My Host Family

We all slept in for the first time today. I got up at ten and went to the chicken and beer place to purchase some bottled water so that I could brush my teeth. It was really nice walking around for a little bit by myself. I got a lot fewer stares. There was a truck unloading cases of coca cola (served in glass bottles here which are returned and refilled) and the men who were unloading the truck said hello and asked how I was. They probably said some other things too, but I didn’t understand. I walked to the back where the shop is and picked up a case of water. Before I could pay for it, the guy in the shop (who, by the way, was wearing an orange tshirt (like the telephone company) pointed at my leg and said something in French. I responded with confusion before looking at my leg and realizing there was a dark black shoe print on my calf. Clearly I didn’t shower before leaving the house. I told him “Je sais pas,” paid, and left with the water.
Later, I took an amazing shower. The shower in my bathroom is broken, or something else is wrong with it, but only a trickle of water will come out ever. I went to Liz and Zeus’ bathroom to shower and there was water pressure! I felt so clean afterwards it was amazing. We all lounged around the house until about five o’clock when the host families showed up. We then went to sit outside with them. My host mother and I had some confusion trying to figure out who the other was, but once we did, all was well. My host father showed up ten or 15 minutes later, and he was quite a site! He was wearing a slightly oversized suit with a sort of silvery-pewter sheen, a lilac shirt, a royal blue tie, and gold-framed glasses. As soon as he sat down at the table and introduced himself to me, he whipped out his iPhone. I thought he was great. Both him and my host mother are from the foot of Mount Cameroon and when I asked if we could climb it, they said yes! So, that will definitely happen. I have three host brothers, and three host sisters. I have no idea how old they are, but I do know that at least two of them are under ten. We spent some time discussing family size after this when I remarked that this was a lot bigger than my family at home where I have only one brother and one sister. They told me that in Africa, there are farms and you must have many children to work on the farm. (He then told me he was kidding about this, but I’m not so sure.) His neighbors are also hosts to Dickinson students. His neighbor said that he had known one man with twelve wives who’d had 48 children. This was a lot. I said yes that I agreed. I countered that with my great grandfather had thirteen kids with the same wife. They were impressed. When we started talking about religion, I learned that they are Jehovah’s Witness. That should be interesting. I walked them to their car later to say goodbye. They drive a white SUV.
The rest of the night has consisted of reading and talking about our host families. Cameroon is awesome!