last stop in limbe

we are back in the anglophone region, with english keyboards, a pain now after so much time with a differently placed A and M and period key and numbers. that will be the easy side of cultural readjustment.
so, left ISP which was sad enough, then leaving dschang was equally rough, after a short short few days with the original family. presentations were all interesting and so important for each person. they also marked the end of any academic work here in country. i helped cook on monday, really for the first timem doing some legumes and tomato sauce stuff. then monday night was the farewell banquet, with students and a few family members each. there were some short thank you speeches, delicious food, and a little dancin, then it was back home to pack sleep and depart. leaving tues morn was really sadm being the end of our cameroon homestays and the final goodbye to our longest family. i was so certain that i'd return, in part to reassure myself while leaving these people who had been family to me. that i do plan to do in a few years.
then it was off to beach paradise of limbe, a bit more touristy than kribi. people decided to sleep on the beach side in tents (why? not enough logic), which hasnt been quite comfortable enough. wed and thurs we spent hiking mount cameroon though, the largest peak in west and central africa, at 4095 meters. but we couldnt make it to the top due to weather and difficulty. it was rough enough getting to 2800 meters and spending a cold night camping though. legs are def sore today after the descent.
so the beach is lovely, black volcanic sand and all. today we spent some time in town, ate some great grilled fish, calamari, and shrimp, and are waiting on dinner soon enough.
everyone is sad to be parting so soon (just two days), but this touristy thing is a nice group send off and lets us unwind and hang for a bit. def i am scared about going home, leaving behind this whole incredible influential experience, jumping out of cameroonia life to go back the US. hopefully it will go smoothly enough. sunday is the flight out of douala. we'll have some time to see the economic capital before getting on the late night flight. i need to also take the time to iron out my air france changes though. then its paris and then NYC for a night with sis, then home to MD the next day (tues, 15th), for the "normal" life again.
wooooo.... to be back, such a burden..