The students make it worth it
Since arriving in Cameroon back in December, I’ve gone through a very stressful and arduous experience. One thing I’ve been able to realize is that from a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) PCVs perspective, the students make everything worth it. However, more often than not, it’s the interaction one has with them outside of the classroom that makes it pleasurable.
Watching all that Akilah has gone through just since I’ve been here has very much been a learning experience. It’s hard for someone to come into a foreign land, and have to navigate the cultural and linguistic differences, in addition, to teaching how to speak your native tongue. If it sounds difficult, know that it is more difficult than what it sounds like.
This morning Akilah received an impromptu visit from her APCD (Asst. PC Director), Gabby. It was shocking and good, because she needed to discuss some things with him. Once they finished their conversation and he gave her the mail that’d come in for her since we’d been to Yaoundé, we went off make some photocopies and to GMBC to pick up her phone.
It took about a forty minutes to pick up the phone; primarily because the saleswoman had to find a charger that would work with the phone, and then setup the Joker card for us. That was done, but once I brought the phone home with me, I noticed that one of the primary voice prompts is in French. Now even though Akilah understands the language, I’m sure she’d rather hear it in English, just to be sure she’s doing it correctly. Especially since this is the first cell phone she’s ever owned. Imagine that in this day and age someone comes to a “so-called developing nation,” and purchasing their first cell phone. Wow. Not bad I guess.
By the time Akilah returned home, we had to move quickly to get all of the materials for this weekend’s visit by the Batié English club together. Since the officials at the school were being very difficult about providing mattresses for the students to sleep on, she and a few students decided to bring mattresses from their homes. I had to roll and pack three mattresses that she has here.
We were to meet the Batié club at Moungo Voyages at 6:00pm; however, I thought they would be a little late, so I told her we should have some extra time. We arrived at 7:00pm only to find that they’d been there since six. Oops. Anyway, there were eleven students plus Becky (the club’s Advisor), so we tried to get a van from Moungo to take us. I couldn’t believe it when I heard her saying she wanted to charge us 150 CFAs per person to take. Here we were regular customers, with a large group that had just taken their van to Foumban, and she wanted to gouge us to go right up the road. We immediately walked away from her and went down the street to find taxis. There were four in total and everyone paid 100 CFAs per person; guess the folks at Moungo missed out on that little bit of money.
As soon as we arrived at the school I noticed the English club standing in front of the small-enclosed courtyard area, waiting for us to walk past. They were standing in a greeting line for the Batié members. Akilah, Becky and I were truly impressed. They’d spent the day dodging sabotage attempts by others, and preparing the appropriate rooms for the visit, but still had enough time to make it home (or somewhere) to change for the evening.
Our evening was spent hearing welcoming statements, listening to songs, and having dinner. Afterwards the students from Batié provided a theatrical presentation and the students danced the night away. I had to get out of there at about midnight, I was not staying in the dorms and needed to walk down the dark roadway to the main road to find a taxi.
Akilah was able to find two students who were also walking to the road, and she and Becky walked the three of us to the main gate. It was funny as I walked with these students. It’s just about pitch black around us, except for where I’m able to shine the mag-lite I have, and they’re walking like there’s not a care in the world. Here I am a grown man, walking with two young ladies, and I’m on edge from the moment we get away from the school’s lighting until we reach the main road. Only if they knew, I was supposed to be there for their protection, however, they were there for mine.