Kates' PC Posting

Alright, just to quickly let everyone know so you can do my research for me on my new home for the next two years. I'm in Ebolowa in the South Province. I am EXTREMELY excited about this job. I’m working with a GIC (a small organization) and it sounds like I’ll be focusing on stopping the spread of slash and burn agriculture and medicinal plants. The South Province is one of the most "undeveloped" areas in the country...as a volunteer described to me. My house (which is BRAND new apparently) is at the end of the road where the village ends and the jungle begins. So I'm pretty much placed exactly where I envisioned and doing something that I am very, very interested in. A lot of other posts are very focused on agriculture; and I’m excited because mine seems a lot more natural resource conservation oriented IE: right up my alley. I met my counterpart yesterday and yesterday and today we are having a workshop with all the Ag volunteers and counterparts. He’s very nice so far...kind of quiet and when I try to make jokes they seem to get lost in translation a lot (as usual) but we’ve been working well together thus far. I was lucky because there is a health volunteer currently in my town and she happened to be in Bangangte at our training for the past week so she gave me lots of details and I will get to stay with her while on site visit, which makes it a bit easier for me. However, I am opening my post...meaning I am the first Ag volunteer there...this should be a bit challenging; and since the south a about 50 years (or so they say) behind in "development" introducing some of these new techniques may be a tad difficult. I am also located about 2 hours (only during the dry season however, when the road is open) from Kribi which I a touristy beach town...I’m going to go for Christmas ;^) and 2 hours from Yaoundé (where the PC headquarters is and the airport) very convenient. Plus I’m at the edge of the provincial capital of the south...so the best of all worlds in my eyes! Alright, tis all for now! Wish me luck!