12.31.05 I am in Kumbo for New Years Eve. I have been able to write some on computers at work over the past week so I wanted to post some of what I'd written. Things are going well. Just getting used to life in Ndu. My house is getting cozier (still big and echoey, but better), my co-workers are nice and I enjoy the office, I get to hang out with my post-mate every few days and my landlord & landylady are wonderful. Things are coming along well. I am really glad to be in Kumbo for the weekend, for internet and to celebrate the holiday here...Christmas was different being all alone! I made it though! Keep in touch, thanks for all your emails and support. I'll be posting and sending pictures and my new address soon! Happy 2006!
12.21.2005

Hi. I am at work, trying to put together a training session for peer educators. It is good to have something to do and I will be doing my community “rounds” and analysis after Christmas/New Years I think. I still have much to do at my house; buy a big barrel for water storage (it seems that water is really unreliable an it has already been out for two days which makes bathing and flushing my toilet very difficult!), buying plates/bowls/cups/etc, a mirror, iron, broom, pillows, rugs, curtains, and other household necessities. Last night I hung out at my landlords house, they are pretty great and houses some American missionaries a few years back so they sort of understand Americans—at least more than others in Ndu, which is nice! They’re great.

12.27.2005
Back to work after the weekend off for Christmas. It was nice to relax however less fun without TV or friends to relax with! I spent Saturday around Ndu with my friend Matt, the PCV about 15 minutes away. People around town think we’re married but I don’t mind because the marriage proposals and “I love you”s have decreased. I went to Christmas Eve service with my landlord and landlady (Pa and Ma). We were there for 3+ hours. Long to begin with but especially when you don’t understand 90% of what they say…it was in the local dialect. Cool. But I survived and the singing at the church was really amazing…kind of reminds me of those sound-bites you hear from Africa with drums and wonderful singing. The next morning I got up and made a fire in my fireplace (it actually does get cold and it’s nice to have the fire to warm up the house, and I just like to have fires), listened to Christmas music on my short-wave radio and drank some gross coffee. I had a few presents from mom that I opened. It was almost like Christmas back home…ok, not at all, but I tried to tell myself that! I got two phone calls—thanks Mom, Harry and Katie!!—That made my morning! Then I got ready and went back to church. This time they brought Glen, their grandson. Since Pa is a deacon and Ma is in the choir, I got Glen for the morning…least for about 45 minutes until he started hitting me and screaming and someone came and took him outside. I had no idea what was going on but was glad he was gone J. I still understood very little of church and this time it lasted 5 ½ hours. So I sat, and “listened” and brainstormed about writing my novel for 5 ½ hours. I spent the rest of the day listening to Christmas carols on my Ipod and reading, curled up on the couch. I made some popcorn for dinner, burned my pan, went next door to have some socialization, after being locked away and a little sad all afternoon, came home, had a quick Christmas chat with dad, and went to sleep. I’ve had better days J. But it passed, I survived and I don’t have to deal with another Christmas for 363 more days!

I made it through my 500+ page book in two days and am now on my third book since post (12 days for anyone keeping track) which I think is great…I’ll measure my productivity for the first few months on how many books I read, how many scarves I knit, how many coloring books I go through, and how much credit I use up texting my friends! It’s amazing how fast my credit goes and how few people I actually talk to.
I have actually gone running twice, it’s gone better than expected (especially considering the only exercise I have had for 3 months was a weekly soccer game). Besides being the town spectacle, having children run beside me for a while, and trying to say “good afternoon” to people without them wanted to chat, it went well. I do feel better afterward so that’s a plus. It is a bit difficult though considering I live in the dustiest place on earth…I am not kidding! We still have 2 more months of dry season too! Seriously, it’s hard to walk down the street, I have to wash my shoes and feet at least once a day, things beside the road are tinted brown…it’s not pretty. Along with tons of dirt there are HUGE pigs everywhere…we’re talking the size of small humans. They smell and snort at me as though they’re saying, “white man” like the rest of town. I try my hardest to ignore the “white man” callings but it’s hard cause I know they’re talking to me…there aren’t a whole lot of other white men running around here.

Anyhow, that’s a quick update on my life. Not too exciting but it’s going.

12.29.2005
Hi. I am in the office again. Today is the second day (of 6 I think) of the Mayors funeral. I tried to understand the funeral process yesterday and explain the difference from American funerals…everyone involved in the conversation just ended up more confused. I told them that there was usually a 2 hour service and then a reception at the persons home with close friends and family…they wondered why the corpse wasn’t laid in the house for 3 days, paraded around town, and why it was only one afternoon and not a whole week…I wasn’t quite sure how to explain that it couldn’t be more opposite. Ah, chalk one up for American vs. Cameroonian cultural differences. My friend Matt, my post-mate and “husband” as I mentioned earlier, found a bar with CNN (along with ~10 other international channels)! It was one of the most exciting discoveries I’ve made in the last 3 months, aside from weird bucket showering techniques, the easiest way to hang a mosquito net and the best seat in a bush taxi. We have been there the past few days, hanging out for hours. We hang out on the enclosed porch where I sometimes forget that it’s a dusty almost “wild west” strip of road out front. I have started to master computer Hearts and Solitaire…as another friend reminded me “Ally, solitaire is a lonely man’s game.” I responded, “Yes. You’re right, but this lonely man can win a game in less than 5 minutes.” I am taking pride in that. Plus, when I am playing it in the presence of others, that’s different right? Well, either way, that’s how I’ll rationalize it. I am also proud to say that I have mastered the Cameroonian oily rice making process. Granted I make my oily rice on a gas stove while they cook over open fire, they usually cook for all 7 kids and a few neighbors, and there’s has way more flavor, but I’ve mastered it for me! I have also figured out the different short-wave stations in the morning and night. I’ve figured out when BBC dies and I need to switch to Deuchavella or VOA and vice versa. It’s exciting. Plus I am getting weirdly addicted to the programs. BBC is starting one next week on Mozart that I can’t wait for…stop laughing; these are the things I have to relish in! The moment I start texting in, that’s were I’ll draw the line, but for now I am thoroughly enjoying my numerous discoveries of the week. Very excited to head to Kumbo this weekend for New Years, to check my email, send this, send the many letters I have accumulated since arriving here, hang out with friends and maybe eat some “American” food. That’s all for now. Happy New Year!! Hope that you all have a wonderful 2006!