The Little Things

Hey Everyone! I have officially been living in Cameroon, Africa for a little over a month now, and despite a few bumps in the road, it has been awesome so far. I realized that I had actually begun to adjust when I A) was so unbelievably surprised and happy to wash my hands with running water and soap for the firs time in a month, B) Extremely pleased to hear an overplayed Eminem song playing in a bar here as I held a COLD drink (so rare) and C) I ate a batton de maignoc (a starch like plant wrapped in leaves) with a fish which I peeled off the bones with my hands. Yup, I'm definitely adapting.

My host mother also braided my hair last week. It looked pretty cool, and was definitely easier to deal with, but I eventually had to persuade her to help me take them out. She was a but hurt, but I insisted that with my kind of hair it really needed to be washed with shampoo. Eventually she understood well enough to offer to braid it again after 3 days of washing my hair. I declined the offer haha since my hair still feels pretty gross to me. 

Each Sunday I have been going into the city with my host mother and visiting her family, going to the open market, and wandering around the city getting a few drinks. The open market is always an interesting experience. I basically follow my host mom around like a 5 year old as we wander through narrow walkways between each stand selling fruits, spices, clothes, meat, smoked monkey or eel, etc. It is pretty intense, so I'm always grateful that she is with my during these experiences. Though, each time I go I am learning more and more, for instance bargaining can take 5-15 min depending on how long you really want to stand in the heat among thousands of flies. My host mom likes to take the 15 min route while I like to take the 5 min route. I have also bought a dress with my host mother's guidance. This was interesting because it also resulted in my 9th marriage proposal. This man was pretty insistant, in fact it was my host mom that eventually said that he was too late, that the man down the street already proposed (which was true but obviously I said no to him also). He was only slightly detered as he gave me his business card just in case. My host mom and I have a running joke now about the beaucoup "I love yous".

Finally, I found out my post!!! I am going to be living in the Adamawa region in a city fairly close to the border of Central African Republic. It is basically a savannah, with monkeys and hippos and all of that African wildlife, however it can get down to 50 degrees! I will be working in the district hospital and the chief doctor there is also partnered with an NGO. This NGO works with the refugees in my city, teaching them nutrition, AIDS education, preventative measures against domestic violence, etc. So It definitely looks like I'll have a lot to do. We'll see when I go on my site visit what its really like. I'm also lucky because due to its slight isolation, I have a postmate. He is one of my friends in my training group so I'm excited.

Anyway, I hope everything is going well for everyone. Thank you for the letters, emails, and packages. I truly appreciate it, they tend to make my day. I have written back but it seems that the letters take a while to get to you, but they are coming. Miss you all!

mice, bugs, and craziness

Hey! So, once again, sorry about the lack of blogs. I don't have too much time, so lets see what I can get out. Recently, the Chief of Lable invited the trainees in Nyamsung and Lable to a dinner at his place. The dinner was a great excuse for all of the people in the village to let loose and have a good time. A few beers, a cocoa bean, some great food and good company led to a legit party. I unintentionally also ended up in a dance off with a Cameroonian haha. He had come over to a friend and I, started dancing then walked away. My friend and I decided that we wanted to learn these new and bizarre dance moves, so I called him over. Before I knew it I was in the middle of a circle looking like I was in a cock fight. With my head bobbing and doing the erratic dance moves he was dancing, I think I actually won. Personally, I'd say it was a tie.

Another night was interesting as well but on a whole other level. I have a creature that was in my room and ate my ramen noodles. To save my mac n cheese from this demon creature I decided to stay up all night in the comfort of my mosquito net, and shine my flashlight at any noise. This worked well, my mac n cheese is safe. however the demon mouse who scales walls is still proving to be a worthy opponent. Ok.... its 7:30am and I'm late for french class. Until later.... Miss everyone!! I'll try to blog soon!

Still Alive! In Nyamsung

Hey! I'm sorry that I haven't blogged since I arrived in Cameroon, there has been a severe lack of internet haha. I spent a night in Brussels, after we missed our connecting flight, then one night in Douala, a city in Cameroon, one night in Yaounde where we met the Country Director. From there we then went to Bafia to meet our host families. Mine are in a little rural village called Nyamsung. The family consists of my mom, dad, grandma, 3 little sisters and 3 little brothers. So it is a bit hectic but always interesting. There is no running water and every once in a while we have electricity. However, the only things they own that require electricity are 3 light bulbs, so theres little difference when we don't have it haha. I wake up at 5:50 am to roosters and bird wars outside my window, take a bucket bath, have breakfast (powdered milk and bread is typical), then have the 15 min walk on a bright red, dirt road to training. I then leave training and head home to do chores, speak more french, and eat and do hw. Haha I'm usually in bed by 9pm, so my schedule is a bit different here then my college sleep schedule.

Food: I help my mom make the food in the kitchen, which is separate from the house. Fou-fou, aka cous-cous, is very common. Its not the cous cous that is known in the states. Its a prett laborious task, an the result is a thick starchy paste that you then eat with fish (typically) or beans. I've tried fish heads and termites! Termites are actually not too bad haha. I'd take that over the fish head.

I met the chief of my village. For some reason he visited me, the only trainee who was visited, and gave me a whole speech in French. SO of course I understood very little of it. But, after a little while I understood the honor, and understood that he asked me to say a prayer before dinner. So, I said this prayer in French. haha I haven't prayed in a long time, let alone in French, so it probably wasn't what they were expecting, but the Chief and my dad took it in stride. I was then presented with the fish head and some fou fou. It was a struggle getting that down, but I managed. It was all in all an interesting experience. i oly wish my french was better.

I've also tried african dance. THAT was a lot of fun. Haha watching a bunch of trainees dancing with those in the village....we all had no clue what we were doing, but it was all a lot of fun.

Cameroonians also like to drink.... haha.

my number is 011-237-75904785

skype me! I have service sometimes and I'd love to hear from everyone : ). Miss you guys and I hope all is well. Email me updates on your lives!

Staging

I'm currently sitting in the Holiday Inn, after a fairly long day emotionally and physically and have officially met my fellow trainees, who all seem like amazing people. I'm still a bit anxious about the flight tomorrow but knowing that these great people are in the same boat as me, and are going to be at my side, is very comforting. I know this blog is short but I'll try to post another as soon as I can when I land in Cameroon!! TOMORROW!

Here we go...

Hey everyone! I've never been a huge fan of blogs, but I figure this is as good a time as any to start. Tomorrow morning I will be heading to Philly for Staging, which is basically an orientation. Here I will be with my fellow trainees and Peace Corps personnel, learning about what's to be expected. We will be spending the night there and on Thursday head to JFK for our flight to Yaounde, Cameroon.

Am I excited? absolutely. Am I terrified? definitely. I have been battling a constant state of anxiety since most of the goodbyes began. However, this adventure (which is one of the best ways I can describe it) will no doubt be unbelievable. I will just try to see, learn, help, and have as much fun as possible along the way. A lot of people have asked me why I chose to do this, and the best answer I can give is that it is just too good to pass up. I would regret not going, not seeing and learning a new culture, having new adventures, seeing new faces, and maybe even helping as I go. The question, really, is why wouldn't I want to go.

This does not mean that I don't currently feel that nausea and back of the throat feeling after my goodbyes. I truly love my family and friends soo much and thank them all for supporting me. I will miss you all very much but will stay in touch the best I can, and please, you do the same! Thanks for everything!