The root of it all

Now that leaving is a reality, I’ve begun packing some of my things. I don’t have nearly as much to take back as I brought with me. However, I’m sure that once I pick up the last few gifts I intend on purchasing, I’ll have two bags to carry back. Well that’s two bags and a carry on.

First, however, I’ve gotta get to Bafoussam to exchange some more money. All this time I’ve been trying to hold onto my US money, and I realized I have more than enough to get me through another week and a layover in Paris.

By the time I’d arrived at the Lycée, Akilah had already had a bad morning attempting to coordinate the visit of the Batié English Club. There were a few other things that had gone wrong as well, but it all stemmed from having to find out if the students were coming or not, and since the visit begins tomorrow, this was way past “D-day.”

After she finished teaching 6eM, we headed over to Patrick’s class to walk to the Infirmary with him. For some reason his instructor kept them for about twenty minutes more, and we decided to walk over without him. You know, after all Akilah has done to receive permission for the trip, the students raised money (11600 CFAs) and getting permission to use the dormitories on campus, the woman in the Infirmary had the nerve to tell her she needed permission to use the mattresses?

Excuse me, but how can someone have permission to use the dorms without having mattresses on the beds? I know in the states certain things are very bureaucratic, but some things are just assumed. Why have dorms without mattresses on the beds? Furthermore, why would anyone want to use the beds without the mattresses? Doesn’t the principal’s approval bring with it the right to have the mattresses placed on the bed?

Maybe it’s just me with my American way of thinking, but it would appear this is the case. Not in this country though. No matter how much you ask a direct question, no one here will give you a quantitative answer, and it’s driving me bananas! Can someone just please give me a direct response? Don’t give me a flowery rhetorical-type response that does nothing to answer my question.

I think at the root of it all, there’s a need for people, more so here than I’ve ever seen in the states, to flaunt the fact that they’re the one’s with the authority. They’re the one’s who can make or brake what you’re doing. Why? Does that do anything to further the country’s development? Of course not, but it’s not about the country it’s about the “me’s.”

Oh, pardon, where was I? We took Moungo to Bafoussam. Considering the number of times we’ve attempted to find a bush taxi going in that direction, this agency has been the only reliable way of going directly to Bafoussam. So we finally get there about 1:15pm because of all the stuff at the Lycée and don’t leave until just before 2:00pm.

We had to endure a relatively short trip, cramped four persons on a seat and Akilah being given the shoulder test only to find out that we were arriving as they were locking the gates. What’s the “shoulder test” you ask? Well there was an older woman sitting next to Akilah. She must’ve assumed that because there wasn’t enough shoulder room for the four of us to sit straight back, that Akilah should’ve been the one to sit up.

So for most of the ride there, the woman is constantly repositioning trying to give a subconscious hint that Akilah should take her “presumed” position. All of so this woman could be comfortable. Ha! Yeah right. Instead of opening her mouth and even asking, she opts to talk about Akilah in the Bamoun tongue. How rude, and I thought the people here were supposed to be nice.

Considering all that was endured to make this short trip, we arrived at Credit Lyonnais at 3:30pm, but we we’re five minutes too late; the bank actually closes at three. You can’t begin to imagine how ticked off we were feeling at that moment; probably me a little more than Akilah. So we decide to walk up the street to the Commercial Bank of Cameroon (CBC). I remember seeing traveler’s cheques advertisements around the front of the bank.

It’s good we listened to that hunch; we found out that this bank is a Thomas Cook affiliate. Unlike what the rude gentleman at BICEC and the tellers at Credit Lyonnais told us, there is another bank in Bafoussam that converts AMEX Traveler’s Cheques from US dollars to CFA.

The rate wasn’t too bad, 662.266 CFAs per dollar. In all I received maybe 5000 CFAs less than what I did when exchanging in the North province. What was even more pleasing was that no one accosted me about having the receipts. As a matter of fact, there was no mention of them. Then what is everyone else tripping on? These folks input the information into the computer and completed the transaction in less time than what it took most other banks to go through an explanation of why certain things couldn’t be done.

Elated I was able to add a little more pocket change to my person, we stopped past the grocery store to pick up a box of Briiggen Corn Flakes (at 1490 CFAs) and some cheese (at 2450 CFAs). The cheese is for the pizza we’re making for Nicolene on Tuesday.

Afterwards, we went next door to Laking fabrics. Akilah has been constantly reminding me that in the states pagne sells for five to eight dollars per yard. I’m able to purchase it here at about one to two dollars per yard. There’s no way I could pass up that deal. I picked up about twelve pagnes, with the intention of selling at least nine or ten of them. If I get the right price for them, I can easily end up reimbursing myself for some of the expenses here.

Since we were in Bafoussam, we also walked up to Cybercafe Premier, however, the connection was lost a few minutes prior to us walking in. We saw Marcellus there, and spoke with him for a moment, but didn’t bother to stay and wait for the connection to come back up. Besides, if all else fails, I can do all my email while in Douala next week.

We headed back to Moungo and purchased our tickets for the ride home. We were trying to make it before GMBC closed so we could purchase Akilah’s cell phone, however, we were a little late. Maybe they close at about 7:00pm or so. Oh well, guess we’ll purchase it in the morning.

You know while on the bush taxi returning from Bafoussam, there was a young lady who was rather rude. The seats on these things are not generous with leg room, so a person like me has to either sit diagonally (which would be uncomfortable for me) or with my legs open a little wider than what would be comfortable for others.

Akilah and I were seated at least a half an hour prior to her arrival, but this person, who wasn’t a slim, had the nerve to tell me that I should move my seat so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable. “Excuse me? I was here way before you, if you’re uncomfortable you’re welcome to move.” What nerve! Do people actually think that because I’m a visitor here I will bend over backwards to make them happy? Move out of their way; give them more money than something is worth? Do I have “Idiot” scribbled on my forehead?