Commercial Appeal
on Notes from Quite Far (Cameroon), 16/Dec/2009 11:56, 34 days ago
The journey from Yagoua to Hull could in theory last 2-3 days. However, it is wise to add at least one extra day to allow for minor complications like train derailments or the bus breaking down. Therefore the journey lasts 4 days, including an overnight stay in Yaounde either on someone’s sofa or at a hotel. This time I stayed at a hotel. The hotel was next to the office of a businessman called Emmanuel. Emmanuel the businessman did not seem to have much to do yesterday, and spent the best part of his afternoon talking to me, and during this time he asked me for the following things:To find him someone who would be willing to finance his business (which has something vaguely to do with agriculture)To find someone who wants to make trading links with Cameroon in order to sell English products such as cosmetics, dairy products and food.To find someone who wants to make trading links in order to buy Cameroonian products such as wood and cocoa.To find someone who wants to build a factory in Cameroon with him in order to produce chocolate for sale in Africa.To find someone who wants to build a small factory with him in Cameroon in order to produce various different types of soap for sale in Africa.To become a partner, representative and translator/interpreter in his business (the precise nature of which escapes me)To bring him back a Wayne Rooney shirtNow. I am a teacher, specialising in arsy teenagers. As such I know very little about buying, selling or producing wood, cosmetics, groceries, dairy products, cocoa chocolate or soap.However, so touched was I by his complete faith that I would find the solution to all his business-related problems, that I would like to make an appeal.If any of you, readers of this blog, would like to buy, sell or make any of the items mentioned above, or enter into business partnership with a man called Emmanuel who works in agriculture (and perhaps in the first instance, give him some business advice), please, please contact me.Failing that, do you maybe have a Rooney shirt?Thank you.