Firsts of the Decade

So I'm about to bus off to Kribi to begin my month of independent research. I have made some modifications to my original ideas and it looks like I'm going to be studying the relationship between secondary education (high school) and prostitution. I have no idea what this month will bring but I'll be sure to keep the blog updated with how everything is going. Before I leave though, I wanted to talk about three important milestones/ firsts I have experienced since the last time I wrote:

1. Multi-cultural seder.... My friend Abi really wanted to host a seder for everyone in the group while we were in Ngaoundere. I had never been to a seder before and this one I have a feeling is slighly atypical and yet will probably be one of the most memorable Jewish holidays I'll have the honor of experiencing. The evening started off with all of us arriving at Abi's homestay, the only polygamous family in our group. We helped prepare the meal and then when that was under control, we all sat in the living room on the rug covered floor and began the prayers, which Abi and some of the other Jewish students led in Hebrew. As we were repeating the first set of prayers, the evening call to prayer came blasting out of the Grand Mosque (biggest in the city) right next door. So there we were, a bunch of mostly Christian Americans, a few Jews, and a few Muslims celebrating together in the polygamous family living room. Absolutely wonderful.

2. My first safari... On Thursday, we drove 11 more hours North into the "L'extreme Nord" to Park Waza, Cameroon's version of a national park. We drove through oven like temperatures to get there and arrived in a completely different Cameroon. We woke up at 530 on Friday and spent the entire day in the park on top of our bus and some of us in the back of a truck. Immediately we saw monkeys, antelope, gazelle, and a family of giraffes having breakfast. Let me tell you, seeing a giraffe gallop across a flat savanna-esqe landscape is an unreal experience. Despite the fact that it was 22 hours out of our way, the trip to Waza was unbelievable.

3. And finally, I experienced my first bout of sickness while in Cameroon. For those of you who know me pretty well, you know I haven't thrown up since May Fete 2000. Well, my ten year record of a strong stomach was broken in the train traversing the Cameroonian landscape. I'm still not 100 percent, but am sure I'll be better soon. At least it was a pretty cool place to throw up, right?

Okay, off to Kribi. I think I'll have skype!
Miss you all, happy spring, happy passover, happy easter. And lots of love from Cam.
Courtney