GRE in Cameroon
November 2, 2009
October came and went, and as I indicated in the previous posts, I’ve spent most of the month cramming esoteric vocabulary words into that tiny brain of mine, and also remembering how to do 7th grade math. This GRE is a re-take for me. Last time I took this painful exam was in the U.S., at Saint Louis University in…
Read MoreBlog Action Day: Cold in Africa
October 15, 2009
I really didn’t plan on writing a blog post for this year’s Blog Action Day because I honestly don’t have all that much to say about climate change. But I think the weather this week wanted me to. We are now heading toward the end of October, and normally here in Cameroon, that means the beginning of dry season –…
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You just never know!
September 28, 2009
Current Mood: Uggghhaaahhh I am SO sick of begging for money. My goal to fund Phase I of Books For Cameroon by the end of September is unlikely to happen, unless either an amazing, generous philanthropist decides to donate $3.5k in the next 24 hours, OR, if by some bizarre miracle, 700 people decide to donate their next $5 latte/beer…
Read MoreEmbracing Solitude
September 24, 2009
7am. I was still asleep. Phone rings. I turned and saw an unregistered number. Reflex hit the ignored button. 30 seconds later, it rings again. This time, my conscious told me this may actually be about work, so I answered it. Still half asleep, I somehow managed to converse in French with a lady calling to see when in the…
Read More3-Way Culture Exchange
September 19, 2009
Tuesday morning, I traveled back to the West with two French tourists, Laure & Fabien. They are friends of a French volunteer in Yaoundé, who didn’t have time to travel with them. Laure & Fabien were going to travel alone and asked me if I knew a good hotel. I offered to take them in and play tour guide for…
Read MoreAh, Yaoundé.
September 19, 2009
Following my birthday, I traveled to Yaoundé with Jerome since he was returning to France. I used this occasion and arranged a few meetings for my projects. I had contacted someone at the US Embassy and was hoping to meet on late Friday afternoon since she wouldn’t be available on Monday. Newsflash, the Embassy closes at 12:30pm on Friday?! So…
Read MoreBirthday #2 au Cameroun
September 19, 2009
On September 9th (09/09/09!), I celebrated my 23rd birthday in Cameroon and it was fantastic. Holidays end up being so much more fun here in Cameroon due to the low expectation. I should continue to adopt this attitude upon leaving here. Expect nothing and enjoy whatever comes my way. The day began with a trip into Bafoussam. Mom had sent…
Read MoreWhy Libraries?
September 1, 2009
In honor of International Literacy Day on September 8th, I decided to write about why I began the Books For Cameroon project. I am a business volunteer, but why am I building libraries? Today, I will share the story behind this motivation. As a kid growing up in Taiwan, I was definitely an introvert. While didn’t realize it at the…
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