What's New, What's New

What's new, what's new…I have had an incredibly busy past 2 weeks…so a lot I guess! I'll start with all my recent fun transportation in Cameroon stories! In one week I had about as many travel problems as I can hope to ever rack up in such a short period of time…2 breakdowns of buses between Ebolowa and Yaoundé in the same week. The first one occurred right as it was getting dark, we broke down in an area without cell phone reception, and everyone on the bus was in "I hate white people mode". We ended up having to wait 4 hours, during which I tried to win over the bus population by using key bulu phrases such as "Ma kobo bulu tchithcoi" (I speak a little bulu) when they were saying things about me they thought I couldn't understand. After which the volunteer I was traveling with and myself got white people privileges and got to hop on a bus before everyone else, which I'm sure reverted the bus to I hate white people mode once more! The second break down occurred 4 days later, this time only 30 km from Yaoundé, and it took 3 hours for the replacement bus to be sent! I made a friend during this time that later really helped me out getting a taxi and a decent price at night in the city…which is pretty iffy at best! In addition to the break downs I foolishly forgot my ID card while going to work an hour away one day. The first stop by gendarmes (police…they stop cars constantly at roadblocks they set up to "check ID cards"…it's a very pointless process that increases travel time drastically and is really only used to pad their own pockets) went fine and I got waved through with a look of disapproval. On the way back from work I was with my supervisor and another man I work with…we got stopped…I tried my "I'm stupid and left my card at home excuse" and the gendarme started shaking his head disapprovingly. This for some reason infuriated the man I work with and he stood up, started yelling, gendarme was screaming at him, no one was listening to me, I was almost crying…big buff men in uniforms with large automatic weapons freak me out…eventually he called over HIS supervisor who took one look at me and told everyone "yeah I know her, she's the white girl who lives at Ngalane"…thus lessons learned: 1)living at a police barrier has it's perks, 2)DON'T forget your ID card at any time 3)don't yell at scary men with guns.

Two weeks ago I had my week long IST (in service training) in Bamenda, in the Northwest Province. It was a pretty intense week, time consuming mainly…11 hours a day of being locked away in a hotel for meetings…most of which were things we'd gone over already or things that once again weren't exactly applicable to us volunteers in the still forested part of the country (this has irked me continuously during trainings and frustrated me to no end when actually trying to figure out how to get work started…) We did get to do two mornings of "field work", namely, visits to two different agro forestry centers that really had their stuff together and were incredibly beautiful places. Aside from the meeting/frustration aspect for me, it was really really wonderful to see all the volunteers from the agro training group who I hadn't seen since going to post in December. Not a single one of us has left the program since we all met in Philly, and I'm pretty sure this is some kind of record…all 22 of us still in for the long haul! It's a really good dynamic within the group and there are several people who continuously give me sanity and perspective…thus leaving was once again the hard part! However, after IST I went to a village near Baffousam in the West province for a quick stay at my good friend's place with a few other people…I had intended on going back to Bangangte to try to visit my home stay family, but ended up being scheduled for meetings in Yaoundé the next day so had to leave the West. The next 4 days I had meetings in Yaoundé, to be a "contact volunteer"…so when the country falls apart my post mate and I are responsible for getting a hold of everyone in the South province and then they all get to come hide out at our houses. I also had meetings for the Environmental Education Committee, which I just joined. The latter made me feel the most productive, and it was a lot of sharing of ideas and whatnot. Another girl in the South and I are going to write up something for the Environ. Edu. Manual on medicinal plants and bush meat. We are also, this is the grand idea, going to organize a 100 km bike tour (clearly ending at the beach in Kribi) in the South where we leisurely ride along and stop at villages to discuss environmental issues…big goal…but they do this in the North to discuss AIDS…so we are going to adapt it! :>) Another great idea we talked about while all together is the band…we have a gig!!! (I'm never saying that again, I feel like a weirdo…I got to use something like "performance" or maybe "musical presentation experience"?! ha-ha, ok, no better), but anyways, I think it'll be in November in the Northwest, and we're going to raise money for some farmers organization my friend works with up there…I'm excited for that!

Back home…coming home was weird…kind of hard in a few ways, but I did miss my house, my immediate neighbors, Obam, Hans…etc… My little neighbor has taken to picking bouquets of flowers for me (and for any other volunteers that come to visit)…so she picked me a huge one right when I got back. I also was greeted with the news that my soccer team won the finals match! Which is a big deal…and I couldn't be there for it, so got scolded. I had gone to the semi finals match before I left…let me tell you, still awkward. Whenever the guys scored a goal they would all run over to me, kneel on the ground and kiss my feet! I took to hiding my head behind my friend’s back like a 5 year old and giggling like a middle schooler. Then my neighbor, Billy, told me he is going to be sure we have the jerseys made for summer vacation (when the soccer tournaments start over and apparently get really intense)…they will say "Wisconsin Badgers" on the back (which still no one can pronounce, or for that matter even remember) and then worst of all he's putting "KATE" on the front in big letters…nope…no self promotion there at all! I also had a great conversation with my landlord's son, who is my new best friend…since while discussing culture and racism he told me that he would never marry a white girl, and would not marry me no matter what…WOOHOO!!! Never have I heard such a thing out of a guy's mouth in this country, so thus, we are best friends ;>)

Lastly, work wise not a whole lot has happened around Ebolowa since I've been in and out so much the past few weeks. I did finish planting soy and beans and corn at the farm far south of Ebolowa; saw a water source in need of improvement there, which my supervisor wants me to make a secondary project. Upon return from Yaoundé we had an apiculture (bee keeping) training session in a village right near my house. It was REALLY interesting and I learned a lot…it got dark before we could finish though, so we're planning on having another where we finish building the rouge (bee hive/box whatever thing) in early May. So…that's about all! But one last thing of major importance...my parents are coming to visit!!! They'll be here starting the end of July for 3 weeks and we're looking into trying to go somewhere else to do something very touristy...like a safari or whatnot. So that's definitely something to look forward to! The power just went out, so I must quickly get off my post mate’s computer before I use up all the reserve battery!

I'm working my fingers to the bone!

Hi! Sorry it's been an incredibly long time since I last wrote...and much has happened since then! Work wise things picked up the past week, I have spend 2 wednesdays planting soy with a small group of women, and getting massive blisters which I display to all my neighbors with pride and then tell them I must work harder than them because I have more injury...sometimes they belive me :^) planting here is backbreaking work, that is for sure, and I'm worn out after a little over an hour each time...but for my labors i receive compliments such as "wow, you are solid" which I enjoy. I spent another Wednesday with the health volunteer near me giving a soy formation (presentation) and although I was scared to death it was really nice to have her help me. Hans also came and translated everything into boulou, so I think we did a relatively good job. People were taking notes and we made them summarize what we had presented...it seemed like a lot learned...I suggested a cooking class after we harvest the soy in addition to the formation as well. 2 Thursdays ago I had a meeting with an NGO in Ngoulemakong, 45 min north, FONJAK. I was REALLY impressed, very organized, environmental conservation and scientific minded...all things I dont see too much of! They even had a copy of 'An Inconvenient Truth' in French...so that told me a lot. Also very nice people, so I'm hoping to try to start working with them. That Saturday I had a "meeting" (aka drink 1.5 liters of pop and a glass of red wine while sitting at a bar for 4 hours with 6 million people) with Hans and the Leo, the man who I visited in his village a month or so ago, and I will be planting soy and beans with some women in his village this Saturday, and we'll be looking to start a fish pond there possibly. Lastly, I went to a metting with the women of my village, Ngalane, and am trying to get them to start a soy field with me also...one lady has become my friend at the market and is always firing Boulou at me rapidly and relentlessly.

At home I didn't have power for a solid week, which was really only annoying because I couldnt charge my cell phone, and thus did not have an alarm clock! I entertained myself one night by watching a fly keep buzzing buzzing buzzing around my candle flame until it lit itself on fire and fell to a noisy death in flames on my floor. I went to the 'Wisconsin Badgers' first soccer game 2 weeks ago, and let me tell you...it was awkward! Billy introduced me as the president of the team (made worse by the fact they were all a bunch of teenage boys), everyone applauded, then a bunch of dudes ran off the field midgame to shake my hand immediately upon scoring a goal. I always use the kids to make myself feel less awkward. For example, when they brought me a chair; pretty much a throne, to the sidelines and made me sit in it while everyone else stood around, I made 3 kids share it with me and we built stick houses on the ground. Although, not a good idea to not pay attention to the game because I had to ask if MY team won at the end...whoops...i've never been a sports watching fanatic. After the game my landlord and Billy came to my door offering an enourmous glass full of whisky, which I denied by telling them I would die if I drank it!

I had a site visit with the Peace Corps nurse...and I have to say, I never had and don't think I ever will have a job where they ask you things such as "have you been drunk in country" and "how do you flush your toilet" and expect answers! My postmate and I went out to dinner with the nurse and the PC driver and then, EXCITING, the shelf man was out along side the street and PC drove me home with shelf number 2!!! moving up in the world...now my clothes are off the floor; and not molding! Since the start of the official rainy season I've been enjoying the market...TONS of fruit, including mangos, pineapple, bannanas, watermelon, papaya; guava...and prices are ridiculous (compared to this type of fruit in wisconsin) example, I just bought 12 mangos for 500 cfa, so a little over a dollar...I love it! We've also had lettuce, avacados, zucchini and eggplant regularily...an avacado is 50-100 cfa...so what like under 20 cents...wonderful!!!

So, thats all that's been going on lately! I need to regain my enthusiasm for writing on here; and you people should ASK ME QUESTIONS to motivate me!
Hope all's well!