I’ve now used up my time in Yaoundé for the moment and head west to Dschang. We rode in a plush bus for 5 hours through some absolutely gorgeous scenery. I was mesmerized by the paysage that speeded past my window. To sum it up in one word: green. I have never seen such a massive abundance of greenery that had a tendency to roll gently over les grands montagnes. It shrouded small homes made with mud bricks and aluminum roofing, a scene that sounds much more depressing on paper than in person. Many of the people appeared to be perfectly content as they were.
I’ve been noticing more and more, having been in Dschang for a few days now, how much more simple, pleasant and calm things are. I guess it’s the same in any town that is more country than city but I also question whether it’s possibly because there is simply more general agricultural wealth here than in Yaoundé. To put it simply: people can eat and eat well. In comparing to Yaoundé, a general, healthy lunch would cost us about 1500 CFA (about $3) but in Dschang, a similar meal would cost 500 CFA (about a $1) and often with much more fresh produce.
I also discovered how important eating healthy can be for one’s productivity in school. In Yaoundé, it took me awhile to get used to the extremely small (compared to my usual of eggs and toast or a few bowls of cereal) breakfast of white bread. This breakfast is not unusual for many households and Yaoundé, but I discovered quickly that my appétit made concentrating in the morning difficult sometimes. After awhile, I began to often supplement it with an orange or banana bought from a roadside vendor on my way to school, so it worked out. I have to admit though, when my host mother in Dschang came out with an omelette with tomatoes and peppers inside my first morning here, I about clicked my heels together in giddiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment