Bolak & Mathaus, Two Mamas

Monday, Feb. 18, 2008
Finished a normal week, then an EVENTFUL weekend! Friday morning I was up early. Met CABTAL Personnel Director Bolak Mekwi [on left in photo] at 7 a.m. for our day trip SW to Edéa. Took a taxi to the bus station and left Yaoundé about 8:30 a.m. for the 2 ½ hour trip in a big tour bus. Beautiful scenery along the way, and got a photo of a “bush taxi” van in front of us, with a half-dozen pygmy goats tied on top—a common sight.

Also lots of interesting “bush meat” for sale along the highway: small deer, muskrat, parrot. Since it was early morning, I didn’t buy anything for Gary’s dinner. We were also traveling at between 80 and 110 kilometers per hour, so quickly I didn’t even get my camera out.

Met Mathaus Njack [on right on right] in Edéa and taxied to his house for an hour interview and great lunch of HOT foufou (thick cornmeal mush) and d’jamajama (fine-cut, tasty spinach-like), from his pastor’s wife. He has a Master degree in Linguistics and is very excited to begin “Language Development” for the Bakoko language, with more than 100,000 speakers, in nine dialects.

We visited also with his pastor, heard stories, held babies, talked with neighbors, then tried to get a bus back to Yaoundé, after 4 p.m. BIG mistake. On a Friday, many people want to travel to nearby relatives to visit and shop, so every bus, big or small, passed us, PACKED. All that was left were luggage racks on top, where GOATS travel.

A 15-person van finally came along, with room for one inside. So the two of us paid our fare and became # 19 and #20 on the ride—and HAPPY to get one! Photo is of two “mamas” as they call us “mature” ladies, waiting for a seat. I got home about 6:30 p.m. and was in the shower in about 30 seconds.

Another interesting, colorful, fun and productive day in Cameroon, Africa!