Throwing the Darts
March 14, 2009
Lately, I’ve been pondering what my next step will be beyond two years of Peace Corps service here in Cameroon, despite the fact I still have at least 15 months left. What can I say, I am slightly obsessive compulsive when it comes to my future. I am known to come up with an outrageous idea about my life, with…
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Wanderlust
March 11, 2009
Ever been in a conversation where everyone is speaking a language you don’t quite understand or completely clueless about? That’s me from the very beginning of life. Well, I suppose that’s everyone. But for as long as I remembered, I’ve found myself time and again in such situations. Frankly, I love it. It began with the family from my father’s…
Read MoreYes, this conversation IS happening…
March 9, 2009
So the day after International Women’s Day, I walked into down and saw virtually no one during the 30-minute walk, and then during the last three minutes, I passed a guy and he said, “what did you get for me?” I gave him a dirty look and walked away. Then I got to la mairie (the mayor’s office/community center) and…
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International Women’s Day
March 8, 2009
The long awaited IWD is here! A few weeks ago, I purchased the International Women’s Day pagne (fabric) with another woman in village and found a new tailor who made the cutest dress for me! Villagers love that I have a dress made in this pagne, albeit in a western style. I talked to people about what all goes on…
Read MoreRoller Coaster
March 7, 2009
A while ago, Kate told me she misses going to amusement parks and riding roller coasters, and my response was, “isn’t taking a car to Batié a wild roller coaster ride every time?” Today, I was reminded of that yet again. I have been in this country for 9 months now (wow!) and besides the first three months of living…
Read MoreGetting Out
March 3, 2009
Ever since the self-imposed 72-hour house arrest a while ago, getting out of the house has become increasingly more difficult. Then the acquisition of Internet has made leaving my house everyday a serious effort. There are just so many productive things I can be doing online that it takes a lot more to justify a trek into town. However, every…
Read MoreWorking Under Pressure
March 2, 2009
I’ve always been the kind of person that works much better under time pressure. This is why during my days in university, my grades were the best during the semester when I worked two jobs and volunteered too much. Free time allow me to say, “i’ll do it later” and meanwhile feel my time doing a whole lot of nothing.…
Read MoreThe Complicated Ways
February 27, 2009
You know how at interviews when they ask, “Describe a time when you had to think quickly on your feet to respond to unexpected problems”, or “Describe a time when you had to solve a problem creatively”? I think living in Cameroon has allowed me to have at least one story a day that answers to these behavioral type questions.…
Read MoreStoned Heart? or Stronger?
February 27, 2009
Last week, Juliette went back to France. The population of “les blancs” in village is now down to one – just me. Several friends and I accompanied her to the airport. On the way there, I noticed that I felt nothing and became alarmed by the lack of feelings. Starting at age 12, I’ve had to say many goodbyes to…
Read MoreBack in Business
February 27, 2009
After a string of less than pleasant events in the last month, things are looking up, for real this time. I took a small trip a while ago to clear my head, to regain perspective and to avoid punching someone/some kid in the face. The trip was a wonderful escape (details to come). I saw different ways of living within…
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