Things I have learned after 10 weeks in Cameroon:
1. Baby goats are cute, adult goats are not-and they cough like old men.
2. Cold showers can be slightly exhilarating, until you lose sensation, then it's more like hypothermia.
3. You can never have too much bug spray, or Purel.
4. If the food comes in a pot, is sort of warm and doesn't have a bug in it, it's probably fine.
5. Nescafé and coffee...NOT the same thing.
6. There's rarely a bad time for a cold Pomplemouse.
7. A good pineapple or crunchy papaya can make most situations much better.
8. Roosters crow at ALL hours of the day.
9. Marriage proposals are not a compliment.
10. Bargaining and/or yelling at a cab driver is cheap therapy.
11. It's vital to squat the right way.
12. Before asking 'why' think twice--nine times out of ten, there is no answer.
13. Machetes, burning wood and knives are normal toys for kids and they can probably use them better than you.
14. Flip charts, animations, and PACA are life.
15. Toilet paper is a sacred thing-use sparingly.
16. Charish cold dairy products.
17. Checking the snow report at home is not good for your sanity.
18. However, being thousands of miles away when your school loses the Big 12 Championship game 70-3, makes it a little easier!
19. Anything that can be lifted-purses, buckets, bushels of bananas, or furniture-can be more easily carried on your head.
20. A moto without a singing horn is just a disappointment.
21. WAWA.
22. Pavement is a wonderful thing, smooth pavement is even better-neither are to be expected.
23. Worms are not a joke.
24. The music won't be changed or turned down-learn to love the 6 song rotation and buy a Westlife poster.
25. Who needs fake and bake when you have red dirt?
26. The side of the road, apparently, is a public toilet-share the experience with everyone.
27. So many tubbers!
28. Cameroonians-men and especially girls-take futball VERY VERY seriously!
29. My sense of humor just isn't funny here no matter how many times I try, I just get accused of a) not caring or b) not understanding.
30. How wonderful the daily power outage can be and how amazing complete silence is.
31. If it has to do with poop, we've talked about it!
32. If it sounds like or rhymes with gumbo, be cautious.
33. 5 people in a cab=ideal, 7 in a cab=normal, 8 people, a goat, and three bags of rice=probable.
34. Just laugh.
35. Expectations will just annoy you-lower them.
36. Chacos, headlamps, swiss army knives, Ipods, quick drying towels and hand sanitizer are seven of the greatest inventions ever.
37. No matter how hard you try Cameroonian dirt clings...try bleach, scrub hard, and wear black.
38. Mosquito nets may protect you from malaria but they cause countless problems when trying to make your bed.
39. Petit-a-petit.
40. Tears-whether from sadness, laughter, Pidgin class or lack of sleep-are very necessary!

*Pictures:
-Sunset in Ndu.
-Me, Kate and Lindsey with lunch one day...