Week 3

It has been a long week. The sheer effort the next two years (and our official COS date is July 1, 2008) will require is becoming clear. Speaking French is an exhausting and overwhelming struggle every day. For 5 minutes every morning I contemplate the day's challenge and compare it to life in Fayetteville after graduation. Plus, the only cheese I've found here is La Vache Qui Rit, which isn't refigerated. Paris was gloriously easy--so many Americans, so much fine food.

However, I have discovered "la sauce d'arachides" or, the greatest thing in Africa. I liked it so much my family had me invite friends over to enjoy. Yesterday we had a small "peanut party." Due to a miscommunication it was actually a dinner party and not a bunch of Americans enjoying peanut butter. I went to the market with my French class and bought the peanuts. Today I'll make the remaining half into peanut butter with a grinder. Everyone enjoyed the peanut sauce and I had a good time (I wish I could find Nutella).

Another wonderful snack food is the "beignet de crevettes" which my Parisian readers might remember as shrimp chips. They are pork rinds with shrimp flavoring and here one buys a box for 800CFA and fries pink plastic things. It's a fun afternoon activity with my host sisters, plus I have snacks for breaktime.

My host mother and sister went to Bafoussam in the West province last week. They brought back a whole host of tasty and delicious agricultural products from Cameroon's breadbasket: green beans, carrots, onions, garlic, green peppers, pineapples, guavas, mandarins, passion fruit, limes, avocados, and kola nuts. Food is cheaper in the West province.

For the 4th of July the stagiares organized a party with plenty of beans, guacamole, pineapple, watermelon, bread, meat, potato salad, and even chocolate cake. We didn't have fireworks but it was a nice day. One of my stagemates plays bagpipes and I tell you--it is surreal. Listening to the Star Spangled Banner on bagpipes in Africa on July 4th is bizarre.

That same day my host family began preparing a fete. From what I have since gathered; my host mother passed her coursework and took an oath as a Huissiere de Justice. I think it's like a victim's advocate/judicial liaison. Her new title is officially Maitre and she has fancy black robes. I didn't get to attend because of training, but I met the PCV who lived with my family 2 years ago. She's about to COS and was very nice.

The preparations for the celebration meant 8-15 women at our house cooking over 3 fires in the backyard, singing, peeling, chopping, frying, and baking all night long. I went to bed around 11pm after frying plantain chips for 2 hours. The fires were still going and I woke up to the same scene the next morning around 5am. I hope the guests enjoyed all the food. The leftovers were good and we still have softdrinks.

This week my first African dress was finished. I'm quite pleased with it, and I look forward to trying different styles and finding pretty fabrics.

C'est tout!

P.S. Bon anniversaire à ma meilleure amie! Bonne fete!