Here is a comprehensive list of every singe blog post I’ve ever written. Happy Reading!
First Day!
After more than 24 hours of travel, all 38 of us arrived to Cameroon safe and sound, as did ALL of our luggage. Now, that is a miracle in and of itself. The journey was quite long, but I slept through nearly all of it. When we arrived to the…
Welcome to Africa!
This morning, I woke up in the middle of the night at 3:30am and could not fall asleep for the life of me. Usually, I am not the type to lose sleep or have insomnia. Perhaps it’s the malaria meds, but I felt horribly uncomfortable and craved a shower. The…
New Ideas!
I feel energized by the conversations that took place this evening among other PCTs. This is one of last free evenings together; starting Thursday, we will be disbursed among host families after training hours. The great conversation began at dinner when the young married couple, Thryn & Gavin discussed a…
Steep Learning Curve
I wanted to write a bit about the training and how impressed I am with the Peace Corps, so far. This morning we received our language interview result. I was placed in Intermediate Low. The system is based on the ACTFL guidelines, splitting into four major groups: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced,…
La Japonaise!
Today, I had those favorite moments of mine where I felt like I was in a movie, and everything was absolutely surreal. Visit to the Market After training, the two hosting PCVs took a few of us to the market. We walked approximately 10 minutes down the busy main street…
The Real Cameroonian Life
Phew! I survived my first day at the homestay. I’m currently writing from my new room, sitting on a full size bed, under a mosquito net. The last time I slept under a mosquito net was when I slept in my grandmother’s room circa 1995 or perhaps earlier. This is…
Grilled Fish & Cold Shower
The ridiculous yet absolutely amazing-ness continues. Right now, I am writing from my bed, underneath my lovely mosquito net (I see why people get addicted and can’t sleep without it). The room is dark and lit only by my hand-cranked lamp and pre-charged mackbook because the electricity keeps cutting out…
A Very Bumpy Road
It’s a Saturday, but since we are on Cameroonian schedule, we have half day of language lessons. The last time I had to go to school on a Saturday was in 10 years ago in Taiwan. Oh, half-day-Saturdays, how I do not miss thee. After language lessons, the ED people…
Thank you, Bluetooth!
Apology is hereby extended for my lack of updates last week. I spent the better part of the week attempting to connect my Macbook to the Internet via the cell phone. With Bluetooth technology, someone else in the group found a way to connect. I had quite the trouble, but…
You are in Peace Corps Cameroon PST when…
38 people applaud for bite-sized Snickers bars eating burnt cow-corn for snack, loaded in salt fresh milk, cheese, pop-tarts, pizza, hamburger, olive oil, etc. become pure delicacy getting creative with your food, making every combination imaginable of eggs, tomato, avocado, Laughing-Cow-Cheese, and baguettes glad the person waking up with cockroach…
Pictures!
Here are a few pictures that illustrates my life here:
Progress!
I am concluding my 3rd week in-country! I am starting to feel more settled, and started having moments when I thought, “omg, what am I doing? I am suppose to live this for TWO YEARS?” People in this group are really great and I am getting quite comfortable with this…
Sans Electricity? Sans Problem!
I cannot lament enough on how wonderful technology is! This past week was long, and there were moments when I thought, “what in the world am I doing here?” “Why did I give up hot shower/microwave/all forms of modern conveniences to learn a 4th language and to live in this…
The American Party
I spent yet another 4th of July holiday abroad; at least I remembered this year, that’s more than last year. How could I forget this year? I am surrounded by Americans! In celebration, we got some ground beef and made burgers. Siobhan made mine but she was impatient, so ours…
Idioms
Where there is low, there is high. Last night, we were invited to the Lady Lord Mayor’s house for dinner. She’s the Mayor of Bangangté and married to a French man. The entire city didn’t have power or water, making it a perfect night to hang out at the Mayor’s…