Vignettes of Ebolowa

Wednesday night I was awoken by a storm, but the word “storm” doesn’t seem to do it justice. Think more along the lines of “deluvian downpour.” In my half-conscious state, I imagined two possible explanations for the aquatic roar: Either a team of strapping youths were pouring buckets of gravel on the roof, or the Abate residence had been magically transported across the Atlantic and directly underneath Niagara Falls.

Turns out, the house has a tin roof, and it’s the rainy season here in Cameroon.

chez la famille Abate

view of the chicken coop, fire pit, and wash area from the veranda

The whole family was watching the World Cup last night (Costa Rica versus Uruguay) when I had a startling revelation: My 28-year-old host sister is middle-aged. The average life expectancy in Cameroon is about 55 years, so if her life is to be average, it's already half-over.