Events!

   There have been a couple of “events” this week that were lots of fun – and generated pictures that aren’t part of everyday life for me. 

                  On Friday, class 6 (the final year) of the primary school put on a presentation of Noah’s ark with puppets and stories.  An American woman has been helping them with English this term, and this was her brainchild.  She is a journalist by training, extremely creative – came with her husband who is a hand surgeon for 3 months here, and brought all sorts of puppets and musical instruments and other props to help with her teaching.  This is so different from the Cameroonian style of teaching which is by lecture and rote learning, right from the 1^st grade.  The kids have had a great time with Marsha, and the presentation was great too.  Since we have a deaf school here too, the deaf kids came over, and there is one picture showing a teacher signing for them.

 

                  Today was the wedding of George, our ortho nurse in OR, and Hilda who works in pharmacy.  It was sort of an OR party – the best man Amos is another of our nurses and the groomsmen were both anaesthetists – Julius my student, and Sande.  And most of the OR staff were there.  The wedding started just 15 minutes late – but it lasted almost 3 ½ hours in the church – and then food to follow.  Although the church was only 1/3 full when the wedding party entered, by the end of the service, it was overflowing.  The ushers deal with this by commanding people where they will sit, and shoving a large number of bodies into each bench.  I spent the last 2 hours of the time squished between two quite large people, fortunately both my friends, but it was still claustrophobic!  The fun part is the presentation of gifts – everyone sings,  with the drums of course, and all dance up the aisle to greet the bride and groom who also are dancing – the bride was just having a great time!  What a party!  We ended in the church by everyone singing (unaccompanied of course) "To God be the glory, great things He has done" - and the wedding party filed out.  Then there were multitudes of pictures – and then the food which the women had been cooking all yesterday and last night.  The logistics of making and transporting food for that huge crowd (at least 3 – 400 I am guessing) and have dishes – it’s mind-boggling to me.  It would be hard at home where we have facilities, and cars to carry things, and can rent dishes and have someplace to wash them for reuse if necessary.  The pictures will give you an idea of what it was like.  I had a wonderful time – they don’t have a lot here, but wow, do they know how to celebrate what’s good!

(Sorry - the pictures won't load where I want them to - so this is a bit disjointed)