October 15, 2006

I just got back from Limbe. It's amazing...the whole 4+ hours back to Yaoude I tried to think of a better word to describe it...obviously that didn't happen, maybe because I was distracted my the old Mami throwing up next to me or because I was gripping the seat in front of me for dear life as we passed massive trucks going easily 120 km/hr on a 2 lane road. Either way, my trip lasted less than 24 hours (ok, not necessarily the "trip" but the time spent in Limbe) but was worth the long travel, the petrifying 40 minutes I was lost in Douala and definitely the 12 pounds I lost sweating today while I traveled back! I even had my own personal tour guide...PCV Bill.

I stayed in a hotel inside the botanical gardens with an air conditioner that created a tundra-like ambiance--I was freezing--where I was able to watch a slightly scrambled Daily Show on CNN; ate freshly caught and grilled fish on the beach, under a clear starry sky; strolled along black sand beaches; gazed up at Mount Cameroon and began planning our pending ascent in March; waded in luke warm water and watched a storm roll in over Equatorial Guinea, the whole time thinking, “yeah, they’re right…we really are suffering.” I can’t wait to spend Christmas there; maybe I’ll wear a Santa hat while I do laps in the natural spring pool (if so, I’ll be sure to attach pictures).

But, on the ride back as I sat in the sweltering humidity of Douala, seeing my hair expand in my peripheral vision, trying to navigate my way around the “arm pit of Africa” with my fridgin and glare while also swatting bugs and feeling my face fry in the sun…I realized that, despite the greatness of the coast, how glad I am to be living in the “coldest place in Cameroon.”

The pictures are both from the beach, looking out towards Equatorial Guinea (that big island out there with clouds around it).

Probably the strangest 365 days of my life…

Well it’s official, as of October 1st; we’ve been in Cameroon for one year (I don’t count my 2 ½ week vacation)! Oh, how time flies! Looking back on pictures I tried to pick some that represented some of the big or interesting or typical moments from the past 12 months. I couldn’t include them all because a) computers are too slow b) my blog isn’t that big and c) there just isn’t time for 2 memory cards full of pictures. It’s been a year full of changes; eye opening experiences, great friendships, bizarre events, weird food, crowded cars, too much and far too little precipitation, and learning oh so many things—about me and about how to function washing everything from a bucket. Here is a quick visual from my year in Cameroon, some of the highlights, if you will. There’s many more to come, next winter, for any who’s interested I’m sure I’ll be happy to give a full and detailed slideshow!

PC Cameroon sign—This is painted on the side of one Peace Corps car, representing our proud 45 years here in Cameroon.





Hotel in Yaounde—this is a group of us during out first few days in Cameroon. Awkwardly getting to know each other over cards at the hotel, still fresh and shiny from America.

1. Me at cheferie—during one of our field trips to a palace we met many dancers and this fine man, proudly posing with us…and his gun.

Health group at swearing in—the health group as official Peace Corps Volunteers

Buses to post—we hired huge vans to carry us with our stuff to our respective posts. As you can see, they were piled quite high. At one point one of the loaders was almost ripped off the top when the driver tried to make up under an archway. He was fine, but I was pretty sure he had been decapitated in the process!


Chicken—for New Years Eve 2006 we grilled chicken and I was advised on how to pry the leg off the bone, not quite frozen Butterball chicken breast, huh? It might be the flap of something hanging that makes the whole thing so appealing, I’m not sure.

My first roadblock—this was my first encounter with roadblock protests. It reminded me of a winter Sunday afternoon on I-70 with the post-ski traffic. Except there was no snow, any skiers, and it wasn’t just a traffic jam.

Kribi—during our training at the beach we were surrounded by tropical images like this one.

Talla with kids—Kids just love to have their pictures taken so they were happy to pose with us as we sported our African garb during a church program that lasted ALL day long.

Rainy season—the daylong downpours caused me to spend lots of time on my couch; reading, doing suduko puzzles or mastering the art of fire building (without kerosene). This helped me achieve my goal of reading 50 books in a year—ok; I didn’t actually finish the 50^th one until October 5 but close enough!

Happy 4^th of July—this is Ben, one of the missionary kids, with me during our 4^th of July celebration, which came complete with hot dogs, cheesy patriotic American music, and ice cream!

Tapas at Kelsey’s—one of my best weekends in Cameroon was spent in Bafut with Kelsey and Kate. We watched tons Sex and the City, successfully removed a lizard from the kitchen using a colander and oven mitt, went running to the entertainment of the entire town, and ate tapas under palm trees before the rain fell.

Ladies night—a fun night out in America with my “siblings.”

Out of the many, many interesting signs I see around, this one made me laugh a lot (particularly, point #1).

So here’s to another 365 days in Cameroon. May they be just as exciting/educating/interesting/funny/ tiresome/adventurous…choose your favorite.


PS...Hi to "Team Unity" my trio of new Americans in Ndu!
PPS...Miss you Donnelly.