Finally and Update From Yaounde

This marks the third time Ive tried to write this update – slower than slow connection, very well timed electrical outage, and inability to reach that Wesleyan server have held me back. This should go through and I should be content finally.
Its been a while since last I reported from Yaounde. Well, everything goes great with the ISP and family life and all. I understand more and more why past students have said ISP is the best part of the semester. Since last whenever, I’ve had interviews with 4 big party reps, done some internet research stuff, and been handling my business like I need to. Ive also spent some time and money at the artisan shops here. A weakness of mine, though it was through a artisan vender that I made contact with the UDC party.
So I think its good to further explain my project exactly. It’s the ISP, which is the final paper everyone does for the program, on whatever topic, a month of research, about 30 to 40 pages in length. So mine is about multipartyism in Cameroon, which was first introduced in the 92 elections, but really hasn’t developed into full fledged democracy so far. The ruling party has kept majority power by party weaknesses as well as electoral fraud. So I’m out to do an evaluation of the system today. There was an extremely relevant article (“Multipartyism and Democratization in Cameroon”) I found from ‘98 which detailed the system as of then, in a project quite like mine. So I’m taking theory from that about the nature of opposition parties and am going to compare my findings with the authors, who criticizes the opposition parties for the lack of democratic progress. So firstly, I’m interviewing each major party to find out their platform and their interactions with each other. Then I’ll incorporate some analyses of the other factors working to undermine opposition party strength.
The basic analysis is that some parties are usefully radical, but are too regional or weakened by elections and ethnic differences to truly effect change. Then others don’t offer a platform truly different from the govts, and are even incorporated into the ruling structure, thus bringing into question their oppositional status. All parties match up to a distinct ethnic and regional base, but none seems primed to challenge the power structure. Then its about electoral fraud, the politics of ethnic differences and tribalist practices, then foreign intervention, which all hurt democracy here.
So those are my interests and activities. I’ve been strolling into major party buildings in the city and finding someone informed to interview. I hit the UPC Monday, UDC Tuesday, UNDP Thursday, and the CPDM (party of power) today. I need to get back to the SDF to do a formal interview with the same questionnaire. I’m at the half way point timewise, and am thus sitting pretty well. This weekend shall be break, to be detailed further in this entry.
Family life goes well. No one is much around during the week, since both parents get home late, but I too am usually out the whole day too. I cooked last Saturday – all American style meatloaf and mashed potatos. They liked it I think, though ingredients and such can be difficult in Cameroon. The touristy grocery stores in Yaounde helped, and in all it came out decently well. I also gave out the homestay gifts which went well. Its more exciting knowing they haven’t experience the white student homestay before. This weekend, as in early tomorrow, I’m off to the village with the two parents till Sunday. Their from Bana, which is near Bafang, which is in the West province, same as Dschang. Its about 5 hours from here. So that will be a fun cultural experience mehopes.
Personally, I’ve struggled with conjunctivitis of late, though I’m back in contacts for the second time. Hopefully that is all finished. I’ve been sleeping plenty though, given the looser schedule and active at night household. And Ive been eating a lot of eggs, cooking breakfast for myself everyday. There are plenty at the house though, since mama bought 150 last Wednesday, of which about 50 remain. Coffee, canned meat, and mangos have also been on the menu of late.
Taxi taking started out as a huge pain, but I’m getting used to it now. Basically, cabs pass and you say where, perhaps offer a price if its far or your pressed, then they either take you or don’t if they are headed the same direction. Three in back, from time to time, 2 passengers in the passengers seat in front. I miss the ease of New York cabs, where its illegal to refuse fares. But, you cant beat the price here – equiv of 40 cents, 1 buck for the long trips across town.
So everything goes well. I hope to enjoy the village this weekend, and hopefully interviews and research will continue all well.