a 'normal' week [EDIT: Added Pictures]
In this post: emotions, hair, bar fight, dancing, and bichos [EDIT:] Added some photos
After I got mugged last week, I was a little shaken. I didn’t lose much, but the act of being robbed had me feeling both anger and fear. Like I both wanted to break those dudes’ faces while at the same time hide in some safe, comfortable space. I’m feeling more centered/normal now. I’ve been asking God for His perspective; Jesus died to pay for their sins, including them mugging me.
I got my hair cut last Wednesday. At Forrest’s suggestion and Katy’s request (I am in their wedding soon after I get back) I got it cut at the fancy place instead of Barak Obama coiffure who probably would have shaved most (or all) of my hair off. It cost western prices ~$13 and was bad. I went back the next day to get it cut a little less like a mullet. Afterwards, the coiffure who cut my hair asked if I wanted to get a beer.
We went next door to the bar and we ordered a couple beers. We talked for a bit and I mentioned that I had gotten mugged. A guy nearby, who seemed to be in charge, overheard and told me that when I am in Douala I should make sure and go to safe places. Seriously 2 minutes or less later, a guy walked up and started swinging at the guy on my left. The bartender ran over to break up the ensuing fight as we slapped some money down on the bar and took our mostly-finished beers outside. My coiffure friend Matthew told me that both those guys were employees of the bar and they were fighting over 500CFA ($1). The guy in charge came out and apologized and assured me of my security.
I’m driving pretty regularly, which is always nuts. I drove home in a thunderstorm the other night in the family’s Mitsubishi Pajero. The Pajero’s mirrors don’t keep their adjustment, and the wiper blades are terrible, so it was quite an adventure.
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I went out Saturday with a couple Germans, Marius, and a few other friends. As far as ‘going out’ goes it was pretty fun. We danced a lot. Exhausted, we got back around 5:00 and slept in the car until 6:30 when someone woke up to let us in. Only Betty and Georges (my host parents) have keys to the house, so every time we come home, we have to get someone to come down and open the gate.
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I talked to my host dad on Sunday about being able to travel more. I had been getting the impression that he was expecting me to continue to work 6 days a week until I leave, but I would really like to see more of Cameroon. I’m very grateful to be here in Douala and be living with his family, but it seems logical for me to travel since I’ve already paid quite a bit to be here. He said that I was here to work, but ultimately told me to propose a schedule for my final 8 weeks. Which is fair.
My stomach has regularly been giving me trouble the last month. I’ll often get really intense pains about 40 minutes after I eat. Please pray for that. I think I have some kind of parasite (I prefer the spanish word bicho).
I haven’t uploaded any pictures since last time, but here’s a couple Here’s a few more photos that I like and you might have missed. Thank you guys for commenting, keep doing it (even just to say hello). I am very honored so many people read my blog.
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