Tuesday, August 30, 2005

I welcome you back to another installment of the blog that keeps on blogging.

August 24, 2005, 23 new Peace Corps Volunteers (myself included) were sworn in to serve in the beautiful country of Cameroon. The day after being sworn in we were whisked to our various posts throughout the country. I left with several other volunteers, and, after dropping a handful in Nkongsamba, 4 of us headed through the bush to Kumba. Halfway there, though, the bus broke down and we were stranded on the side of the road while the driver headed to the next town to look for the part. Over two hours later an amicable Frenchman with a pickup stopped, loaded all of our stuff in the back, and took us onward. After reaching my home (pictures soon hopefully) and discovering there were no beds, we decided to stay in a nearby hotel. The next morning, we were helped by my new neighbor, Sona, to find a car that would take two of the volunteers to their remaining posts.

That night, due to my living situation, Sona and his mother, Madame Jhon, fixed me food and allowed me to stay the night. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by their generousity and cooking skills. Evidently, Jhon owns a nearby restaurant, Sweet Fingers, and knows how to prepare some great cuisine. Yesterday, I had her Irish potatoes with a tomato-based sauce with green beans, carrots, and a side of white beans with the same sauce. She offerred me meat, but after an earlier visit to the butcher's I'm trying to steer clear of the stuff. Not to say that I've gone vegetarian. Heck, I'm not that crazy (That one's for you Christina. Love you baby!).

I met with my counterpart at CamCCUL, Konang, this morning, and should start work around the middle of September. I also had the oppotunity to meet several of the local credit union presidents. The work sounds very interesting and mutually beneficial.

For now, the work on my house continues one bottle of bleach at a time. The roaches continue to turn up dead (sorry PETA) so I must be doing something right.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005





Pic 1: Bandjoun Centre
Pic 2: Some of my brothers and sisters
Pic 3: My homestay

Saturday, August 20, 2005


Hello to all. I've been in Africa, more specifically Cameroon, for two months living with a host family in Bandjoun. Training wraps up in a few days, and then I will swear in as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV). For the next 24 months, I'll be working in the town of Kumba, in the South-West Province of Cameroon, with a banking oversight institution known as CamCCUL. In addition, to working with CamCCUL, providing training and auditing their banks, I'll have the opportunity to work with the community in any capacity I see fit (PCV Secondary Projects). For these projects to be successful the community must 1) Want it, 2) Need it, and 3) It must be sustainable.

So far, in two months, I've seen some beautiful and equally disturbing images. The people of this country are, for the most part, extremely friendly. They will go out of their way to help and do so eagerly. The country has been described as Africa in one country. It doesn't have the best of anything, but it has everything in Africa in a country of about 15 million. From the deserts and animal parks of the Extreme North to the black sand beaches of Limbe to the enormous Mount Cameroon. By the same token, a few years ago, Cameroon was listed as the number one most corrupt country in the world. Mob justice is the code of the law and transpareny is lacking. But that's why we are here.

As a volunteer in the SED (Small Business Development) program) I am hopeful that things will change. It is my desire that the impact we have on this country will be significant enough to create positive change. Ultimately, it is up to the people of Cameroon to blaze their own trail and create change for themselves. I hope only to act as an advisor and catalyst. Truth be told, I'm sure their impact on me will be far greater than mine on them.