Bangem Town and much more

I've made it back to an internet cafe - We've stopped over in Kumba again on our way to a town called Nyandong - where i'll be staying for a night before travelling back to Bangem...

So 2 weeks... I don't know where to start! After my last update, we departed to Bangem. For a major town within a province, to say it is badly connected would be understatement. To get to the town, you have to overcome a 1hr journey over a rocky road full of bumps and divots... even a powerful UNDP 4x4 needed to take it easy on the route! The day after arriving, I had an 'induction' of the town, where we went round and met the various dignitaries including the MP, the SDO and many more delegates.

The town itself is lovely - all the people i've met have been so very welcoming and friendly... PFPF have provided me a room, and we've had to throw together a kitchen area - as the living quarters being built for future volunteers isn't ready yet... (If we think the builders are slack in london - it's a different ball game here... if you're not standing over them, nothing's being done!).

The rooms are based behind a bar - and bars in Bangem like their music... they like it loud, and they like it till late! but i've quickly got used to the music - for once that finishes, the hens/dogs/birds are all contributing to ensure the liveliness is maintained.

One of the highlights so far has been the Youth Day celebrations that took place on the 8th... this included a serious of performances by the local school kids in the main square, watched by all the dignitaries, and this was followed by a football match with the local school team playing a neighbouring town... the kids sported various foot attire - from traditional footie boots to socks and some barefoot! It was a spirited game which finished on penalities which the home team won - and this sparked much celebrations for the next few hours with the kids taking laps of honour round the pitch, and then around town with their new trophy.

I also took part in a bee farming workshop that PFPF hosted last week - I now know heeps about bee's... and also had the chance to taste some freshly harvested honey from a bee hive (which about 15 of us visited with only 3 wearing bee suits... yep you guessed it, when the bees started buzzing, I promptly ran!)

In between, I've had the chance to get my teeth into PFPF's activities, and have created a plan for my next 2 months of activity in Cameroon... I don't have much time now as we're departing in a few minutes... hopefully i'll have a chance to check in before I head back to Bangem on Thursday.