There's at least one thing that's the same around Christmas time in Norway and here in Cameroon, and that's the cold weather! I guess you Norwegians laugh when you read this, but though it's really warm here from 12-15 o'clock, it's very cold in the mornings, evenings and nights. So in the evenings I'm glad I've my fleece jacket, jogging trouser, woolen soocks and slippers (tøfler)! Even then I'm freezing. It's maybe around 13 degrees, but there're no ovens here... But I've nothing to comlpain about when I think about the other Cameroonians here who don't have warm clothes or isolated houses... Therefore we see lots of bonfires outside their houses in the evenings :)
Other things that are the same in Christmas time here are the Christmas feasts and conserts. Saturday two weeks ago I went to my first Christmas consert here. It was held at Collège Protestant, the secondary school here, or more presisely outside. Because there were between 2000-3000 people there, so it had to be held outside. The school was decorated with lights and Christmas chains, so it was beautiful, and I got some "julestemning".
As I've written before the classes here are very big, maybe around 70 persons in each class. So when several classes were going to sing together at this consert, they had to sit together before singing, so that they could just rise when they were going to sing (and did not go to the scene).
At this little scene Runar, Johanne, me and 4 Cameroonians played this scetch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSwCOs-uXzU. It was really fun, and it was easy to hear that the others thought it was very fun that nascara (white people) were performing, exspesially when we started "fighting" on the scene. But in the end I think they understood the point of the scetch, because when God thrown away all of us (who representated different tempetetions), there were a lot of applausing :D Thursday we played this scetch again, this time in the Millenium church.
A sad thing that happened two weeks ago was that the big marked here exploded and burnt. Around one o'clock in night there were some people that lightened a fire in a place where there's gas, so there was a big explosion. I could here it here in my house, it sounded like a bomb. The day after I got to know that the marked had burnt down. Later when we went to the marked we saw the place that had exploded. It was black and ashes all over, and houses of wall and stands (where a lot of people are selling stuff) were just totally gone.
Last Sunday I performed on the Christmas consert with Gospel Singers. It was held for children in different orphanages, and it was fun sing and dance with the choir, even though we also have to hear some some speeches of the leader about people coming to late... (that's becoming a habite now). I even
got a coin on my forehead, from one person among the audience! After one week with practising with the choir almost every day, I think I deserved that ;)
Monday we had a Christmas party with the choir. When us Norwegians met up a quarter too late, we thought that would fit well with "African time". The leadersin the choir are particular very strict about meeting at the exact time, at least they talk a lot about it... But of course we were the first ones showing up. So after having waiting a while without more people showing up, Johanne and me decided to explore the big fire we saw just outside the mission station. And as we got close we found out that it really was a big fire! But it's normal here, because in this way they remove dry grass and trees.
When we went back to Christmas "party" almost one hour later than the actually starting time, there still weren't more people there, so we went home for one more hour... Then there finally were many people there, and they had just started the party, and people continued to show up during the evening... After eating, singing, and listening to some speeches, we wathed the movie "Facing the Giants" together, a really good movie, I would recommand!
Tuesday we went to another Christmas party, this time at the Direction Central in the church. They had been smart enough to tell us that it started at 18 o'clock, even though we found out that it was actually written 16:30 in the invitation...But 18 o'clock turned out to be the right starting time.. ;) This is Africa!
Wednesday, Runar, Kristian, Johanne, me and two other boys finally went on a trip to Ngaoundéré mountain. In advance we had expected this to be a longer trip, therefore we started at 8 o'clock in the morning. Afterall it only took around 30 minutes to go to the top...But we got a good view from the top, and it was nice to spend the morning sitting in the sun on this mountain top, having a good view and watching eagles flying over us. On our way down we even saw our first snake here! So it turned out as a successful trip.
As you understand there have been a lot of Christmas feasts here also. Thursday I also attended another one. This was held for all the workers at the Mission Stations; the maids and the guards. Then we ate Norwegian "risgrøt", and as I Christmas present all the workers got 1/4 goat. I had expected that they would get this as a piece of meat, so I was a little surprised when I suddenly heard a lot of goats just outside... Four and four were to share one goat, and they were told to slaughter it within two days, so that they could eat it with their families for Christmas.
Friday there were a Christmas lunch here for us Norwegians, where we got a lot of Norwegian food and desert, like "riskrem". In the evening Johanne and me made marsipan, and Runar helped as mentally support a little while.. We made a lot, and covered it with light and dark chocolate.
The 24th of December, we started by watching "Tre nøtter til Askepott". A must, and a good start of the day! Then there were a Norwegian service here, because here in Cameroon, they celebrate Christmas the 25th of December. And the 24th they have a really long service from 17 o'clock, and it lasts until the night. Therefor we had our own Norwegian service this day. I think it was really nice having this service outside, in the shadow of some trees. Christmas eve I was together with the other Norwegians here in the home of the Missionary family here. There we got "pinnekjøtt", fantastic! It was fun to see their children eager to open their presents, it almost felt like home. I think it was good for once to experience the time before Christmas, without all the stress there's in Norway in this time, with Christmas present, baking and all... And I think it's right what one of my teachers said that Chhristmas here probably is more likely the first Christmas in Betlehem that today's Christmas celebration in Norway. I think it's much good about Christmas in Norway, but for once in a life time I think it's a good experince celebrating Christmas here in Cameroon.
Yesterday we were in the service in the Hospital church from 8:30-12 o'clock! Then we had to sit behind the preacher, facing the congrigation. It was a little special, but it's something they do here to show us respect...I don't like it. Then we, "the Norwegian choir(!)" performed by singing and dancing to "Å, jul med din glede"!
Now I'm ready for one week on the beach in Kribi, south in Cameroon. All of us Norwegians here are going to stay there until the 3rd of January. We're leaving by train at 18 o'clock this evening, and arrive there tomorrow morning. This is going to be a new way for me to spend the Christmas time, but I think I'm going to really enjoy it! With the new sunglasses and African dress I got for Christmas, I feel ready. I'm finiched packing, and just want to publish this update before leaving. After Kribi Johanne and me are travelling by airplane from the capital Yaouné to Nairobi, Kenya. We're going to stay there from the 3rd to the 10th of January, meeting the other Norwegian Hald students in the Connect program, who have their pracsis on Madagascar, and we're also going to meet some of our teachers, coming all the way from Norway! I think it's going to be nice meet all of them again, talking about experiences and preparing for our last 3 months here in Camroon. I'm ready to travel!
I wish you all a good Christmas time, and a fantastic new year!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
My daily-life routine
Now it's been a really long time since I've been writing... Earlier I've written when something special has happened, but now I want to give you an overview of my everyday life routine:
First of all we use to eat dinner everyday at 12:15 o'clock (except Fridays) :) Really good, and just like Norwegian food!
Mondays:
French course from 10-12 o'clock.
We work at Rainbow Orphanage from 14-17/18 o'clock, teaching English and playing with the children. There are 21 children between 4-15 years old in the orphanage, and it's run by a Korean missionary. The orphanage has their own school for the children, who come from really poor families (most of them living in villages far a way), or have lost at least one of their parents. It's really nice just being with them, and seeing how much they enjoy that we come. Each time we arrive there, and when we return, they come running to hug us and greet us!
Tuesdays:
Our days free from other work, so that we can read the books in the curriculum for Hald, and write the exercises. Before the 10th of December I delivered three book reports and one infield-rapport, on about 2500 word (the last time, I've worked a lot with this). I chose to write about witchcraft, and the question I wanted to answer, was: "How do young, Christian Cameroonians relate to witchcraft?" It's very interesting to have interviews about this, because here witchcraft is a part of many people' everyday life.
From 18-20:30 I attend choir practice with the choir "Gospel Singers". We always start singing outside, and go inside when it's becoming darker. While we sing, we do a lot of movements. That's never easy, but I think I manage it better now ;) When the practise is finished there's always half an hour with talking about discipline and other things the leaders think are negative in the choir, and that's always very boring...
Here we practice with the choir. The buildings are boarding schools to Collège Protestant. And this is how the students dry their clothes ;) |
Wednesdays:
Work at Sentre Socio Ménager (husmorskolen) from 9-12 o'clock. I've English classes from 9-10 o'clock, and computer skills from 10:30-12 o'clock. That's a challenging, but exciting work. I think it's going better and better, because now I've learnt more how the pupils learn best, and how to handle them (for example send them out of the classroom if they talk during a test, and how to control that they're not cheating).
Shocking! On our way to Sentre Socio we saw motorcyclists in front of us with helmets! Just had to take pictures of this! ;) |
From 14-16 o'clock we attend French course.
Thursdays:
I work at the EELC (Église Evangelique Lutherienne au Cameroun) Direction Sentral in the church (kirkekontoret). There I work for an organisation called Fèmmes Pour Christ (kvinner for Kristus). From 8-8:30 there's a devotion. Than all the people (ca. 20) working there meet to sing psalms/songs, read in the Bible and one person has a short sermon. From 8:30-12:00 I cut out figures in fabric of different colour. These are to be used in "flanellograf" in Sunday schools. The last times I've been put to do some paper work instead, and I think I'm also going to type something into a computer afterwards. So here I work as a secretary, just doing what they put me to do. What's good, is that here we don't have to prepare anything in advance.
French course from 14-16 o'clock.
Every second week, at 20 o'clock, there's a Bible group with the Norwegians here. Then we use to have a really nice time, reading a paragraph in the Bible and discussing and talking about it. And also the meeting always use to include good food and drink :)
Fridays:
Sentre Socio from 10:30-13:40. From 10:30-12:00 I've English, and from 12:30-13:40 computer skills. Each Friday I've a vocabulary test, so then I also have some work later with correcting them. I also use some time preparing the lessons, and correcting work they've done in class. So there's some work with this without working time as well...
Saturdays:
Our only day totally free, with out any set plans ;)
Sundays:
The Millennium church (8-10)/the Hospital church (10-12)/no church. From 10-11 o'clock it's sometimes choir practise (before concerts). At 12/13 o'clock we use to go to a restaurant called "Coffee Shop" with the boys to eat dinner, because Sundays our maid has free...There it's not much to choose between, so er always end up ordering "Steak aux champignons", but it's very good :D
17:30-18:00 it's "Bønnehytte", which is mainly for the Norwegian children. Then we sing some songs, pray and tell/read something from the Bible (we rotate who does this).
Not Coffee Shop, but outside the other restaurant, called Plaza. Been here two times.. |
Inside Plaza, as you may see; a very fine restaurant! |
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Choir, taco and mountain-trip
When I haven't written on the blog for quite a long time, it's not because little has happened. It's actually opposite. So much have happened, that I haven't had time to write. But now follows a little update of the last 10 days.
Last Sunday I preformed with the choir Gospel Singers for the first time. Then we sang in a church, called Bethlehem church, and that Sunday they celebrated Thanksgiving there. That means that the service lasted for 5 hours, with singing and dancing, while giving money and vegetables to the church!
When the choir sing, they use to wear African dresses (girls) or trousers and T-shirts (boys) made of the same fabric. So we also got African dresses to wear during the performance. And I think it was really nice to participate, but I was also quite tired when we were finished after 5 hours! Then the whole choir was invited to eat dinner in some one's house. We got pasta, rise, fried bananas, fish and meat with sauce! They gave us Norwegians a dish each and cutlery to eat with, the rest ate with their hands from the same, big dishes, which the food was served on... I guess they didn't have enough dishes to everyone...
Wednesday we grilled in the evening, by the swimming pool! There were the two Norwegian missionary families, the Ethiopian missionary family, some of the Norwegian nurse-students (taking some of their practise in the hospital here), Runar and Kristian (the "NMS one-year-volunteers") and Johanne and me. We had a nice time eating hamburgers and hot dogs. Actually there's a hearth by the swimming pool, so after eating we sat by the hearth, singing songs and talking ;-)
Computer teaching at Centre Socio |
When we walk in the market, there's always a lot of people shouting "nascarra, nascarra!" when they see us. But last Friday Kristian wore a tunic/dress and hat, similar to those the men wear here (both Muslims and Christians). What was fun, was that then people shouted "Alladin" after him, instead of "nascarra"... As you may understand we don't go to the marked unseen, we always draw a lot of attention, even though it's not our intention...
So, after having bought vegetables, we made "pitabrød", Guacamola and Salza sauce. And then we had a delicious meal, and a "filmkveld" (movie-night). But some of us were too tired to keep our eyes open during the films...
Taco! This is how the picture was when I tried "selvutløser", (and the boys were too impatient about the food that we could try again... ;-) ) |
The mountain that we climbed |
Just reached the top. Eating popcorn and drinking soda |
Playing card-games in the shadow of a big stone |
Sunday we ate at a restaurant in town, Coffee Shop, as we normally do on Sundays, when our cook has free. After that I went to the swimming pool here, sun bathing while reading, and then swimming. (The reason why there's a swimming pool here, is so that the Norwegian missionary children may learn to swim).
Monday was my second time to work at Rainbow Orphanage. There we are having English teaching and playing with the children. It makes an impression on me working here, listening to stories from some children's life and watching the children taking care of each other. The orphanage is their home, and they're like a big family. There are some workers there, but they also have to make the food.
Therefore, at least this is how it seems to me, it' often the older children who look after and raise the younger ones. I feel sad for these children, but at the same time it looks like their having fun. After all, this is the life they know. To them, just us being there, is really fun. That we watch them throwing their paper-planes, or joining them playing... Being with them, who enjoy so much for so simple things, as a paper-plane, also make me happy inside.
Okay, this was some of my impressions and experiences the last time...
J'espére que vous allez bien!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thanksgiving!
This Sunday I experienced something new! I learnt that the event of Thanksgiving is very important in Cameroon, and I participated in the celebration in church. The people in church, divided in groups, had saved money for a long time. And on Sunday they brought an envelope with these money to the pastor. The money is going to be used in the work of the church. Actually the gifts given this day, stand for more than half of the income of the year!
When they delivered the envelope, they walked from outside church, on a passage through the people seated in church, to the altar where the pastor was standing. They brought a dish with the envelope with the money, and the dish was decorated with leaves from plants, flowers and some also with vegetables. The money is given to thank God for all He has given and done. While they brought their gifts to the pastor, they danced and sang of joy, giving thanks to God. It was really beautiful to watch! The missionaries (including us) were also one group, so then I participated trying to dance through the church together with the other Norwegians, bringing our envelope. I also joined when the youth choir I'm singing in, Gospel Singers, danced through church, bringing their gifts.
It was both fun to join and touching to see how much money people gave (the numbers of the contribution of each group were actually published on power point in church, so everybody could read...). I also think it was nice seeing some people who danced, waving with leaves in their hands. Here you can look at some pictures, but I recommend you to read more and look at pictures on this link to Familien Bischlers blog.
People bringing their dish with the envelope |
People dancing while bringing their contribution |
The choir; Gospel Singers, singing at Thanksgiving |
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Comments
Thank you very much for all the comments on my posts!
I just want to tell you that you don't need to have a google account, or an other account to publish comments on my posts. When you click at: "Comment as", it's possible just to chose: "Anonymous", as selected profile. It's the bottom alternative. Everyone may post comments with the "anonymous" profile, but then I would prefer you to write your name in the end of your comment.
I appreciate that you comment on my posts, and I thank you for reading my blog! Hope you enjoy!
I just want to tell you that you don't need to have a google account, or an other account to publish comments on my posts. When you click at: "Comment as", it's possible just to chose: "Anonymous", as selected profile. It's the bottom alternative. Everyone may post comments with the "anonymous" profile, but then I would prefer you to write your name in the end of your comment.
I appreciate that you comment on my posts, and I thank you for reading my blog! Hope you enjoy!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Becoming a (French-speaking?) teacher
My new Cameroonian dress (or skirt+t-shirt) |
At this school Johanne and me are responsible for the English and informatics/computer teaching. But since our students don't know any English, we have to speak in French...And for me, struggling with French, I can assure it is quite a challenge! In the first lesson I had I managed to mix the words to forget (oublier) and to remember (se rappeler) in French, so I ended up emphasizing that the students shoud try to forget what they had learnt to the next lesson, and then that I would check that they had forgotten it ;) Hehe... Fun to think of!
"Makkala", which we ate yesterday. You can guess why there are so few left in the photo... ;-) |
The two first times there Johanne and me have had the classes together. But now we have divided the classes between us, and I'm going to have the first year students. They are 20 girls between 13-18 years old, most of them are 15-16 years old. I'm going to work at Centre Socio Ménanger on Wednesdays and Fridays, teaching the first year students both English and computer skills. On beforehand, I have to admit, I was a little nervous because I'm not that good at speaking English, and I haven't got any experience in being a teacher. Therefore the first lessons, where I got to know the level of the students, were a relief to me. Then I figured that my students don't even know how to say: "My name is...", and they have never written on a computer before, so that's were I start. I hope I will manage to learn them some more during this year.
However, I was a little bit unsure about that, after having a lesson with the second and third year students. They have had English for at least one year. Despite of that it was really difficult for them to present themselves in English. That was even after I had written; "My name is....", "I am...years old", "I have...sisters and...brothers" and "I like to ...(sew)" on the blackboard, repeated it a lot of times and got them to repeat it after me...
Consert with the choir "Gospel Singers" last Saturday. Fun to watch them sing and dance! |
But the first lessons I had were very exhausting. The reason is that the students were not that quiet all the time. (And I don't like to be strict. But I have found out that I really have to train myself in that this year, as the students are used to the strict teaching style.) That I had to think about all the French words and grammar I know, before making a sentence, also made it hard... In spite of the difficulties, being a teacher is much more fun that what I had expected! I love it! And I think I will learn a lot of French this way, as I have to prepare what to say before each lesson. I have to figure out how to teach them English and computer skills in French...
I also think it's so nice and fun that all the people here manage to say and remember my whole name. That's because Sara-Jeanette is a French name. In addition, they even pronounce it the same way as me, with the beautiful "skarre-r"! I think it's so lovely! And it's also quite fun when some of my students call me "Madame Sara-Jeanette"!
Visit from some friends in their school uniforms (they came to visit on their way home from school) :) |
Today I had my first lesson alone with the first year students. After this lesson, I'm more optimistic about teaching. In the end of the lesson, the students actually managed to present themselves in English and count to 20! And the students were more quiet when they should be quiet, and active when they should be active. So I was very satisfied :) I think I got more respect from them this time, and I think I will adjust more and more into the role as a teacher after some time.
Je me réjois à continuer être un professeur! Bonne soirée à tous!
In this time grasshoppers are everywhere, even on the tables in the finest restaurants... |
Monday, October 24, 2011
Two weeks have passed, lots of things have happened
One of the cute lizards outside our apartment. We had (or have...?) one in the kitchen also :-) |
Already I've been here for more than two weeks! And I'm really enjoying each day! Now I've been so lucky that I've tasted something called "banje" or "makkala", in the local language fulani. "Makkala" are small rolls that are sold all over here, and it's really, really good. Once you start eating it, you can't stop.
I also have to mention all the great insects here! Outside (and sometimes inside...) there are lot of lizards, but they are nice and don't bother us. The grasshoppers are worse. They are outside (and always also inside!), today I even found one climbing in my net against mosquitoes...Now when the rain season are ending, there will be some weeks with lots of the grasshoppers. They are big, and really good jumpers I can assure you! It happens that I kill them by stamping on them (even though it's not my intension...). That's because they jump (around one metre) and land under my foot just before I finish my step. For once I think it's okay to say that: "It's not my fault...!" :-)
An ugly grasshopper |
On Fridays we have used to join a Sport Club for the children on the Mission Station, because there are also many Cameroonians living in the Mission Station. The Sport Club is run by a Cameroonian boy and the "NMS one-year-volunteers", but it's fun to join.
The seller and me in the fabric store. |
It seems like everything lasts for a long time here in Ngaoundéré. When we join the choir "The Gospel Singers" on Tuesdays, we always end up standing, singing and dancing for nearly three hours without any breaks. (There's also practise on Sundays, but then it only use to last for one hour!)When we went to the Millennium church for the first time last Sunday, it also lasted for three hours, and when we attended the volleyball training Monday, it lasted for two hours. Anyway the choir and the volleyball training are really fun, and there are a lot of nice people there! The service in the church wasn't that fun because I didn't understand much of the French. All I understood was that the service was about "la vie éternel", eternal life. But then who actually decides what's long time? Maybe things rather last for a short time in Norway...Anyway I think I will train my patience during my stay here, and that's good.
Our French teacher in our classroom |
Visiting the hospital and the high school was part of the French class, and it was very interesting. Of course I've heard before that in other countries the classes are really big, and that that makes it difficult to learn at school. But now I think I understood this better. I saw the big classes, with around 70 students in each class. The teacher had written something on the board, but for those who sat behind it was very difficult, almost impossible to read. At the same time the sun was shining on the blackboard through the windows, and making it even more difficult to read. That's because they don't have curtains in the classroom.
Collège Protestant |
We get more and more friends here. Last Sunday we were invited home to a really nice girl here. There we were served fish grilled with skin, and it was really good :) And we had a really great time, as well as with taking a lot of pictures of the family, together with all her little sisters and little brothers. They really enjoyed being taken pictures of, so that was really fun!
|
"Injam" sold along the road, the green, long roots in both sides of the photo |
Prepared "injam", ready for eating |
I have also payed attention to that everybody greets each other here when they pass one another. Often they also stop and ask "Ca va?", which means "How are you?" I like that! People live very close to each other, and I think that it's why everybody knows each other here . The Cameroonians are glad people, and I really like that they laugh a lot. Many people want to get to know us, and that's really nice! And they are really trying to understand our French, which I appreciate.
Now the two weeks of intensive French course are finished, and we will start with some of the work this week. But luckily we will continue having eight hours with French course per week for a while. I'm looking forward to start to work here, and to find out what will be our new routine! Tomorrow we have pratice with the choir again in the evening, and I have just found out that the choir is going to have a consert this Saturday...
Anyway, as you may have understood, I'm really enjoying my stay here so far! (For further information of what Johanne and me have done these two weeks, also look at Johannes blogg).
À plus tard!
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