Training

Sorry I didn't write more on the last entry. My host sister came with me and was standing over my shoulder. It was a little awkward. I have finally found an internet cafe that works with gmail so you have no excuse for not responding to my emails. I'll know. :-)

Mbalmayo is a good sized town for Cameroon. It's busy all the time and there are lots of people. For the most pârt they are friendly and security incidents for the group have been minimal. I had porcupine for lunch on Friday and it was terrible. Today I got yogurt, and it was quite exciting--dairy products are hard to come by here. My family only has powdered milk.

They are very nice people on the whole. They have hosted other PCTs before, so they give me my privacy, are patient with my French, and show me how to do everything. They tend to watch a lot of TV but tonight we're supposed to play a game. I have my own room, but opn Sunday I found a large roach. I hate roaches (in case you didn't know). So today I bought 'le Moon Tiger' to kill them. He may live now, but I will win the war. Oh, and monday morning a mouse was in my backpack. I whacked him with a flashlight until he ran away. The family cat must not be a good mouser.

My family lives near our training site. There are four girls: Nina 15, Andy 12 or 13, Lynn 9; and Xilia 4 or 5. The father is a teacher of masonry at one of the schools and the mother is a secretary in an office. Also, a younger sister or cousin lives with us. Her name is Mimi and she is a university student in Yaoundé. She's trying to take the TOEFL and go to the US. I think they want to take me to visit the volunteer they hosted. She is a teacher somewhere north of here.

Otherwise, the food is different but good. It can be a little bland and we don't eat much meat but I expected that. My host mother's neighbor is making me a dress, so I'll have to post a picture when it's done.

All the PCTs are getting along. Four have already quit (including one of the two married couples). I'm sure I can stick it out to the end. I had a rough night on Saturday, but I wrote Jeff a long letter and all is well. It's going on a plane back to the States so hopefully it'll be there soon. I'm still fairly upbeat. I haven't been very sick or uncomfortable yet *knock on wood* and I can't imagine any reason to quit and go home yet. Africa is diverse and interesting and I'm learning so much about myself every day.

The water wasn't working this morning so I took my first bucket bath. And I haven't screamed because of the roaches, even though they're really big. I don't like being so hot and sweaty all the time, but it's cool at night and I love the thunderstorms. So all is well.

A demain!

Mbalmayo

We are now at our training site, home for the next ten weeks. I'm at an internet cafe that works, so will try to update more often. Now it's time to get back. More later and hopefully pictures too!

Bonjour!

I'm at the Peace Corps house on our last morning in Yaounde. After lunch we're traveling to Mbalmayo to move in with our host families and also to start the real training.

Last night we had a special dinner al fresco complete with local dance troupe to entertain us. The male dancer grabbed my hand & made me dance with him! Everyone says I kept up pretty well. It must've been all the practice in our apartment after the Ugandan orphans performed at the WAC. Brit & I got it right! :-) I will have to buy a drum and learn to play it. I love the music here, it's amazing.

On Wednesday we went to the police station to apply for our cartes de sejour. If that's any indication of what it's like in the capitol I can't imagine what the provinces are like. We did get to a super boulangerie where I treated myself to a tarte aux fraises. Superbe!

The rest of our time we're shuttled between the hotel & the peace corps office in a caravan of SUVs and vans. I've walked on the street a few times but haven't interacted with the locals much. That will happen today!

I've mailed a few things so look for those.

I'm here!

This place is so amazing. I can't post pictures right now, but it's wonderful.

I'm so excited to get started. We travel to our training site & move in with our host families tomorrow so hopefully I'll get more time to update and respond to email, etc.

Philadelphia

I'm in Philadelphia for another day and half. We've been doing a lot of getting to know you exercises and drawing pictures of our anxieties and aspirations.

A lot of people are already thinking of mailing stuff home.

We had phily cheese steaks last night. Somebody wanted to go to a sushi restaurant owned by the Iron Chef guy (Morimoto?) but half the group got separated and the other half ended up at a BYOB Mexican place anyways (who ever heard of a BYOB Mexican restaurant?).

Departure

My mom and I packed (almost) everything I had planned to bring. My luggage weighs about ~60lbs, so I'm well under the limit. I look ridiculous with 2 backpacks & a duffle but if everything makes it to Cameroon in one piece I'll be happy.

I may get there and decide I packed all the wrong things.

So, it's not actually my last few hours in the States--this is weird. I'll see my aunt & uncle tomorrow in Philly & then I finally get to meet all my fellow trainees! I hope we can enjoy our last two nights at home. I'm ready to go! :-)

Tonight we are going to Margot's, the swanky French restaurant in East Nashville. I should probably eat someting exotic instead, like sushi (I don't think there will be many sushi restaurants where I'm going) but this is also an early Father's Day for us.

This may have been the worst decision of my life thus far, but I doubt it.

Oh, and I got my haircut last week:

My grandma made that quilt. Each of the grandkids got one. :-)