hi everyone!

i am not a big fan of catch-up journaling or catch-up blogging for that matter. But it has been so long since I've had the opportunity to post, that I believe an up-to-speed post is in order. I'll try to make it as intertaining as possible!

Things that have happened (in attempted order) since my last post:
1. I left Dschang at 530 on morning with 3 kisses on the cheeks from each family memeber, with 1 backpack nearly the same size as me, with 1 heart shaped cake from my sisters, and with 15 americans and 3 cameroonians in a 1970something vw bus. We bounced and jolted on a red clay road for 9 hours until we reached Banyo...where we thankfully stopped for a day to recouperate! The second day of off roading in the beat up van last from 4:30 am until 10 pm. Imagine a cracked leather bench seat, four students across, sweaty legs sticking together, and enough red dust blowing in the windows that i actually commented on how tan and pretty everyone looked before realizing that it was just a- very nice and even- layer of dirt!

2. On the bus voyage adventure we saw: a huge posionous snake, monkeys in a tree, a tarantula, and an owl. We also accidently peed right next to someone's corn field and got chased out - pulling our pants up- by some crazy ladies yelling in french that "would we pee on our own food??!!"

3. We are now in Ngaoundere...the capitol of the Amadowa province in the northern part of Cameroon. And, it is like being in a completely different country. The people are predominantly muslim, and the buildings, clothing, and interactions reflect this. It is the last week of Ramadan right now as well. My new maman gets up at three am to make breakfast so that the family can eat before the sun rises and then we feast at about six at night when the sun sets. The streets beside the mosques are nearly always packed with robbed men, and women, listening to the Koran, which is read over loud speaker 24 hours a day during Ramadan. Excitingly, I will be here for the end of Ramadan which everyone celebrates with a three day party! My maman, who by the way is 23, started jumping up and down when I told here that I was staning for the fete. In addition to the religious and cultural differences (which i've really barely touched on), the dirt is tan here and there are lots and lots of cows... which means milk and ice cream!! Also, did i mention that there is ice cream here?


I have to head home soon, but I want to end with this story.

Imagine a dusty bus ride to the outskirts of town, well past the outskirts into the fields, arriving at the clay brick compound of one of the areas traditional doctors. We are here to learn about traditional medicine...did you know that heat can cause malaria and too much studying will make you crazy? We all ask tons of questions....but the traditional doctor (this is astrology and traditional herbs and such...not witch craft) insists on giving us an example. He bring out the Egyptian sand and we each take a turn placing our sweaty palms in the center. Sitting cross legged in front of him marveling at the bizzare nature of the situation, I discover that: "hmmm, you have many plans, but you will get married sooner that you think. For sure within the next ten years and you husband will be someone who works with money. For example, a banker. Oh, and there is a girl. Yes, your first child will be a girl." Quite the opaque future... bankers beware!!

i really wish that I had the time and ability to share all of my stories with you. hopefully, this will satiate your curiosity for now! Keep writing...i love hearing that there is actaully a season besides summer in other parts of the world.

bisous
brianne