It is difficult to describe to people what my life is like and what my days consist of, because it is similar to someone from Cameroon asking what life is like in the States. Where do you begin? That's why I like to just tell little stories that I hope together encompass my general experience as a volunteer in Cameroon. One aspect of my expereince that I get questions about often is work. What do I do over here? How do I fill my days? When it comes to work, the French and Fulfulde aspect makes it a little difficult. For the most part, I have no problem speaking in front of people, but I feel more uncomfortable since I don't feel that my language abilities are that great yet. So, I learned that sometimes a person has to throw you in the deep end to get you to learn how to swim.
A few weeks ago, I was sitting outside washing my dishes when I received a visitor. A tall, big boned woman, sporting long hair with bright red streaks stood in front of me and said she would like my help with a women's group. I invited her inside and took a seat. She is one of those people who have so much energy that when they talk their whole body seems to move or act it out. She stood in my tiny living room, sat down for a second, then jumped back up as she began to describe the women's group. I immediately knew that I would absolutely work with this group, its exactly what I had been looking for for a while. I let her talk for a bit though, and eventually she asked me if I have any ideas on how the group can make money. I gave her a little smile and was just like umm.... I don't know. Maybe making soap or bread and selling it? Bread actually seemed like a perfect idea, Djohong doesn't sell bread, but this cake-like bread that is a very poor subsitute. Bread would probably sell really well and the village would also benefit from it. She got very excited about this idea as well and basically sprinted out of my house yelling as she left to meet her at the office the following thursday.
So that Thursday I arrived at her office right before the women's group meeting. My red-streaked friend greets me with a huge hug, a handshake, and then asks if I was reay to help her with a forced marriage presentation. I just stared at her for a second and then told her that I wasn't exactly prepared. She laughed and said that of course I was, I know why its bad, so just tell the women. At that moment, she walks out the door to greet around 20 women who have been sitting and waiting for the meetin to begin. I just kept thinking what exactly I got myself into, again, when she started and told the women that she would begin the discussion and then I would take over. We had a translator present as well so the fulfulde speakers could understand, and they enthusiasticually introduced me to the group. I was trying to hide myself as best I could in the back, a nice trick I learned from classes at school, but unfortunately I stand out a little more over here and was easy to spot. I then just thought to myself, well here we go, too late to back out now. Surprisngly enough, the meeting was a big success. My colleague ended by telling the women that next week I would be teachng them out to make bread. I was happy that I survived the meeting, so didn't understand what she said until later. She repeated it to me once the women had left. I was a bit surprised. For one, i don't know how to make bread, so I saw a potential problem teaching others how to do it in French or Fulfulde. Two, I don't know how to make bread in the states with an actual oven.... I am far from a cook or a baker. i stuck to simple eggs, ramen, and pasta meals during college and have yet to stray too far from that path. Unfortunately, my friend wouldn't listen to me, so I had to figure out how to make bread well enough before I had to teach it.
The next week I had to go to Ngaoundere so I missed the meeting. When I arrived back in Djohong the women told me how excited they were to learn how to make bread the next day. The next day! shit, I had arrived on a wed, the meeting was on thursday. A day to learn how to make bread. Once again, somebody was throwing me into the deep end. Would I sink? Most definitely. Fortunately, there is one girl, a friend of mine, who does make bread in Djohong. It's not well known in the village, but I found out about her through a friend, and buy bread from her. After I told my crazy-hair friend that I really can't teach people how to do something I don't know how to do, she was convinced that maybe my baker-friend would be the better teacher.
Over 50 women showed up at this deomonstration. It was a HUGE success. We managed to find all the materials right in Djohong, proving to the women this was indeed possible, and they learned from a girl who makes delicious bread. The ovens consisted of large iron pots, with a dirt like substance inside. The pan with the dough is placed inside the pot, and the pot is over a fire. We had 3 fires going, so 3 ovens. The bread was delicious and many of the women came up to thank us for the demonstration.
So, sink or swim, it worked out. I am currently working on drawing out the recipes for the women who can't read, so maybe fairly soon, I will see bread being sold on at the market on market day. You never know.
