Week 10

I'm sorry to all my adoring fans, I haven't been able to post lately. Life has been pretty busy here and I'll try to bring you up to speed on all of my various activities.

First off, the end of Model School. Last Thursday and Friday we gave final exams to the students. Proctoring was quite interesting since cheating happens a lot here, and students aren't always very clever. Haha, but that's the eternal battle between teachers and students, right? I'm learning alot about what my old teachers put up with, and I was an excellent student. ;-) Then the exams had to be graded and handed back. Report cards had to be filled out, ranks assigned, statistics figured. All by hand on the French grading system of x/20. A new experience in bureaucracy and silly paperwork. Then we held the Class Council, in which every student's progress is discussed and any honors/citations/demerits are given. Any student whose grade is borderline (passing is 10/20) can be passed or failed based on their behavior. It's the best way for teachers to get revenge on the devilish dérangeurs in their class.

Speaking of, I must digress on the French verb déranger. It is the best word ever. There is no good English equivalent. It can be used in any context, but is best when describing the behavior (comportement) of students, any person who harasses les blancs on the street, or an annoying host-sibling. Silly PC rules can also dérange. This is just one great example of what we PCTs like to call Camfranglais, a version of franglais specific to Cameroon. Ahh, I love learning other languages. Like pidgin, as Bill informs me, finger fo foot=toe, or there's manside / womanside for right / left. Anyways.

The Cultural Soirée took place yesterday. All the various clubs presented the activities they've been doing the past few weeks. We had several dances from the US and Cameroon, ie. the booty call, the bikutsi. My host sisters were in two ballets with the gymnastics club and let me tell you, they are flexible! Gymnastics here is more like cirque du soleil than tumbling passes. I have pictures.

Today we attended the Closing Ceremony where prizes are awaded to the best students. I'm proud to say that both my sisters (in the Anglophone section, Form 2 and Form 4) won the overwhelming majority of prizes. Obviously we're just smarter. ;-) I even got to award one of the prizes, and I couldn't have been prouder if they were my real sisters (well, if I had siblings).

In between all the grading and picture taking, we've been preparing to leave. Next week we'll have our official swearing-in as Peace Corps Volunteers. I leave for post the next day. I haven't talked to my principal lately so there's no telling what state my house is in. I'll spend the first few days meeting important people in the town, buying furniture, and settling in. I'm excited to have my own place although I'm also scared of the unknown! But it's all very exciting!! I won't see some friends until December, but supposedly or IST is in Kribi! woot woot!

I'll soon have lots of free time and no one to talk to, so I'll do my best to catch up on all the mail that needs to be sent. I appreciate all the mail I receieve, even if it takes me several weeks to write back. It feels very old-fashioned and fun to sit down and write long letters.

Much love to all! The next time I write I'll be a true Peace Corps Volunteer!!