arrival - Blogabond

i realized i was headed towards a foreign land when all the people around me looked and sounded very different. i suddenly realized i didn't know french...hardly a word. oddly enough, the flight had english words on the back of the seats, all of the flight attendants were able to speak english well, and most of the movies that were showing played only in english (unfortunate for the french only speaking cameroonian woman next to me). i helped her handle the remote only to find that most of the shows she was interested in were not going to be translatable.

i, however, was able to enjoy a few and i would recommend watching The Proposal. I really loved it :)

Upon landing, I had to find my bag and decided they must have sent it down to the baggage claim. Down a dimly lit corridor that smelled a smell strangely familiar, i was wordlessly directed (as were all the other passengers). I began wondering if anyone would really be there to pick me up at all. I mean...they didn't really have to, right?... it was only slightly exciting. I decided to trust that they just would be. I walked and there was a lady at a counter standing and selling something. she stared long enough that I decided i was supposed to talk to her. she was giving SIMS cards out. whatever those are...for your phone i think... i did'nt need one so i began to walk away and she asked me if i had a card filled out important for entry. i did. she was obviously trying to be helpful as she directed me where to go. i went thru customs thankfully without any conflicts and as i went to get my bags the woman from before came up next to me and asked me if there would be anyone to pick me up. "who knows." i laughed and then said "hopefully"...she didn't really laugh, but instead helped me find a baggage pusher and taught me how to use it...(they are surprisingly tricky).

so...it turned out to be just like the movies. a little round woman with brown round eyes held out a sign in front of me that declared,
"THERESA
FAGUNDES"
It was very nice to be found.
Especially in this dimly lighted, strange, and bustling place.

It turned into a 3 hour drive home. The freeway was nice...nice enough to go backwards on at times. I think the drivers here must be very close to the skill of my father (who is the best driver in the world). It was dark. The sky was brilliantly lit with stars. People were everywhere; the side of the streets, in the buildings, on the street, in front of our car... We did at one point stop for some money exchange. There were men dressed in white robes who pulled money from the folds like magic. We didn't even get out of our car. I felt like we were exchanging unmentionables, but we weren't.

When we finally made it to the place i will be calling home for the next 4 months I met my gracious host.
We stayed up talking for a couple hours about medicine and what she does and Cameroon.
Unfortunate that I won't be aiding in many (if any) surgeries...but fortunate that I have such a laidback teacher who will lead me through rural visits, education programs, and basic clinic care

Tomorrow is another day\! (i found the excitement mark!)

written by

theresa on October 16, 2009 from Douala, Cameroon

from the travel blog: to africa

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We are glad your safe...! All enjoyed your post I did not realize you had done it before. So glad it sounds like a good learning place..We all miss you so be carefull.

written by Mom on October 17, 2009

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