Last Days in Bamenda

Our time in Bamenda is rapidly coming to a close. Today Dave did a presentation about the GIS Software that GP has installed on their systems.  This brings to an end his tasks here (for now).  To learn more about the organization, check out their website:  http://www.gpderudep.org/
As I mentioned before, Friday I finished the first draft of the Nutrition and HIV/AIDS learner's manual for IDF. To learn more about them, check out their website: http://idfbamenda.wordpress.com/about/
Yesterday Matou hired a taxi for us and we travelled through various parts of Bamenda.  She showed me some of the projects her organization has been involved in over the last few years.  This included widen and paving roadways in the quarters (residential suburbs), replacing narrow earthen footpaths with wider paving stone walkways, replacing rickety log bridges with concrete ones, complete with handrails.  These projects improved the safety and accessibility of the neighbourhoods, which in turn improved people's attitudes about their neighbourhoods encouraging them to improve the appearance of their homes and yards and making room for small shops and roadside market vendors to pop up.
In the afternoon I went shopping.  Matou sent me out with a colleague to be sure I would get a fair price.  I wonder why?!
Today, while Dave was doing his final presentation, I had the opportunity to visit a secondary/high school. It was a huge school (grade 7 - 12), with over 4000 students and 200 staff.  I was given a tour of the whole campus, library, computer labs, science labs and classrooms.  I spoke with students and teachers and asked many questions. The class sizes are huge and resources are limited.  Thus all instruction is done lecture style with students taking careful notes.  Despite the infrastructure challenges, I was told that the students fare well on government exams. When I spoke with the students, I asked them what they knew about Canada.  The first answer is almost all classes was "Canada is a bi-lingual country".  That is important, as it brings a certain kinship between our two countries.
This evening we were taken out to an exclusive tennis club for a farewell dinner, for "the best chicken and chips in Bamenda."  Their reputation remained intact, as it definitely was a very delicious meal.  It is a fitting ending to our last full day in Bamenda.  Tomorrow we expect to go to Limbe (the ocean beaches), Douala and by Thursday evening we will be on our way - I will be returning home, Dave on to Laos.