A big box of reading glasses (236 pairs) just arrived from “Eyes on Africa”, a California non-profit organization. I probably mentioned it, but Batie has a large population of aging village people who have lived here their whole lives. Of course, there are those of all ages here (place is crawling with kids, for example, most of whom found me terrifying at first and now find me irresistable….la blanche avec les bon bons). People around town have spoken to me often of the need (probably because they see my glasses hanging around my neck all the time) so finding glasses for them was high priority for me. The village Chief is coming over this morning to discuss with me the best way of distributing them. (I hope!  The Cameroonian people have a habit of not showing up when they say they will.) This is not a “sustainable” project like the other ones I will be doing, but I’m happy about it none the less.  

I was invited over to a lovely woman’s house (about my age) for lunch and she prepared  taro with sauce jaune.  This resembles a big plate of mashed potatoes (in appearance) but stickier with the sauce jaune placed in the middle like gravy...then you eat it with your hands which is very messy and lots of fun.  I actually enjoyed it, the sauce jaune (yellow) is very tasty. It is extremely heavy and she served me a huge plate of it, but try tho I did, I could only get thru about half of it.  An elderly lady (late 80’s?) stopped by and joined us.  She ate a huge plate of it and then finished mine off!  She was so beautiful, stooped from years of work in the fields) but so strong (beautiful strong hands) and full of life.  She had just come in from the fields (they are starting to plant corn now) and returned to her field after lunch.  These women here are AWESOME!!!! and so warm and wonderful. They are the glue that holds Africa together.

Last night I discovered an itchy rash (or so I thought) I on my inner wrist and went to bed wondering what it was. (I’m never been prone to rashes at all).  This morning I got up and discovered a huge web of tiny spiders (hundreds of them) right next to the chair where I use my computer and realized that they had tried to eat me.  One of my resident spiders had birthed a shitload.  Talk about the heeby jeebies!!!!  I went on a killing spree but many of them escaped (they are so tiny, for the moment) so I am on major spider watch!  No more catch and release…..they all must die!!!!  I have a lttle gecko (a baby) that I have seen around the house lately (at night) who is helping me get them! I am going to try to find some insecticide next time I’m in Bafoussam as there are too many of them to battle in hand to hand combat. (Of course I will remove the Gecko to the out side before applying…)

On Thursday, I will be going to Bafoussam to help 2 other volunteers teach English to a “Women in Leadership” group organized by a wonderful “Non Governmental Organization”  called RIDEV.  That should be interesting and I’m betting the women are pretty spectacular.  (Thursday….D-day for the little flesh eaters if I am lucky enough to find “RAID!!!!”.)

Last week….boring!  This week…..interesting! (and creepy!).  C’est la vie en Afrique. Hey!  The Chief just arrived!!!!  Yes!

Love!