Pt 8

o it's now 5 and a half hours until my flight leaves Cameroon haha. I'm sitting in the airport, where I have been for the last few hours haha, waiting. Now I've so much time I can't remember the normal time so when I should try and check in haah, I'm trying to understand what's going on here too haha. There's a desk full of people who keep stopping people walking. Through with their bags to where everyone seems to be going. I'm going to go have a reckie soon haha. But they are only stopping some people, asking for passports, but some aren't giving, they have checked some peoples bags, goodness knows haha. I have to walk past soon, kinda hoping they don't stop me with their French!!xoxo

Okay so I just had a quick look around, they didn't stop me- looks just like people with a lot of bags! I have a lot of luggage but not bags and bags on a trolley haha. Looks like you go in and check in (when it's close enough haha) then come back out and can go downstairs, there's a toilet, I'll ask when I check in, anyway! Sorry. Boredom means I'm literally writing anything. Just 42 minutes until brynley calls :D 

But yes! Okay! The journey!! Well firstly, last night cicely and I shared a delicious fish( I know, fish, me haha) and I had a last, one egg omelette and potatoes from the woman. I'll miss her! And her potatoes! The fries here are actually better an back home hah, but SO looking forward to mums omelette. And scrambled eggs on toast, ahhhhhhhh and chocolate, and pork pies bryn has ordered, I am so some excited. Also mega curious to see how much I weigh hah. I have no idea!! So yes this morning I was up at 4, made a rice dish and boxed it up with a. Delish avo from the village Charlotte went to. Then 5:15ish, I get picked up, pile all my stuff into a taxi, actually a really really nice one. It even had a seatbelt in the first seat I sat in- as I put it on in wonder, Fred and the driver just looked like I was a weirdo ahah. Anyway, we drove round to the hospital where we picked up some others after a little wait, and I was shoved into the back seat with the chicken Fred was taking to Douala (yeah, who knows) but it was actually really spacious as no-one else was shoved in onto my seat haha. Then we arrived in bamenda, I sat in the VIP lounge (gimme a ooooh) whilst Fred sorted out the tickets, we then ate a quick brekkie of omelette and tea then were on the bus. It was a big one, so hot and sweaty, we were near the back with a. Few children around. Luckily the woman I front to the right had a laptop with her, a swish one too, and on it she had a hard drive- so we started the journey watching the Disney original classic, let it shine! Which I loved hahaha. She also watched some music videos later on until the battery died, which  was quite cool, some performances from the bet awards? Or something too . The journey was pretty standard, we had an hours delay because the break lights weren't working, the driver couldn't pay the fine that was demanded right here by normally they don't have to pay it on the spot. Blah blah. I loved the kids next to me though, I shared my iPod ear with one of the girls and we had a ball going through my eclectic shuffle playlist haha.

Okay anyway, a few things that I'm not going to forget/just things about my first experience of Africa.

And like Africa like this Africa, completely opposite from home Africa haha.

Firstly the bikes, okay let's just get this out there- no-one ever, ever wants to straddle a stranger and grip on to a dirty motorbike to bounce over muddy excuses for roads. But, alas it happened daily haha, I was often on the back behind two and recently three people. The roads were so bad, speed wasn't the problem, just the bumps, and the mud when it had been raining- we had to walk most of the way last night ahaha. Oh and also. The umbrellas on the bikes ahahaha. It's so so hilarious, because obvs they're used as taxis, and in some places especially here in Douala, people have these homemade long umbrellas, like extended ones that go over the back of the bike ahahah, such a sight to see. So so amusing.

Secondly, the fearfully cliche but so, so, so actually African is that everyone carries everything on their heads. It's crazy haha, impressive, and just hilarious that it's universal here.

Oh my gosh I'm going to miss the beautifully cheap and delicious fruit and veg!! Lboro market is awesome but you have to get such big portions of everything. Here it is beautiful and fresh and so cheap. I won't miss all the live chickens just chilling in basket type things though, or the meat sheds- dissssgusting every part of the animal just there on show stinking the place out.

I'll miss the tailoring! It's so fun and there are so many crazy cool fabrics and you can just let your imagination run. Guess it wouldn't be so cool if you did it all the time, though.

I won't miss being called white man all the time, and just having people stare and say nothing even after you've forcefully said good morning BECAUSE they were staring haha. The ever friendly ',HELLOOOOO' kids are cute ofc, but if you're just not in the mood it'll be nice to walk down the road head down and yeah. Actually and not having to worry about slipping in the mud haha. 

All the food I ate, though, even though I am so fed up of it because I have had so so so many times, was actually really good. Like really tasty, but I can't bloody wait to eat at home hahah. 

I also won't miss being woken up my the mosque at 4:20 each morning, followed by the cockerel and the kids and the singing hahah from the compound. Oh and sleeping in a sleeping bag! I'll be back in it after it's clean for newday haha but so worth it!! A duvet is going to be sooooo comfortable.

I've reinforced how much I dislike teaching haha, but have surprised myself in how well I've dealt with kids. I've really experienced a completely different way of living, from all aspects, and learnt such an incredibly huge amount.

Some of the best moments have just been with the local kids who live in the other half of the compound, they have just joined us on our balcony and shared food, we have done drawing, Jwan even painted their nails haha. It's lovely knowing everyone who we walk past everyday,  with a. Happy smile, wave, how are you.And then there's the hundreds of men who love you as you ride past on a bike, 'howa re you! I love you!Will you marry me!', everybody wants to know when you'll be back in their beautiful country, 'some time in the dry season!' I always say haha. Even the blooming security guard here was asking when I'd be back as he loved me and wanted to marry me ahah, I don't suffer with those pressures in little old England thank goodness!

Anyway. 4 hours until my flight, hahaha. Almost. I'll have a wander after I've made a few more attempts at candy crush. But unless I remember anything that's real important more, I'm going to say adios for now- ill probs blog again when I'm in the stunning mainland se Asia with brynley! Eeee! Bye for now!!

Xoxoxoxoxoxo