Here is a comprehensive list of every singe blog post I’ve ever written. Happy Reading!
Lesson of the Week
Do Laundry Every Weekend. I learned this the hard way today. Last weekend, I was lazy and didn’t do laundry since I still had enough clothes to last through this week. The consequence of that behavior was me spending more than 3 hours washing my clothes by hand and having…
Freezing in Africa
I am currently sitting on my bed, wearing the only light hootie i brought and sweatpants, my feet are placed under my laptop for warmth. I am in Africa, and I am freezing. This is a perfect example how one should not generalize Africa, the continent. After all, Africa is…
Fate in a Hat
I come from two different cultures that share the same attitude towards life – that life is compose by a series of cause and effect and I have a great deal of control over my own future. Yet today was the second time in 6 months where I have absolutely…
In my bubble! What bubble?!
8 adults plus 1 infant on a 4, at most 5, passenger car? pas de probleme! That is how I ended my week-long site visit. The hour-ride back back from the provincial capital consists me twisted like a human pretzel sandwiched between Kat and a big mama holding her infant…
Civilisation Me Manques!
Things have really taken off ever since we returned from our site visits. Language classes and other training sessions continually occupy my days. But more importantly, I am spending all of my free time with fellow stageaires (trainees) before we all go on our separate ways in less than a…
Christmas in July!
Today, I was not a kid left out at summer camp! The package mom had sent me a few weeks ago made it to my hands! Many people got packages today and it was literally Christmas in July. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much utter excitement permeating throughout…
“Grocery Shopping”
This morning, I visited the meat market for the first time in Cameroon. David and I went to the market to buy beef for our party tomorrow. Each weekend, we find an excuse to party and get our curfew extended from 7pm to 9pm. This week, it’s Joe’s birthday! In…
The Things We Do
I got two more packages yesterday! Katie and Emma both rock for sending me goodies! Since they both sent the goods in bubbled envelopes, the chocolate bars were rather smashed. In the States, I would never eat a smashed, melted Reese’s Peanut Butter cup, but here; I opened that sucker…
Olympic Spirit
With the opening of the summer Olympic games in Beijing, the talk of China has permeated my life. I love the Olympics! I remember watching the games intently as a young girl in Taiwan and becoming very excited when one of our few athletes does well. Olympic games represent a…
Expectations
The rain continues to fall; the rainy season persists. Next week this time, I will officially be a volunteer for the Peace Corps and celebrating the last night with fellow trainees and then off to my village. Time has flown by quickly, and despite annoyances relating to training, I’ve enjoyed…
A Long Post
Hi Friends! Sorry I have been MIA for a while. These past week and a half has been a crazy whirlwind, and certainly been the best time since I arrived in country. I will do my best to recap and also section off this long entry for easy reading! Yaounde…
Au Village
Second week at post is coming to an end, and I am starting to feel more like a member of this community. My house is coming along nicely. The walls are painted baby blue and I’ve added a few personal touches to make it mine. As Kate puts it, I’ve…
Volunteers for Volunteers
Happy Birthday to moi! Last year yesterday, I submitted my application for the Peace Corps, and a year later, here I am. First birthday in Africa, but completely Chinese style. Thanks to my wonderful Chinese friends and Kate, my would’ve-been-lonely-birthday this year turned out to be quite fun! The morning…
Peace Corps China?
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! I spent the day with my people celebrating the holiday. I am now officially more Chinese here in Cameroon than I ever was in the U.S. I don’t remember the last time I celebrated this holiday. When it comes to celebrating, the Chinese loves to incorporate eating….
Tu es fou!
These past few days, I’ve been very impatient with tidbits of life here. Most of the frustrations have to do with transportation and big city living. The more I spend time in my quaint village, the more easily I get angry at the big cities. Kate is still staying with…