typical day

okay, being that it is difficult to really communicate how things go over here, i'll try to give a detailed account of my everyday existence.
wake up at 650, usually before though, due to roosters crowing around the neighborhood or loud family members or a loud radio in the next room. people get uip early here, for sure. then i make my way to the bathroom, handle some business, flush the toilet by pouring down water from a bucket. then i gotta transfer water from the big bucket into a smaller and take my cold bucket shower. i feel pretty clean over here so far, which is nice. my towel needs washing though, it stinks. go back to my room and change into whatever not quite clean outfit, then go to the kitchen to eat breakfast of french bread and nescafe. usually no one is out there with me - either sleeping or gone already (im not even sure). say a few goodbyes then leave the house at 730 to walk to class/the SIT program at the university. i usually walk with diana who lives further down the road than me. we pass many people walking to work or school and plenty of motos. the road is all paved, and we get to enjoy an excellent view or inhabited mountains. the walk is downhill and takes about 30 minutes walking at an american pace. if we're late we are supposed to pay 50 francs (10 cents). i am strongly against this punishment thing.
there are 3 class sessions during the day. either french (in groups of 3-4 along with a prof, sit outside), or full group lectures on specific topics. during lunch break from 12 to 130, well split into (still changing) groups and walk into town to go to a restaurant or bakerie and get something. usually costs about 1.50 to 4 bucks to eat, even at restaurants. the walk to and from most places in town is about 20 minutes. classes end at 3:30 typically, unless we have to watch a movie or do something else.
after class, i might hit up the internet cafe back in town, do some work at the sit office in town, buy necessities or walk home. ive been getting home around 530 on average. i have to knock at the gate and someone lets me in. to clarify, i live alone with my cam family, and each student is in a different home. the families all speak only french. once home, ill set down my things and change into sandals. i then do any number of things - homework (french essay or project or something), play with darlene, talk with family members, or watch tv. dinner is usually at 8, and my family is unique in that most of the members eat together, except Papa, who eats later usually. the tv is on during dinner. i help set and clear the table. after dinner, always take my malaria pill, and might do work or watch tv. i try to get to bed before 10.
in all cameroon, traffic is crazy and crossing the street can be an adventure. you usually walk on a semi-paved sidewalk or on the side of the road to avoid the dust. dust on dirt roads is annoying, but fortunately, i spend little time on them.
bugs are not a big issue, but they exist. plenty of flies during the day, but they hardly bother you (make no noise, cant feel them land). at home, bugs are not an issue, maybe because my house is quite nice. live animals around town can be interesting or annoyinga. chickens and goats are very common, marked with some symbol of ownership, but let free to wander. there is a goat family that i pass each morning and afternoon near my house.
lotsof people around town always, and many stare at the whities. since everyone walks, it is the case.
so life for me is relatively comfortable. other people have it much worse, with a hole to go in, less electricity, and nasty bugs. i hope to not downgrade too much during my homestay in ngoundere.
so that is my life...