Two weeks. That is how long I have been in this new place called "home. Africa. Cameroon... West Africa. It's been a reality check for sure, but I've been learning a lot living a lot and loving every minute. I re-read my last blog entry and the roller coaster phenomena already holds true; but this is life "c'est la vie" and I wouldn't trade it for any other situation in the world.
I am living in Bokito Cameroon with a family of one housewife and two older daughters, three older boys, and a bunch of younger children (two young boys and three young girls). I don't get much alone time and PCT (Peace Corps Trainees) spend most of their time at the training venue learning French and having safety/security, medical, cross cultural, and technical sessions. I have played a few games of football and have managed to score some critical goals! Good for me, since I've prided myself on being quite clumsy lately :) I spend my nights hanging out with other volunteers over a casual beer, teaching/ helping my host siblings with their English homework, and watching various Cameroonian/ American films and or listening to said music.
The drivers are crazy here and I am thankful that we are not allowed to take part in that act. I am a bad enough driver in the States; that being said.... can't wait to take my first moto ride. I think this will be soon. The drive from Bafia (where the other trainees are) to Bokito is about 25 minutes and will only cost about 1000 CFA ($2 USD). Wish me luck :)
I have yet to join "the club" which in Peace Corps means getting sick/ horrible diarrhea. FTW but I have been cautious about filtering/ bleaching my water and making sure the food I eat is hot. I sadly had to pass up the pieces of bread my family offered that was swarming with ants. Africa and protein or not.... I don't know if I can stomach that quite yet.
It's the end of the rainy season here and the heat is coming- more so than it already is. It actually has been pretty comfortable and while it gets hot at night the breezes are great and the storms cool things down quite a bit. The mosquitoes love me but thankfully it isn't Malaria season. Lucky me that I finally got my bug lotion.
I only get internet about once or twice a week here, which is probably the same as what I'll get when I'm at post (health will be in pretty rural areas- we find out where we will be for the next two years in about a week or two.... i'll update with more info then). I'm hoping to be in a Francophone region in the south. The North gets too hot for my liking and I think I rather battle humid and mosquitoes then 115 degree heat in the shade and a lack of variety for food/vegetation/life......
My french is getting better, kinda been helping others more than learning new things but living with a host family has aided me. I tested into Intermediate Low and need to be at Intermediate High in order to go to Francophone. (I'm not too worried as of now- we will see after our next LPI: language proficiency interview).
I have been eating alot of plaintains, haricots (beans), riz (rice), and other Cameroonian dishes such as Ndole (which is a stew with bitter greens and fish) It's actually quite good. Haven't had much meet but alot of fish here. Peanuts and sauce d'arachide (peanut sauce) is quite common. Today was my first day where I got to eat a sandwhich- oh how I missed that. Laughing Cow cheese, bread, and piment (chili sauce that kicks Sirachi out of this world.... doesn't mean I don"t want and don't miss it though)
Overall life is good, all is well and loving this experience.
It is hard connecting with others after only being here for two weeks; but things are coming along and every day is a new day.
Live and let live; keep calm and carry on.
Much love to you readers.
ps: bought some sugar cane (yum) and le tissu (fabric) for some traditional Pagna!!!!! I will post pictures after I get my first Cameroonian getup made. I'm thinking a dress, pair of capris, and a head wrap will be in line
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
2
2 days.
That's all I have left in this place I call 'home'. 3 days left in the United States. It all happened so fast, and yet time passed ever so slowly as I waited for this moment to come.
I have been spending the past few weeks saying my goodbyes, giving hugs, hosting parties, and telling others about my soon to be adventures (a countless number of times). People ask a range of questions, always involving "are you excited/ nervous?" , "what do your parents think, do they think you're crazy?", and "oh my god two years, that is such a long time, how will you handle it?"
I feel excited. I'm not nervous. I've been waiting and preparing for the Peace Corps for technically: a year (application process; interview to departure) and really: about three years (researching/ deciding if it was for me). So it's about time that I get the opportunity to see what this is all about.
I think I'll enjoy myself, I think it truly will be as the slogan says it is "the toughest job you'll ever love". I'm approaching it in quite a realistic manner, I know it's not going to be easy, I know it's going to be a roller coaster. I KNOW I'm going to be happy, sad, scared, nervous, unsure, elated, proud, etc- but I cant wait to feel all of that. I've been alive for 22 years but I have a feeling that the Peace Corps will truly make me feel alive, on the tip of my toes, and open my eyes to a whole new set of experiences.
I want to thank all of my friends and especially my family for supporting me through this entire process. I know I have my moody moments in the midst of frustration and stress- but you never gave up on me and my decision to take a hiatus on "normality" and run away to Africa for two years. It may seem like a long time, but it will (probably) pass quickly- and you'll never be out of my heart nor mind. I love you all!!! :)
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm taking it and running. Where will I end up next? (that is what is exciting to think about- that abyss of endless possibility}
I'm not the best with goodbyes but I will miss you all very much.
Keep in touch and I'll let you know 'how goes it' en Afrique.
Feel free to keep the questions coming, I want to relay as much information about Cameroon and my experience abroad as possible. I can write about whatever in any post, but I want to know what YOU ALL want to know too :)
Till next time.
[check it]
Monday, September 12, 2011
9 things.
9 things about my soon to be home.
- The name Cameroon comes from the Portuguese word for prawns; cameroes, which were found in abundance in the Wouri river when the first European explorers arrived.
- Cameroon covers an area of 183,638 square miles, some of which is water, so it is roughly twice the size of the U.K.
- In a 1999 census of the country there was an estimated to be 15.5 million poeple, of which 50% live in rural areas.
- Cameroon is one of only two countries in the entire world to have two official languages; English and French. The other bi-lingual country is Canada.
- There are 275 ethnic groups in Cameroon, other than the official languages there are 167 different dialects spoken.
- Mount Cameroon is the tallest mountain in West Africa at 4095m.
- Cameroon is home to the Goliath frog which at 0.3m (0.6m with legs outstretched) is the largest frog in the world
- Cameroon encompasses many geographical lanscapes that are similar to the whole continent, lush rainforest in the south to scorched desert in the far north, great volcanic lakes and vast savanna planes. It is for this reason it is sometimes dubbed 'Africa in miniature'.
- Debundscha, at the base of Mt. Cameroon, has an average annual rainfall of 405 inches. It is the wettest place on earth.
Here are some websites that give a flavour of the country and the continent.
www.cameroonnews.com
www.africa-geographic.com
www.ethnologue.com
www.southerncameroons.org
www.irinnews.org
www.allafrica.com
www.africaonline.com
www.usafricaonline.com
- The name Cameroon comes from the Portuguese word for prawns; cameroes, which were found in abundance in the Wouri river when the first European explorers arrived.
- Cameroon covers an area of 183,638 square miles, some of which is water, so it is roughly twice the size of the U.K.
- In a 1999 census of the country there was an estimated to be 15.5 million poeple, of which 50% live in rural areas.
- Cameroon is one of only two countries in the entire world to have two official languages; English and French. The other bi-lingual country is Canada.
- There are 275 ethnic groups in Cameroon, other than the official languages there are 167 different dialects spoken.
- Mount Cameroon is the tallest mountain in West Africa at 4095m.
- Cameroon is home to the Goliath frog which at 0.3m (0.6m with legs outstretched) is the largest frog in the world
- Cameroon encompasses many geographical lanscapes that are similar to the whole continent, lush rainforest in the south to scorched desert in the far north, great volcanic lakes and vast savanna planes. It is for this reason it is sometimes dubbed 'Africa in miniature'.
- Debundscha, at the base of Mt. Cameroon, has an average annual rainfall of 405 inches. It is the wettest place on earth.
Here are some websites that give a flavour of the country and the continent.
www.cameroonnews.com
www.africa-geographic.com
www.ethnologue.com
www.southerncameroons.org
www.irinnews.org
www.allafrica.com
www.africaonline.com
www.usafricaonline.com
Monday, August 22, 2011
un mois
One month from today I will be on a plane flying to Cameroun.
Received staging email and called SATO travel immediately to book my flight, honestly the easiest travel arrangement ever. Just gave them my name, email, and date of birth- flying out of Green Bay, WI it is- 6:00 am on September 21st!
The spectrum of emotions I'm feeling as of right now is wide and varying depending on my mood. Sad/ happy/ jittery/ excited/ nervous/ confused.... the list goes on. But to know that I am about to depart and about to leave for the US Peace Corps, wow that is something to say. I've waited a good three years for this- and can't believe it's coming up soo quickly. The group of people who are in my training class seem to be quite nice and I am looking forward to getting to know and experience this with all of them.
One month to eat all the cheese and American goodies I can get!
I'm a WISCONSIN gal.... cheese is not only one of my favorite foods, it's another food group. This could be a problem :)
Some people were wondering about how mail/ communication will be while I'm away: so I'll post some information now.
Communication
Due to recent technological advances (email, international SMS, etc.), Americans have become increasingly accustomed to immediate and convenient communication. This is increasingly becoming the case for Volunteers in Cameroon, although frustrations, particularly with traditional “snail mail” do remain.
Peace Corps Cameroon would like to emphasize the following points to give you a realistic picture of the means of communication available to Volunteers in Cameroon before they leave home:
1. Traditional snail mail still takes a long time and is not reliable. A letter sent from the US will typically take a minimum of 3 weeks to reach a Volunteer in Cameroon. Packages and envelopes that appear to contain valuables still go missing with disheartening frequency. If you are going to regret something if it is lost or stolen, don’t send it.
2. Cell phone service will soon cover the entire country – although many volunteers will still be posted to areas where the network may not yet be available. With the ubiquity of telephone and email, volunteers and family members may want to set up schedules for communication to prevent unnecessary worry when systems go down.
3. In the case of an emergency, Families should contact the Peace Corps/Washington Counseling and Outreach Unit. Please see specific instructions below. This will ensure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
4. All inquiries concerning Volunteers, mail, conditions in Cameroon, other non-emergency inquiries, etc. should be directed to the Cameroon Country Desk in Peace Corps Washington (see below). This will insure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
5. Cyber cafés now exist in all the larger cities and many of the smaller ones in Cameroon. However, due to infrastructure problems and the limited service, e-mail is not totally reliable and often slow.
Mail
Few countries in the world offer the quality of postal service that we consider normal in the U.S. Volunteers, family and friends who expect U.S. standards for mail service will be disappointed. Mail takes a minimum of three weeks to arrive in Cameroon and may take several months. Some mail may not arrive at all (this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). Some letters may arrive with clipped edges because postal workers have tried to see if any money was inside (again, this is rare, but it does happen). We do not want to sound discouraging, but when we are thousands of miles from our families and friends, communication becomes a very sensitive issue. We would prefer you be forewarned of the reality of mail service in the developing world.
Despite delays, we strongly encourage Volunteers to write to their families regularly. Family members will typically become worried when they do not hear from their Volunteer, so parents, friends, and relatives should be advised that mail is sporadic and that they shouldn't worry if they don't receive their Volunteer's letters regularly.
In the past we have noticed a common Volunteer letter writing pattern that particularly disturbs families and friends. During training and their first three to six months at post, Volunteers write home frequently. They are adapting to a totally new environment (which can be very difficult), and writing helps them process the new sights and sounds. However, once Volunteers feel at home with their surroundings and their work starts to take off, many simply forget to write home for long periods of time. Please don't be overly concerned if there is a break in correspondence three to six months after your Volunteer arrives at post!
However, if a family member or friends does not receive mail from a Volunteer for over three months, then that person may contact the Counseling and Outreach Unit (COU) at Peace Corps Washington (1-800-424-8580, extension 1470). COU will then send a "health and welfare” inquiry to the Peace Corps Country Director in Yaoundé and ask her to check up on the PCV.
Typically, Volunteers are in regular contact with the Peace Corps/Cameroon office in Yaounde. However, as necessary, to respond to a “health and welfare” inquiry, the office in Yaounde will contact a Volunteer at his or her site by making a series of phone calls, radio contacts, or even sending a staff member to the site (which means several days travel in some cases). The PCV will then be asked to write home and the Country Director will inform COU with information to pass on to family members. As you can see, this is a time-consuming process that affects quite a few people. Peace Corps asks
Volunteers and their families to try to avoid both heartache and headaches by maintaining a regular pattern of writing to loved ones.
Most packages sent to Cameroon arrive (sometimes a few months late).
Nevertheless DO NOT send things that have important sentimental or monetary value. Don't send expensive items, such as the Volunteer's favorite pair of one-carat diamond earrings. Items such as food and clothing have usually arrived with no problem, but it's expensive for the sender and receiver. If sending packages, "bubble envelopes" work best. If sending any food items, put them inside a ziploc bag. This will reduce chances that bugs or rodents will devour them.
For the first 3 months after your Volunteer’s arrival in Cameroon, mail should be sent to the following address:
Crystal Kazik, Peace Corps Volunteer
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Once Volunteers complete training and are at their posts, the quickest way to send mail is to send letters and packages directly to your Volunteer's address at post. Remind your Volunteer to relay their mailing address at post as soon as they know what it will be. If you do not know your Volunteer's address at post, mail can be sent to the Yaoundé address above the entire time the Volunteer is in Cameroon. Please realize that mail sent to this address will be held in Yaoundé until sent out on a bi-weekly basis to Volunteer posts (thereby delaying delivery for up to several weeks).
The following suggestions and postal regulations may be useful:
1. Mail should be sent directly to the Yaoundé address, OR directly to your Volunteer's post address once training is finished.
2. Both Volunteers and family members should number letters sent so that the receiver can determine whether any letters do not arrive.
3. Packages should be sent via air, not surface mail (surface mail has been known to take longer than two years to arrive).
4. Sending packages to your Volunteer in Cameroon is a risky proposition. Theft of packages is not only a problem in the Cameroonian postal system, it also occurs on the U.S. side. Although occasionally a package arrives quickly and without problems, it may take months or it may get "lost" along the way. Therefore, it is not advisable to send valuables this way.
5. If you do send packages, bubble envelopes seem to work better than large boxes. They are less tempting to would-be thieves. The sender should clearly and honestly mark the contents on the outside of the package, but a general description of the contents is sufficient: "clothing and candy" rather than "Nike high top sneakers and 2 lbs. Godiva chocolate."
6. Express mail is an expensive option that may take just as long to get to Cameroon. Perhaps a more secure option than regular airmail for documents, checks, etc., it is subject to more scrutiny by Cameroonian customs than regular mail. For items other than documents, Peace Corps staff has to submit import licenses to customs, and clearance can take up to 10 days. Thus, you may not necessarily save any time by using Express mail. DHL and UPS operate in Cameroon for those important documents. Note that current prices for these services run around $100.00 for one pound or less.
7. There is a tax which Volunteers will have to pay on all packages received before they can retrieve them from the post office. This tax varies according to the size of the package. It might be a nice gesture from friends or family to send a six-pack of Mountain Dew, but it may cost a Volunteer up to $10.00 to get it out of the post office.
8. Packages sent to the Yaoundé office are sent regularly but not immediately to Volunteer posts. This may delay delivery to the Volunteer by up to several weeks.
9. If Volunteers wish to send a package from Yaoundé to the States, Cameroon postal rates are high and insurance is not available. For this reason, many Volunteers wait to send packages with returning PCVs (whom they ask first, in country) or wait until their Completion of Service (COS) date to send home gifts and souvenirs. Letters going to the States through the Cameroon post have been quite dependable.
10. US postage-stamped letters can be put in the "next traveler" box at the Peace Corps office in Yaoundé, to be hand carried by the next person going Stateside. Note that this is a courtesy, not an obligation, and Volunteers shouldn't expect any traveler to carry more than letter mail, unless special arrangements are made with the individual. Air travelers may be required to open letters and packages and/or submit them to X-rays, especially when they don't belong to the traveler.
11. The Cameroon Desk in Peace Corps Headquarters, Washington, is available to answer Volunteer & families' questions about mail. Due to staff and budget constraints, they cannot, however, facilitate the sending of personal mail for Trainees and Volunteers.
Telephones
All major cities and increasing numbers of remote towns in Cameroon have access to telephone and FAX services. Almost all volunteers now have cell phones (GSM). This has greatly improved Volunteers’ ability to communicate with their family and friends in the U.S.
The cost of calling the U.S. can be expensive. Often a Volunteer will place a short call to a friend or family member and have them return the call.
Received staging email and called SATO travel immediately to book my flight, honestly the easiest travel arrangement ever. Just gave them my name, email, and date of birth- flying out of Green Bay, WI it is- 6:00 am on September 21st!
The spectrum of emotions I'm feeling as of right now is wide and varying depending on my mood. Sad/ happy/ jittery/ excited/ nervous/ confused.... the list goes on. But to know that I am about to depart and about to leave for the US Peace Corps, wow that is something to say. I've waited a good three years for this- and can't believe it's coming up soo quickly. The group of people who are in my training class seem to be quite nice and I am looking forward to getting to know and experience this with all of them.
One month to eat all the cheese and American goodies I can get!
I'm a WISCONSIN gal.... cheese is not only one of my favorite foods, it's another food group. This could be a problem :)
Some people were wondering about how mail/ communication will be while I'm away: so I'll post some information now.
Communication
Due to recent technological advances (email, international SMS, etc.), Americans have become increasingly accustomed to immediate and convenient communication. This is increasingly becoming the case for Volunteers in Cameroon, although frustrations, particularly with traditional “snail mail” do remain.
Peace Corps Cameroon would like to emphasize the following points to give you a realistic picture of the means of communication available to Volunteers in Cameroon before they leave home:
1. Traditional snail mail still takes a long time and is not reliable. A letter sent from the US will typically take a minimum of 3 weeks to reach a Volunteer in Cameroon. Packages and envelopes that appear to contain valuables still go missing with disheartening frequency. If you are going to regret something if it is lost or stolen, don’t send it.
2. Cell phone service will soon cover the entire country – although many volunteers will still be posted to areas where the network may not yet be available. With the ubiquity of telephone and email, volunteers and family members may want to set up schedules for communication to prevent unnecessary worry when systems go down.
3. In the case of an emergency, Families should contact the Peace Corps/Washington Counseling and Outreach Unit. Please see specific instructions below. This will ensure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
4. All inquiries concerning Volunteers, mail, conditions in Cameroon, other non-emergency inquiries, etc. should be directed to the Cameroon Country Desk in Peace Corps Washington (see below). This will insure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
5. Cyber cafés now exist in all the larger cities and many of the smaller ones in Cameroon. However, due to infrastructure problems and the limited service, e-mail is not totally reliable and often slow.
Few countries in the world offer the quality of postal service that we consider normal in the U.S. Volunteers, family and friends who expect U.S. standards for mail service will be disappointed. Mail takes a minimum of three weeks to arrive in Cameroon and may take several months. Some mail may not arrive at all (this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). Some letters may arrive with clipped edges because postal workers have tried to see if any money was inside (again, this is rare, but it does happen). We do not want to sound discouraging, but when we are thousands of miles from our families and friends, communication becomes a very sensitive issue. We would prefer you be forewarned of the reality of mail service in the developing world.
Despite delays, we strongly encourage Volunteers to write to their families regularly. Family members will typically become worried when they do not hear from their Volunteer, so parents, friends, and relatives should be advised that mail is sporadic and that they shouldn't worry if they don't receive their Volunteer's letters regularly.
In the past we have noticed a common Volunteer letter writing pattern that particularly disturbs families and friends. During training and their first three to six months at post, Volunteers write home frequently. They are adapting to a totally new environment (which can be very difficult), and writing helps them process the new sights and sounds. However, once Volunteers feel at home with their surroundings and their work starts to take off, many simply forget to write home for long periods of time. Please don't be overly concerned if there is a break in correspondence three to six months after your Volunteer arrives at post!
However, if a family member or friends does not receive mail from a Volunteer for over three months, then that person may contact the Counseling and Outreach Unit (COU) at Peace Corps Washington (1-800-424-8580, extension 1470). COU will then send a "health and welfare” inquiry to the Peace Corps Country Director in Yaoundé and ask her to check up on the PCV.
Typically, Volunteers are in regular contact with the Peace Corps/Cameroon office in Yaounde. However, as necessary, to respond to a “health and welfare” inquiry, the office in Yaounde will contact a Volunteer at his or her site by making a series of phone calls, radio contacts, or even sending a staff member to the site (which means several days travel in some cases). The PCV will then be asked to write home and the Country Director will inform COU with information to pass on to family members. As you can see, this is a time-consuming process that affects quite a few people. Peace Corps asks
Volunteers and their families to try to avoid both heartache and headaches by maintaining a regular pattern of writing to loved ones.
Most packages sent to Cameroon arrive (sometimes a few months late).
Nevertheless DO NOT send things that have important sentimental or monetary value. Don't send expensive items, such as the Volunteer's favorite pair of one-carat diamond earrings. Items such as food and clothing have usually arrived with no problem, but it's expensive for the sender and receiver. If sending packages, "bubble envelopes" work best. If sending any food items, put them inside a ziploc bag. This will reduce chances that bugs or rodents will devour them.
For the first 3 months after your Volunteer’s arrival in Cameroon, mail should be sent to the following address:
Crystal Kazik, Peace Corps Volunteer
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Once Volunteers complete training and are at their posts, the quickest way to send mail is to send letters and packages directly to your Volunteer's address at post. Remind your Volunteer to relay their mailing address at post as soon as they know what it will be. If you do not know your Volunteer's address at post, mail can be sent to the Yaoundé address above the entire time the Volunteer is in Cameroon. Please realize that mail sent to this address will be held in Yaoundé until sent out on a bi-weekly basis to Volunteer posts (thereby delaying delivery for up to several weeks).
The following suggestions and postal regulations may be useful:
1. Mail should be sent directly to the Yaoundé address, OR directly to your Volunteer's post address once training is finished.
2. Both Volunteers and family members should number letters sent so that the receiver can determine whether any letters do not arrive.
3. Packages should be sent via air, not surface mail (surface mail has been known to take longer than two years to arrive).
4. Sending packages to your Volunteer in Cameroon is a risky proposition. Theft of packages is not only a problem in the Cameroonian postal system, it also occurs on the U.S. side. Although occasionally a package arrives quickly and without problems, it may take months or it may get "lost" along the way. Therefore, it is not advisable to send valuables this way.
5. If you do send packages, bubble envelopes seem to work better than large boxes. They are less tempting to would-be thieves. The sender should clearly and honestly mark the contents on the outside of the package, but a general description of the contents is sufficient: "clothing and candy" rather than "Nike high top sneakers and 2 lbs. Godiva chocolate."
6. Express mail is an expensive option that may take just as long to get to Cameroon. Perhaps a more secure option than regular airmail for documents, checks, etc., it is subject to more scrutiny by Cameroonian customs than regular mail. For items other than documents, Peace Corps staff has to submit import licenses to customs, and clearance can take up to 10 days. Thus, you may not necessarily save any time by using Express mail. DHL and UPS operate in Cameroon for those important documents. Note that current prices for these services run around $100.00 for one pound or less.
7. There is a tax which Volunteers will have to pay on all packages received before they can retrieve them from the post office. This tax varies according to the size of the package. It might be a nice gesture from friends or family to send a six-pack of Mountain Dew, but it may cost a Volunteer up to $10.00 to get it out of the post office.
8. Packages sent to the Yaoundé office are sent regularly but not immediately to Volunteer posts. This may delay delivery to the Volunteer by up to several weeks.
9. If Volunteers wish to send a package from Yaoundé to the States, Cameroon postal rates are high and insurance is not available. For this reason, many Volunteers wait to send packages with returning PCVs (whom they ask first, in country) or wait until their Completion of Service (COS) date to send home gifts and souvenirs. Letters going to the States through the Cameroon post have been quite dependable.
10. US postage-stamped letters can be put in the "next traveler" box at the Peace Corps office in Yaoundé, to be hand carried by the next person going Stateside. Note that this is a courtesy, not an obligation, and Volunteers shouldn't expect any traveler to carry more than letter mail, unless special arrangements are made with the individual. Air travelers may be required to open letters and packages and/or submit them to X-rays, especially when they don't belong to the traveler.
11. The Cameroon Desk in Peace Corps Headquarters, Washington, is available to answer Volunteer & families' questions about mail. Due to staff and budget constraints, they cannot, however, facilitate the sending of personal mail for Trainees and Volunteers.
Telephones
All major cities and increasing numbers of remote towns in Cameroon have access to telephone and FAX services. Almost all volunteers now have cell phones (GSM). This has greatly improved Volunteers’ ability to communicate with their family and friends in the U.S.
The cost of calling the U.S. can be expensive. Often a Volunteer will place a short call to a friend or family member and have them return the call.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
l'aventure.
we are approaching august, which means a number of things.
1) road trip to Arizona with friends Sarah, Brandon, and David- where she will begin studies at ASU and all will begin life in a new place. we're driving from good ol' De Pere, WI all the way to Phoenix, AZ. we are planning to move them in, explore Phoenix (hiking, nightlife, etc), take an excursion to Southern California, and then a few day camping trip (around Sedona). it will be a much needed vacation, and i have never road tripped with friends before! can't wait to see some mountains!
2) peace corps will be right around the corner! it IS right around the corner! less than two months! :) :) :) i completed my vaccination paperwork, printed off passport photos, filled out my financial loan forms, and will be receiving my 2010 elections absentee ballot by mail. the only thing i am not looking forward to are the good byes :( i will post the address of where i will be as soon as i get staging information/ more concrete details! along with this will be packing packing packing and alot of organizing! but i have a little bit of time to relax. (however it will be about a month left once i get back from AZ!!) can't believe it's almost here.
hope all is well with everyone.
i'll share a poem by emily bronte, as my parting words:
No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear.
O God within my breast,
Almighty, ever-present Deity!
Life--that in me has rest,
As I--undying Life--have power in thee!
Vain are the thousand creeds
That move men's hearts: unutterably vain;
Worthless as withered weeds,
Or idlest froth amid the boundless main,
To waken doubt in one
Holding so fast by thine infinity;
So surely anchored on
The stedfast rock of immortality.
With wide-embracing love
Thy spirit animates eternal years,
Pervades and broods above,
Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears.
Though earth and man were gone,
And suns and universes ceased to be,
And Thou were left alone,
Every existence would exist in Thee.
There is not room for Death,
Nor atom that his might could render void:
Thou--THOU art Being and Breath,
And what THOU art may never be destroyed
1) road trip to Arizona with friends Sarah, Brandon, and David- where she will begin studies at ASU and all will begin life in a new place. we're driving from good ol' De Pere, WI all the way to Phoenix, AZ. we are planning to move them in, explore Phoenix (hiking, nightlife, etc), take an excursion to Southern California, and then a few day camping trip (around Sedona). it will be a much needed vacation, and i have never road tripped with friends before! can't wait to see some mountains!
2) peace corps will be right around the corner! it IS right around the corner! less than two months! :) :) :) i completed my vaccination paperwork, printed off passport photos, filled out my financial loan forms, and will be receiving my 2010 elections absentee ballot by mail. the only thing i am not looking forward to are the good byes :( i will post the address of where i will be as soon as i get staging information/ more concrete details! along with this will be packing packing packing and alot of organizing! but i have a little bit of time to relax. (however it will be about a month left once i get back from AZ!!) can't believe it's almost here.
hope all is well with everyone.
i'll share a poem by emily bronte, as my parting words:
No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear.
O God within my breast,
Almighty, ever-present Deity!
Life--that in me has rest,
As I--undying Life--have power in thee!
Vain are the thousand creeds
That move men's hearts: unutterably vain;
Worthless as withered weeds,
Or idlest froth amid the boundless main,
To waken doubt in one
Holding so fast by thine infinity;
So surely anchored on
The stedfast rock of immortality.
With wide-embracing love
Thy spirit animates eternal years,
Pervades and broods above,
Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears.
Though earth and man were gone,
And suns and universes ceased to be,
And Thou were left alone,
Every existence would exist in Thee.
There is not room for Death,
Nor atom that his might could render void:
Thou--THOU art Being and Breath,
And what THOU art may never be destroyed
Monday, July 18, 2011
Other interesting facts:
[courtesy of Wiki & The US Dept. of State
French & English are the official languages.
It is described as "Africa-in-miniature"- a microcosm if you will.
Religions: Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous African 40%.
Government Type: Republic; strong central government dominated by president (currently Paul Biya)
Independence: January 1, 1960 (from France)& October 1, 1961 (from Britain).
Natural resources: Oil, timber, hydroelectric power, natural gas, cobalt, nickel, iron ore, uranium.
Agriculture (2009): 19.8% of GDP. Products--timber, coffee, tea, bananas, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, pineapples, cotton. Arable land (2005 est.)--12.54%.
Cameroon has a number of private newspapers, radio stations, and private television stations. Censorship was officially abolished in 1996, but the government has on occasion seized or suspended newspapers, radio stations, and television stations. In recent years the harassment and arrests of journalists has increased.
Approximately 140 Peace Corps volunteers continue to work successfully in agroforestry, community development, education, and health. The Peace Corps plans to double the number of volunteers in Cameroon by 2011. The Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde organizes and funds diverse cultural, educational, and informational exchanges. It maintains a library and helps foster the development of Cameroon's independent press by providing information in a number of areas, including U.S. human rights and democratization policies. The Embassy's Self-Help and Democracy and Human Rights Funds are some of the largest in Africa.
I'd like to hike Mt. Cameroon, visit the black sand beaches in Kribi, and go to Waza National Park during service.
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