Bamenda

Bamenda is in the english-speaking region of Cameroon, north of dschang by about 2 hours. SIT went there to study the minority population of anglophones, most of whom spek mostly pigdin (like creole for english). here are some handy phrases to use if you're ever in bamenda:

your name na who? my name na julia.
whatee you wan do for be in bamenda? (why are you in bamenda?)
i de study french.
wusai dem de sell wrappas? (where can i buy fabric/pagnes?)
i cam buy many wrappa fine plenty (i have come to buy many nice pagnes.)
you wan go chop? (want to get something to eat?)
burnin in de mop! (this food is spicy!)

bamenda is bigger than dschang, and much busier. i had my first marriage proposal from the man selling fake rolexes on the sidewalk. i tend to get a lot of comments like "my wife my wife!" and "take me to america", it might have to do with the hair...

we met with john fru ndi, the chairman of the leading opposition party of the RPC, paul biya's group. it was definitely an experience. we also talked to the political group that wants to secede from cameroon as an independent english-speaking nation. there were some pretty heated discussions -- i didnt realize how big of a deal it was. another day with another perspective.

its nice to be back in dschang with another load of pagnes under my arm. off to my first match de foot this afternoon -- the town's team is playing a neighboring town. it should be exciting!