Dschang, Noupa-Loop and the Chef

Since my last intellectual outburst, life has been moving pretty fast in the Western province. Classes this week have focused on the Bamileke, and as excursions we went to some waterfalls, where I purified myself under the crashing blows of a fifty-footer; we also visited a Chefferie: a traditional tribal chiefs palace and shared a feast, some music and some mint milk (just what it sounds like, but with alcohol). My french teacher, Bamileke instructor and certafiable badass, Monsieur Noupa, who I call Noupa-Loop (he didnt approve of Snoop), has also been teaching us Pidgin English, with anecdotes about Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky being his primary instructing tools. We have also been going to a restaurant/bar after class for a beer every once in a while at a place we know as the "Viper Bar," because our first visit there included the owner pulling out a five foot dead viper, throwing it on the ground and asking us if we were hungry for some viper steak. My family here in Dscahng has been awesome, my father and mother have been stuffing me full of delicious things like Hansel and Gretel and I will be sad to leave. However, the next couple of days mean a trip to english-speaking bamenda and then back to Yaounde.

The Sox have crept in, and I stay awake thinking about them,
Steven

21 and other stuff

This week, I went to a brewery in Yaounde; where we toured the factory in a disney-landesque train and drank free beer. The rest of the week was spent in similarly super fashion as we moved to Dschang, a university town where I have moved in with a new family and met some awesome new people. On the Friday before we left, I attended a pool-party at a house that resembled something from the movie ¨Blow.¨ There was a pool with a map of Africa on the bottom and the country of Cameroon entirely in gold. The owners were two brothers in their mid-twenties one of whom was a Harvard Grad. Turns out if you know Paul Biya (Do some Research) you can have a pretty ridiculous life here. Hopefully I'll hunker down at some point with a speedy internet connection and post some photos. Currently, not possible. I turned 21 in nightclub in Dschang full of fifty-plus men chasing down the american girls of my group. I hope to recelebrate upon my landing in Logan in December.

Tom Brady needs to invest in some cojones,
Steven

gorillas

gorillas

gorillas

gorillas

The Indomitable Lions Fans.

More to come-slow internet connection.

The Latest

This weekend I went to the Gorilla Sanctuary outside of Yaounde and got to experience the raw power of animals as they beat their chests. Pretty awesome. I also got to experience my first soccer and basketball matches against the Cameroonians. Although I got absolutely destroyed at soccer, Team USA impressed against Cameroon. My acquaintaince, Eric, the self-proclaimed African Kobe Bryant, is going to be my meal-ticket for the rest of my life, when I bring him back to the US. On Saturday night I went to a party with my Cameroonian father. The "party" was in reality, forty construction workers inside a huge building they are constructing listening to music and drinking. A little different experience than my European stuudy abroad counterparts I hope. Pictures to follow shortly.

Strive Hard (Mr. Perry)

Full Week

First Week in Cameroon, 10 km run on saturday and sunday morning with my host father who is making me into a trophy son. My family is also composed of my host mother, and my younger brothers Arno, 7 and Jojo, 1. Life is good; the Indomitable Lions, Cameroon's soccer team won on Saturday, leading to celebrations throughout Yaounde. They play Gabon again on Wednesday. Trying to get tickets, especially in the nosebleeds.

Also, we have eaten most of our meals with this sauce called "sauce a noir" which translates as black sauce and has the consistency and taste of tar. On the other hand, my Barack Obama gifts might has well have been gold ingots. Hopefully I'll have pictures soon, I haven't had many opportunities to pull out my camera.

Go Sox,
Steven

Landed yesterday. It's hot. Orientation.

Updates Later,
Steven