Post-Mom Blues

I watched my mom go through passport control last night so she is somewhere over the Mediterranean or maybe waiting at CDG. We had a long, hot, exhausting trip up North but it was a lot of fun. The train wasn't bad. The landscape is very different from southern Cameroon. The people are mostly Muslim and far more traditional. Western-style clothes are rare and the pace of life is much slower. I enjoyed the excellent beef and yogurt (though fruit isn't as good and is more expensive up there).

I got to see lots of stagemates and friends I hadn't seen since December. I had a great time catching up with them. We went to Waza National Park and saw elephants, giraffes, warthogs, ostriches, antelope, deer, monkeys and lots of beautiful birds. It was quite amazing, especially watching the different species gather at a watering hole. We went to Rumsiki, took a hike, toured the village. I had my fortune told by the crab sorcerer. Apparently I will own my own business in the US. And live happily ever after. Of course.

We arrived back in Yaounde on Saturday and she flew out yesterday. I'll go back to post tomorrow most likely, where stacks of English tests are waiting to be graded. I have so much work before the sequence ends next week! I'm told that school is effectively over after Easter break for all students except exam classes, so we'll see what that's like.

I wish I could post pictures but I don't have my USB cable to download pictures from the camera. Next time, I promise! And Mom took more pictures on her camera than I did.

I'm sad she's gone but I hope she had a good time, despite everything.

Travel

Mom arrived safely and we went back to my post, where we suffered without power or water for 4 days. It came back Monday night so before she left we were able to enjoy a cold beer. We will take the train up North and then meet up with my stagemates to go to Waza.