Translation: We have landed in Cameroon. Bushfaller is a term for any foreigner who visits Cameroon (and possibly anywhere in Africa) or a natural born who has gone to Europe or US and come back after sometime...I consider myself the latter. HA!
We made it safely! After a long layover in Paris, we took off for Douala and arrived around 7pm Tuesday. We ate some fufu and arrow and slept at the Saffana Hotel. THe next day, traveling through Douala was difficult. We sat in traffic for about 2 hours - a delay caused by a bridge closure. A 12-inch diameter waterline burst right in the middle of the main bridge crossing the Wouri River which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. I know this because I saw the old section of pipe on the road as we passed. Luckily, the paving restoration was almost complete. It was created a great disturbance in the flow of traffic through the most populous city in Cameroon.
Once we arrived at the moto park, something like a bus station, we hopped on a bus piled high with our luggage and some other goods including a dining room table and chairs and were off to Kumba. Along the road we were stopped by police who kept one small girl when she could not produce her school ID. After some arguments and shouting, we were on our way and arrived in Kumba by 3pm. The road from Douala to Kumba was recently paved. 2006 travel time was 5+ hours. 2010 time (less police stop) was about 2 hours. The roads have not changed in Kumba, however.
We immediately went to the pitch where many of the board of directors were anxiously awaiting our arrival. We got started by discussing the format for the football part of the sessions and then played a small match. Afterwards, we moved to the Cameroon coordinators house (no apostrophe on this keyboard) where we shared a wonderful meal together of corn fufu (starch base), ndole (wonderful vegetable), doudou (fried plantains), boiled plantains, and catfish in tomoato sauce (bomb). After we discussed a bit about the future of the program, touching on the training sessions, youth camps, and the months to follow. I can see the board of directors are dedicated to the mission of CFDP and will be the backbone of a successful program.
We made it safely! After a long layover in Paris, we took off for Douala and arrived around 7pm Tuesday. We ate some fufu and arrow and slept at the Saffana Hotel. THe next day, traveling through Douala was difficult. We sat in traffic for about 2 hours - a delay caused by a bridge closure. A 12-inch diameter waterline burst right in the middle of the main bridge crossing the Wouri River which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. I know this because I saw the old section of pipe on the road as we passed. Luckily, the paving restoration was almost complete. It was created a great disturbance in the flow of traffic through the most populous city in Cameroon.
Once we arrived at the moto park, something like a bus station, we hopped on a bus piled high with our luggage and some other goods including a dining room table and chairs and were off to Kumba. Along the road we were stopped by police who kept one small girl when she could not produce her school ID. After some arguments and shouting, we were on our way and arrived in Kumba by 3pm. The road from Douala to Kumba was recently paved. 2006 travel time was 5+ hours. 2010 time (less police stop) was about 2 hours. The roads have not changed in Kumba, however.
We immediately went to the pitch where many of the board of directors were anxiously awaiting our arrival. We got started by discussing the format for the football part of the sessions and then played a small match. Afterwards, we moved to the Cameroon coordinators house (no apostrophe on this keyboard) where we shared a wonderful meal together of corn fufu (starch base), ndole (wonderful vegetable), doudou (fried plantains), boiled plantains, and catfish in tomoato sauce (bomb). After we discussed a bit about the future of the program, touching on the training sessions, youth camps, and the months to follow. I can see the board of directors are dedicated to the mission of CFDP and will be the backbone of a successful program.
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