A Call for Help! – Building 28 Bilingual Libraries!
July 27, 2009
As many of you know, I somehow got myself into this silly project of bringing 28 bilingual libraries to Cameroon. All I wanted was some books for this tiny 4-room school by my house. How the project manifested into such scale, I haven’t a clue. Either way, here we are, trying to raise funds to pay for the shipping fee…
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Percussion Festival in Foumban
July 27, 2009
Saturday morning, I met up with 3 French girls in Bafoussam and rode in their pick up truck to Foumban. Clotide is the French volunteer in Dschang and is blessed with a car. Seeing a girl drive here in Cameroon is really bizarre, but cool at the same time. I haven’t driven in over a year, and thinking about it…
Read More‘c’est comme ça chez nous’
July 27, 2009
Two weeks ago, I taught a week-long business seminar in Yaoundé, in collaboration with RELUFA, a network aim to reduce poverty in Cameroon. The NGO organized a group of young students who are currently in either high school or university. The seminar is a part of the summer program organized for youth. I had a lot of fun teaching; being…
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Small Luxuries
July 27, 2009
The one thing I know I will miss when I return to the “real world” is the way I find delight in the most minute details of life here. My friend Jérémy, the last of the Frenchies in my area, is leaving in a few weeks and he left the village for good a few days ago. Sad times. Saying…
Read MoreOut of the US and into… Cameroon?!
July 27, 2009
For most of us, the first time out of the US is usually somewhere nearby – Canada, Mexico – or somewhere popular in Europe – France, England, etc. On my first day of teaching the business seminar with RELUFA, I met two girls from the US. One of them is still in high school, and it was her first trip…
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Half Way Around the Globe
July 10, 2009
hmm.. right. So I sort of abandoned this blog. I think the fact I just began and thus no real readers was a bit of a problem. But I gotta start somewhere, right? So I shall keep writing. The other reason I’ve neglected was more legit. I’ve been traveling. In May, I went back to Taiwan for a visit and…
Read MoreLet the Rain Fall
July 9, 2009
We are most certainly in the midst of the rainy season here in West Cameroon. Today was a perfect rainy season day – the rain was falling ALL DAY LONG. I am not kidding. From the moment I woke up until even now, it’s either pouring or drizzling. So, like any other Peace Corps volunteer who is bien intégré (well…
Read MoreEmotional Rollercoaster
July 8, 2009
People probably often describe the Peace Corps experience as a roller coaster ride – full of unknowns, etc. That is undoubtedly true, but for me, the emotional roller coaster ride seems to have a greater effect than the general ambiguity of everyday life. My emotions are heightened. So when I am feeling happy, I am REALLY happy. But when I…
Read MoreAnd… We Are Back! (or at least I am)
July 5, 2009
After sending Megan off, I was in Yaoundé for Mid-Service – the week-long medical exams to make sure I didn’t catch any strange diseases over the past year. Very luckily, nothing weird. I got my teeth cleaned, some dental work done. But overall, still very healthy, alive and kicking. I got back to village and was completely alone for the…
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