I covertly took shots of the city on our way out to Mbalmayo. The streets were unusually crowded for a Sunday, but we think it was because everyone was getting ready for the Africa Cup match later that night. We rushed back to town to watch the game. Unfortunately, Cameroon lost 0-1 to

Egypt. All you can see is the front end of the car, because we were moving, but it was totally burned up, still on the street.

Pineapples

On Sunday Peter and I went with Meredith and Tom to Mbalmayo. We went last year with a bigger group. It did not change much except that they have gotten organised and in turn raised the prices. It was still nice to go on the pirogue ride and see some nature. These are actually how pinapples grow, little shrubs on the ground. I always thought they hung down from big, strong trees!

Final Products

SMILES, SMILES, SMILES, MILES OF SMILES!

Flavor ice

We ended a great afternoon with flavor ice popsicles that Ann had brought. We tried to give James one but he does not like anything cold, just like many other Cameroonians. Last year when we had a party some of the Cameroonians asked if we had warm beer. The kids loved them though. The flaor ice, I mean, not warm beer.

Smiles Everywhere

As I mentioned the kids are fascinted by many things. The banners we brought were colored by the kids. Then Katie and I attached faux wood strips along the top and bottom with a stapler. A few of the kids were

really interested in how the stapler worked. They loved going up to Katie as she was taking pictures so they could see themselves on the little screen on the back of the camera. It was a challenge to get pictures of their faces as they kept holding the banners up too high and getting too close to the camera.

Arts n Crafts

Katie is with Fluer.
I am outside in their lumber-filled yard. The sun was really bright, I am not angry despite how I look, maybe a little sad, but definately not angry.

Katie and I oversaw the kids coloring banners that they kept to put up by their beds. A couple of the older girls took me upstairs to show me their new sleeping areas. It made me feel good to see that they all had the fish we had done with them and the picture frames we made for them for Christmas. The thing they were most proud of though was their new bathroom. They have 3 toilets, 2 sinks, and 3 showers for 40 kids and the adults that live with them.

Organized Chaos, Not!

Ann really thought this through and it went really smoothly. I hope I keep the incentive and find a place I can volunteer if/when we return to the states. It is such a natural high to spend a little time with kids that are just delighted by the simplest things, things that we all take for granted.

The exams

In these shots Adrianna, James ( a school driver who was a great help!), and Fred are taking information and recording it for Ann. Ann and Adrianna's mom did the actual eye exams. They did a good job out in the hot sun!

Operation Eye Exam

My good friend Ann is the nurse at ASOY and she thought it would be a good idea to go to the orphanage and check out the kids and people who work there. That meant I gathered up some willing volunteers to come and help this happen. We have raised money that we hadn't allocated yet, so we figured the gift of sight was a good idea. In the event that too many kids need glasses the 6th and 9th graders have shown interest in raising funds too. Katie and I handled the art project-so lovely to see their faces glow with pride when they create soemthing and get to keep it. Ann directed the eye exams along with Fred, Adrianna our student teacher, Adrianna's mom who is also a nurse, and a Belgium couple Andre and Danye who speak French. When we got to the orphanage I couldn't believe how much work had been done. The kids are now living on the third floor and the bottom floor has been tiled and upgraded a bit. The eye chart is leaning against all of the construction materials that are now all over the small play area the kids had. Ann explained the process in English and then Andre translated in French. The kids had never seen anything like it. The exams went well, but she has to go back and retest because some of the kids did not know their letters.

Party Pics.

More fun as the night went on. Pete and I and in the other shot are Debbie and Allison (they work at the American School of Duoala) and Carolle. It was so fun to dance and not have to pay the excessive prices at the night club. If you go to a club there is no cover charge. However to get a table or an area with chairs you have to reserve it by buying a bottle or half bottle of liquor. It costs about$75 and is not necessarily what everyone wants to drink. That is not the same as when we got to caberets, there's no charge there.

Carolle's Birthday

Two weekends ago we went to celebrate Carolle's 40th, I mean 29th, well ok, 40th birthday. It was another gala affair--catered and a DJ. This time we stayed out 'till 2:30 dancing in her living room. Carolle is the hottie in the blue dress blowing out the candles. Katie and Kristie are in black and white. I am with my friend Sandrine.

The Shoppers

Meredith, Elaine, and I were taken around by Annie. Annie is a French speaker so she helped pave the way to good stuff.

We just changed in the shop and then used a glass window as a mirror. The guards were laughing and giving us the thumbs up!

Morrocco

The first two shots are still of the street stalls. Yes, those are bed frames. The other shot is of an actual shop that we had an appointment for. The lady that owns it is Morroccan and married to a Cameroonian. I ended up getting a hand-sewn dress. Despite the bright colors and beadwork Pete liked it, score! He joked and said, "Oh yeah, I can see you wearing THAT to the movies back in the states." Just wait, I will.