Cameroonians are very kind, generous, polite, and friendly people. They greet you when they cross paths with you and if you stop in to see someone, even a nurse at the nurses station or someone in the administrators office they ask how you slept and how your day is going and sometimes how your family is doing. We shake hands often here, and when someone is going out of their way to show respect or honor they hold their own forearm while they shake your hand. I enjoy this tradition. Strangely, when I was in Vietnam I experienced something very similar. When people there give you something, even if it’s just a receipt, they often touch their forearm or hand as they give it to you. How amazing that Vietnam and Cameroon developed a very similar tradition of respect and yet are so far away!
The Cameroonians in general are also very laughter-filled people. They love joking and laughing and smiling. One of the nurses even commented the other day and said, “Doctor Racquel, you are very serious today!” as I was examining a chart and focusing intently. I love that about the people here and I am trying to let that habit rub off on me. There are certainly things about the way daily schedules and other things that I prefer the “American way”, but I think true laughter would help fix a lot of the problems we have in the States.
Monday through Friday we have daily chapel with all of the staff which is one of my favorite times. This is a Baptist hospital and that is more than just a history – it affects daily happenings. We arrive to chapel at 6:40 and sing a song, have a message from one of the chaplains, hear announcements for the hospital happenings, and are sent onto our days. The music is so lovely! We don’t have any instruments other than bongos and a shaker and of course the human voice! With every single song we sing, often without lyrics/music, the whole room erupts into 4 part harmony. My soul is made happy. So happy, in fact, that I joined the choir and we have a concert on Easter Sunday evening!
On my first day in Banso (last Tuesday) I was introduced to whole staff during chapel. I am called “Doctor Ree-Kal” because that’s how my name gets pronounced when they try to read it. Occasionally, I have also been called “white man!” by very young children on the roadsides.
I have felt so welcome by everyone here and so highly respected. I am grateful to be learning from them and being invited to share life with them.