Since
it has been more than 7 months since I moved into my new house here in
Buea, I thought I would give everyone a photo tour and update of my
house!
It’s more than a house now, it's become a home.
But now it's missing Monica Montalti.
It’s more than a house now, it's become a home.
But now it's missing Monica Montalti.
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Living Room/Parlor/Salon
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If
you take not of the shelves against the back wall – I was quite thrifty
and creative when making these. I needed more shelving space for my
YAN/teaching documents so I went to a local printing place and collected
empty boxes that used to hold paper. I stacked them ontop of each other
and VOILA! Shelves! I also plan on making a couple end table and a
center coffee table. Dad, aren’t you proud?
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That blue chair is the most comfortable chair in the world...
I am still figuring out how I will bring it home.
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Kitchin Sink!
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Stove with gas and my dishes/pots!
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Counter top and shelves of food/spices/dishes/etc
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Beautiful bedroom and built in wardrobe
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Bathroom
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This house is a real upgrade from where I was living in Uganda!
The biggest benefit is not only do I have (nearly) constant water
flowing from the tap but the water is safe to drink!! Except for the occasional cholera outbreaks…
After having a lengthy and somewhat heated discussion with a group of my male Cameroonian friends, I've decided to forgoe a bit of qualitative research in my spare time. This research will be focused around the perceived role, status, duties and quote-unquote "worth" of a woman as defined by Cameroonians.
Because I've studied development and because I have 1/4 of my brain working as an anthropologist (or so I would like to think) - all things are relative. We all have our own opinions on what is right and what is wrong, just and unjust, etc. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but its just that - an opinion. You can't make someone believe what you believe - they have to want to believe it regardless of you. You cant tell someone that something they have been doing for centuries is 'wrong' - they have to realize its wrong themselves. You can't try to change people - people need to want to change. It took me sometime to realize these things because I was so gung-ho on "women's rights" "women's empowerment" "gender equality". I was so blinded by my own idea of what the world needs to look like that I forgot there are others living on this planet - other people who have their own opinions for their own reasons.
The discussion which inspired my new research project went something like this --
I was at a very small local bar discussing with 4 Cameroonian male friends, 3 of whom I have known for quite some time.
Somehow they brought up gender roles. These men of course would not label it as that, but it was just that. They are talking about how the woman should be cooking, caring for children and cleaning and how they as men would only cook and clean if their wife is really sick. I tried to remain a fly on the wall because I was so out numbered and I foresaw this conversation going in circles. Sooner or later I chimed in. The discussion lead to "development".
Soon, what they were arguing was pretty much this :
Women are not oppressed here (in Cameroon), therefore you should not be doing anything to change the way it is - but you can and should be changing how women are treated in other parts of the world (eg: Muslim areas, certain traditions that they deem wrong like female genital cutting [FGC], etc).
They basically argue what I used to argue - if you think its wrong then its wrong and you should try to educate them and change it so that things are what you think they should be. Don't get me wrong, I am all for education, but my questions is - who is right and who is wrong. Because if you ask me honestly - women are oppressed here. Is it wrong? I won't say yes and I won't say no.
Bill Gates has released his annual letter for the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation.
Violence and political unrest has been increasing in CAR since I arrived last year. Thursday January 23rd, Catherine Samba-Panza was sworn in as the Interim President!! Read the full article here.
According to the United Nations, "As peacekeeping has evolved to encompass a broader humanitarian approach, women have become increasingly part of the peacekeeping family." Maybe this is just was CAR needs to obtain the peace its citizens deserve.
Here is a blog post I found which nearly perfectly describes me and my lifestyle choices.
As Matthew says, "I am running away from your idea of the real world."
After having a lengthy and somewhat heated discussion with a group of my male Cameroonian friends, I've decided to forgoe a bit of qualitative research in my spare time. This research will be focused around the perceived role, status, duties and quote-unquote "worth" of a woman as defined by Cameroonians.
Because I've studied development and because I have 1/4 of my brain working as an anthropologist (or so I would like to think) - all things are relative. We all have our own opinions on what is right and what is wrong, just and unjust, etc. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but its just that - an opinion. You can't make someone believe what you believe - they have to want to believe it regardless of you. You cant tell someone that something they have been doing for centuries is 'wrong' - they have to realize its wrong themselves. You can't try to change people - people need to want to change. It took me sometime to realize these things because I was so gung-ho on "women's rights" "women's empowerment" "gender equality". I was so blinded by my own idea of what the world needs to look like that I forgot there are others living on this planet - other people who have their own opinions for their own reasons.
The discussion which inspired my new research project went something like this --
I was at a very small local bar discussing with 4 Cameroonian male friends, 3 of whom I have known for quite some time.
Somehow they brought up gender roles. These men of course would not label it as that, but it was just that. They are talking about how the woman should be cooking, caring for children and cleaning and how they as men would only cook and clean if their wife is really sick. I tried to remain a fly on the wall because I was so out numbered and I foresaw this conversation going in circles. Sooner or later I chimed in. The discussion lead to "development".
Soon, what they were arguing was pretty much this :
Women are not oppressed here (in Cameroon), therefore you should not be doing anything to change the way it is - but you can and should be changing how women are treated in other parts of the world (eg: Muslim areas, certain traditions that they deem wrong like female genital cutting [FGC], etc).
They basically argue what I used to argue - if you think its wrong then its wrong and you should try to educate them and change it so that things are what you think they should be. Don't get me wrong, I am all for education, but my questions is - who is right and who is wrong. Because if you ask me honestly - women are oppressed here. Is it wrong? I won't say yes and I won't say no.
Stay tuned.. I am starting to work with my sister Hanna on
developing a short survey for men/boy and women/girls.
Bill Gates has released his annual letter for the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation.
Here he argues that the three major myths that block progress for the poor.
1. Poor countries are doomed to stay poor.
2. Foreign aid is a big waste.
3. Saving lives leads to overpopulation.
Take a look at what he has to say about this here.
WhAt Do YoU tHiNk??
I found a new amazing African artist!!
Brenda Fassie
Brenda
was an anti-apartheid South African Afropop singer. She was born in
1964 and died in 2004. Her bold stage antics earned a reputation for
"outrageousness". Affectionately called Mabrr by her fans, she was
sometimes described as the "Queen of African Pop". Check out her most
popular hits here:
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Reason number 52,594 why YOU need to travel:
you discover languages which have words that have no direct translation
in any other language - they are special words to describe very special
things.
This word makes me think of Father, my dear old friend Forrest Smith and Paul Gamache.
Lastly, I would like to send some positivity out to my neighbor, Central African Republic.
Violence and political unrest has been increasing in CAR since I arrived last year. Thursday January 23rd, Catherine Samba-Panza was sworn in as the Interim President!! Read the full article here.
According to the United Nations, "As peacekeeping has evolved to encompass a broader humanitarian approach, women have become increasingly part of the peacekeeping family." Maybe this is just was CAR needs to obtain the peace its citizens deserve.
