The merry month of May

Oh! If it were so merry! Since returning from the land of Oz, I have been flat out preparing courses within an approximate two-week deadline. And then there was a week getting things back under way here, I mean, getting food into the house, seeing who you have to see (the presents I bought were really appreciated), getting the apartment back into running order and resolving phone and other problems. The water has been cut off three or four times a day since I returned and filling up the buckets and bowls is a military-precision operation. I just keep filling them up whenever there is a drop of the precious liquid. It was also awfully hot, 45 degrees plus, and I must say I was so thankful for the air conditioner. But it rained a couple of days ago, the temperature dropped considerably and it’s easier to get around. Now there’s humidity and that’s something else . . .

Getting back to Maroua from the airport was a considerable haul. A night in the hotel in Yaoundé (the capital) where, when I arrived at midnight, I had to beg someone in the hotel (one of the better hotels, might I say) to fetch me a bottle of drinking water! A swift realization that I was back in Cameroon. Then there was the train next day leaving 6 pm. and the bus the day after. Purchased beautiful big avocados from a station vendor through the train window and shea butter as we approached Garoua, a mid-way bus stop en route to Maroua. You’ve already read about the bus journeys but suffice to say that my feet and ankles swelled up once again in all the heat. Once back in Maroua, it took 36 hours to get them back to normal size.

Went to a friend’s the other day to meet his wife. He is Cameroonian and his wife Canadian, a truly lovely couple. This guy’s place is notably a few degrees cooler than where I live. He has lots of greenery around and the air flows freely. I’m sure it’s the trees and plants that make the difference – nature is always giving. The plants on my balcony have grown, a little more and they will start blocking the afternoon sun as it stretches to reach my living room window.

I’ve taken a month’s trial to an MTN wi-fi internet connection at home. Before I left, the wi-fi equipment was installed on the roof of the apartment building so I said to myself that the connection should be pretty good. I was assured that it was high speed, that I could even download movies at night . . . But, I have discovered that the connection is only 54 M/bits per second and some days, I can’t even access radio audio sound. Nonetheless, having the internet has freed me up a little, I can now do documentation research without being dependent on the (unreliable) connection in the office. I can send emails and when the connection is good, Skype functions well. I am now contemplating an alternative internet connection with another provider (Orange). The monthly access fee is the same but I have to purchase my own modem, etc. It is truly wonderful to be connected and Orange tells me the speed is guaranteed at 128 M/bits per second. So, I’m looking forward to seeing you – on Skype!