Well we've been here nearly three full days, and already I can feel myself being swallowed up by the culture...but in a great way. Yesterday, we met some students from the University of Yaounde 1 who brought us around the campus (which, by the way, feels about the size of Carlisle!). That was a great experience, as was cramming ourselves into our first taxi cab. Later that night, we went back out with the same two students to a "Girl party" (one which is organized by girls and that, upon inquiring why it was called a girl party, our host Etienne replied "because there are more donkeys." Way to go Kaitlin for teaching them dirty American slang haha). Regardless, I can honestly say that I've never been to a nicer club, or a better dance party (especially coming from the essentially rhythmless Dickinson) than I did last night. We were there for nearly 3 hours, and we had a BLAST!!! It was freakin' incredible, and I have never slept so well as I did afterwards!
The city is just bustling with activity and life, and the people here are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Even though my French is pretty shitty, people seem fairly patient with me. I met my future host family today, which was nice. Again, my limited French led me to be somewhat awkward conversationally, but thanks to Liz and my motivated effort, I think I made a decent impression. We don't get our host families until Sunday, because we leave on Thursday for our 2 day excursion to the beach paradise of Kribi (which i'm PSYCHED for, by the way.) We come back on Saturday evening, and the next day our host families pick us up. I'm fully aware that I won't be able to talk much in the beginning, but I'm fairly confident that I'll eventually pick up the language. I only met my host mother today, but she seems very patient and understanding.
Well, I think some other people need to use the computer, so until next time, au revoir!!
Andrew
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yayyyy! and that would be Katelynn, not me, Kaitlin, who taught the slang haha. also, who's your host family? can tell you're already livin' the dream! :)
ReplyDeletehaha well oops! my bad. but still, Etienne and K had a lot of great things to say about your group last year, and that they miss you very much.
ReplyDeleteI have the Tomfack (sp?) family. I think Soo had them last year. I've only met the mother (Elizabeth, I believe), but she seems nice.
And I'm having a blast here! Absolutely amazing. Even though it is kind of frustrating because of my lack of language, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I am learning so much every day, and I can already feel myself growing substantially. Tomorrow we go to Kribi for some much needed relaxation, after which we'll come back and get our host families. I'm super pumped!
Hope you're doing well!
I think you're got the spelling down! And is "K" Kisitor? You will have a blast with Soo's fam! Glad you're loving it and don't fret about language stuff - it'll come and you'll be so surprised how it just kicks in! Enjoy Kribi, eat the fab shrimp at Lobe Falls and experience the beauty of Africa in Miniature! :)
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