January 2nd – Keeping an Eye on the Money
Good day, January 2nd. It’s always time to keep an eye on the money. Not so much in the sense of needing more, but understanding what money you actually need and where.
It turns out that Cameroon, Congo, and the Central African Republic all use the same currency — the CFA franc — which certainly helps. That means I need to withdraw enough money in Cameroon to cover my time in Congo, because the instrument I use to access funds, wise.com, does not work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That’s fine, as long as you know it in advance. At least I’m ahead of that one, I hope.
Bank Limits and Coffee Rewards
While sorting that out, I stopped by Maison du Café. There aren’t that many really good coffee places in Yaoundé that I’ve found — I’m sure there are more — but this is one of the better ones.
I was able to withdraw money from the bank, though they limit the amount you can take at one time. That’s how they justify the higher fees. In this case, the limit was 300,000 CFA. You can always come back the next day for more.
After that, I enjoyed a nice omelette and a good cappuccino. That definitely makes the day. I don’t think I’m addicted to coffee, but I sure do like it.
Finding a Home Near DOVV
I had been communicating with someone I met on the 31st — where the Nescafé machine was — and had been invited to their home. The hospitality here continues to amaze me.
All I needed to do was find their house. I had a street name and knew it was close to DOVV, basically a supermarket. But those things aren’t easy to locate, even with Google Maps. It took some investigation, but I eventually found a nearby point. Once I was close, I contacted them and they came to guide me the rest of the way.
Building a Life, One Floor at a Time
The man came with his daughter to meet me and rode back with me to their house. They’ve lived there since 2004, but the house has been built gradually over time.
It’s not a matter of getting a mortgage, building a complete house, and moving in. They started small, with no children, and expanded as the family grew. They still have space to add a second floor. The house and the family have grown together.
His wife is a teacher, and they have four children. The oldest daughter has been studying mechanical engineering for two years and hopes to complete the next two years in France. It’s remarkable how many people have connections to Europe or the United States. It really is a worldly world these days.
Wrapping Up Before Dark
I truly enjoyed my visit — the conversation, the food, the warmth of the family. As it started getting closer to dark, I knew it was time to wrap up so I could return while it was still mostly light.
That visit really made the day. Early nights are good when you’re traveling the way I do.
Thanks for coming along, and we’ll see you next time.
