Sept. 25, 2002 – Two scholar-athletes from the Republic of Cameroon have come a long way from home to attend Antilles School.
Tafo Fabrice Gordan is from the political capital, Yaounde, and Abdoul Aziz Mohammed is from the economic capital, Douala. Both are part of an exchange program that allows the students an opportunity to learn about a different culture and a chance to prepare for a college experience that will benefit them their entire lives.
Fabrice, a sophomore, and Aziz, a junior, are both outstanding students, at the top of their classes in Cameroon. The two young men offer V.I. students an opportunity to learn about a totally different continent, culture, economy, government and country, one with French as the official language,.
"Over 200 dialects are spoken in Cameroon," Aziz said, "and we enjoy many different climates. Cameroon is like a small Africa."
Aziz and Fabrice are challenging Antilles students to converse in French with them, and in their brief time here, they have improved their fluency in English dramatically, even though, they said, "Americans talk very quickly!"
Both students are outstanding athletes, and they will play basketball and soccer or volleyball, once they have adjusted to their new academic schedule.
But studying at Antilles School offers the Cameroon students much more than an opportunity to participate in athletics.
"For my family, studies come first, and preparing for college is the No. 1 priority," Fabrice said. "I want to go to a good college."
Although both Aziz and Fabrice are accustomed to large classes and more general courses, they have had little trouble adjusting to the school and the island.
Aziz said, "We have come to a country where nobody knows us, and it is such a wonderful thing, like a dream. We are doing what we want in terms of our future, and everyone is very friendly and nice – the students, the faculty and the family we live with."
Aziz and Fabrice are living with a family where scholarship and athletics are familiar. Dawn Wheatley, a math teacher at Antilles, and her husband, Maurice, are the parents of six outstanding student-athletes, three of whom are students at Antilles: Anna, Nicole and Rebekah. Their three sons are currently enrolled in college and graduate school.
Art Scott, Head of Antilles School, said he is excited about the exchange. "It is Antilles' privilege to host two superb student-athletes from Cameroon," he said. "In the purest sense, exchanges like this offer both sides exceptional opportunities for sharing and mutual growth."
Cameroon, which was formerly French Cameroon and a part of British Cameroon, became independent in 1961. Slightly larger than California, Cameroon's population is close to 16 million.
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