No be small thing

As I come to write this Blog, I am thinking only in pidgin...its still difficult to converse totally in pidgin, but I throw things in there whenever I can and most people seem to enjoy my attempt at this second language. I am writing with great joy because the people are currently drinking water from the taps now in Barombi!!!! You could say we have achieved our goal. It was not easy though (expressed in pidgin in the title of this entry) and many difficulties continually came to pass. We still have work to finish (some small things) on Monday before the final Inauguration Celebration on Wednesday.

The week recap: Monday Mark and I left Kumba at 6am to make it to the village in good time to begin work. We did a lot of concrete pouring Monday and Tuesday and the community finished covering the trench by Wednesday. To pour concrete is no easy task. First you must transport sand and gravel to the site. We managed this by again carrying bags of the materials on head through the bush path for the structures inside the jungle. So the task of pouring 5 valve boxes and covers took 2 days. The plumbers finished the line by adding pipes we needed to purchase in town last weekend (result of sacrafice to lake) and attached the spicket heads. By Thursday water was flowing and we realized one pipe was broken (right beside the Matango bar). The plumbers were still there so he removed the bad pipe (damaged upon connection) and water flows fine now.

Thursday we did some small collecting of stones and just relaxed. The rain prohibited us from doing much work for most of the afternoon so we spent the day in the drinking spot with an invitation from some newly arrived farmers. One bush man caught an iguana and we ate it with pepper soup and boiled plantains. It was pretty good.

Friday we traveled to Ekombe Bonji, a neighboring village much larger than Barombi. Many people were expecting us there, and we enjoyed very much. The Area Boys accompanied us there so it was a wild night. We arrived to some bush whiskey, at the first house in the village. Emmanual, a good friend and caretaker of the water supply system, carried us to the village. We passed through the bush path and it took about 2 hours. Ekombe Bonji lies on a main road just 6 miles from Kumba (very nice because we were able to take a motor bike back to town this morning in about 10 minutes=cost 500 Central African Francs, or $1.25 USD). We were greeted by some friends and then moved to a "big mans" house for another reception and WHITE STUFF !!!(you cant talk about the drink without giving a good shout in the Area Boys Accord). Soon after the Area Boys arrived. We made it so they came behind. Emmanuel had a program for the evening and did not want to sleep there. The Area BOys had another program for us to sleep and see the night life. Daddy Shaker, Da Game, Kobe, Bakala (pidgin for braids which the woman on the 10.000 franc bill has) Money, and Obonoya Nokoka aka Notorious B were the Area Boys who were able to make the occasion. Sexy stayed behind to accompany one of the other white girls here (Helen) back to town as he is deeply in love with her. We were lacking sound for some time but we made up for it with standard ruckus.

Once the boys arrived we ate some fufu and vegetable soup and then some chopped some bush meat (monkey this time). Some beers and then a quick stroll to see the new secondary school being built and the hospital built a few years back before a bath in the stream and second charge on the white stuff. We moved to the road to the one drinking spot open and arranged for some more charging and dancing. We ate some of the best snails I have ever eaten. with pepper and onions. One guy wants me to carry some back to the states and see how he can start a business exporting dried snails. I think I may actually try to carry some becauase they are fantastic. We made it back to Da Games Aunts house around 3am where Me Mark and Wise Dog shared one bed for a very quick sleep. Kobe slept in two plastic chairs next to the bed. The other guys piled in another bed in teh room beside. The house was a plank house, very common in villages of that size and very simple. No furniture besieds beds and benches. We were safe because we were with the Area Boys and nobody can mess with characters of their nature. As for mnorning time we waited aroud for a long time before eating some rice and fish and plums (not anything like those in the states, but bitter soft sort of vegetables). While waiting we ate beans and puff puff (fried bread) we bought on the street. Washed the meal down with some white stuff before heading to the road to catch a bike back to Kumba. Marko's brain was charged (result of taking alcohol) so we enjoyed some funny conversations in the morning time.

Tonight we have the farewell reception for the Immersion Students (weird to think its been a month since they arrived, but we have been busy non-stop). Dr. Amin is asking that we talk about the project some so its all good. The party is a big deal and high people are invited. IT is expected to last all night so I plan to get home soon for a nap. We have been working so hard the past two months, there is not any person here who could say any thing otherwise. The thing to understand is that its manual labor. Every day I carry something on my head through some tedious bush path or dig some ground with a pick axe and a terrible spade. Nothing here is easy, and as a result it is necessary that after hard work you must play hard. The fact of the matter is that the project could not have been done had we taken any other approach to achieving this goal. Completely integrating ourselves in the Barombi community has allowed us to work together to achieve our goal. We are all equals here and displaying that attitude in everyday life has allowed me especially to become one with the people. Anywhere I go I "feel free" and people here love that. They continue to say "You will not go back to America."
I laugh and agree saying that I will buy some land and build my own farm. Its nice to know that I can come back here at any time and have many places to sleep.