Making Sport

So if you didn’t know, Cameroonians are really into sport. Of course they love football (soccer) but they also enjoy lots of other sports. In Banyo, Saturday is sport day and people small to old come out to ‘make sport’. Most people come out to the stade municipal where they warm up with a few laps around the field and then take their pick of activities. There’s soccer, basketball, volleyball, aerobics, gymnastics, handball or some more running. And then you can always go run out to the Baptist Hospital if it’s too crowded for you. And if you really want to get out of town, you can take a few hours and scale the mountain.

Soiree Culturelle

As far as entertainment and leisure activities go, there really isn’t too much around town – don’t expect to see a movie theater or park anytime soon. And without a tv or radio or even power a lot of the time, reading is about all you have left whichobviously isn’t bad but not exactly something to do with other people. However,there are a few events that come around that allow you to enjoy yourself, have some laughs and be with others. One of those is a soiree culturelle.

Some traditional dance and costume

Soiree culturelles are in the best terms like comedy variety shows. Groups of people put on different ‘acts’ – a lot of dances, some lip syncing, fake news reports, fashion shows, skits, etc. Most often it is a school that puts on a soiree and the students present different acts.

First soiree I went to a the bilingual school - these girls were dancing

In my time at post so far, there have been numerous soirees at my school, the other schools, in my neighborhood, for weddings, etc. And I must say most soirees are similar. You usually receive an invitation which tells you a time. But of course it’s African time so it’s best to have a student or someone just call when the event is about to actually start (let’s say if the invitation says 2:30pm, you come around 4:30-5). As a foreigner, I usually get a seat good seat near the center front. They usually block off an area and maybe even make a stage (like desks pushed together with words boards on top). There is always an MC who hosts and introduces each act. On the program, there may be upwards of 30 acts however because it started so late and there isn’t usually outside lighting, many of the acts willbe cut because the sun will set before it’s over. There’s lots of dancing to the latest songs like ‘pinguiss’ or some Lady Ponce even some Shakira and of course some traditional Houssa music. Then there are some skits or maybe even clown acts. And of course there’s news where students just talk about maybe what’s going on at school. During different acts, members of the audience will get up and put money on performers’ heads or intheir pockets if they really like the performance. The audience can get really riled up and excited about some of the acts and altogether it’s really a fun time and better than just sitting around the house. You get out, see lots of people and some great performances. And even though the events are always behind schedule and technical difficulties occur with speakers, etc., every event has a slightly different part to it that makes it exciting to attend and watch.

'clowns'

News Report

Two little kids lip syncing at a soiree for a wedding

My Students

Some of my younger students and I on a Saturday

Of all the people I meet here – teachers, parents, functionaries, people in the market, neighbors, other volunteers- I must say that my favorite peoplewho I enjoy the company of the most, who I share and learn from every day, who inspire me, make me laugh and support me, the people who I will miss the most are my students.

I teach approximately 210 students ages maybe 10 – 24. And now I will be the first to say that I do not always enjoy my time in class teaching and that I do not think that I am really making that big of a difference as far as their English skills are concerned. But it is the moments in between classes and instruction, the times outside of school whether passing them on the street, attending a cultural event with them or visiting their families in their homes that I truly enjoy my students and get to see them as they really are.

One of my funniest students

Particularly in the past few weeks, as I’ve had more time and energy to spend time just chatting with people, I have spent a great deal of my free time meeting some of my students’ families and seeing more of their life outside of school. And in doing so, I have begun to appreciate and love even more my students. They are caring; they are inquisitive, funny, understanding. They are actually interested in things and ask questions. They are not afraid to chat or joke with me. They are the people I trust the most and who I go to when I have questions. They welcome me into their lives and want to be a part of mine.

Some of my 1ere students

One of my 6e students met me at 5:40am just because he wanted to go to do sport with me on a Sunday. And the same day another student in the same class came as well andran for an hour with me. Just the other day, I was at the field running at 6:30am and a boy came and began running. I quickly recognized him- another different student who had just come to see me and chat for a bit. I climbed the mountain earlier this week with a student. Last week, while I traveled, I left one of my 6e students the key to my house to look after my cat. In the past week, 3 of my students’ families havewelcomed me into their homes, offered me food and chatted with me. Students stop by my house just to say hi. I see them all the time just walking down the street – they always have a big smile and are glad to see me. When I came back from traveling last week, a number of my students told me how much they had missed me. And I too had missed them. They also think to the future and clearly hope to have me in their lives – some of my younger students have already asked to marry my daughters one day and older students have already invited me to their weddings in the next 10 years or so.

My students at home with their other siblings...of the 4 who go to my school, I teach 3 of them

The students who asked about marrying my daughters

Although there can be rough days in class with them, there have been many a bad day when it’s just being with them that puts me in a better mood and reminds me why I enjoy being here. I don’t think I will ever have relationships with other students like I do here with them. They are more than my students- they are my neighbors, my friends, my family. And I already know I will miss them the most when I leave.

6e Students on a Saturday