KMER 09 – Thoughts.Reflections.Experiences – Weeks 8,9,10 (Sept 7th – 24th) Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 3:46pm
• Work has started officially, and I’m now going on the regular basis to work. i.e. Waking up by 7:00am, leaving the house by 7:45am, to be at work between 8:00am – 8:30am.
• The internet is painfully slow at work. I swear, it’s even worse than in Cybercafes. Didn’t know that was possible!
• Waow! I’ve been meeting so many interesting people here man. Like the other intern here, he came from Germany to intern for one month. But this dude, he’s been working on stuff I’ve always been passionate about. He graduated from the University of Yaounde with a Bachelors in African literature . He’s studied authors, literature, and works from Sub-Saharan Africans, Carribeans, Maghreb, African Americans… So you can imagine how rich our discussions are… He masters the history of the Nubian Empire, studied Egyptology, is an ardent student of Cheick Anta-Diop, and currently he’s studying theology, and demonstrating how the Judeo-Christian beliefs have been greatly shaped by African traditions and Ancient (black) Egypt practices.
• Today, most religions adopt a very traditional, conservative, yes-to-everything attitude. The number one code of conduct in most religions and denominations is to NOT question the “Truths” that are being told to you. They try to numb the intellectual self. The natural critical analysis skills we all have in us. Once you start raising questions with religion, you are automatically tagged as an unbeliever, a blasphemer, trying to cause mutiny. But I say, any doctrine/religion absolutely sure about their beliefs must be willing to face questions and criticism.
• Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding.
• Writing is a very therapeutic experience. You phrase your thoughts into words. The abstract becomes concrete. Writing helps slow down the ping-ponging between your thoughts in your mind, you emerge out of it, liberated from the chaos in your brain.
Saturday:
• It’s incredible how it takes only one day, or a couple hours, for someone to read you. Not just the physical/upfront you, but the person you truly are and the one you aspire to be. Someone did that to me today. He read me. My deep emotions, my drive, the core of my character…basically describing me the way I feel about myself, all in the span of just a couple hours discussing. I was stunned. Mind you, he never knew me before, and he’s definitely not a psychic. He’s just a great leader and a manager that has learned how to deal with people, has studied the art of body language, and is definitely gifted with human-relations skills. One of the most interesting person I’ve met in the past 2 months… ok, I won’t make that statement yet… You never know!?
• It’s so adorable to see my older brother (Krystian) being overprotective of me. U know? He was like, “u know men, they have so many games, especially older guys, they read young girls like you and try to exploit you… they are champions at playing tricks, etc.” U know, he doesn’t want to give the benefit of the doubt to any man approaching me. lol. No free points. It's great though to have an emotional (and physical) bodyguard. Can't complain!
Sunday:
• Just came back from church, and I walked, actually I trrreeekeed back home. Hmmm…… this Cameroon, I’m telling u, can play with ur last nerve, but mannnn… the situation is so ridiculous it’s funny to me. Can u imagine they blocked the roads all over the city because there is the soccer finale today at 4pm? It’s 2:50pm as I’m writing, and the roads have been blocked since 8:00am. On a Sunday, church day. Mind u the roads are not just blocked around the periphery of the stadium, they are blocked one mile around the stadium. At all meeting points, and cross sections… we had to get out of the car and walk; I mean trek! In this hot sun-scorching weather, with heels on my feet, it was infernal. But me, alongside my little cousin and a girl friend of mine, embarked on the 5km journey that would get us home. I couldn’t feel sorry for myself though, cause everyone was walking, older woman three times my age. Grandmas, walking up the staunch hill of “Montee Manguier”, then going down the steep hill of Etoudi… man… As I was trekking I was shaking my head, thinking how ridiculous the situation was, then I started laughing at how ridiculous the situation was, then I was mad tired. We finally found a cab, that picked us up, and saved us 1.5 km of trekking.
• For real, when you think about all this backward ways of dealing with people… really, how can someone immobilize an entire population for an entire day to ensure his single security? How can a leader, someone voted in for Public SERVICE, be so scared of his people? It’s pathetic!
Monday:
• Rough day today, rough day! And I’m in a terrible mood. I hate being in this mood. It tastes a little bit depressive, it tastes kinda lonely… and it’s hard to snap out of it. It’s an addictive mood. Moments like this I want to disappear, go somewhere, evade from the moment, just for a while, before coming back. But God is good, He watches over me, and He’ll help me snap out of it. He always does.
• Life has ways of sinking down your spirit. Drain the energy out of you… But I’m a winner, and winners never quit.
Tuesday:
• I thank the Lord for the clean restrooms at my work that don’t smell bad
• I try my best to keep a poker-face, but it seems like all my emotions are spelled out on my face: In my twinkling eyes , in my tight-repressed smile that would’ve been a blush if I was white, in my fidgeting with my hair… lol. I’ma stop here, before it becomes Too Much Information, if it hasn’t yet. Lol.
• OMGGGG, I just had the creepiest and most primitive declaration of love in my entire life! Long story short… this man told me he has “animalistic impulses” whenever he sees me; and if given a chance he’ll devour me like a gazelle. What the Hell??? The rest of the story was too verbally explicit, for my PG-Journal. The details will (unfortunately for my innocent mind) remain in my mind forever.
Thursday:
• You know there’s no jurisdiction for children here in Cameroon. My collegue at UNICEF and myself are making a research on this. We met a magistrate to speak about this issue, and we asked her the following questions: o Is there a jurisdiction for children in Cameroon?
- Are there Judges for children? How’s the prison universe for children in Cameroon?
- How are children who are incarcerated reinserted/reintegrated in society?
- The responses to these questions were mostly “Nos.” There’s no jurisdiction for children here, there are no judges for children no juvenile, children are placed in prisons with adult -> therefore are highly exposed to more abuse from adults… there’s no systeme/infrastructure to reintegrate children who were in prison into society…
I mean, there’s A LOT to do for children in prisons in Cameroon. They 
are at the rock bottom of the social ladder. They are forgotten, ignored and neglected. Society has given up on those kids. Thus, they are the most vulnerable of the vulnerable.
are at the rock bottom of the social ladder. They are forgotten, ignored and neglected. Society has given up on those kids. Thus, they are the most vulnerable of the vulnerable.• Now, I know many people will say, You are in Africa, what do you expect, you can’t bring European models to Africa. But let me first say this: It’s that kind of reasoning that will stop us from advancing: To accept the unacceptable, to settle for mediocrity, to refuse to aim for higher heights. To those who have made that statement, I told them NIGER, which is even a poorer African country than Cameroon, reformed their system. And it didn’t start from no where. It started with people denunciating injustices, and trying to implement solutions for the betterment of those who can’t fight for themselves.
Saturday:
• Let’s talk religion here: I believe all we know in this life is what we choose to believe is true. When you are a Christian, you decide to have faith in Jesus Christ, and you trust him as being your Lord and savior. When you are a Muslim you choose to have faith in Allah and Prophet Mohammed his Servant, when you are Hindu you choose to worship many variations of one God. Now, what right, what authority do we, as individuals have to judge others? To say what the others are doing/who the others are worshipping is wrong? It might be wrong from our point of view, but that’s certainly not universal truth? Everyone is convinced what they are doing is the right thing, and because of ignorance(and even self-righteousness) we automatically think others are not doing the wrong thing. I feel with most religions, in order to justify their beliefs and principles, they use the “exclusivity” card. Only them are eligible for the goodness of “heaven”, they are the chosen ones, they are the righteous ones…. This thinking, these dogmas that have been planted in our brains from the tender age, limits our understanding of the world at large.
- That’s why I repeat that, for me, “I do not find fault in what I don’t understand.” For example, Jehovah witnesses usually are tagged as weird religious persons. But unless I study this religion, I discuss with some of their followers; I cannot make any judgment about it. Same with things like “voodoo.” Voodoo has such a negative connotation, and there are so many stories about it, but I cannot make any judgments about it because I really don’t know much about it. I refrain myself from making statements based on hear-says, or perceived bizarreness of things. At the end of the day, my moral barometer is love. I make objective criticisms on religions based on the love they promote in it.
- At the end of the day, we are all human beings and no matter what we choose to believe in, we should be rated by our character. Not our religious beliefs, not our intellectual beliefs, but by our character. And beyond character, the degree of our love towards each other.
Please save us from your westernised, adopted philosophical interpretation of everything african. We are who we are and you have to make up your mind who you really are. Confused? maybe. Next you gonna tell us how your Dad doesn't wear deordorants. As if masking the natural body odor with a cancinogen makes you a civilised person. Get a grip.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard Europeans talking about the ills of their society including racism and all. Better yet, can you imagine Asians women----in America and elsewhere--- disparaging their culture and traditions back in Asia. Never. Learn to be more prudent and positively consequential. Despite what you think, you have a long way to truely understand the forces in play here.
Roads are blocked in the US when national security calls for including presidential visits. I am no fan of the president in cameroon but coup D'etas in Africa are very real unlike in the west and the destabilisation to the entire country can be very enomous. Your blog not only comes across as an entry into a diary of a missionary but also as if it were some naive class room project. Learn to apply the knowledge you have learnt, then you can truely call yourselve educated. Beware of strangers and don't write about your country in so many negative ways. The African perception throughout the world is a negative one. Please do not add to that. There are other models to development and Westernization is not the only form. Your Blog also raises a problems particularly with so called Educated African women. The lack of Malls around Yaounde may be a good thing. Use that time to maybe secure a Husband. This is the best time for you to make healthy babies. Don't be fooled. Unlike what you have been told and probably what you aspire to become, raising healthy children is the most rewarding thing for women. White women have known this for a long time. Don't belief the hype.
I am sorry if my comments were blunt and unexpected. The things you say are too important to remain silent. Try and be proactive. There are somethings you just don't say ----dirty and smelly toilets etc ----as if being in a western country is like being in paradise. If you care so much please work to improve those conditions. If you miss Europe so much please go back. I doubt very much they want you back. The word Africa is seen as a dirty word around the world, please do not contribute to more negativity.
ReplyDeleteConcerning Jurisdiction for children, you and your friend at the UNICEF could put your time to better use by doing something more productive. Last week, the supreme court in the US was grapling with that same issue. More than 75% of juvenial offenders accused of murder are judged as adults including children as old as 11 years old. If a child as old as 11 years could be tried as an adult in murder cases alone, it tells me that it is a jugment call and a political decision at best with nothing to do with juvenile juriprudence. Thus if a rich country with more than 200 years of independence hasn't gotten it right what do you expect from poorer ones. And if you belief that the Niger experience--- a very poor country --- operates with practicality, very few people will ascept such a premise. If you do not take pride in your African heritage, let me recommend this book " it takes a Village " by Hilary Clinton. Belief it or not more and more people appreciate the way the African community functions especially the way we raise our kids. Why not you? Jurisdiction or juriprudence for children is a non issue. Maybe Psychiatry is what you ought to be writing about.
My anonymous friend, I think you need to arm urself with love and understanding. In all your comments you only highlighted all the things I said you thought where negative. You know, you can tell more about someone by what he says about others than by what others say about him. Your very negative and crude comments comes off as an angry, frustrated, African who spills the vile of his anger and frustration on everything he sees. lol. You are entitled to your opinion, and here's mine: I think we shudn't give any one sided face of Africa. If you are on facebook, joun my group: Africa is also Joy, Love and Warmth.
ReplyDeleteI don't know you, but I love you. I encourage you to let your positive energy radiate, rather than your negativity. As you let your light shine, you will liberate yourself from your anger and frustrations. I wish you could send me a private message (olivia.mukam@gmail.com) so we can have a better debate. It comes off as coward and malicious when you right such a message in anonymity.
Hope to speak to u later. :-)
Keep Loving, Keep giving, and Keep Blessing.
Dear Friend, I ascept your challenge for a debate but unlike you I think this forum is the best place for that. It may offer many more the opportunity to join in the debate, becoming a teachable moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the love and if I must say, it wasn't easy to criticise such a loving and perhaps giving person. Nevertheless the issues here are too important to ignore. If you think I am angry and Frustrated, I will only ascept that as a code of honour if my Love for Africa and Cameroon and the problems therein, is the basis for such conflicts.