Taking one stride at a time...

Making fufu corn at a African wedding

Lade Oku

Getting stuck in the mud on our way to Banso

'To realize it takes all sorts to make a world, one must have seen a certain number of the sorts with one's own eyes. There is all the difference in the world between believing academically, with the intellect, and believing personally, with the whole living self'
-Aldous Huxley

It's been a little over 3 weeks since I've been in Cameroon. I'm really glad that I had the time and energy to blog about my experiences entering Cameroon when I was here in 2009 because things have been so busy for me this time. I have settled in my house and getting the last touch-ups accomplished. I have started organizing and teaching the current physical therapy students. Last week, I went on a short trip to Banso (about 3 hours away from Mbingo) to meet with the head of P.T. there and further plan what my goals are for these next two years. The roads aren't the best, but from what I understand they are ten times better than what they used to be. We only got stuck in the mud once in a place where there were a few men to push us out of the ditch.
Some days are better than others, but most days have been very positive. The physical therapy staff have welcomed me back with open arms and big smiles with laughter which makes the days go by fast. One of my friends got married a couple weeks ago and I got to participate in a traditional Kom Cameroonian wedding. It started at 8 PM and I left at 1 AM and it was only just beginning. The elderly women had me help make fufu (their main food dish) in this little smokey hut for all the people celebrating the wedding and I got to African dance with them. It feels weird stepping into this world that seems to 'fit' when I have just left a completely different world that also seems to 'fit'. I suppose it will always just be a reminder that the only place I will ever completely be fulfilled is my Father's kingdom.