June 27, 2009

B-town, West Africa

Calm down, deep breaths, get yourself dressed, instead of running around and pulling on your threads and breaking yourself up
If it’s a broken part replace it, if it’s a broken arm then brace it, if it’s a broken heart then face it. And hold your own, know your name and go your own way. Hold your own, know your name and go your own way and everything will be fine.
Hang on, help is on the way. Stay strong, I’m doing everything. Hold your own, know your name and go your own way. Hold your own, know your name and go your own way and everything, everything will be fine, everything.
Are the details in the fabric? Are the things that make you panic, are the thoughts results of static cling? Are the things that make you blow and the reason go on and scream. If you’re shocked it’s just a fault of faulty manufacturing. Everything will be fine, everything, no time at all, everything.
Hold your own, know your name, go your own way. Hold your own, know your name, and go your own way. Everything will be fine. Everything in no time at all, hearts will hold.
- Details in the Fabric, by Jason Mraz
“Head under water and they tell me to breathe easy for a while. " Sarah ...

I’m taking Jason Mraz’s words to heart these days and Sarah’s lyric line is a perfect example of Peace Corps pre-service training. Every day is slightly more challenging than the one before. Language is still coming extremely slow. I was told today that I will have language training by myself next week. This is pretty much the parallel of riding the short bus in the Peace Corps world (at least that is how I see it). I’m staying positive and if riding the short bus will help my French, sign me up!
The SED trainees received our businesses on Monday that we will work with over the next six weeks. My business is a Beaureatique Cyber Café. The business has three computers that people use for the internet. The other two computers are used for assisting people with computer project or teaching sessions. The business also sells paper and other supplies and will make copies for its clients. I was extremely thankful when I realized that my lady spoke English! She would like me to do some marketing and increase her client base. This should be an interesting task! When I went with her on Monday to see the store and we were discussing when I would be back, she quickly said, “Oh, I expect you every day for at least 30 minutes”. I about fell over! We are only required to go once a week and that time is scheduled into our day. I quickly made it clear that I am extremely busy and would come as much as possible. I went back on Wednesday and will probably pop my head in tomorrow. It should be great experience for what I can expect when I get to post.
Spain and the US played on Wednesday night and we were allowed an extended curfew to hang out and watch at Chez Pierre. Almost the entire group was there, plus the PCV’s that were visiting (Kate, Nick, Elise and Jim). We all had a good time, even when the drunken Cameroonian came in and told us that we were too loud. The PCV’s were in shock, Cameroonians never think someone is too loud. They tend to party into the wee hours of the night with no thought to how loud they are being to their neighbors. The US won 2-0 and the next day David told us that the Cameroonians were upset with us for not celebrating our win with more jubilee! I have to add that I got home right around 10 and the house was completely dark and the gate locked! I had to ring the bell, which is loud as a siren, and then Jim starting beating on the gate when they didn’t immediately respond. Finally my brother came and let me in. I felt so bad but then again they knew when to expect me! This living with a family and not being able to communicate is a pain in the ass!
As I’ve stated before, Cameroonian’s love soccer (au football). A week ago B-town had their 2nd game in the tournament against Yaoundé. I thought the first game was crazy and after seeing this one, that was a gross understatement. The crowd had almost doubled and they now had a full out band on one side and then a group of men on another side with African drums. People were running around waving the B-town flag and some even went as far as to paint themselves. The gendarmes had doubled, if not tripled in number! B-town ended up winning 4-0 (an extremely high scoring game)! Yaoundé just couldn’t seem to get it together. Unfortunately, the next game in the tournament is not in B-town so we will miss it but I am hoping fervently that they will continue to win!
Later that evening I went on a promenade with my home stay mother, Berline. I didn’t quite understand what this term meant. I thought we were just going for a quick little walk. Oh hell no! We stopped by her cousins’ store, then her aunt’s bar, then her other cousin’s bar, where she pimped me out by giving my number to some man named Francis who didn’t speak a lick of English. God, I pray he doesn’t call, that would be a disaster! After that short stop there (where I got a grapefruit Top and some peanuts), we moved on to a bigger bar where we sat with B-town’s goalie’s parents. They were decked out in the yellow/green B-town gear and were in extremely high spirits, which was being aided by large bottles of Cameroonian beer. All in all it was an extremely educational evening; I was hugged and kissed more than any one event in my life!
This week in training we had Gender and Youth Development and HIV/AIDS sessions. Two people living with HIV came and spoke to us. It was unbelievable and so heart wrenching! They discussed how they got it (if they knew), what they are doing to fight it, and how their families were affected. The main problem with AIDS/HIV in Africa is lack of education. People here still think that you can get the virus from just being near an infected person. They also believe a good many other myths that I won’t get into at this time. For example, the man had been a principal at a school and fell extremely sick. The founder of the school had him tested for HIV/AIDS and when he received the results told all his colleagues. He was then sent a letter letting him know he had been terminated. This situation ended up making national news, where the headlines read something to the affect of, “Principal infects at least 200”. Absolutely unbelievable! There are no words. As Peace Corps volunteers (not medical), they ask that we just befriend any HIV infected be come across and just show people that by speaking or shaking someone’s hand the virus is not transmitted.

June 27, 2009

B-town, West Africa

Calm down, deep breaths, get yourself dressed, instead of running around and pulling on your threads and breaking yourself up
If it’s a broken part replace it, if it’s a broken arm then brace it, if it’s a broken heart then face it. And hold your own, know your name and go your own way. Hold your own, know your name and go your own way and everything will be fine.
Hang on, help is on the way. Stay strong, I’m doing everything. Hold your own, know your name and go your own way. Hold your own, know your name and go your own way and everything, everything will be fine, everything.
Are the details in the fabric? Are the things that make you panic, are the thoughts results of static cling? Are the things that make you blow and the reason go on and scream. If you’re shocked it’s just a fault of faulty manufacturing. Everything will be fine, everything, no time at all, everything.
Hold your own, know your name, go your own way. Hold your own, know your name, and go your own way. Everything will be fine. Everything in no time at all, hearts will hold.
- Details in the Fabric, by Jason Mraz
“Head under water and they tell me to breathe easy for a while. " Sarah ...

I’m taking Jason Mraz’s words to heart these days and Sarah’s lyric line is a perfect example of Peace Corps pre-service training. Every day is slightly more challenging than the one before. Language is still coming extremely slow. I was told today that I will have language training by myself next week. This is pretty much the parallel of riding the short bus in the Peace Corps world (at least that is how I see it). I’m staying positive and if riding the short bus will help my French, sign me up!
The SED trainees received our businesses on Monday that we will work with over the next six weeks. My business is a Beaureatique Cyber Café. The business has three computers that people use for the internet. The other two computers are used for assisting people with computer project or teaching sessions. The business also sells paper and other supplies and will make copies for its clients. I was extremely thankful when I realized that my lady spoke English! She would like me to do some marketing and increase her client base. This should be an interesting task! When I went with her on Monday to see the store and we were discussing when I would be back, she quickly said, “Oh, I expect you every day for at least 30 minutes”. I about fell over! We are only required to go once a week and that time is scheduled into our day. I quickly made it clear that I am extremely busy and would come as much as possible. I went back on Wednesday and will probably pop my head in tomorrow. It should be great experience for what I can expect when I get to post.
Spain and the US played on Wednesday night and we were allowed an extended curfew to hang out and watch at Chez Pierre. Almost the entire group was there, plus the PCV’s that were visiting (Kate, Nick, Elise and Jim). We all had a good time, even when the drunken Cameroonian came in and told us that we were too loud. The PCV’s were in shock, Cameroonians never think someone is too loud. They tend to party into the wee hours of the night with no thought to how loud they are being to their neighbors. The US won 2-0 and the next day David told us that the Cameroonians were upset with us for not celebrating our win with more jubilee! I have to add that I got home right around 10 and the house was completely dark and the gate locked! I had to ring the bell, which is loud as a siren, and then Jim starting beating on the gate when they didn’t immediately respond. Finally my brother came and let me in. I felt so bad but then again they knew when to expect me! This living with a family and not being able to communicate is a pain in the ass!
As I’ve stated before, Cameroonian’s love soccer (au football). A week ago B-town had their 2nd game in the tournament against Yaoundé. I thought the first game was crazy and after seeing this one, that was a gross understatement. The crowd had almost doubled and they now had a full out band on one side and then a group of men on another side with African drums. People were running around waving the B-town flag and some even went as far as to paint themselves. The gendarmes had doubled, if not tripled in number! B-town ended up winning 4-0 (an extremely high scoring game)! Yaoundé just couldn’t seem to get it together. Unfortunately, the next game in the tournament is not in B-town so we will miss it but I am hoping fervently that they will continue to win!
Later that evening I went on a promenade with my home stay mother, Berline. I didn’t quite understand what this term meant. I thought we were just going for a quick little walk. Oh hell no! We stopped by her cousins’ store, then her aunt’s bar, then her other cousin’s bar, where she pimped me out by giving my number to some man named Francis who didn’t speak a lick of English. God, I pray he doesn’t call, that would be a disaster! After that short stop there (where I got a grapefruit Top and some peanuts), we moved on to a bigger bar where we sat with B-town’s goalie’s parents. They were decked out in the yellow/green B-town gear and were in extremely high spirits, which was being aided by large bottles of Cameroonian beer. All in all it was an extremely educational evening; I was hugged and kissed more than any one event in my life!
This week in training we had Gender and Youth Development and HIV/AIDS sessions. Two people living with HIV came and spoke to us. It was unbelievable and so heart wrenching! They discussed how they got it (if they knew), what they are doing to fight it, and how their families were affected. The main problem with AIDS/HIV in Africa is lack of education. People here still think that you can get the virus from just being near an infected person. They also believe a good many other myths that I won’t get into at this time. For example, the man had been a principal at a school and fell extremely sick. The founder of the school had him tested for HIV/AIDS and when he received the results told all his colleagues. He was then sent a letter letting him know he had been terminated. This situation ended up making national news, where the headlines read something to the affect of, “Principal infects at least 200”. Absolutely unbelievable! There are no words. As Peace Corps volunteers (not medical), they ask that we just befriend any HIV infected be come across and just show people that by speaking or shaking someone’s hand the virus is not transmitted.

June 20, 2009

There are a couple things that I know now that I didn’t two weeks ago. A few of them are the following: you don’t realize how dirty your clothes get until you have to hand wash them all in a bucket; I am just as accident prone as ever; Cameroonians love soccer and clean shoes; and the one that is standing out the most to me right now is that learning French is hard as shit.
I have now officially finished washing all of my clothes (and a couple of things twice). To you at home this may sound like a simple task but believe me it is not. It is actually quite a time consuming ordeal! It has taken me a total of four days. It probably normally wouldn’t but figuring out the schedule hasn’t been simple. At first I figured that the afternoons would work best. I quickly learned that this is not the case. The area of Cameroon that I am in right now is in the short rainy season. That basically means it rains every afternoon and a good many nights, actually it feels very similar to a Lowcountry summer.
When I finally got an afternoon that it wasn’t raining, it ended up pouring that night and my clothes took a whole other day to dry! This is also a pain because I can’t wear my clothes for three days after they are dry due to a lovely insect called the mango fly. It lays its eggs in damp clothing and when you wear your clothes they get in your skin and grow into larvae. You end up having to squeeze a worm out of your body (depending on what item of clothing they got laid on). Every volunteer that we have spoken to has told us that it is guaranteed that we will get at least one (if not a few) in our 27 months in Cameroon. Yeah!
Washing clothes in a bucket is hard… you only place a few items in at a time and then you have to rinse them out and hang as you go. If you are doing a large amount you need to dump the water half way through and start fresh. I also am not allowed to hang my personables, I love calling them that, outside. It is a good thing that my mosquito net is multifunctional and that the pesky mango fly will not have a chance to do its business on my underwear or bras! In any case, I am very proud of myself and have learned the lesson not to let my clothes pile up (your back begins to ache from bending over for so long).
I am still as accident prone as ever! Thursday was our general meeting and sports afternoon. I was really pumped about playing soccer and had been looking forward to it for a couple of days. Within the first 2 minutes of the game I roll my ankle (I know no one is surprised by this). By the time I get home that evening it is swollen and hurts like Hades. I think my body just refuses to do anything athletic. It is absolutely ridiculous. The swelling is slowly going down but keeping it wrapped and wearing Chaco’s has been very interesting. I also don’t think that Cameroonians know what ice is…
This morning my gracefulness continued as I was heading to school. As you step out of the gate at the front of my house, there is an incline that stays pretty slippery due to the rain and mud. As I was working my way down out went my feet and down went my ass. Let me add (I want to make sure you have the full picture) that I was wearing a skirt and that my sister, Sandrine and her friend where standing right there watching me. After a few explicative words I got myself up went inside and changed. Unfortunately, I had no other clothes but ones that had been washed only two days ago. Looks like my odds for having a mango fly on my butt cheek and or legs just increased by 50%!
We went to the market today, it really is unbelievable to walk around and try to haggle with the vendors. They immediately jack up the prices when the” le blanches” come walking up. I find it amusing and it is a good way to practice my French. I ended up buying hangers, a scrub brush and a mirror (cintres, a brosse les chasseurs et miror). I had chickens shoved in my face along with a man trying to sell me a goat. I decided that I might end up with a goat for a pet right on the spot. Along that same line of thought, in the very near future, I might go back to being vegetarian!
After words, lunch took two hours – I truly think that they went and killed a chicken for Nick, Oliver and me. I also think that the chicken must have been anorexic! We would have been full if we had been up for the intestines that were served as the meal of the day. Kevin enjoyed them, although he commented they were a little chewy. On the way home it down poured on us, I couldn’t resist singing, “I blessed the rains down in Africa”.

June 14, 2009

I just had my first experience with Cameroonian hospitals/doctors. The Jump Little Children said it best, “very interesting”. It is Sunday, so it was actually more of a favor to the Peace Corps that he even came in (well, that and they pay him really well for his services). At one point, I was really concerned that he was going to give me another tetanus shot – but thank God he didn’t. I am still not to easy with the idea of having a needle stuck in me in Africa.
So, you may now be wondering, why did I have to go to the doctor? Well, as most of you know, I am not known to be the most graceful person. Last night after my shower, of freezing water might I add, I accidently knocked into my metal trunk. I thought I had just scratched it but when I glanced down blood was gushing out!!! The cut was about two inches long or whatever the equivalent of 8 cm is and was actually open. I immediately grabbed my handy Peace Corps medical kit and began frantically searching through for what I was supposed to use.
So now here is the dilemma I am in: 1) my family doesn’t understand a word I am saying 2) I don’t have enough hands to hold the wound together and butterfly suture it 3) It is after 7:00 p.m. so none of the other trainees can come help me. I eventually get the blood stopped by putting my leg higher than my heart (not sure if this is what did it or if it is an old wives tale). I then go and ask my home stay sister, Sandrine, to help me. She then holds my wound together while I put ointment and the sutures on it. Let me remind you that there is absolutely no spoken communication between us, I can’t speak French and she can’t speak English. I am sure every fly/bug/spider in my room was gasping for breath at the hilarity of the situation.
It actually works pretty well and I get it all bandaged up. I spoke with another trainee who told me to call David, who is the head of the whole training program, just to let him know. The next thing I know, they are at the door and make me call Chad the PCMO. Due to the fact that it was a metal trunk they were slightly freaked. I am now on an anti-biotic and have some sort of cream to put on it. I am sure this is just the beginning of my medical incidents.
June 14, 2009
Later in the day…
I cannot remember ever being more out of my comfort zone than I was today, but oh what an exhilarating experience! I went with my home stay siblings (Sandrine, Christian and Rodriquez) and their friends to see B-town play soccer (au football). I had no idea what I was getting myself into! When we arrived at the stadium Christian bought the tickets and then we went to go in. My family and friends immediately surrounded me (a form of protection I realized immediately – I was also told not to bring my purse) and I quickly realized why. I was probably the only ‘le blanche’ (white person) in the entire place of probably over 1,000 people! We stood along the fence and watched the entire soccer match between B-town and Yaounde. It was great! As soccer matches go it was getting towards the end and the score was zero to zero. Right at the end B-town scored a goal on a penalty kick, it was beautiful. They crowd went crazy. It finally clicked with me that I could have gotten myself into a “possibly explosive situation”. My concern didn’t last long though, Sandrine grabbed my hand and Christian quickly stepped to the other side of me and they stayed that way until we were out of the stadium. It was such a great experience considering we still can’t really communicate all that much…
Another note: It finally occurred to me this morning, as I was washing our dishes from breakfast, what I have accepted as livable conditions. I was dishes with an old (in no way clean) rag and then rinse in the tap water. In our kitchen there are flies/bugs everywhere and the food just sits out. I probably should be more concerned than I am but I think that would probably lead to an anxiety attack!
The food is fabulous. I bought myself and my family pastries (tasted like large donut holes without the icing). There is no processed food here (Heather- you would be in heaven) and almost all that we eat is handmade and really tasty! The only thing I can’t quite get used to is eating the whole fish (tale, fins, head, eyes, etc.) I keep telling my home stay mother, Berline, “J’ai plein” or “Je suis rassasier!” (which simply translated means: I am full or I’ve had enough). It seems think I am too skinny which is ironic because in the USA I am considered over weight!
Tomorrow I am going to try washing my clothes, this should be hilarious. Hopefully everyone want watch and laugh! Bonnenuit!

From South Carolina to Cameroon (Cameroun).

Twenty-nine people left Philadelphia on June 4 to embark on a journey to an unknown land (at least to most of them) called Cameroon. Journey is the operative word in this sentence. These people have put their lives on hold for twenty-seven months to join the Peace Corps. A lot sold homes, apartments and cars to make this possible. Others quit jobs, left loved ones or boarded a plane for the first time.
The group of people that I am writing about (that I am lucky enough to be a part of) ranges from recent college graduates, one in particular only a week out of the University of California Berkley, to a retired gentleman in his mid sixties. The group not only has a wide variety of ages but an extremely diverse ethinic background. For the most part the group is extremely well traveled, more than half living for extended periods of time in other countries such as Italy, Ghana, Thailand, Vietnam and so on. It is amazing how many countries this group has visited cumulatively. This group of individuals shares a couple things in common. To put it simply they all have: a love of travel and experiencing different cultures; a want, if not a need, to share what American’s are truly like to other countries; a compelling need to serve others; and no problem accepting living conditions that the general population of America would be aghast to live in.
Over the next three months I will share what the group goes through during training and then onto my two years of service (if God so sees fit). Please be patient with me because I never know when I will have access to internet!
After a combined 13 hours on two planes, we, the Cameroon trainees, arrived in Yaoundé. Yaoundé is an extremely large city and not at all what I was expecting. There are buildings everywhere in the city (most not reaching over 4 or 5 levels high). The driving is absolutely crazy! The only rule that we can see (and have now been told) is that the bigger car wins. I really think it is wise that we are not allowed to drive here. I think there would be serious issues and my road rage would be out of control (go ahead and laugh girls).
We arrived on Friday with a big soccer match (au football) against Morocco looming on the horizon (that Sunday). The town was in high spirits and ready for the game, because of this we were not allowed to leave our hotel. We visited the Peace Corps Case but had to immediately return instead of exploring the city. The game came and went on Sunday with a draw. Both Cameroon and Morocco will go on to play other teams to fight for an opportunity to play in the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa. As the days continued we were introduced to Peace Corps staff, trainers and volunteers. We received multiple shots (typhoid, Hepatitis A &B, rabies, yellow fever, etc.) that seemed to never end. At this point – I have two more shots in the rabies series and then I should be done – thank goodness!!!
Our time in Yaoundé came and went extremely quickly. I admit that I was hesitant to leave our nice hotel with air conditioning, warm water and a bar! The other part of me was jumping up and down to get going to B-town (Peace Corps requires we not disclose our location) to begin learning (language, technical and culture training)! It is hard to explain the emotions that you feel when you are in a country that you can’t speak the language and are about to meet a family that you are going to live with for 2 and half months. I was actually not as nervous as I thought I would be. I have managed to develop this, it’s in God’s hands, attitude. I believe that I can only alter certain things in this journey I am on. The things that I have control over are how I apply myself to the language and technical training; keeping an open mind about the culture and people of Cameroon; and not making dumb decisions. James Ham charged us with the last one. He is the country director – also a native South Carolinian – from Darlington. It really is amazing how small the world is!
On my first night with my home stay family we had a power outage, which is really common for B-town. The funny part of this, was that I was standing in the shower (which really isn’t a shower, it’s a shower head that just sprays into the middle of the bathroom). Luckily, my home stay sister brought me a candle and I was able to get dressed and back to my room. When it went out the second time I had my head lamp within reach. One thing I can say about myself, I do learn some things quickly!