Thank you.

You know, we never made it to the tailor’s yesterday, and I was really feeling kind of antsy about not being able to go. Well, actually, I could’ve gone, but it would’ve been alone. After my first experience when we totally could not understand one another, I figured why rush, I’ll just wait until “my translator” is free and go with her.

When she arrived home from school today, she took a brief nap and we headed over to the market area. The gentleman I dealt with was not there, but his two assistants were (that’s assuming they’re his assistant’s and not partners) there. Both outfits were definitely done very well.

Once we had a chance to discuss the nice job that had been done on both, we agreed that Titus should be hired to do westernized clothes, and the gentleman here in Foumban should be hired to do Afri-centric clothes. We’ll also look around for one other to have a back-up, but that will essentially be it.

I’m getting very used to this “tailoring” thing. I think I need to buy more fabric to make a few more outfits. Guess if you figure I’ve got about six pair of pants coming from Titus, I might as well have the equivalent in African garb, right? On our next trip to Bamenda, I’ll stop past the market to find some nice material, there are a few outfits (Muslim in nature) I would like to have made.

What will it be like going to a fabric store in the states, knowing that I could get something comparable at a reduced price? Will I even bother to check what tailor’s there would charge? Maybe, but it’s gonna be difficult resisting the temptation to mail fabric and a catalog to Titus to have something made. “Oh how will I resist the temptation?” (smile.)

We tried the clothes on and took a few pictures, wanted this moment to be documented. Afterwards we headed over to our favorite restaurant to have a bite for dinner. Though we both were kind of willing to cook, our mood was like “Why?” So we didn’t. It’s nice to every now and then treat yourself to a meal.

There are families that probably never get an opportunity to do things like this. Although it’s not up to us to worry about their social conditions (being cognizant is probably more helpful), one can’t help but wonder how some of them survive. If you could see the number of street vendors and stores who look as if they might get one customer for the day, how do these folks make it? It’s definitely something that needs to be studied.

Before heading over to the tailor’s, Akilah opened her two packages. The first was the one I’d sent prior to leaving for Cameroon. She was pretty surprised to see Ritz and Townhouse Crackers, Wheat Thins, Power Bars, Nutri-Grain Bars and Andes chocolate mint candies. She also noted the one thing you can’t purchase here are items like crackers and potato chips.

I didn’t think about it until then, but she’s right. Now she’s wondering how I know what to send because all of my packages have included goodies that she can’t get here or that would be far too expensive if she bought them here. Don’t know how I knew, I just did. Maybe I’ll make a suggested list of things to send PCVs, she’s already begun one so maybe I’ll do it and compare it to what she has.