Their Gods Were Watching Me is a memoir that journeys into the world of a Cameroonian child. It is a blend of personal stories depicting several aspects of family life: sibling rivalry, love, marriage, divorce, and death; intermingled with poorly understood traditions, including the cultural and superstitious beliefs rampant in this third world setting. Replete with emotion, the memoir portrays the challenges of foster parenting when guardians are busy, inexperienced, or too poor to effectively nurture. It also details my educational journey, undertaken in spite of the cultural argument against the education of girls and the subtle dangers of sex, rape or child abuse. Set against the backdrop of both tumultuous civil war and peace time, the stories within reveal the challenges of poverty, child marriages, and the fears and uncertainties of youth. The memoir reads like a novel and offers readers a host of experiences that provide insight into the African psyche, from traditional celebrations and superstitious beliefs to herbal medicines.
About the Author: Natalie Cabinda, author of her #1 International Best Seller, Regroup.Refocus.Rebuild: Helping Families Navigate from Breakups to Breakthroughs is an educator by profession with 19 years of teaching experience. She holds an M.A degree in English and an M.ED. She's an Adjunct Assistant Professor who also teaches high school full-time. Ms. Cabinda has worked with many school districts across the United States, from the west coast to the east coast. Born, raised, and educated in Cameroon, Ms Cabinda immigrated to the United States in 1994. Their Gods Were Watching Me, a memoir, details her struggles as a young girl growing up in Africa, and the challenges of navigating several households in the pursuit of education. From the death of her father to the untimely deaths of her siblings, the memoir describes a series of intrepid adventures which literally keep the reader both awed and entertained. The poignant narrative details reveal the challenges of growing up in an environment where poverty reigned, and the education of girls seemed secondary. With Spirited candor coupled with almost child-like buoyancy, she pulls the reader into the realm of her world, prompting emotions as varied as the circumstances she overcomes. Their Gods Were Watching Me is one girl's determination to defy the odds and barriers of her specific society. Ms. Cabinda currently lives in Flemington, New Jersey. Her other upcoming book is a poetry collection. She reads, writes, and enjoys competitive team sports.