January 1st, 2026 – A New Year Begins
Good day. January 1st, 2026. Well, a new year coming up. It’s off to a good start in a very fascinating place. Hopefully things keep happening in a good way.
An Invitation from Stephen
This time, Stephen, the night person at the hotel, made contact. I’m not sure when he slept, really, but he suggested that I come to his house and meet a few more relatives. I’m open to that kind of thing.
He gave me the location of a store, and I was able to figure that one out. I was going to call him, but that was the rusty part — my internet calling wasn’t working as well as I’d like. I made some effort with roombas.com, hoping that would do the trick. Sure enough, when I arrived at the location, there was no need to call him — he was already there.
Life on the Hillside
Stephen drove us further up the hillside to where we needed to go. It was very fascinating and intense living — homes nestled below a steep hillside, and above them, no houses, just one large building that seemed completely out of place.
A group of people had gathered there. We had a beer, some barbecue, and I saw the system that powered the music. It was a simple hangout, but lively and welcoming.
Meeting the Family
Eventually, we made it to Stephen’s house and I met many of his relatives. There was some food called ajjaj, which I tasted. I can’t quite describe it, but it was good for a taste.
Two of his brothers were there as well. One is a security guard. Another, Simon, was visiting, and Christian had traveled 380 kilometers on his own to spend a few days. Christian is a tomato farmer with major responsibilities — the father of nearly eight children, with one more on the way — and he’s 48 years old.
Connections Across Continents
We didn’t converse a whole lot, but just meeting everyone was meaningful. It also struck me how everyone seems to have a connection to someone on another continent. At one point, a girl living in Belgium called, and she spoke Flemish — or Nederlands — quite well.
So there I was, sitting in someone’s house in Cameroon, hearing Dutch spoken on the phone. It’s crazy how small the world can feel.
Back to the Hotel
Afterwards, Stephen rode along with me for a bit, and I dropped him off before heading back to the hotel. It’s been an okay place to stay. I’ve been making early nights and just keeping on cracking.
Thank you so much for coming along — or for coming along.
