Blair Lewis- On Location in Kumbo, Cameroon
Day 8: Saturday, May 3, 2008

“You are welcome!”

While Africa is a land of wonder, I will start with the basics. I am safe and living at an elevation of 6200 feet in the northwest province of Cameroon. The city of Kumbo where I live is absent of paved roads and prosperity. The electricity varies throughout the day, but has been available to us most of the time. Water and water pressure is much less reliable and so bathing becomes a privilege, not a right.

The food is grand and plentiful, our cooks are well-trained in vegetarian fare. Due to a recent and rare fine of maple syrup, we have had real pancakes on occasion.

The people of this land go out of their way to greet us at every step.

You could spend your entire day greeting people and never get to the market. They rush up with an arm extended with loud and grand proclamations that “you are welcome!” This greeting is recited 3-4 times during a single handshake and is repeated during the farewell.

It is very sincere and very heartfelt. If you came to join me, it would be immediately clear that “you are welcome” here!

The two-story building where I live is solid concrete. Very clean and safe and filled with great people here on a mission. It is our own building and thus, it is easy to feel at home, but it seems more like a long-term summer camp experience. Four of us are from the USA and another married couple is from India. Our staff of administrators, gardeners, guards, housekeepers and cooks all live nearby. Their English is great and they are eager to teach me Lamso (the native tongue), pigeon English and French. However, keep your expectations low.

The nights are hard for me, boredom comes easy. The flying battalions of bugs are attracted to even the smallest light, thus my night time reading is uncomfortable and night time strolls have been prohibited by storms which turn the red clay roads into an ‘ice-like’ ribbons of slipping and sliding. It is the rainy season right now, so the land is lush and green. But walking is a skill.

Mango season is about to begin and we can hardly wait. Bananas, papaya and pineapple appear at every meal while mango slowly starts to gain marketshare at the table.

I try to leave my bed early, make chai and start my day. Waking early 

– 3 am or 4 am – is not difficult at all when bedtime is 9 pm.  More to come! –blair