Just another normal day

After our fifth day of classes I have feel like I have started to settle down into somewhat of a regular routine. At least for now, most of my week days are pretty regular. There’s something very grounding about establishing somewhat of a routine in a new place. I wake up between 6:30 and 7 each morning and quickly get dressed. I already feel like I’m re-wearing most of my clothing too frequently because I brought so little (only a medium sized backpack and a small carry-on sized suitcase both of which had much more stuff than clothing in them). I can’t wait until I get new clothing, especially to have local-style clothing tailored. Once I’m dressed and ready to go I eat a quick breakfast laid out by the maid or, occasionally another family members who’s eaten before me. Each morning the breakfast table has bread (small baguette type loaves), butter, a local version of Nutella, and cans of instant coffee, powdered milk, and chocolate powder. The past three days the maid has also made crepes for me and my host brother who just started school this Monday. If my host sister is eating breakfast around the same time as me she will make an omelette for the both of us. My host younger host brother (Glendon) and I are the only ones who are currently attending school. My other three host siblings start school within month. 

As soon as I’m done with breakfast, I head off to school. The walk takes me between 15 and 20 minutes on the way to school and less than that on the way home (it’s up hill on the way to school). The past few days have been fun because all of the little kids started school on Monday so in the morning the streets are filled with kids on their way to school. We have to arrive at the SIT office between 7:30 and 8 when classes start. Every other morning we have French classes from 8:00-10:00. The other mornings we have either a Research Methods and Ethics class or one of our Thematic Seminars with a guest lecturer. After a short break at from 10 to 10:30 we continue with classes until noon. Somedays we have no afternoon classes and can stay at the office doing work, hanging out, or leave if we want. If we do have afternoon classes, they started again at 1:30 after a lunch break. In the afternoons, the office closes or classes end at 4:30 which is when I usually head home. 

Upon returning home, I say hello to my host family, change, and then start in on my homework. I usually sit in the living room which has the most space to work but can also be distracting because it doubles as the entry way so people are constantly passing through. The living room is also where the apartment’s best TV is so there is usually something on. We were warned ahead of time that we should not spend too much time secluded from out host families, even if working so sitting in the living room is my solution to that. Most Cameroonian families don’t eat all together but rather eat when they are hungry. At some point during the evening I serve myself some of the meal that the maid had prepared before leaving in the evening. If I finish with my homework on time, I sit with my family watching TV or chatting until I get too tired. I’ve found myself getting tired around 9pm most nights and going to bed between 10pm and 11pm. The constant French is very tiring and the later it gets the harder it is for me to follow conversations, TV shows, and even direct questions. Because so much TV is watched in my house I have gotten to know many more American TV shows, especially cartoons. I find the American and Japanese cartoon and children’s shows the easiest to follow but frequently, I can also follow the French reality show, soap operas, and game shows that are on. I’m definitely watching more TV than I have in my life here. 

I’m going to do my best to post everyday from now on even if it’s a few sentences here and there. This summer a friend of mine gave me the idea of sending a list of 5 things you did each day to the people you care about. It lasted all of two days for me this summer but I think I’m going to give it a try again. This whole blog post was basically a list of the things I do regularly so I plan to start the daily list tomorrow. 

On my way home from school. I take a right at the bottom of the hill by the turquoise building. The large rectangular building cross the valley, at the top of the hill is the President's house.

The front porch of the SIT office. Khalilah (Weslyan University) is sitting on the couch doing work.

Inside the SIT office. This is the main room that can be a hangout space, workspace, classroom, or whatever else you want. Marianna (Pomona College) is on the right side of the picture

Inside the SIT office.

The "Student's Room" inside the SIT office. There are two beds, mattresses, a computer, and a closet of supplies that previous students have left behind. Cora (Bates College) is sitting at the desk and Marianna is on the far bed.