Peace Corps Journals / Cameroon / all updates

From the frying pan...

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:44:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Boeuf Bloguignon)
The cold season ended early this year. From a “cool” 13˚-35˚ Celsius temperature range we are now in the full blast of 17˚-50˚ Celsius range and I am not exaggerating. Clothes drying out on t ...
3 reads

Today

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:44:16 +0800

(Cameroon / Thats What She Said)
6:30am: Get up 6:31am: Reconsider the whole gainful employment thing as I can only assume it involves more of this whole ‘getting up’ thing. 7:00am: Wait for phone to ring. Try not to fee ...
13 reads

Biiiiiicyle! Biiiiiiiiiiiicyle!

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:26:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate with Dreadlocks)
Recently a few willing friends and I took off on our bicycles for five days of dirt roads chafing and sunshine visiting the posts of a few other PCV friends here in the Extreme North province. We ...
13 reads

Day -82: Bike Route

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:49:00 +0800

(Cameroon / 820 Days in Africa)
Unrelated to Cameroon or Peace Corps but this is the bike ride my dad and I did last Saturday. It was 50 miles. Now we just have to do this plus 20 more miles for 21 days straight. It should be ...
0 reads

Visitors!

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:26:53 +0800

(Cameroon / Dhuse in Africa)
My father brother and my brother’s girlfriend Kristen all came for a visit here in Cameroon. I arranged for a ride to and from the airport in a private car with a friend from Limbe. He is a Ca ...
7 reads

Celebrating Women's Day

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:38:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
The Indomitable Lions is the Cameroonian national football (or soccer) team but the real national sport is drinking at a bar. There are more bars in Cameroon than any other type of enterprise. Even ...
4 reads

Day -83: My Stuff Came Back from Guinea!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:28:00 +0800

(Cameroon / 820 Days in Africa)
I'm African clothes in America. Why you ask? Combination of factors really no clean clothes and I got my stuff back from Guinea!Yesterday I came home from work and there was a GIANT box on my paren ...
16 reads

I really liked Ireland

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:19:55 +0800

(Cameroon / Thats What She Said)
Thats is all.
0 reads

Ammendment to March 9 blog post "Ca ...

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:09:20 +0800

(Cameroon / Danny Bob's African Safari)
This past Tuesday I posted two items for your reading pleasure one of which was a reccuring post I call "Cameroon in the News." Every month or so I like to search the web for the latest news on Camer ...
12 reads

International Women's Day 2010

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:39:23 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate In Cameroon)
Did the day pass by without you knowing it? Quite possible if you're living in the US. While I knew March was recognized as women's month I had no idea until coming to Cameroon that the 8th is in fact ...
11 reads

Women's Day 2010

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:26:00 +0800

(Cameroon / A short ocean away...)
International Women’s Day… you know Cameroonians don’t believe this day isn’t celebrated in the United States. “But it’s international… and you are American women. How can you not cele ...
1 reads

International Women’s Day 2010: Thanks ...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:19:00 +0800

(Cameroon / caMEROON and ORANGE)
First a little bit of a work update Wednesday I met with my Bamoun women’s group and they kind of blew me off which was really frustrating because I had spent a good amount of time prepping for it ...
12 reads

Cameroon in the News: February/March

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:46:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Danny Bob's African Safari)
Breast ironing a painful practice for Cameroon's girls (Washington Post)Cameroon footballer jailed in Myanmar for forgery (Associated Press)Polio vaccination targets 85 million in West Africa (Daily ...
7 reads

Does anyone in the Maroua market sell ki ...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:34:44 +0800

(Cameroon / Danny Bob's African Safari)
Its official the hot season has finally arrived. How do I know? I'm stuck to my chair right now thats how. Actually I just went online and checked Google weather for Maroua Cameroon. A mild 108 deg ...
5 reads

Whoops.

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:54:45 +0800

(Cameroon / Thats What She Said)
You know what I like to do? I like to followup a good weekend full of fantastic meals good friends two-year-olds that run around yelling “My underwear is crazy!” while adjusting their w ...
11 reads

Fondonera

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:58:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
In an attempt to remind myself why I started the psychotic library project I decided to write about my visit to Fondonera from a few weeks ago. Bernadette is the queen mother of th ...
14 reads

American Efficiency

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:01:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
Four days since I found out that the Embassy had changed its policy and can no longer clear our container. Théo from RIDEV was in Douala the next day after the news to meet with someone working at th ...
21 reads

And I’m Not Even Ashamed. That Much.

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:34:21 +0800

(Cameroon / Thats What She Said)
So I think what’s happening is that in an attempt to reacquaint myself with all things American I’ve gone a little overboard. At the moment I’m leading this strangely domestic (and ...
25 reads

Tree ID and the Cameroonian Food Pyramid

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:45:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Now sit down and watch it grow.)
Before I get to other issues can anybody help me identify this very strange tree? I live in the Western highlands of Cameroon at an elevation of 1500m. The tree is in my neighbor’s live fence but ...
14 reads

Retail Therapy

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:35:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
As a way to battle with all the Cameroonian frustration that I've had to dealt with I've taken up retail therapy once again. The markets in Bafoussam have quite the gem if you are willing to take the ...
6 reads

Cameroonian Fustration

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:46:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
The events of this week has left me totally frustrated with the way things work in this country. I was always aware of the inefficiency but I do everything in my power to avoid them. This past week ...
9 reads

Untitled

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:22:00 +0800

(Cameroon / caMEROON and ORANGE)
Hell Freezes Over! Yesterday I sat down to write this but I really didn’t have anything to exciting to say so I opted to wait a few days and I’m glad I did because I have I got ...
11 reads

Nice lil' surprise

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:02:08 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate In Cameroon)
I was doing laundry on my porch this afternoon and look what passed by. I opted not to hold him because (as you can somewhat tell from the photo) he was pretty sick looking. I asked the boy where he ...
20 reads

March 2nd 2010

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:53:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Peace Corps Cameroon)
Hello everyone sorry I have not been able to write a blog or post any photos yet. My memory card got a virus on it so I have not been able to transfer any photos onto a key to put it on my blog but ...
11 reads

next tuesday

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:15:00 +0800

(Cameroon / mes jours au cameroun)
Here's a little blog post to catch everyone up on what's been happening in my little world and to get us all excited for next Tuesday!Life here is pretty much exactly the same routine as it has been ...
5 reads

Quality Bilingualism for Quality Educati ...

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:13:00 +0800

(Cameroon / My Cameroon Odyssey)
I wanted to share some photos of Bilingualism Day so enjoy!My 6eme class singing Row Row Row your Boat.My 5eme class reading a Cameroonian poem in English.My 4eme class singing the chorus of Lean on M ...
6 reads

Quality Bilingualism for Quality Educati ...

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:13:00 +0800

What do you do again?

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:48:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate with Dreadlocks)
My business class students at the local high school.I realized that most people have no idea what I do in Cameroon besides hosting visitors downing whiskey sachets and unsuccessfully dodging motos. ...
12 reads

A bit of culture

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:59:07 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate In Cameroon)
I’ve made a point since coming to Cameroon to visit each of my good PC friends’ posts. I think it’s really important because while I hear plenty of stories and see lots of pictures neither do i ...
15 reads

Family (inluding our newest member)

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:16:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Tara For Peace)
These pictures feature my dad Grandma and Casey as well as our new dog! She is 5 years old a mix of Australian Cattle dog and Corgi. She was given up by her owner because he was no longer financial ...
4 reads

the value of a colorful sticker

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:02:00 +0800

(Cameroon / A short ocean away...)
My students take their stickers seriously. All exams are on a 20 point scale so anyone who has 15 or above is rewarded a sticker. This sequence the stickers feature dinosaurs. I’m amazed at how ...
0 reads

Your Majesty

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:23:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
After nearly two years in Cameroon there are some things that I still don't understand about the culture and I likely will never understand. The traditioanl chiefs that is prevalent here in the West ...
8 reads

"What’s in a name?" or " ...

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:59:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Harley's Compass)
21.2.2010Since arriving in Cameroon people have given me many names and called me many different things. At first it was mostly just “ ‘Arley” with a rolled R Spanish style. In French they g ...
10 reads

It's Been A While...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:14:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Amanda's Peace Corps Blog!)
Hello Everyone! So sorry that I haven't blogged in a while...I've been quite busy and without internet for the most part. My internet quit working at home as some of you know...so I really can onl ...
9 reads

Yeah for BFC!

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:10:01 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate In Cameroon)
Successful work day today which has left me feeling rejuvenated with the Book for Cameroon project. For awhile now it has been slow moving but in the next few weeks its going to pick up really fast. ...
16 reads

Change of Perception

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:18:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
The sprawling city of BamendaSometimes I feel like Cameroon has broke me. Two years in this country has somehow taken away those sympathetic ways that once was a big part of my personality. I am ofte ...
36 reads

Can YOU run up and down a 4000 meter pea ...

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:34:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Gloria Goes to Africa)
Ok I know I'm becoming remiss in my blogging duties but remember that life here is just life! You wouldn't write a blog about how you get up go to work run out to pick up some food stop to pick u ...
2 reads

Heard around town

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:13:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate with Dreadlocks)
You never know what you’re going to hear around town… what people say to you about you or for you keeps life entertaining.So here are some of my recent favorites:1. A Cameroonian told a friend ...
16 reads

Untitled

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:29:00 +0800

(Cameroon / caMEROON and ORANGE)
Hope everyone had a good week! Lots to report on my end and I’m feeling a bit lazy so please excuse the randomness of this entry. Ok here we go…I.I finished up with the en brusse vacs on Thursday ...
9 reads

Biz Class Round III

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:44:00 +0800

(Cameroon / Round II: Cameroon)
Cameroonians LOVE their certificates!Apologies for the lack of updates as of late. A lot seems to be going on lately a lot for Cameroonian standard. I attempt to think back to 3 weeks before I came ...
11 reads

Untitled

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:58:00 +0800

(Cameroon / The Land of the River of Shrimp)
Last week my housemate Jane was telling me how strong Nura (the volunteer I replaced) was. How she would walk from Bamendjou to Batie Baham Bafoussam even Dschang and Bangangte. Which is pretty im ...
11 reads

Day -100

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:17:00 +0800

(Cameroon / 820 Days in Africa)
It's 100 days 'til departure it's all down hill from here. On Friday I met with a man named Emmanuel about Cameroon and what to expect there. He teaches at the local community college and is Cameroon ...
14 reads

A last word from Rich

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:56:51 +0800

(Cameroon / Kate In Cameroon)
Since returning home from Cameroon my Dad has kept fairly busy sharing photos and stories about his time in Cameroon. I in the meantime have been sharing with you a series of emails that my dad wro ...
6 reads

Dear Mom Dad and Jim

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:58:00 +0800

(Cameroon / from buffalo to cameroon)
You’re very welcome for the vacation. I’m glad you had so much fun but do you realize how stressful it was for us? I mean think about it-bringing three people to a country where they don’t sp ...
11 reads

les mignons

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:56:09 +0800

(Cameroon / going on 27)
One of my favorite things to do while I lived in Bangou was go to the ‘Ecole Maternel’ the pre-school. Those kids are SO cute and at the pre-school they are taught basic English and Fren ...
9 reads

Untitled

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:18:00 +0800

(Cameroon / The Land of the River of Shrimp)
Thunder! It's grey and ominous and thundering outside. Fantastic! It poured rain yesterday for a few hours. On the tin roof it drowned out all other noises. It was the first real rain here since... pr ...
13 reads

Cameroon in the News

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:16:37 +0800

(Cameroon / Danny Bob's African Safari)
APF Proposes Preventive Action Against Corruption (AllAfrica.com)http://allafrica. com/stories/201002190807.htmlThe Healing (Washington Post)http://www.washingtonpost.c om/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/0 2 ...
3 reads

Day -103: Packing

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:14:00 +0800

(Cameroon / 820 Days in Africa)
Even though I have a little over 3 months left before I actually leave I am starting to think about packing. I've done this before but I'm still starting to stress about what to bring. I'd like to be ...
22 reads

so...how about that weather?

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:27:00 +0800

(Cameroon / My Cameroon Odyssey)
I fully realize that in the states when we start talking about the weather it is because we have run out of things to say or the conversation is going nowhere. It is quite the opposite here. People li ...
7 reads

so...how about that weather?

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:27:00 +0800