As 2016 starts, I am reflecting on how much I appreciate those around me who have opened their homes and families to me when I could not be with my own. For many holidays in Pittsburgh, I did not travel to be with my parents or siblings. A couple of good friends regularly invited me to celebrate with them. This year in Garoua Boulai the same thing happened on New Year’s Eve. Gbabiri David had a family reunion that day/evening but still opened his house to a couple of us who were away from family. I am very grateful to David and his family – and I had a great evening!
In
Cameroon, the President, Paul Biya, makes a speech on New Year’s Eve. (I can’t imagine a US president doing that –
people are too intent on partying Dec. 31 and watching football Jan. 1 – hence
our state of the union address later in January…) It was shown at 8 p.m. followed by a round
table of people discussing the content and interviewing people from around the
country. At the end of that program, his
message was broadcast again. We didn’t
see his speech (either time) but did see part of the analysis, including a
message from the mayor of Garoua Boulai.
The mayor is Lutheran and often attends the same French service that I
do. When I saw her yesterday, she
commented on my not having been in church New Year’s Day. (I admit it; after having gotten home at 2
a.m., I slept in and then got off to a slow start on Jan. 1!) I agreed that I had not been present, but
that I had seen her on television Dec. 31.
She said, “Well, then, you are really Cameroonian!”
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| Bible School students at my house (with me) |
I decided
that during this holiday season, I would reach out to more people in Garoua
Boulai, so on different days these people came to my house for a meal: Elisabeth, the wife of a doctor at the
hospital here who is currently completing a training program in Mbingo; Marie
Chantal, a doctor who has been at the hospital in GB for about a year (whose
husband is studying in Ottawa); and Solofo and Joely, the two Malagasy doctors
in town (who also invited me to their house Jan. 1). The Bible School students who didn’t go to
their home districts also came for a drink and meal (that they prepared) on
Jan. 1. They brought music, too! (I took few pictures this holiday season;
instead I spent more time enjoying the company I was with.)
This
weekend, I am hobnobbing with the “elite.” Yesterday, the regional bishop and
his wife went to dinner with me. While
at the restaurant we saw the mayor who invited us to dine at her house
today! I can’t imagine being in the same
“crowd” in Pittsburgh, but GB is a smaller town – and the bishop lives across
the street from me, so I see him often.
I found out
during this holiday that the Cameroonian brewery has developed a new beer
called Tango that is a mixture of Beaufort (a lager they already made/make) and
grenadine. Had they told me in advance
what it was, I might not have tried it.
I can definitely say that mixing beer with a fruit drink does not work
for me! But, I can now say I have had
one. We have to be open to trying new
things, right??
I leave you
with a picture of part of the Christmas decorations from church. They make arches of tall palms and then add
hibiscus flowers and ribbons. There were
arches outside the front door, on the pillars near the front of the pews, and
on the wall behind the altar. (They also
had a small, artificial (dare I say tacky?) Christmas tree with lights and
decorations at the side of the altar. Needless
to say, I prefer the natural decorations.
Aren’t the flowers gorgeous? Not
traditional for Christmas in Pennsylvania, but then, I live in the
tropics!
May 2016
bring you opportunities to grow and stretch.
May all of our actions contribute to more peace in the world this year
than last.
Oh, and,
happy 9th Day of Christmas!
Susan: Thanks for the memory. I remember New Year's Eve so well in CAR! We often went over to the GB station for the holiday, and once, I think, we also were at David and Debbie's for the evening (not sure about that, I was with Tom and Eunice Olsen and was still new to CAR.) All your memories of Garous Boulai, though, are really special to me; I miss the time I spent in CAR (and also the time at the GB station). Do you ever hear from or see Yaiman Etienne, from across the border? I leaned Sango in his home and I've often wondered what happened to him. He was a teacher in CAR who taught even though there was no money to pay him, at least as long as he could. He used to bring hand made cards to Baboua for me to take home and sell to help him support his family - and I always bought far, far more than I could ever have used. Read your blog each week; thanks for the memories. We never forget CAR, even though it's been a decade and a half, it will always be a part of me. Boyd Faust
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Boyd. I know of Tom and Eunice, but only met them one, here in GB not too long ago. Yaiman retired from the schools and became the director of the Village School Program (now 20 primary schools run by EELRCA in villages without government schools). (There may have been other activities between those 2, but when I arrived in Baboua at the end of 2012 he was the director. He retired from that position at the end of 2012. I know he is still active with his art. Thanks for the support - reading my blog! Susan
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