Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday here or on facebook or through email!! I had a wonderful birthday and I'm so happy to hear that everyone's thinking of me even though I'm 6000 miles away.
Unfortunately I'm running out of time at the internet cafe. Blogger wasn't working on the other computer and I just now switched with only 2 minutes left!!
Anyways, the long and short. Model School has started and I find teaching very boring. Everyone is very jealous of my Chalk Chuck from my grandma and even the Cameroonians think it's really neat. I will try to write more later this week.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
Comments
Even though I don't reply to comments (it takes too long on a crappy internet connection) I really appreciate having them! And I'm sad when no one leaves one hint hint.
Travel in Cameroon
I will take more time to write a coherent, organized version of the last few days. In the meantime, I am spending the night in Yaounde with the PC.
I visited my post, but I forgot to bring my camera (I know, I'm an idiot. It sat in my backpack the entire trip.) so no pictures until September at least. I saw my house, which is huge, and found out that at least 3 people have served there in the past ~10 years but no one in the last 3 or so (I think someone might have left early). There's no wall, but it has a shaded yard, a huge veranda, and two toilets (one is a pit latrine). I will have running water & electricity when they work. I'm excited. Two teachers live on either side of me and one lives behind, so I'll be near my colleagues.
The school looks a lot like the lycee in Mbalmayo, where we've been training. And the village is dusty in the rainy season, so one only knows what it's like in Dec-April when it's dry. Yikes. Still, it's a 15 minute ride to Bafia, a city with an internet cafe and stores. I'm excited. People should send me things to put on my wall--for example, a map of the US, the world; pictures in nice frames without glass; other pretty light weight decorative items. I have 3 rooms so it's a lot of space and not a lot of money to furnish with!
Tomorrow we'll bum around Yaounde and spend some cash. Tonight we went to this crazy expensive restaurant run by an american that has nutella crepes! I was so full from my chocolate milkshake & chicken cordon bleu that I had no room for nutella! I know, I'm a failure. Next time I'll get one. It made me so happy to know I can get one!
Anyways, I'm in a much better mood than when I spoke to the 'rents on Tuesday (I love you Mom & Dad!), but I've always been told that PC is an emotional roller coaster. And everyone who knows me should know how much I hate roller coasters. It's amazing how much snot one terrible day can produce. Haha, that's kind of gross. But, I should go hang out with the other PCVs in town and then get some sleep.
I visited my post, but I forgot to bring my camera (I know, I'm an idiot. It sat in my backpack the entire trip.) so no pictures until September at least. I saw my house, which is huge, and found out that at least 3 people have served there in the past ~10 years but no one in the last 3 or so (I think someone might have left early). There's no wall, but it has a shaded yard, a huge veranda, and two toilets (one is a pit latrine). I will have running water & electricity when they work. I'm excited. Two teachers live on either side of me and one lives behind, so I'll be near my colleagues.
The school looks a lot like the lycee in Mbalmayo, where we've been training. And the village is dusty in the rainy season, so one only knows what it's like in Dec-April when it's dry. Yikes. Still, it's a 15 minute ride to Bafia, a city with an internet cafe and stores. I'm excited. People should send me things to put on my wall--for example, a map of the US, the world; pictures in nice frames without glass; other pretty light weight decorative items. I have 3 rooms so it's a lot of space and not a lot of money to furnish with!
Tomorrow we'll bum around Yaounde and spend some cash. Tonight we went to this crazy expensive restaurant run by an american that has nutella crepes! I was so full from my chocolate milkshake & chicken cordon bleu that I had no room for nutella! I know, I'm a failure. Next time I'll get one. It made me so happy to know I can get one!
Anyways, I'm in a much better mood than when I spoke to the 'rents on Tuesday (I love you Mom & Dad!), but I've always been told that PC is an emotional roller coaster. And everyone who knows me should know how much I hate roller coasters. It's amazing how much snot one terrible day can produce. Haha, that's kind of gross. But, I should go hang out with the other PCVs in town and then get some sleep.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Site Visit
I'm spending some time on the Internet at the PC office, after enjoying my first warm shower in a month. We're stopping over in Yaounde from a nearby village, where we visited the PCV who lived with my host family 2 years ago during her training. One of us will be replacing her. He stayed for the remaining time, while the rest of us are moving on to Bafia & hopefully Bokito as well.
We stopped at the supermarche on the way in and I paid $4 (2450CFA) for emmental cheese. It was tasty. You can also get snickers bars and some other American snack foods but it's all expensive. I'm excited to travel more and hopefully we can stay a night here before returning to Mbalmayo.
I teach 3 hours of classes Monday morning, so I have to prepare those lesson plans. It's exciting!
We stopped at the supermarche on the way in and I paid $4 (2450CFA) for emmental cheese. It was tasty. You can also get snickers bars and some other American snack foods but it's all expensive. I'm excited to travel more and hopefully we can stay a night here before returning to Mbalmayo.
I teach 3 hours of classes Monday morning, so I have to prepare those lesson plans. It's exciting!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Week 4
Exciting news! I have received my post. My home for the next two years will be Bokito, Center Province. It's close to the nation's capitol and about 3 hours travel from Mbalmayo. Tomorrow I meet the principal of the lycée (high school) where I'll be teaching. Apparently he's staying with the family of another stagiare, but that's another story. I will more than likely be visiting this week, probably with 2 or 3 other trainees. I'm both excited and scared to see my post. I just hope I have running water and electricity.
My host family said Bokito is on the road to the West province. I hope I get lots of visitors and can travel easily myself. If it's as close as it looks, I can visit the PC office regularly and have easy access to free internet, a washer/dryer, mail, and banking. My only disappointment is that I've already seen the Center province. The weather will be comparable to Mbalmayo and the Center doesn't seem as interesting as some of the other provinces. However, the volunteer makes her post and I have big plans! (Including a cat, so someone needs to send a flea collar.)
We had language interviews on Friday and I'm sure I bombed mine. I get nervous and forget the simplest French words. Model School begins next week, so we won't haev more time for formal French classes. The Monday we return from site visit (week from tomorrow) I teach the first 3 hours in a row. It's terrifying. I know which levels Im teaching but not the topics. I have to write the lesson plan next week. We are finally moving from theoretical training to practical experience. Hopefully I'll be more comfortable when school starts in September.
Last night some musically inclined stagiares hosted a concert. Afterwards a large group of us went to a "boite de nuit" or night club. I invited my host sister without remembering that in Cameroon an invitiation means one has to pay for everything! Oops! I had to borrow money, but we didn't drink that much or stay out very late. I think one visit to the club is enough for me. Yesterday I also tried koki at a friend's house. It's ground beans with piment and oil then put in a banana leaf and steamed, like African tamales. It's delicious, but a little hot for me. My stagiare neighbor made Mexican food for dinner and it was incredible. I ate a lot yesterday.
I watched the World Cup last week. My host family rooted for Italy because the French team is all from Africa. Since Le Pen wants to send all African immigrants in France home, it's hypocritical and so they root for Italians (whom I remember as being very racist also) instead. Personally, I was disappointed that both teams were from Europe.
We've had several current PCVs on site recently for AIDS/GYD, first aid, and environmental education training. It's interesting and enjoyable to talk with them, although you can definitely tell who's been in country longest. :-)
Thursday's soccer game ended in a tie. I'm really enjoying the weekly game, and it's pretty incredible just to watch Cameroonian footwork. I am trying to upload pictures to Snapfish right now, so if you have that info you can check them. Or email my parents.
A bientot!
My host family said Bokito is on the road to the West province. I hope I get lots of visitors and can travel easily myself. If it's as close as it looks, I can visit the PC office regularly and have easy access to free internet, a washer/dryer, mail, and banking. My only disappointment is that I've already seen the Center province. The weather will be comparable to Mbalmayo and the Center doesn't seem as interesting as some of the other provinces. However, the volunteer makes her post and I have big plans! (Including a cat, so someone needs to send a flea collar.)
We had language interviews on Friday and I'm sure I bombed mine. I get nervous and forget the simplest French words. Model School begins next week, so we won't haev more time for formal French classes. The Monday we return from site visit (week from tomorrow) I teach the first 3 hours in a row. It's terrifying. I know which levels Im teaching but not the topics. I have to write the lesson plan next week. We are finally moving from theoretical training to practical experience. Hopefully I'll be more comfortable when school starts in September.
Last night some musically inclined stagiares hosted a concert. Afterwards a large group of us went to a "boite de nuit" or night club. I invited my host sister without remembering that in Cameroon an invitiation means one has to pay for everything! Oops! I had to borrow money, but we didn't drink that much or stay out very late. I think one visit to the club is enough for me. Yesterday I also tried koki at a friend's house. It's ground beans with piment and oil then put in a banana leaf and steamed, like African tamales. It's delicious, but a little hot for me. My stagiare neighbor made Mexican food for dinner and it was incredible. I ate a lot yesterday.
I watched the World Cup last week. My host family rooted for Italy because the French team is all from Africa. Since Le Pen wants to send all African immigrants in France home, it's hypocritical and so they root for Italians (whom I remember as being very racist also) instead. Personally, I was disappointed that both teams were from Europe.
We've had several current PCVs on site recently for AIDS/GYD, first aid, and environmental education training. It's interesting and enjoyable to talk with them, although you can definitely tell who's been in country longest. :-)
Thursday's soccer game ended in a tie. I'm really enjoying the weekly game, and it's pretty incredible just to watch Cameroonian footwork. I am trying to upload pictures to Snapfish right now, so if you have that info you can check them. Or email my parents.
A bientot!
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Week 3
It has been a long week. The sheer effort the next two years (and our official COS date is July 1, 2008) will require is becoming clear. Speaking French is an exhausting and overwhelming struggle every day. For 5 minutes every morning I contemplate the day's challenge and compare it to life in Fayetteville after graduation. Plus, the only cheese I've found here is La Vache Qui Rit, which isn't refigerated. Paris was gloriously easy--so many Americans, so much fine food.
However, I have discovered "la sauce d'arachides" or, the greatest thing in Africa. I liked it so much my family had me invite friends over to enjoy. Yesterday we had a small "peanut party." Due to a miscommunication it was actually a dinner party and not a bunch of Americans enjoying peanut butter. I went to the market with my French class and bought the peanuts. Today I'll make the remaining half into peanut butter with a grinder. Everyone enjoyed the peanut sauce and I had a good time (I wish I could find Nutella).
Another wonderful snack food is the "beignet de crevettes" which my Parisian readers might remember as shrimp chips. They are pork rinds with shrimp flavoring and here one buys a box for 800CFA and fries pink plastic things. It's a fun afternoon activity with my host sisters, plus I have snacks for breaktime.
My host mother and sister went to Bafoussam in the West province last week. They brought back a whole host of tasty and delicious agricultural products from Cameroon's breadbasket: green beans, carrots, onions, garlic, green peppers, pineapples, guavas, mandarins, passion fruit, limes, avocados, and kola nuts. Food is cheaper in the West province.
For the 4th of July the stagiares organized a party with plenty of beans, guacamole, pineapple, watermelon, bread, meat, potato salad, and even chocolate cake. We didn't have fireworks but it was a nice day. One of my stagemates plays bagpipes and I tell you--it is surreal. Listening to the Star Spangled Banner on bagpipes in Africa on July 4th is bizarre.
That same day my host family began preparing a fete. From what I have since gathered; my host mother passed her coursework and took an oath as a Huissiere de Justice. I think it's like a victim's advocate/judicial liaison. Her new title is officially Maitre and she has fancy black robes. I didn't get to attend because of training, but I met the PCV who lived with my family 2 years ago. She's about to COS and was very nice.
The preparations for the celebration meant 8-15 women at our house cooking over 3 fires in the backyard, singing, peeling, chopping, frying, and baking all night long. I went to bed around 11pm after frying plantain chips for 2 hours. The fires were still going and I woke up to the same scene the next morning around 5am. I hope the guests enjoyed all the food. The leftovers were good and we still have softdrinks.
This week my first African dress was finished. I'm quite pleased with it, and I look forward to trying different styles and finding pretty fabrics.
C'est tout!
P.S. Bon anniversaire à ma meilleure amie! Bonne fete!
However, I have discovered "la sauce d'arachides" or, the greatest thing in Africa. I liked it so much my family had me invite friends over to enjoy. Yesterday we had a small "peanut party." Due to a miscommunication it was actually a dinner party and not a bunch of Americans enjoying peanut butter. I went to the market with my French class and bought the peanuts. Today I'll make the remaining half into peanut butter with a grinder. Everyone enjoyed the peanut sauce and I had a good time (I wish I could find Nutella).
Another wonderful snack food is the "beignet de crevettes" which my Parisian readers might remember as shrimp chips. They are pork rinds with shrimp flavoring and here one buys a box for 800CFA and fries pink plastic things. It's a fun afternoon activity with my host sisters, plus I have snacks for breaktime.
My host mother and sister went to Bafoussam in the West province last week. They brought back a whole host of tasty and delicious agricultural products from Cameroon's breadbasket: green beans, carrots, onions, garlic, green peppers, pineapples, guavas, mandarins, passion fruit, limes, avocados, and kola nuts. Food is cheaper in the West province.
For the 4th of July the stagiares organized a party with plenty of beans, guacamole, pineapple, watermelon, bread, meat, potato salad, and even chocolate cake. We didn't have fireworks but it was a nice day. One of my stagemates plays bagpipes and I tell you--it is surreal. Listening to the Star Spangled Banner on bagpipes in Africa on July 4th is bizarre.
That same day my host family began preparing a fete. From what I have since gathered; my host mother passed her coursework and took an oath as a Huissiere de Justice. I think it's like a victim's advocate/judicial liaison. Her new title is officially Maitre and she has fancy black robes. I didn't get to attend because of training, but I met the PCV who lived with my family 2 years ago. She's about to COS and was very nice.
The preparations for the celebration meant 8-15 women at our house cooking over 3 fires in the backyard, singing, peeling, chopping, frying, and baking all night long. I went to bed around 11pm after frying plantain chips for 2 hours. The fires were still going and I woke up to the same scene the next morning around 5am. I hope the guests enjoyed all the food. The leftovers were good and we still have softdrinks.
This week my first African dress was finished. I'm quite pleased with it, and I look forward to trying different styles and finding pretty fabrics.
C'est tout!
P.S. Bon anniversaire à ma meilleure amie! Bonne fete!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Party
Today has been much better than last Sunday. One of the PCTs had us all over to her host family's house for a wee party yesterday afternoon. They cooked yummy food for us and it was great to hang out with people outside of classtime. Very enjoyable.
Most recently I have learned how to make homemade peanut butter. It's actually quite easy. Next time I might buy my own peanuts so I can add sugar & salt until its perfect. We made a peanut sauce with the stuff we made and it was quite tasty, although the smoked fish was inedible.
I have become adept at finding and spraying roaches with Moon Tiger (my new best friend). It is probably full of chemicals that are illegal in the US but it works quickly and it's awesome. Not much else has been happening. We change our language classes tomorrow but someone just told me we'll be with the same instructor. I like mine alot so that's great.
Another PCT is leaving tomorrow. She's unhappy and feels unsafe and didn't exactly want to be here in the first place, so it's for the best. Some current PCVs will be here this week, so we can talk to people who are working now. I'm nervous about going to post (although I'm excited to have my own place and privacy). Hopefully they'll give some good info.
Most recently I have learned how to make homemade peanut butter. It's actually quite easy. Next time I might buy my own peanuts so I can add sugar & salt until its perfect. We made a peanut sauce with the stuff we made and it was quite tasty, although the smoked fish was inedible.
I have become adept at finding and spraying roaches with Moon Tiger (my new best friend). It is probably full of chemicals that are illegal in the US but it works quickly and it's awesome. Not much else has been happening. We change our language classes tomorrow but someone just told me we'll be with the same instructor. I like mine alot so that's great.
Another PCT is leaving tomorrow. She's unhappy and feels unsafe and didn't exactly want to be here in the first place, so it's for the best. Some current PCVs will be here this week, so we can talk to people who are working now. I'm nervous about going to post (although I'm excited to have my own place and privacy). Hopefully they'll give some good info.
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