Monday morning...after a busy weekend!

Good morning to all...Well, another Monday morning...I can not believe how time is flying here....Never a dull moment here. This past weekend was an eventful one. I did some work on Saturday and went out a bit at night. Sunday was full of events. The students at the high school do a thanksgiving celebration and yesteday was the day for that. John and I walked to school and arrived at about 9 am. The celebration began. The student choir sang.. ( I have to tell you...they were beautiful....listening to them brought chills to my soul). Then they proceeded to take each"form" (grade level) and they went outside to gather their gifts to present to God. Once they were ready, the choir would begin to sing and the drummer would go crazy on the bongos....the form of students would start dancing in a line and slowly enter the room carrying their gifts. Then, all of a sudden, they would go crazy with their dancing and the whole school began screaming, clapping and shouting....It was an incredible experience....very moving...I tried to capture it on my digital camera...video.....but, you would have to be here to get the full effect. AMAZING, that is all I can say.
The celebration lasted for about 3 hours. After is was over, I traveled back home and prepared to go to Limbe...It is a fishing town right on the Atlantic Ocean. The weather is starting to clear up so I decided to grab the chance and go to a favorite spot of mine---The ocean!
I went with a friend and he helped me with the taxis and buses...oh my...what a trip....the roads...the drivers...the crowded bus...the military men along side of the road....(who, by the way stopped us...) They are always looking for a way to make money off of people traveling...they let us pass..BUT...once again, I forgot to bring my passport. My friend advised me that from now on, I need to bring that with me...I could get into a situation where the military decide to ask me for money since I do not have my passport....I have lucked out 2 times and I should probably carry that with me from here on. I tend to live on the edge....what can I say. Any how....the ocean was beautiful....bath water temperature...beautiful waves....It was refreshing.....after the ocean, we went to dinner at the "Hot-Spot" restaurant that overlooks the ocean...We were there just in time to watch the sunset. The food was amazing....Bah fish from the ocean grilled....as usual...they give you the entire fish....but, they spare you the eyeballs....I am the sloppiest fish eater here...You should see how the Africans eat their fish...perfectly....down to the skeletal part....nothing left...they also eat or I should say, suck the head of the fish.....As I butchered my fish, my african friend had his fish so perfectly eaten....I laughed as he sucked the head of the fish....I took out my camera and just continued to take pictures of the process...it was fun and very educational...! Ha.....Ha......
By the time we left the restaurant, it was dark and rather late....we had to find a taxi and then find a bus to get back....Traveling at night here is always a risk....it can be dangerous due to the roads and the drivers....I sat in this bus....cramped and extremely HOT.....(you think that we have bad humidity in Chicago....come here.....usually 97% humidity.....IT IS HUMID....) So anyway, I am cramped in the back of this bus with about 12 other fellow africans....ok, I am not talking about a Bus-bus...I am talking about a minivan type vehicle....I am beginning to look at traveling in a very different way....it is an eye opener....I arrived home at about 9 pm....I was exhausted.....I slept like a baby.....
I awoke today to a beautiful day....the dry season is approaching....my throat is causing me some trouble....but, I talked to the assistant principle today and he said that it is very common to have some ailments like that when the wet season is leaving and the dry season is beginning.
I was all prepared to start my new unit on Bacteria...and once again....it is delayed for another day. The french teacher wanted to use my period to give her test. My co-operating teacher did not show up to school, so I walked over to his house to see if that was ok....I woke him up....He came to the door looking rather pale. I apologized for waking him and he explained to me that he was suffering from a fever...perhaps Malaria....I felt so bad for him....I wished him a quick recovery and asked him if he would be there tomorrow to watch me teach. He said that perhaps he would make it but, the students seem to feel very comfortable with me....so, we'll see if he shows tomorrow....I just pray that he does not have malaria.....many people get malaria often here......
So, as of today...I am starting my training...I plan to run up and down the main road each day....approximately 2 miles, so as to prepare for my trek up Mt. Cameroon. I am planning to do that in about 2 weeks...I will let you know how the running goes...it is a rather steep road....I hope that my stamina will hold up.....
Hope things are well back home.
Welcome Back Ida...hope you had a wonderful experience in Europe.
Thank you to all the rest of my dear friends that continue to communicate with me...it feels good.....
Take care and I send my love to all. Nancy~