It’s about status (pt. 2)

Made it to the PCV house in Yaoundé. Damn! Hot water, three bathrooms, washer and dryer! Movies. Yep, some taped, some retail; even saw a Blockbuster video in there somewhere. Oh boy, I’ll be looking forward to this visit. As soon as we got in we met four volunteers (I’m not good with names so I don’t remember everyone), Sheila, ??, Bethany and one other.

Sheila gave good information about making a visit to the North province. Originally we considered going there, but we’re not sure it will fit in the schedule. At least that was the original idea. But now after speaking to Sheila (who promptly suggested Akilah should be a good hostess), we’re considering making that trip.

That’s a twelve hour train ride, not on Amtrak either, in First or Second class. First class is 15000 CFAs and you will be either two or four to a private room. Second class is 7000 CFAs and you’re in a car that sounds similar to a bush taxi, in terms of the number of people.

It was good to talk to her, it was decent good information. Maybe if we head up that way we’ll get to stop past and see her post. Part of her conversation with Akilah began with discussing the rabbit she had for dinner with one of the young ladies who participated in her girls’ camp.

A few moments later we met and spoke to Richard. He’s a part of small business development. After seeing so many possibilities of business, ehm, capitalistic development, I wanted to know how certain things were done here.

One of the first questions was how does one do business development in Cameroon. Once asked, Richard was more than willing to share with us what he does and they types of individuals he works with. He, specifically, works with a bank he helped to start in Acunnilinga (don’t laugh, that’s really the name). In doing so, he works with entreprenuers and small businesses.

Based on some of his examples of clients he assisted, the problem here is that people are more interested in the social aspect of doing business or conducting their daily activities. As a result, some end up losing money and don’t really look at the “cost-benefit analysis” of their business. Do they even write business plans?

For instance, he has one gentleman who rents five fields and uses three. He was harvesting vegetables, and with his two employees, taking them to Yaoundé to sell. That means paying for transportation to and from Yaoundé, paying salaries and whatever other overhead there is.

He would bring in about 100000 CFAs a week; that’s 400000 CFAs a month. From what he said, not bad for a farmer. However, the guy was losing 3500 CFAs a month, and apparently wasn’t too worried because his financing was really good.

However, Richard worked with him and had him redevelop his business focus and determine the best way to rectify the loss. Instead of traveling to Yaoundé to sell his produce, he began selling to restaurants in his town. That was thirteen out of seventeen.

Business began to boom. He was now clearing about 400000 CFAs a week! But here’s the issue. Instead of keeping with it and expand on it, after three months he stopped. Why? Well apparently he’s the cheif of this group and since the group decided to merge with six other’s an purchase a truck to sell produce in Yaoundé, he wanted to do that.

Now of course to us it was like, why the heck don’t you want to keep running your business this way? You figure he paid off all of his past debts, paid off his children’s school fees and has a ton of new clothes. So why stop? The social aspect of course. From my point of view, it’s about status here. Well it is in the west also, but our status symbols seem to be directly related to money.

We also got good information on visiting Kribi from Serena. Since it’s her post she was able to give good information. She gave us a list of hotels that may be good stay or even to eat. Also gave a pretty good idea of the lay of the land.

She even told us this story of these “shrimper women” who cut off her water. She was refusing to pay her water bill (that’s a joke in itself) because they were charging her 50000 CFAs a month. Now don’t they know we’re in a country where water is cut off at will. Luckily in Foumban the water is coming on at noon everyday for the past week.

So instead of doing what some would do, she refused to pay the price and obvious bribe that would need to go with it. That’s good. They’re obviously trying to pull money from the “American.” Do they think we’re all made of dough?

Ran into Patty again, she’ll be leaving to go home to the states soon. Her mother and sister left a week or two ago. It’s funny, I’ve been here only a few weeks and already running into PCVs for a second or third time. In the states that would be a normal thing, but here? Not.

While at up typing and reading (we were supposed to be watching a movie) we met Bob and Mike he’s from the North province. The house is pretty full tonite, probably because there’s a training going on for the next stage. Quite a few of those here are from the North. That’s good, I’ll need to socialize and meet more.

It’s interesting listening to some of the PCVs sit around and talk. I’m sure I’m at least five to ten years older than most of them, so hearing they’re perspective on some things is pretty intriguing. Wonder how most of them will react in the states once they C.O.S.

Kribi:
Transcam gare
“vam cartier”

Illomba
Fiam Motel (PC discount)
Tower Plage Beach