While I was helping out with the mosquito net distribution, I thought to myself, “that I never want to see a mosquito net again in my life,” but then I remembered that 1) I sleep under one every night and 2) I actually hope that I see them everywhere, in people’s houses and 3) all [...]
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Meet “Lagosman” In our high school’s skit, presented by Club Santé (Health Club) and Club Feminin (Girls Club) “Lagosman” is a successful businessman from, clearly, Lagos, who comes bearing money, and of course, HIV. He represents the phenomena of the spread of HIV from urban to rural areas. His strategy is to hit on young [...]
One of the distinguishing features of my post is that, as the 2nd most northern Volunteer in Cameroon, it’s only 10 km from Nigeria. People go to the markets in Nigeria more so than they go to Mora, which is where I go every week or two to meet up with Volunteers, since it’s closer [...]
The end of Ramdan is marked by a three-day fete. Everyone gets new clothes made and walks around the village to celebrate. I had gotten a new outfit back in June, made of a different fabric than the normal bright prints that I wear, with fancy embroidery, that I had been saving for the fete. [...]
Last week, September 18, marked one year in Cameroon, when we arrived in Douala for orientation and then training. Crazy. Here’s a post that sat on my computer desktop, half-written for some time now: June 6th marked my six months of being at post – and I woke up that morning and left promptly at [...]
I took a video of some kids singing the Ramadan song that I mentioned in my earlier post:
Ramadan has begun. My village is about 75% Muslim, so I was debating about whether or not to fast. Then, Falta, my counterpart, told me to fast with her for moral support. I ended up fasting for the first three days, but I was worried about it at first and while it was happening. I [...]
Rainy season is now well underway in Kolofata. While it doesn’t rain that much – maybe once a week – Kolofata does feel a lot more different. There’s actually a ton of grass, which is a huge difference compared to when it was just sand everywhere. It’s getting cooler. And people are back in the [...]
A few weeks ago, I had a moment where I went, “This would only happen in Cameroon…” before I thought, “Okay, I’m sure it could happen in a million places, just not where I’m from.” At Dr. Ellen’s suggestion, I started holding computer class for interested nurses at our hospital, after the workday is over. [...]
I’ve now been in Kolofata for five months, and I suppose it’s time for a real update. I’m currently in Maroua for the weekend to go to the bank and to help clean the transit house – I spent part of the morning standing on chairs and bunk beds to dust our ceiling fans (I [...]
During training, I got my hair braided by my neighbors several times, but I hadn’t gotten around to getting it braided in Kolofata yet. Finally, this past Saturday, while hanging out with my counterpart, Falta, and her family, Falta’s sister told me that she wanted to braid my hair. Woot. Then, I got it re-braided [...]
I’m still spending a lot of time getting to know the people in my village. Often, it’s through meals, but it’s a lot of just sitting around and chatting. When I walk home – or pretty much walk walk anywhere – I’m pretty much guaranteed to run into someone I know. One night, my next-door [...]
Happy New Year! Okay, it’s definitely mid-January, but a few people still said “Bonne annee!” to me today in the streets. I’m now back in Maroua for banking and also get to use the wonderful wi-fi at the transit house. I decided to stay at post in village rather than go back to Maroua for [...]
I finally moved to Kolofata! It felt really, really weird to finally get to my house and know that this is where I’ll be living for the next two years. These past few weeks have been a bit challenging, but it’s also been really good. Anyway, as Peace Corps Volunteers, our first three months at [...]
This past Wednesday, December 1, the day we’ve all been waiting for arrived: Swearing-in! After 11 weeks of training, we’re no longer Peace Corps Trainees – we’re now official Peace Corps Volunteers! Thursday morning, I stopped by my host family’s house to say goodbye once again and to have breakfast with them for the last [...]
It’s been three weeks since I left Kolofata, and I guess I’m still processing things. Overall, I’m really excited to work in Kolofata, and it was great to see how much work the volunteer I’m replacing has done over the past two years. But, Brianna has left some pretty big shoes to fill, and I [...]
I was showing my host brothers pictures of my summer before Peace Corps, and my host brothers noticed the ones of me baking cookies with my friends. So, they asked me to make cookies for them, since they’ve never had them before, and I happily obliged. A few other health trainees – Sam, Amy, and [...]
I think that I should preface this post by saying that now that I spend half my day speaking in French, my English has definitely deteriorated… Oh, c’est la vie. So, language…PST (Pre-Service Training) focuses a lot on language. We have language classes almost every day, anywhere from a 50 minute session to six hours [...]
So, today, we’re leaving for site visits! I”m really stoked to see Kolofata! Here’s how I’m getting to the most northern Health post in Cameroon: 1. After our community host workshop this mornng, we’re going to Yaounde. 2. Take the overnight train to Ngaoundéré with 28 other trainees who are in the Grand North. 3. [...]
We just got our post announcements about 2.5 hours ago! I am going to spend the next two years in Kolofata, a medium-sized town of 10,000 people in the Extreme North. While I’m literally one of the farthest Peace Corps Trainees from Yaounde, the volunteer I’m replacing apparently loves her post. She also has done [...]
So, it took me over two weeks to get my first marriage proposal here. This past Sunday, while going to the well with my host sister, a taxi with five men drove by – with one of the men sitting on top of the taxi, which was loaded with bags and bags of stuff. They [...]
I have Internet for the first time in a week, so I might as well update! A lot has happened since we left Philly. Our flight in NYC was delayed, and we ended up missing our connection flight in Brussels. So, we spent one night there. We then flew to Doula, Cameroon (since there wasn’t [...]
I’m now officially registered as a Peace Corps Trainee! And tomorrow, we will take a bus to JFK, fly out in the evening, have a layover in Brussels, and then arrive in Cameroon on Friday! I’m also completely exhausted. I’ve been awake for about 30 hours now, after a nap yesterday. I tend to procrastinate… [...]
So, I have one month until I start training in Cameroon. Here’s a list of what I’ve been doing to get ready… In terms of Peace Corps Business, I’ve: Mailed off my passport and my visa and passport applications to Peace Corps (We get a special Peace Corps passport.) E-mailed my aspiration statement and updated [...]
Yesterday, I took my final for my Modern African History class. It’s crazy that it’s my last class as an undergrad. Anyway, as the norm appears to be in introductory classes on Africa in the US, on the very first day, our professor wanted to dispel our stereotypes about Africa. So, he asked us to [...]
“Why did you decide to apply for the Peace Corps?” I get this question a lot. And I never know quite how to respond. But, like the answer to the question, “Why do you do service?” my answer is basically the same: “Because I am young, able-bodied, and willing. Why wouldn’t I?” These words were [...]
Because I live on campus, whenever I receive a package, I have to go pick it up from the post office on campus. Two days ago, while sitting at my computer, I received an email at 10 am: “YOUR PACKAGE … Continue reading →
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