Back to Africa – Douala first impressions
Douala is not the same as when I left it over twenty years
ago. The city has sprawled, rather than grown upwards; what used to be almost
countryside, is now covered with construction, unfortunately mostly without any
design process. Architects are perceived to be expensive, so any neighborhood,
sometimes self-proclaimed draftsperson, will do the job of drawing up a building
and finding a way to obtain a building permit (or not).
Almost every square inch of sidewalk is taken up by tiny businesses.
There is so much unemployment that it is totally understandable, and I salute
the young person with a technical degree in electronics selling peanuts from a
wheelbarrow. He is trying to make a living on his own, rather than sit home and
ask for funds.
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| Motorcycle rider with bags of bread |
Motorcycles are everywhere, and beware when you cross the street. The bus agency closed years ago, and now motorcycles are many people's preferred mode of public transportation: inexpensive, and they can squeeze through traffic jams. Of course there is, it seems, a section of the hospital, just for motorcycle injuries. You'll find mom, dad, and two kids on a motorcycle; a vendor juggling a basket of wares on their head; another with two large bags of bread, one on each shoulder.
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| A colorful note of whimsy |
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| Douala's favorite dish: N'dole |
As the spouse of a Duala, himself born and raised here, and having lived here for over a
decade, I am happy to return, despite the challenges and the ever-tenacious
insects (especially the mosquitoes). It is not easy to be the lone pale face;
everyone notices you, and little kids stare. Fortunately, you can also make a
crying child smile, just by waving to them, as they are not expecting it!
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