Just Call Me the Chief's Wife

Hello everyone,
Happy almost St. Patrick's Day and whatever else exciting is going on in the world. I'm feeling a little disconnected because I just spent a wonderfulllll weekend at the beach, Kribi, Cameroon to be exact. We left on Saturday morning and got to our hotel early in the afternoon, and then almost immediately jumped into the ocean. I was shocked by its warmth and was reminded how much I love to swim in large bodies of water. It was also interesting because the last ocean I was in was off the coast of Alaksa (shout out chilkittens) which probably couldn't be more different then what I experienced this past weekend. We swam, walked on the beach, relaxed at a waterfall that emptied straight into the ocean, and ate the most delicious Cameroonian meals breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am not exaggerating in saying that I ate the best shrimp of my life on Saturday night, probably caught just that morning. And despite the fact that it was only two days of a "spring break", it was exactly what we all needed. I'm also happy to report that I'm 99% positive that I'm going to be spending the month of April there doing my last and final reserch project, studying prostitution, sex trafficking and their relationship with tourism in Cameroon with an organization, WOPA (Women's Promotion and Assistance Association http://www.wopassociation.org/index.html). I met with the director, Veronique, and in talking with her I feel confident that my ISP (independent study project) now has a direction.

While in Kribi, we also got to meet with some indigenous camps of pygmies, some of the earliest inhabitants of Cameroon. It was really interesting to talk (through the aid of a translator) with these families as they still hunt and gather their food and they're one of the only ethnic groups who have a more equal relationship between genders. At the second camp we visited, I asked a question about widowhood rites and whether or not they re-marry and the Chief who is currently wife-less said he was in the process of looking for a wife and he would like me to stay and be his wife. Hahahaha. I almost died, all the women in the family started jumping up and down and pointing at me laughing and all my friends here have claimed spots as bridesmaids in our wedding. Catherine, you can come and be my maid of honor, I'm sure the rugby player will be thrilled. So, sorry friends and family, looks like I'll be the staying in Cameroon.

Hope you're all doing well, miss everyone immensely but am having the time of my life.

A Bientot,
Courtney