I couldn’t get to the internet yesterday (Monday, 10-16) and I felt disconnected. What does that say about how spoiled I’ve become in the short time I’ve been here? I didn’t expect to have access, now I’ve had it, and I felt deprived without it. Serious food for contemplation…
Last week one night I was walking through the bush with a friend – the bush. Buea is a town but unless you’re in the city, you’re very close to nature. Birds singing, chameleons darting, crickets chirping, sounds that I have yet to identify. So my friend was trying to make it to a small market on the outskirts of town before the vendors started closing down so we took a shortcut. For her, it was just fine, but I can admit it – I was terrified. There’s virtually no dusk here. One moment the sun is setting, the next it is gone. So we were on a narrow path going through high grass and trees, crossing streams, and hearing all kinds of sounds, and she was pulling me by the hand because she was in a hurry. Every time we approached a clearing she would say, we’re there, and then we’d keep going. We finally reached the market and she was able to get her cocoyams. I just got limes and pawpaw (papaya). I’m sure I’ll have many more adventures while I’m here, but that one made me feel very American. At home, I’m very much a citified, country girl – at ease in any environment. Here, I’m so Western, it’s not funny. I’m trying hard not to be, but in the middle of a stream with wet feet and feeling like my balance has shifted dramatically (in more ways than one), I just couldn’t help it.