The season to be jolly

Oh hey! I’m back. How’s everyone doing? USA treating everyone well? I hope so.

Here is the blog about my holidays, please send me updates on your own holiday stories! I’d love to hear them. For the holidays, the volunteers in my cluster planned to meet in Meiganga at my friend Emma’s house. Meiganga is a city that is a 4-8 hour prison bus ride depending on how many times the bus either breaks down, gets stuck in ditches, or just stops in general. And to clarify, its not an actual prison bus, but a metal van, with metal seats and a cage that separates the driver from the passengers, with large windows and a bar going across them. The bus piles as many people into it, or on it, as possible. People are hanging onto the back, sitting on each other, or on the roof with the luggage. Whatever you can get.

As my first solo traveling experience, I was intrigued to see how my prison bus ride would go today and how long it would actually take to get to my destination. While I was waiting for the bus (its rare that anything ever starts or leaves remotely on time), I was offered by a ride to Meiganga by a moto driver. So, instead of a cramped, long prison bus ride, I rode on the back of a motorcycle through the African bush during sunrise for 2 hours. It was beyond beautiful and the moto driver and I had some nice, friendly conversations. It was a 2 hour moto ride afterall.

After that great start to my holidays it only got better. Filled with great food, people, and drinks, Christmas was a success. We spent the day before Christmas preparing the numerous types of chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and delicious desserts. To try and put our minds in the Christmas spirit despite the very warm temperatures and desert-like area we we were in, there was a handmade Christmas tree on the wall, Christmas lights, Christmas music, and Its a Wonderful Life playing from a computer. A definite success. After a night of food and dance parties, we woke up and had delicious crepes, our secret Santa gift exchange, and a day of relaxation. A few of us went to the bar at around 4, and then came back to help with the delicious homemade Mexican feast. A handful of my friends decided to go to a concert, a famous Cameroonian musician was in town. Shortly after they left, we receive a call from them saying that they missed the concert but what did we think of the band coming back to the house for a private concert? And just like that, we had another dance party, but this time with a live, Cameroonian band. The music was great and the musicians were very friendly, nice people. After over an hour of music they hung out at Emma’s, finishing up our first Christmas in Africa with us. We couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Next holiday- New Years Eve! A few of us (2 of the volunteers in Meiganga and a Cameroonian friend) piled into Youssoufa’s pick-up truck to head back to Djohong for New Years. The first night we made pizzas and relaxed. Actually, food and relaxation are 2 great words to describe the holidays haha. The day of New Year’s Eve we walked around visiting people in Djohong, and each person we went to invited us all to the party at the Sous-prefet’s. So, even though we had planned on camping en bruisse for the night, we changed plans and went to the party. It was a very interesting experience. Everyone would hand in their invitations and then take a seat. After a few speeches by officials, we were then called up to eat buffet-like style.While everyone was getting their food, there were a few people, one of them being a friend of mine, serving people drinks. Once everyone had gotten their food, the table was cleared and the sous-prefet went to the front of the room and read some names. These men and women were then assigned to dance with each other for a song. Thankfully, I wasn’t one of these unlucky individuals. Talk about awkward. After this odd dance, the party loosened up a little to allow others to dance instead of just watching these people uncomfortably dancing. It ended up being a great experience and a good time. The next day we all relaxed some more and then went on a gorgeous hike en bruisse to the valley. After taking in the view, we made the trek back, collecting wood along the way. After a delicious dinner, Emma, Youssoufa, Claire, Caleb and I sat around a fire outside and introduced Youssoufa to S’mores under the large, starry African sky.

Holiday season= success. The entire time, particularly New Years Eve, I kept having moments about how crazy this was. I am in Cameroon looking at these shooting stars, or dancing to Cameroonian tunes as the band plays and my new friends watch, join, or sing along. I never in a million years would have predicted that my next holiday would one- be in Cameroon, and 2- be seeing and experiencing everything that I have thus far. Definitely puts a smile on my face every time I remember that.

I truly hope that everyone’s holidays were great and filled with dancing and smiles. I miss everyone and think of you all constantly!