Pendulum

From Cape to Kruger and next Cameroon

2010-07-16T14:27:00.018-06:00

I began my journey in South Africa over a month ago in Cape Town. I came for the soccer, but I discovered a beautiful and mystifying land full of paradox and people who were more than happy to show their slice of the world to me.

From Cape Town I headed east to Pretoria to stay at the Kloof B&B run by Ericka Lottering and her husband Frans. The Lottering's are passionate and angelically friendly people, and their B&B became my sanctuary as I headed to various football matches in Durban and Joburg. I actually met Ericka, Frans, and their daughter, Sigi, nearly five years ago when I was in a nearby hospital after my accident. My dad had flown out to see me at the hospital and he'd stayed at the B&B. Ericka and Sigi came to visit me everyday for the month that I was laid up to keep me company and make sure I had clean clothes. They are, without a doubt, truly amazing people who will do anything for someone in need.

While staying in Pretoria, I visited the sights which included the Voortrekker Memorial - a memorial to the Dutch immigrants (Boers) who trekked across South Africa to avoid British rule, the Union Building - where Nelson Mandela ran the country, and Paul Kruger's modest home - the first President of South Africa and the namesake for the famous Kruger National Park. Next, I took a tour of Soweto, a large complex of various townships just outside of Johannesburg. Soweto is where many Blacks were forced to relocate under apartheid. Here I saw the block where both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu lived, though not at the same time. I also visited the Apartheid Museum, which offers a moving portrayal of a recent and tragic period of South African history.

The next leg of my journey took me to see the wildlife that is so prevalent in this part of the world. First, I headed to Pilansberg Park where I spent two days in a safari tent, and was fortunate to see many animals including giraffes, hippos, elephants, and several types of antelope. Before my trip to Pilansberg I was invited to Barberton and Kruger National Park by a guest of the B&B, Thea, and her family, which I happily excepted. So after returning from Pilansberg to the B&B I was whisked away by intercity van three hours east of Pretoria near the Swaziland border. Once again, I enjoyed the South African hospitality as Thea and her family took me in as their own. I visited Kruger National Park with Thea and her eldest daughter where we were delighted to see rhinos next to the road and a lioness who'd fallen asleep on the road.

My time in South Africa has come to a close and I have truly enjoyed my time. I have learned a great deal about this country, and I am left with more questions than answers concerning the race relations that trouble SA. There is still so much to be done - perspectives must change, segregation must decrease substantially, and wealth must be generated for everyone. My hope is that the World Cup will help this process continue in a positive direction. I would not hesitate to come back to this land of endless beauty to see how it grows and matures.

The final leg of my journey takes me to Cameroon. For those who are unaware, I was involved in an accident nearly five years ago, which was the reason for my hospitalization in Pretoria. I was in the Peace Corps shoveling debris after the market in the town I was living in, Kumba, burned down. While loading remnants into the back of a dumptruck, the tailgate released and I was crushed between it and the back of the truck. I suffered a fractured skull, numerous cranial nerves were damaged, two of my ear bones disintegrated, and blood flow to the left side of my brain ceased. I would have died were it not for a genetic "abnormality" known as the Circle of Willis which allowed for blood from the right side of my brain to flow to the left side. I have mixed feelings when I think of returning to where my life was drastically altered. For me, spiritually, this is a vital step in my overall healing because it completes a cycle. I know that I will never be the same - I am altered physically, mentally, and spiritually by what occurred on November 17, 2005. For all the difficulty, though, I am anxious to return to Cameroon, to see my friends, to visit my town, to make amends with that dumptruck. I am ready. Next, Cameroon...

The beautiful game

2010-06-30T11:58:00.009-06:00

Call it football or soccer it is still, across all continents, the beautiful game. When performed to its utmost this game is simply magical to watch. When a play is completed to perfection it becomes it is so seamless and graceful that it is impossible not too at least utter "Wow". I have found that this word is almost a knee jerk reaction when a great goal, shot, save, or sequence of passes is made. This World Cup has offered plenty of "Wow" moments.

The World Cup is now in its quarterfinal stage as only eight teams remain. There is a two day hiatus before action gets back underway. This gives the world a chance to take a breath before the craziness begins again. I had my doubts, like many others, that South Africa would be able to pull it off without a hitch. I can honestly say that I have been extremely impressed with what has been done here thus far. In fact, the only trouble that has existed in this World Cup has been the refereeing. Time will tell how that gets resolved, and we all hope that there will not be additional controversy in the games to come. So far, I have visited Cape Town, saw a game in Durban - at perhaps the most immaculate facility I have ever seen a game in (Still have yet to go to Texas Stadium, which I'm sure rivals anything else) - saw a game in Pretoria, and I am set to see games in Joburg and back to Durban. In all places the security has been top notch, transport has been relatively easy and inexpensive (only in terms of shuttles and public transport, whereas taxis are on the expensive side), and there have been FIFA "volunteers" to help direct you to where you need to go. It's typically a good idea to ask a few of these volunteers since they are often so willing to help that they'll give you incorrect information. All in all, the effort of South Africa has been superb, and I am told the influx into the infrastructure and national pride could not have come at a better time.

There is the controversy surrounding the vuvuzela, the "musical" noisemaker that resembles a swarm of bees, heard during all the matches. I must admit I now own three, two I bought and one was gifted to me. I also must admit that when I play it sounds more like a dying cow than anything close to its proper sound. While the television presents the vuvuzela as an annoying background noise I've seen some great playing by spectators. The players of the bugle will create rhythms that others will finish. Last night during the Paraguay vs. Japan match, the Japanese drum and the vuvuzela were paired for a great concerto, or something to that effect. I am in favor of the vuvuzela, and, perhaps it is due to the hearing loss I've suffered as a result of it, but I feel it has a permanent part in the game. The problem as I see it is that it is overused, most likely due to its novelty. I due miss the melodic chants and the beating of the drums, but, as I saw in the Japan game, there is room for compromise.

There are 11 days left of this World Cup and I find myself now looking forward to going to Brazil in 2014. There is unbelievable energy here, and it feels like the UN with so many languages and cultures celebrating together. Things like this need to happen more often. This beautiful game shows how alike we all are. It shows how we too can dance gracefully and in harmony with each other. It is vital to have a venue where this dance can be performed. A place where we are introduced to people we never would have met otherwise. The beautiful game is not simply beautiful because of what occurs on the pitch, it is much more beautiful for what it does off the pitch.

The beat goes on

2010-06-27T03:07:00.008-06:00

I am still reeling from the US loss to Ghana, as I'm sure many of you are as well. I found comfort, though, in one thing last night. After the Ghana win I went out onto to Long Street - the Broadway of Cape Town - to watch the celebration. What I saw was all Africans coming together to salute Ghana for their strong play and the continuing of their tournament. It brought a smile to my face to see such exuberance and unity from a continent. So, Americans, all is not lost. There are only four more years until Brazil.

I've been rather busy lately, thus the reason for my lack of posts. There is so much to do and see here in Cape Town, and, for the most part, the weather has cooperated with my agenda. I took a tour of the Cape, visiting the Cape of Good Point, Seal Island, and saw more African penguins. I hiked up Table Mountain, a dominant plateau in the center of Cape Town that offers amazing views of the peninsula and city. I even went diving with Great White Sharks. Granted we were well protected in a cage, but it was an amazing and changed all the stereotypes I had of sharks. They are truly beautiful, inquisitive, and docile kings of the deep.

I'm now off to Durban, which is on the southeast coast of South Africa for my first match, Netherlands vs. Slovakia. My next match after that is Japan vs. Paraguay. Dave, I will be cheering for Japan for you, no worries.

Sorry for such a short post, but I'll be off to the airport hear shortly and want to be sure I get the following pics published.

This, That, and Those

2010-06-21T09:01:00.006-06:00

Admitedly, I had my doubts about South Africa being able to pull off such a huge undertaking like the World Cup. But they've taken the pitch with pride and slammed one into the back of the net. So far, I have been incredibly impressed. The energy is contagious and electric. The South African's have pride in themselves and the country they are creating. It is amazing to think that it has been around fifteen years since the end of Apartied. This nation is asserting an identity of unity, and a desire to be exceptional. As an outsider I'm on the bandwagon. Could this World Cup be the turning point in South African's and Africa's development?

On to more selfish matters. I'm staying at an eclectic hostel in a section of east Cape Town called Observatory and will be here through the 27th when I head to Durban. Observatory is a little alternative enclave with dreaded fellows walking around and a laidback vibe. The hostel I'm staying at is "Obviously Armchair" which should give some insight into its mood. Obviously is relaxed by day, but then the attached pub, which is unfortunately located directly underneath my room, comes alive at night. There's a tattoo shop down the street - no plans to partake as yet - and a pool house across from the hostel, which is actually where most of the noise is blasted from. After a few nights I have learned to live with the noise and I'm sleeping better by the night.

Yesterday, I traveled to Robben Island, the prison island where
Nelson Mandela was held. If you've seen the movie Invictus you get a great picture of the confines. Robben Island has been compared with Alcatraz due to its island location and the surrounding shark infested waters (which I hazard to guess are many times worse here in Cape Town. After taking the standard bus and walking tour, I decided to seek out the island's African penguin population. In so doing, though, I missed the return boat and was stuck on the island for two more hours as a penance. Far shorter than many of the prisoners (freedom fighters?) whose cells I'd visited. So, I now had more time to venture out on my own. I spent the next couple hours walking through the prison, spending some quiet time outside Mandela's cell, and looking for penguins with an English gentleman who'd also missed the boat. Whenever possible in life, I'd highly recommend "missing the boat". Take time to journey away from the norm, smell the flowers outside of the box. A wise lady once said to me, "It is easier to apologize than to ask for permission".

Perspective

2010-06-19T03:53:00.002-06:00

I anticipated my first blog posting in a long time, and in South Africa for the World Cup, to be all about vuvuzelas, sport, and cheer. While I have no doubt that there will be much of this to come, my first tale on the journey revolves around the idea of perspective.

First of all, I arrived safe and, relatively, sound last night (time difference being 8 hours ahead of those in Colorado). After over 26 hours of arduous travel I set down in Cape Town ready to get to my hostel and sleep. I gathered my backpack and set off to find a cab. While walking towards the airport exit I was approached by a man asking if I needed a ride. I told him I did, showed him where I was headed, and, after a bit of price bargaining, headed to his van. I felt a tad uneasy about taking the first transport offer I received, but the guy seemed nice enough, and I was far too deliriously tired to rethink my decision.

The ride took about 20 uneventful minutes filled with mundane chatter about weather and how busy the World Cup had made things. Upon arriving at my hostel I handed him 200 Rand for the agreed upon price of 150 Rand. Well, of course, he didn't have change, which I should have anticipated. So, the driver suggests I run into a local convenience store to buy something and get change. He pulled up to a nearby store, I hopped out, bought water, received change, and gave him exact payment - all of which took about two minutes. I grabbed my stuff and headed into the hostel. Feeling something was amiss I quickly checked my carry-on to ensure I had all my entertainment goods. I checked the first pocket and instantly realized that my iPod and two pairs of headphones were gone.

Please allow me to step on my soapbox for a moment. I could have gone one of two directions: 1) I could have been angry at the world for doing this to me, or 2) I could have shook my head and laughed at my stupidity for leaving my things unattended. Both of these choices depend a great deal on perspective. I settled on the latter. I knew that bringing my iPod was not the wisest decision. I knew that leaving my things unguarded was lazy and stupid. I had no one to blame but myself. Of course, if I find the driver of that orange fan I'm sure I can find some blame to pass his way.

Persepctive. To quote the Tao Te Ching, "The more wealth you possess the harder it is to protect." While I don't have my tunes for the next several weeks, I am alive, in great shape, and ready to embrace the atmosphere of the World Cup. I will try to attend better to my possessions, but realize that when they are taken they can be replaced, or not. I will step down from the soapbox.

I'm now setting off to explore Cape Town and that it has to offer. I'm looking forward to cheering loudly for Les Lions as they take on Denmark tonight, and extremely excited about all that exploring a new land offers.

Lastly, I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to anyone who is reading this. I emplore you to take a moment to think about your persepctive and how it impacts your worldview. Will you stay angry at the world or laugh off the challenges and embrace difficulty?

Heading towards a New

2008-04-24T21:35:00.006-06:00

It has been far too long, but what I've discovered is that this blog has been somewhat therapeutic for me. So, when I don't write, things, for the most part, are going well. The reason I write now is because I am compelled by inspiration and I've discovered the time and motivation to do so.

To recap the last few months or so. Last time you all tuned in I was having eye surgery to straighten out my peepers. The eye surgery went well, but the docs needed to go back in this March to re-straighten them. Apparently, the Botox was a bit too strong and, after going inward, my eyes slowly began to creep outward. Kinda scary!
So, for the surgery in March the doc tightened two of the muscles and put adjustable sutures that dangled from each eye. As I woke up the doc pulled on each suture until my eyes were aligned. Freakin' crazy!

Since then my eyes are slowly getting better, but are straight. The facial nerve continues to grow and gain strangth. I can creep a grin and hope to wrok my way to a grimace. Then, look out smile! I'm extremely hopeful that everything will workout in time.

School is going very well, and I've slowly worked my way up to full-time which continues to exhaust me. I've changed to an International MBA and was accepted to DU's Graduate School of International Studies, so I'll be getting a dual-degree there in Global Finance, Trade, and Economic Integration. Pretty heavy duty. Also, I'm looking to start driving, with supervision, in the next couple weeks or so.

All in all, things are going very well. I can now see the light at the end of this long and circuitous tunnel. I always knew it was there, but I never realized how far it was. I have learned and continue to learn about myself and others through this experience. And I leave you with another quote by Lao Tzu, cuz that's how I roll:

In the beginning was the Tao.
All things issue from it;
all things return to it.

To fnd the origin,
trace back to the manifestations.
When you recognize the children
and find the mother,
you will be free from sorrow.

If you close your mind in judgments
and traffic with desires,
your heart will be troubled.
If you keep your mind from judging
and aren't led by the senses,
your heart will find peace.

Seeing into darkness is clarity.
Knowing how to yield is strength.
Use your own light
and return to the source of light.
This is called practicing eternity.

I can't say it's the end

2007-11-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

I apologize to all of you who are still devoted readers of this blog for my extended absence. Grad school has taken a great deal of time and brain power. I am now done with my first quarter and have nothing but rave reviews. Call me crazy (but not to my face), but I love school. I never thought I'd say that, but it is very nice to back in the academic environment. I have met some amazing people and know that the next year and half will be time well spent. I'm sure that the plethora of experiences that await me will be both novel and diverse.

Next Thursday, the 6th, I'll be having eye surgery where they'll unsew my right eye (it's about freakin' time) and straighten both eyes. The recovery is about 3 months and then they'll decide whether a second, and final, surgery is necessary. The reason for the long recovery time is that the doctor will transfer pull from the outside muscles, which are shot, to the top and bottom muscles which will cause the eye to pull out. Then, the inner muscle will be shot with Botox causing it to become paralyzed. As the Botox wears off, thus the 3 month time line, the eye will be become straight. Hopefully, that explanation made sense. I find this stuff extremely interesting, so I'm hopeful that my loyal readers do as well.

I start the next quarter January 3rd, so I'll have to find a way to once again adjust to change. I am just so ecstatic that a monumental event is taking place and that the next step in this process is occurring. While it has been difficult I have had so much support from everyone around me and I've discovered that with a positive attitude life is a bit easier. I don't want to preach, but... I am a Fatalist by nature. I truly believe that every event is predestined and this experience has only strengthened that understanding. I have never, and will never, regret any event or experience I've had or will have. They have all made me the man I am.

I leave you with thanks, and a quote from the Tao Te Ching:

Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.

If you realize you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.

Droppin' some knowledge

2007-06-23T13:41:00.000-06:00

Did you know that the root word for "compete" is "competere" from Latin meaning com - 'together' and petere - 'aim at, seek'. Just something to think about.

If you can make it here...

2007-06-18T22:04:00.000-06:00

I recognize that it has been over two months since I’ve blessed y’all with an entry. I’m sure you’ve all been checking daily, some of you hourly (you know who you are), hoping to get a little hit of blogijuana. Well friends, inhale, slowly exhale, and don’t screw up the rotation because your summer fix is here.

I have just returned from the city that never sleeps. The apple that is so huge they named it twice. Um, did I get something confused there? New York, New York big city of dreams. I was privileged to stay with my fellow Peace Corps Volunteer and trainer during my stage, Andy, at his place in Harlem. I was the quintessential tourist and took a ton of pictures and ran myself ragged. From the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building to the United Nations I subwayed from street to avenue and back again. I took in a rather humorous burlesque show that featured a well-impersonated Molly Ringwald, and ate at one of Bill Clinton’s BBQ haunts, Sylvie’s. In between all this I was able to visit with a few of my Peace Corps buddies and do some catching. Needless to say I had an absolutely amazing time. This was my first trip to New York City and will certainly not be my last. My Peace Corps friends were trying to convince me to move there, and I would certainly consider it. But first grad school, then the world!

Denver University starts in two and a half months and I’m very ready to start working on something with a bit more staying power and consistency. Right now, I’m gearing up for a very hot summer (97 degrees yesterday?! Oh crap!). So, get your glass of lemonade and come chill with me by the pool of life. The lifeguard is never off duty, the water is a temperate 80 degrees, and it’s never adult swim…

How far...

2007-04-08T16:17:00.000-06:00

Photo 1: In the hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon a couple days after my accident with the Peace Corps' Doctor Laura Stonehill.

Photo 2: My transport from Yaounde to Johannesburg, South Africa.

My Country Director in Cameroon just sent me the above photos from right after my injury. It definitely shows me how far I've come. Man, my head was swollen, and it wasn't even my ego. So, I suppose it's time for an update.

I've started getting minimal movement on my left side, so the surgery has been postponed or canceled until this summer. My eye surgery has been further delayed to see if movement returns. It could be until the end of the year or more before any surgery is scheduled. I'm sort of getting used to having one eye, but it would be great to have them both back, then I can drive again. I do love public transport, though.

I took the GMAT in February and was accepted to Daniels School of Business at Denver University just last week. So, I'll probably be attending there in the fall and begin work towards my Masters.

I just came back from Vegas a week ago where I helped build more massive casinos through my craps and roulette donations. I'm looking forward to traveling to NYC to see some Peace Corps buddies in June and then back to Vegas in September for my sister's 21st. I love the Vegas.

I think that's about it. I really just wanted to share the gruesome picture with y'all and figured I should write a lil diddy. Anyhoo, hope everyone out in Internet land is doing well and looking forward to the summer.

St. Patrick's Day

2007-03-12T21:44:00.000-06:00

To honor the upcoming Saint Patrick's Day, I'd like to share my favorite poem, "The Wayfarer" by Patrick Henry Pearse. What makes this poem so significant is the situation in which it was composed. Easter, 1916, a ragtag army of Irish Revolutionaries stormed the General Post Office in Dublin to declare Ireland's independence from the British Empire. The revolution, in the short run, was unsuccessful, and the Irish ringleaders were eventually executed by firing squad. P.H. Pearse while awaiting his execution wrote "The Wayfarer".

The Easter Rising, as it came to be called, eventually led to independence for the lower 26 counties of Ireland while the northern 6 counties remained under British control. After centuries of fighting there is renewed hope in Ireland that a peaceful solution will be found. The Irish struggle is a possible example for disputed territories like Palestine and Kashmir. And now Pearse's poem...

The beauty of the world hath made me sad,
This beauty that will pass;
Sometimes my heart hath shaken with great joy
To see a leaping squirrel in a tree,
Or a red lady-bird upon a stalk,
Or little rabbits in a field at evening,
Lit by a slanting sun,
Or some green hill where shadows drifted by
Some quiet hill where mountainy man hath sown
And soon would reap; near to the gate of Heaven;
Or children with bare feet upon the sands
Of some ebbed sea, or playing on the streets
Of little towns in Connacht,
Things young and happy,
And then my heart hath told me:
These will pass,
Will pass and change, will die and be no more,
Things bright and green, things young and happy;
And I have gone upon my way
Sorrowful.

Blog Promos

2007-02-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

A couple of blogs to read for a taste of culture:

1) turistatorino.wordpress.com. My buddy Joe's blog. He is in Turin, Italy for the next week and should have some great pica and colorful commentary to shall with y'all.

2) www.guilbeau.net. My fellow Peace Corps buddy Hugh's blog. He left the Peace Corps a while back, and is now in Ethiopia with the VSO, the Canadian equivalent to the Peace Corps. He'll be there for the next couple years.

Enjoy them both! I know I will.

To My Beloved Chicago Bears...

2007-02-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

The score is final and the Super Bowl is lost.
Now you must return to the Chicago wind and frost.
You hang your heads low and it's easy to see why.
You've battled through the season just to be left to cry.
But dust yourself off and keep your chin high with pride.
You fought the good fight when others would have rather died.
The Bear will roar once again so pay this loss no mind.
Congratulate Peyton and Tony and treat them nice and kind,
And pull up a chair and relax the bones with a cold glass of beer.
Because the great thing about this game, there's always next year.

Construction has begun

2007-01-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

I just heard from my friend in Kumba, David, that construction on the new market began recently. After a great deal of bureaucracy, the town took matters into their own hands. The shopkeepers agreed to pay the next year's rent in advance to have the market built. I'm sure it was a struggle for many of the traders, and I'd like to think the credit unions helped out in the process. The people have bypassed the national government and made things work at a local level.

Shout out to my South African Fam

2007-01-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

Over a year ago, I spent about a month in a South African hospital. My dad came out to visit for a week, and the local Peace Corps doctor, Leanne Milton, saw me almost daily. Besides that my day was filled with reruns of American TV, some SA Afrikaans/English programming, and cricket (I didn't think there was a sport worse than baseball). However, my days were also filled with a family who made me feel at home even though I was 8,000 miles away. When my dad visited he stayed at a local bed and breakfast owned by a vivacious and positive lady named Erika, her hard-working and equally optimistic husband, and their daughter, Sigi, a caring and adventurous young lady. Erika and Sigi visited me nearly every day and will never know the enormous impact they had on me. Erika and her husband are still running the bed and breakfast - I hope to visit them soon- and Sigi has made her way to London. I urge you to visit Sigi's blog and see what all she's up to: sigiblog.blogspot.com. Thank you is not enough to express my gratitude. Miles away from any sense of normal and it is amazing the comforts that emerge.

2007-01-16T01:22:00.000-07:00

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have A Dream"

In honor of Dr. MLK Jr. I'd like to submit to you a vivid memory I have of his birthday.

When I was around 12 my older brother and I decided to participate in the annual Denver march to the Capital. Participating was my older brother's idea, and I was lukewarm to the prospect of walking a couple miles on a frozen January morning. As the march began, though, my mood quickly changed from apathy to elation as the positive energy from the visible diversity was felt. But as the enthusiastic throng approached the Capital a disheartening sight met my eyes. On the steps of the Capital were gathered about 30 members of the Ku Klux Klan. As my heart sank I turned around to face my fellow marchers. Around me were thousands - perhaps, tens of thousands - of like-minded individuals. At this moment I realized that, while ignorance and bigotry is a reality, those who believe in this close-minded way will, eventually, be in the minority.

Even today the dream is not yet realized for every person. We are quick to repeat the same mistakes of the past against those who are in the minority. I have learned, though, that time is on my side. At some point we will all be free to express whom we are without fear of retribution.

2007-01-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

Check out my MySpace site at: www.myspace.com/ericswords. It's not just for 13 year olds anymore! Also, check out a revolutionary microcredit site where you can make a difference: www.kiva.org.

2007-01-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

Since I’ve now been home for over a year now, and, as of December 28th, 2006, have to reapply for the Peace Corps; it looks like I’m sticking around. While I have stayed up at night contemplating how to kill this blog, I’ve come to realize that the blog that keeps on blogging cannot be exterminated. No matter how hard I try it will live on. When a young child sees his first rainbow and dreams about the gold at its end, the blog is there. When a newborn butterfly escapes the confines of his cocoon and spreads her glorious wings, the blog is there. Never has a blog meant so much to – Shut up! It’s only a collection of crazy musings by some kid with way too much time on his hands. Um yeah, well, I can’t argue with that.

2007 will see some changes. I’m getting a little sick of constantly talking about doctors and crap in all my entries. While I’ll continue to update, from time to time, my condition for those of you who I don’t see, I’d like to go in a different direction with this. Sure personal updates have their place, but I’d like to change it up. Haven’t thought about how, but stay tuned, or not. I’ll keep going anyway.

Quick update: Living with my brother and sister-in-law, have another volunteer job at the local workforce center (should be very interesting), GMAT in February, and doctors appointments (I mentioned it. HA HA!) in the next couple of weeks.

Happy New Year to all! Try to do something good for someone you don’t know in 07. This is gonna be the year the pendulum swings back and the role of positive energy begins to dominate. Don’t depend on those in power to make things better. We already have the preparation, now we have the opportunity. Much love!

2006-12-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

Run DMC- Christmas In Hollis

Ah yeah!

2006-11-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

One year. Then and Now…

It amazes me that I am a year into this process, this metamorphosis. I wanted to present this blog to exhibit the transformation that has taken place over this past year. I do this not only to show that change is evident if one views it at the appropriate scale, but also to display, for myself, that despite the illusion of plateaus, progress is ongoing.

Then: Bed ridden, and being fed by way of intravenous fluids and a feeding tube (Mmmm, protein mush).

Now: Balance is 90%, and I’m walking a lot, riding the bus, and not running into many things. Diet is normal, and I can finally get down a double cheeseburger, with a minimal amount of mess.

Then: Continually forgot the word “syringe”, and received sponge baths (God, how I miss those).

Now: Still forget the word… um, oh yeah, “tailgate”, and have to wash myself. What a hassle.

Then: I had no sight in the upper hemisphere of my right eye and my vision was 20/200.

Now: Despite the eye still being sewn shut (something that may last until this summer when surgery to straighten the eyes out is a possibility), I have a full field of vision and my sight is now 20/50. Not bad considering everyone told me my optic nerve was shot and wouldn’t get any better.

If I have learned anything from this experience it is that patience in all things is central. When you understand that there is a time a place for each instance things become clear. Carpe Diem, seize the day, is not about completing things as soon as it becomes apparent that they must be completed. Instead, the concept is to understand the essential timing and the change that must occur before they can be done. A wise man once said, “Luck is when opportunity and preparedness meet.” We must understand that all things do not occur at once because they can’t, this is not the way of things. Change is the current by which things move. It should not be shunned or feared, but embraced and ridden.

I want to thank the medical staff in Kumba, and all my friends there, David, Mukete, Sona, Etangane, Greg, Konang, and everyone at CamCCUL and the credit unions. To Nan and Robert for getting me airlifted to Yaoundé, and to the medical staff at the hospital in Yaoundé. Thank you to Laura and Ann, the Peace Corps medical staff who visited me everyday even though they had no idea what I was saying half the time. And to the flight for life crew who took me to South Africa. Thanks to the doctors and nurses in South Africa, and to Leann, the regional Peace Corps doctor. Thank you to Erika, her husband, and Sigi for making me feel like I had family in South Africa. They visited me nearly everyday and I deeply appreciate it. Thanks to all the doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists at Craig Hospital who helped me get back on my feet, quite literally. And to all the doctors who are currently helping me get back to my old self. Thank you to all my friends: Joe, Mari, Frank, Jeanne, Christina, Neil, JC, Jose, Tony, Gretchen, Sean, Becky, Surel, Wendi, Shahen, Amalya, Sandra, Olga, Bret, Molly, Brittany, Kayla, and Olivia. I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone, and I apologize. Did you know I’ve had a severe head injury recently? A huge thank you to my family: Mom and Justin, Dad and Kris, Chris and Megan, Dave and Missy, Cara, Brenna, Logan, Evan, Bill and Ellen, Peter, Lauren, Rachel, and Joe (the only one who is included twice not only due to his relationship with my sister, but because he is my bro). I Love you all!

2006-09-28T22:32:00.000-06:00

Just a quick entry. My buddy from Cameroon, Ngwane David, sent me these pics of him and his club team. David is an awesome football player and is trying to break into the majors.

Happy fall to all!

2006-08-13T20:35:00.000-06:00

Holy over-fed goose liver, Batman! Has it really been almost 4 months since my last post?! Yes, yes, me dear naive protégé, Robin, it has indeed. Sorry to all my loyal readers for going MIA status, but now, back to blogging.

During the past four months, I've been touring the states, so to speak. I took a road trip with my brothers and sister-in-law to Minnesota to visit my sister-in-law's family. Highlights included: 1) Helping a friend move to Minneapolis, spending hours in the middle of Nebraska with a broken moving van, 2) Visiting the World's Largest Ball of Twine, and 3) Doubling-up on 11. Then, I went on another road trip to Missouri to visit one of my brother's girlfriend's family farm (that was a mouthful). We met a few good friends out there, and enjoyed a relaxing long weekend filled with Missouri's wonderful "convenience stores". In one stop, one can get gas, beer, porn, and fireworks. I now know why they call it the "Show Me State". Finally, I went to picturesque Breckenridge, Colorado, my favorite mountain town. My mom, step-dad, sister, and her friend joined me.

Now for the health updates, I’m sure you're all looking forward to this.

Balance has improved considerably. I'm no longer walking with a cane. Feeling is beginning to creep into my right side, although nothing consistent. The left side is beginning to get more shape and I'm getting some pull from the muscle. The eyes are being a pain in the patootie. I'm not getting movement in either eye, and, due to this, my right eye has remained sewn. On the bright side, my vision has improved from 20/200 to 20/80 in the right eye. Surgery may be looming, but nothing has been scheduled yet.

Eyes on the future...

I'm taking the GMAT exam in September, and planning to go to Graduate School for my MBA in the spring. Obviously, medical procedures may interfere with these plans. My doctor has said that it may be over another year before I'm released to go back to work, and I'm getting cabin fever.

I want to wish you all the best, and I'll try not to make it so long next time.

By the by, check out www.PeaceCorpsJournals.com. I just got an e-mail from the publisher and the blog who knows blogging the best has been added.

2006-05-15T21:49:00.000-06:00

In “celebration” of the sixth month anniversary of my accident, I’ve compiled a short ode to our earth-moving friend, the dump truck.

I used to play with a dump truck toy as a kid.
Now, I get smacked with real ones upside the lid.
I reminisce on those days in the backyard sandbox,
When I loaded your plastic bed with dirty rocks.
Perhaps all this is repayment for those days,
To teach me that innocent times never stay.
As I grew I was in awe of your large tires,
Until that fabled day of the great Kumba fire.
When, from on high, your heavy tailgate released,
And the blood flow in my brain suddenly ceased.
Today, I’ve forgiven my large dump truck friend,
For putting my Peace Corps service to a possible end.
We’re cool now, oh earth-moving helper of man.
Even if my stubborn skull can’t make amends, I can.

I want to echo my deep thanks and tremendous appreciation for every individual who has stuck by me during this tumultuous journey. Progress is slow, therapy has come to an end, and the volunteer experience has been wonderful thus far. I continue to remain confident that things will continue to improve. Thanks, yet again.

2006-03-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

The next blogisized chapter has begun in this blogified adventure…

First, they hospitalized me…
Next, they let me out…
Now, they set me loose.

I’ve been discharged from Speech therapies recently, and will discharge me from Physical therapy tomorrow. And now, I have some freedom and independence. What in heaven’s name will I do? Sitting on pins and needles? Can’t wait for the answer? Calm down. Deep breathe. Say it with me, “Ohhhhmmm.” Feel better? Good. Well, I’ll be throwing myself into the volunteer arena. I had an amazing meeting yesterday with the CEO of a small non-profit, Namlo International, and it went extremely well. They do great work, and I’ll be helping with the books, operations, and, possibly, grant writing. It appears to be a great fit and will give me some hands-on experience with non-profits. For further information, visit the website: www.namlo.org.

In addition, I’ve been trying some new things. My sister-in-law, Missy, has introduced me to Yoga, which I love, but I’m not very good at, and, tonight, I’ll be going to pottery. I figure with all this time I can at least try new activities and learn more about the world around me.

Update on the physical: Balance is improving, left ear has increased hearing, some feeling in the right eye, and the impulses throughout the face continue. How’s that for a synopsis. I met with my doctor, Dr. Weintraub, last week, and he mentioned that they probably wouldn’t clear me for work for another year. At least I’ll gain some experience with Namlo, and have the chance to help people who need it. I was starting to feel a bit selfish. It must be that genetic Catholic guilt. Thanks Mom and Dad.

2006-03-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

In news completely unrelated to this blogcast: The straw that broke the camel's back was determined to be a high density adamantine substance that weighed in at well over a ton. Talk about heavy metal.

2006-02-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

The plot thickens, the blood thins.

On this episode of the most blogbastic blog, we get the results of last episode’s cliffhanger. Dum, dum, dum…

Plavix and Aspirin. Left to their own devices they are ferocious declotters, but together they form the ultimate tag team. They fear no hemoglobin. They spare no platelets. To say that this Bonnie and Clyde of the red road prevent future strokes is an understatement. They will become Eric’s savior and current regimen. They are here to save the day, for the meantime.

A new test has been scheduled for three months to see if that pesky ole carotid artery has healed. By all accounts, we all just want it to close and not heal itself. Sometimes being a good healer is dangerous. Essentially, if the artery continues to heal, the blood flow from the left side will increase. Good thing, right? Not at all. Right now the right side is providing good flow and is quite happy on its own. Introducing increased blood flow will cause harm to this delicate balance. And, since it’s all occurring in the brain, it spells bad news, potentially. Truth be told, we won’t know until the next test in May. Don’t y’all just love this stuff? I know I do.

On the bright side, my left ear should be good to go by Thursday, and the hearing continues to increase. It appears I’ve lost some hearing in the upper ranges. Sorry all you sopranos, please lower your voice. American Idol has been slightly more pleasant this season.

Things continue to change. Reconstruction continues, and, while some events may be viewed as setbacks, I understand their necessity and know that in the end I’ll be okay. No doubt.

2006-02-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

We now interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special report:

“This is Rock Rockelsroll and I’m reporting live from Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado. Just a few hours ago Eric Jones, whose blog I represent, was admitted for a scheduled procedure to check the status of his left carotid artery. This procedure, an angiogram, inserts a dye into the artery by means of a tube placed in the groin and run through the body to the neck. This was done to discover if the artery is fully closed. If it is not, it could cause blood clots and lead to another stroke. While the angiogram was successfully completed it found that the carotid artery was open but narrow and irregular. We should find out next week what would need to be done. For now, we wait… ok; it’s cold out here. Colorado in February! Anyone have any hot cocoa? A barrel fire, perhaps?”

This has been a special report. We now take you back to your program “Heavy Equipment in Local Markets”.

2006-01-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Because laughter is the best medicine, and we could all use more, the above photo is courtesy of my friend, Andy, who is traveling in Cambodia. To explain, many people in rural parts of the world are use to pit latrines. But, hey, a reasonable explaination always takes the fun out.

Still doing well, and, of course, keeping the smile, well half-smile, on my face.

2006-01-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Two recent successes: 1) Surgery last Thrusday, 2) Let out of the hospital (what were they thinking?). Last Thursdays surgery went as well as could be expected. The doctor found that two of my left ear bones were completely demolished and installed replacment parts. I'll see in about five weeks how successful that was. In addition, he cleared part of my left neck filled with all sorts of crap (technical term) to make room for my left facial nerve to grow together. I'll know how successfu this part was in 6-12 months. And last, but in no way least, my right eye was sewn shut to protect the cornea. Ouch! The doctors all expect me to make a full recovery with the exception of my right optical nerve. I'll try to prove them wrong, but it would be nice, at least for the dump truck, to have one victory. I joke, I joke, I kid, I kid.

I'm back at home living with my Mom, Step-Dad, and sister, Brenna. Trying to get use to life out of the hospital, and working on eating more solid foods. In fact, since I've been back we haven't had to use the blender once. A small success. I have out patient therapy 3-days a week, and am trying to keep myself busy, but not too busy.

This has been another addition of the blog that keeps on blogging. Even the tail gate of a dump truck in a third world country can't stop it.

2006-01-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year to one and all!

Apparently, life wanted to test me to see if I still laugh when it gives me a great big haymaker to the chops. Ha, ha, ha! Still laughing, although it does tend to hurt slightly more than it used to.

Thank you to my Dad for updating my blog as well as visiting me during my month long stay in Pretoria, South Africa. To give you a more current assessment of my injuries, here we go: Right side of my face is paralyzed, but, good news, nerves are intact; so all feeling should come back within the coming months. Left side has feeling, but the nerves are not connected to the muscle. Therefore, I’ll have to have surgery to repair the left nerve in the next two weeks. This nerve, along with broken bone, has led to hearing loss in the left ear. In addition, both my eyes are unable to look passed the midpoint and my right eye is still pretty cloudy. The verdict is still out on what the solution is for my eyes, but next week brings two more appointments from eye doctors.

All in all, I’m a mess. But really I’m doing just fine and the doctors expect, with time, for everything to comeback. I want to thank all the doctors, nurses, and techs at Craig Hospital for delivering great care. Also, a huge, gargantuan THANK YOU to all my family and friends for all their support. Bottom line, it is very good to be home.

2005-12-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

Hi--My name is Art Jones and I'm Eric Jones' dad. Eric has asked that I add a note to his blog to let you know what's happened since his last posting.
As you've read, there was a fire in the market in Kumba, Cameroon and many of the businesses owned by Eric's Camerooian friends were damaged. A bit after the fire and a little over two weeks ago, Eric was helping friends clean up when a piece of heavy equipment fell and hit him in the back of the head. He was taken to the hospital in Kumba and then MedEvaced by helicopter to the main hospital in Yaounde where a severe basal skull fracture was diagnosed. After several days, it became clear that evaluation and treatment needed to be done in a more medically sophisticated setting and so, about 11 days ago he was flown to Kloof Medi-Clinic, a state of the art hospital just outside Johannesberg, RSA. I flew there from Denver and was there for about a week.
Eric is awake (most of the time), knows where he is and what's going on around him. He has full use of his extremities and can walk, though he's weak. X-Rays (CTs, MRIs, etc.) and other tests show a very severe basal skull fracture which has injured several of his cranial nerves. He has substantial weakness of the left side of his face, trouble moving his right eye (though he can see out of it) and difficulty with swallowing that also makes his speech a bit difficult to understand. The injury blocked off his left carotid artery but he's lucky (finally) and his right carotid is providing adequate blood flow to his brain.
Neurosurgeons, ENT, Internal Medicine, nursing and therapy staffs are working aggressively to both evaluate and treat his deficits. In spite of the severity of Eric's injuries (which could have resulted in death or a more devastating neurologic outcome), the medical staff feels that a full recovery is possible. It is our hope that Eric will be able to return to Denver before Christmas and continue his recovery here.
I;m sorry that I can't match Eric's wry sense of humor or perceptive comments. His mood is usually good and I know that he appreciates your positive thoughts and energy. I can forward any comments from my email address which is surg5134@aol.com and will update his blog when there is new information available.
Thanks!
Art

2005-11-16T00:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, as you’ve most likely noticed, I like to make light of things. When life tries to give you a haymaker to the chops you just have to laugh (as long as you can still breath). There are times, however, that it is difficult to muster anything humorous. This is one of those times.

Half of the main Kumba market burned down Monday night and was still burning the next morning. The government estimates that 1 billion CFA (approx. $1.8 million) will be necessary to rebuild. In a country already overwhelmed by money issues this will be an impossible sum to raise. Luckily, the fire occurred overnight, so there were no casualties, but, while lives were not lost, livelihoods were. One of the problems with businesses in Cameroon is that, when they acquire cash, they spend it on excess inventory. So, instead of having any sort of savings to fall back on, the shopkeepers depend upon their stock. Those looking for early Christmas gifts subsequently looted most inventories spared by the fire.

In the United States we’d “simply” file a claim with our insurance company and rebuild. In Cameroon, insurance is virtually non-existent, as are fire departments, which is why the fire did so much damage.

I am unsure what the shopkeepers will do. Some of my friends are among them, and they will probably start all over, or move back to their villages where they can receive support from relatives. For those individuals who are worse off this Christmas season will not be one of celebration. The wife of the Government Delegate (head of the City Council) is my landlady, and I’m a friend to her daughter and son-in-law, so I’ve offered my services to the Council. Time will, though, what the government’s response will be. I’ll withhold judgment for now, but they must understand that the people of Kumba are crying.

2005-11-07T23:45:00.000-07:00

The dry season cometh…

If Monday was any indication of things to come I’ll be good and melted in the next few weeks. The unusually prolonged rainy season appears to be coming to an end, and it has given way to one heck of a dry season. The temperature, I’d estimate, is in the mid-90s with almost 100% humidity. Where as earlier I’d been voicing my opinion about the constantly muddy roads due to torrential rains, I now know the alternative. Is there no middle ground?! I’ve been told that the unrelenting heat will continue to rise until it reaches its zenith in January. It’s strange knowing that soon the snow will begin to fall back home while I smolder away. The timing of the year is almost surreal. November has begun, you say? Hmmm, I never would have imagined. So, as you are all cozy in front of the blazing fire in the coming months I will be sharing in a similar experience. Similar in the aspect of unrelenting heat, and cozy in that the constant sweat my body permeates will keep me nice and enveloped. Relief, though, comes in the form of the fan. Since AC is extremely rare I must depend upon this antiquated device for cool. But due to the occasional brownout that last much of the day, and have increased in frequency, the spell of that airy goodness is short and rarely lived. Of course, I can always seek out the cold shower at day’s end. Who would have thought something I would have complained about back home has so many advantages?

2005-11-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

Here, adventure is a way of life. One can attempt to establish some type of routine only to find that the attempt is in vein. It is important to be ready for anything because that is exactly what this profession entails. A brief (Ha!) update of my recent activities:

Thursday, October 27, 2005

This was the day of the seven and a half hour board meeting at Self Reliance Credit Union. If you think I’m exaggerating about the length of the meeting, sadly, it was probably longer. I have to say, though, that this day was the most productive and rewarding working day I’ve had yet. I was the only representative from CamCCUL present at the meeting, and we covered everything from their activities building a new home for the credit union to loan approvals for four young men. The latter was the most unique. In Cameroon, customer relationships are vital, and each of our board members knew something about one of the young men. After discussing the loans, giving advice where I could, they called in the men one by one. They’d applied for the loan the day before, and here the board of directors was interviewing them! I can’t say this is the norm, but, still, talk about customer service. Each of the young men had proven repayment ability in the past, and we had solid collateral, so each of their loans was approved, augmenting the loan portfolio greatly.

Sure I didn’t get lunch. Sure I was tired. But leaving I felt a sense of accomplishment and finally being able to help lend (Hmmm, strange word choice) some experience to a situation.

Friday, October 28, 2005

After going into the office in the morning, I was off with my friend, David, for a weekend to Buea. David has a friend, Rose, who is a student at the university there, and she has wanted to cook dinner for us for sometime now. I have a couple of PCV friends there, Nan and Ryan, who I haven’t seen in a little while, so we decided to make a weekend out of the excursion.

After traveling two and a half hours on a horrible road (even though it is one of the busiest in the country due to cocoa exports it has been badly neglected. I point no fingers, but I do raise the fact), we arrived at my friend Ryan’s and promptly went over to Rose’s for some grub. Mmm, mmm, good. Rose, who loves to cook, but hates to eat, had cooked Fish DG (Fish with a pepe and tomato sauce with green beans and carrots), jamajama (greens with crayfish), plantain chips, foofoo (play doughy made from coco yams), and fruit juice and wine. As you might be able to guess, my tastes have developed rapidly. More out of necessity than anything, but actually, I’m beginning to enjoy many of the traditional dishes here. And Rose is a freakin’ amazing cook, so that didn’t hurt things.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Sometimes you just gotta have some fun, and that is exactly what Saturday was all about. We got a big group together and headed to the black sand beaches of Limbe. David, Rose, Ryan, Nan, Jerry (a PCV), Jean Yves (Jerry’s friend), and I had a much-needed day of rest and relaxation. It was the first time David and Rose had even seen the ocean let alone gone in the water. It took some convincing, but as soon as David saw a 3 year old, at the beach with his family, run into the waves he knew that he had nothing to fear. He loved it! In fact it was very difficult to get him out of the water at the end of the day. Rose was much more cautious, but did spend about 20 minutes in the small waves.

Cultural Note: Many Cameroonians are afraid of water due to what is traditionally known as “Mommy Wata”. Essentially, they believe that the water is haunted by spirits, and that we disturb them by going into their domain. Thus, for the individual who dares tread on this sacred area, death is the penalty. David and Rose, being well read and relatively fearless had little problem overcoming this superstition.

As we were packing up to leave we saw a large entourage arriving with a couple of video cameras and a large radio. Upon further observation, we discovered that a “pop/hip-hop” artist from Douala was shooting his music video on the beach. Jerry, Jean Yves, and I were standing back watching the goings on when I commented that we should find a way to get in the video. No more than a minute later the director came up to us and asked if we’d like to do just that. Aw yeah! So, needless to say, I shook what my mama gave me. Thanks Mom! The director promised she’d send a copy to us when the final edit is done. While it may not make it to MTV we may be featured on local and European music channels. The seeds have been planted for my next career, music video dancer. I know what you’re saying, “Eric, don’t quit your day job.”

That night, before heading back to Buea, we all took a beverage at “Hot Spot”, a restaurant overlooking the Atlantic Ocean while the sunset. It was a perfect ending to a very interesting day.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Not much to report. Traveled back home with David, slept, and caught up on some reading. It was a great weekend, but traveling here is not easy. The roads take a toll on you, and it is often difficult to get to where you want to go. Still, you won’t hear me complaining, or was that what I just did in the previous sentence?

Monday and Tuesday, October 31-November 1, 2005

Because cocoa is the driving cash crop in my community, and because it is the height of the cocoa harvest I wanted to learn more about this activity. Luckily, I have a great neighbor and friend, Greg, who owns a cocoa store in Kumba. Essentially, he sends buyers out to “the bush”, buys cocoa, ships it to Douala, and sells it to another person who ships it to Europe.

Monday, I spent the day shadowing Greg to learn his business and provide assistance when requested. Tuesday was spent going with one of the buyers, the only female on Greg’s roster, to one of the villages to buy cocoa. I think I was more of a hindrance than a help, however. As soon as they saw a white man the price went up. Eventually, she was able to explain that, in essence, I was simply an international observer sent to make sure the cocoa deals are fair for everyone involved. I was able to help them reach a compromise on the weight of a couple of the bags, so I suppose her explanation wasn’t too far off.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Yesterday, I worked alongside one of our field auditors, Mr. Tache Henry, at the Kumba Central Credit Union. He worked on a balance sheet discrepancy (that I may soon assist in) while I verified membership cards and loan applications. Tache is a great guy, and throughout the day we formed a close bond. At day’s end, after a trip to the Internet café, he revealed to me that his computer skills were slightly lacking. “Tache, skills transfer is my life,” I said as the sun made the teeth of my smile sparkle like a toothpaste commercial.

Today, November 3, 2005

Being that it is the end of Ramadan, today is a government-sanctioned holiday, and most facilities are closed. Even though the region I live in is predominantly Christian, the north of the country is mostly Muslim, so everyone reaps the benefits. I feel kinda guilty (must be that Catholic ancestry); I should have been fasting the last month to get some reward from it. Oh well, I’m over it. So, today has been spent blogging and then I’ll read about the new IMF loan recently given to Cameroon. Tonight, after over two months, I should be getting my living room furniture. Don’t ask, it’s a long story, and I’ve already talked your ear off a bit too much. Thanks to everyone for coming out! See you next time! And remember: Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for those stars.

2005-10-26T10:16:00.000-06:00

“Live from the field in the aftermath of today’s event, let’s go to Dirk Dirkelsfeld, Dirk?”

“I can hear you Allen. Yes, today’s International Credit Union Day went very well, from all indications. Despite some issues throughout the spectacle with timing and the agenda, I have to say the day was a success. The audience was awed by traditional dances, a lively debate entitled, “Keep your money under the mattress, or in the credit union?”, and a quiz show that involved local school children. The highlight, according to PCV, Eric Jones, was the fact that Kumba’s own, OceanCity Radio, carried the event live. Let’s go to an excerpt of the OceanCity interview with that same PCV…”

<“How do you see the day?”

“It’s great to see the incredible turnout. Many people have come out on this rainy day to support the Credit Union Movement. Hopefully, this event will be a catalyst that provides for increased momentum.”>

“Kinda brings tears to your eyes, eh Allen? Back to you in the studio…”

“Thanks again, Dirk. To echo the hope held by Mr. Jones, the Movement must use this event as a springboard. The following weeks and months will tell of the true success of this event. And, such a treat, we have PCV, Eric Jones, in the studio with us today. Eric, what have you been up to?”

“First, Allen, I want to thank you and the studio for having me, and thanks to that report from Dirk. What a reporter, eh? In the past week, or so, I’ve been continuing my observations, meeting with small business owners in the market, on an informal basis, and plotting my next moves.”

“Which will include?”

“Ah, thanks for that rather leading question. I have a few things in the works. First, within the bank, I’d like to begin an archival system for our headquarters that I’d then like to expand to the branches. You know, Allen, I worked for a couple of libraries in their archival departments during college. Peace goes out to Frank and the Auraria Library and Nancy at Southwestern University Library. Love you guys!”

“Um, yes, thanks for that, er, shout out. What else?”

“Well, continue to attend board meetings, loan recovery meetings, give input, and organize training where I see the need. Also, I’ve been giving some preliminary thought to Secondary Projects. Our CamCCUL Chapter President, Collins, is working with a community group to begin a local library. Once again, I think my past experience will aid in that.”

“Funny how that works.”

“Ha. We won’t get into that here. Look for my new blog “Me in Philosophy” coming soon. In addition, one of my friends has a wife who works to educate the local populous about HIV/AIDS and the necessity of malaria bed nets. So, I may be able to lend some support to her effort. Peace Corps encourages us to get involved in something AIDS related. I’ve also thought some about giving business classes to groups of entrepreneurs, as the last volunteer did, but I may hold that until Year 2.”

“Overall, how do you feel it’s going?”

“Slow. Patience is definitely a virtue that I am constantly cultivating here. But I am learning so much about the various dynamics, not only in my town, but also in African development in general. My Dad just sent me a book entitled “Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa’s Future” by George Ayittey. I am thoroughly enthralled by this publication. Being in the thick of this very topic I am learning a great deal from it. The hope is that I’ll gradually be able to transfer this learning to create positive results with the aid of locals. The danger, though, is rushing into development and utilizing American solutions to African problems. That’s what the latest generation of African leaders has done here, and it isn’t working. There’s much to be done, but it is in absolutely no way a lost cause. The potential is great on the African continent, and in Cameroon, specifically. I’m optimistic.”

“I’m sure you’ll have much to say on that topic as the weeks continue. In closing anyone you want to, er, give a shout out to?”

“Yeah, to my little bro, Chris, for kicking the S#%t out of the LSAT! Way to go.”

“I’m sure the LSAT had it coming.”

“Undoubtedly.”

2005-10-20T09:11:00.000-06:00

I’ve had a couple of requests recently, and the people must be heard! First, this blog lacks the personal smut that some are searching for. Apparently, I have kept my distance from the grime and published that information which, while factual, contains little of the “Me” that is in Africa. Luckily I was given a subsequent request that would quickly, and rather painlessly, resolve the initial constructive criticism. Thank goodness for the immediacy of the Internet! Big shout outs go to Gert and Mari for their input. We here at the blog that blogs the bloggingest value your support, and will do our utmost to adhere to those requests that seem sensible at the time. And now, as promised, a day in the life of “Me”:

It is entirely impossible to present a synopsis of my daily routine, as “routine” is a word that, for better and worse, ceases to exist in my world these days. Therefore, this will most likely be a regular series. Since the censors either have bigger grilled fish to, um, grill, we will most likely remain on the blog network to make this series possible.

Yesterday, I remember it like it was less than 24 hours ago, as most of it was. A good day I have to admit. Around 4 am the rooster crowed (or do rooster’s roost since crows crow?) beckoning me to begin my day. If he thought I was going to raise my lazy behind from my comfortable bed at such an hour he had a better chance of laying an egg than achieving that daunting task. So, I slept on, armed with industrial strength earplugs, thanks Mom. After being awoken by my cell phone alarm around 7:30 am, I rolled out of bed to meet the day and my daily prescription of anti-malaria medication and multivitamin. From here I ventured into my bathroom fully equipped with a running shower. That’s right folks! No more tub baths and outhouse for this PCV. Granted I have no warm water, but, due to my present state (Love you Christina), cold showers are a regiment I welcome. After getting cleaned up, I went back to my room to get dressed.

A brief aside about dressing in Cameroon: They dress well, and, while they may give a reprieve to a visitor, I’m a resident and receive no such accommodation. Therefore, for the most part, I dress nicely when venturing out in public (i.e. dress pants, polo shirt, wingtips, etc). When at home, though, I thug. Heck, I gotta be me.

After dressing to impress, my doorbell rang and in came my buddy and resident housecleaner/laundry-doer, Maxcellanus, or Mooket, as he is lovingly referred to. He was there bright and early to wash my “dressings”. After having a breakfast of beignets, oatmeal, and coffee together, we were both off to work.

My walk to work takes about 30 minutes on average. A taxi ride is less than 20 cents each way, but I enjoy seeing how the town is moving and seeing people along the way. Slowly people are changing from greeting me with “White Man” to “Eric”, or by the nickname that has taken hold, Erico. This particular walk to work I noticed that our friendly neighborhood goat had had a baby. Cute as cute could be was the kid, all white with little black spots displayed intermittently. Many of us wanted goats as pets during training until we found out that they’d eat us out of house, home, and canned goods.

When I arrived at work I quickly became aware that there was little to do today. My office mates were preoccupied with the upcoming “International Credit Union Day” on October 22nd. Evidently, when I was in Yaoundé last week for the SED committee my counterpart and a couple of auditors were called away to Douala for training on a new software program for the credit unions. Therefore, with little direction, the unions had not followed through on the preparation for the event. I could lend little assistance in this area, as I know very little about how to throw a successful African celebration. Instead, I stayed out of the way and studied the instruction manual for the new software program.

Before lunch I was visited by one of my buddies, Poli, who was seeking career counseling. We took a walk, talked, and then he went on his way and I went to “Sticky Fingers”, the best damn eatery in Kumba. Whenever I go there I feel like Norm from Cheers. Sona, my friend and neighbor, basically runs the joint, so I’m always welcomed with a big ole “Erico!”, and a handshake with a snap at the end (a custom I will undoubtedly be introducing to the US). I played it fairly safe with the food on this day: Rice, spicy tomato sauce with cuts of beef, and ripe plantains. After chopping plenty and flopping, I headed back to work to continue my instructional manual studies. Typically, I head back home about 4:30 pm, but stuck around until just after 5 pm to get a bit more studying done. Work lately has been all about knowledge acquisition.

Upon returning home I was ready for a little rest and relaxation. I pulled out my most recent piece of reading, “Rivethead” by Ben Hamper (An assembly line romp that I highly recommend), and sat myself on my porch in preparation for an African sunset to be followed by some stargazing. Darkness slowly settled into the landscape and home came Sona, Mooket, and, another chum, Etengeneng (the General). We’d decided at our lunch meeting that they’d come over and we’d cook some Pepe soup (See above photos of preparation of the aforementioned chow). The basic ingredients are beef, carrots, green beans, pepe, and a side of steamed coco yams. Coincidently, one of my neighbors, Greg, was cooking the same thing and offered us a bowl to add to our feast. Halfway through the meal I commented on how the beef Sona had picked up that day was much better than the stuff Greg had doled out to us. Sona responded that it wasn’t beef Greg had put in his soup. After further investigation I believe what had eaten was a relative of the crocodile, although there was a brief reference to the Mole Rat. Regardless, they seemed happy with simply the label of “bush meat”, and so was I.

(This blog in no way condones nor promotes the mastication or imbibing of “bush meat” or its byproducts. Whenever the writer, the “Me”, learns that “bush meat” has been served he promptly leaves the table in a huff mumbling something about endangered species and hugs the nearest tree. It should be noted, however, that not all forms of “bush meat” are from the flesh of extinct animals, although this publication has no source documentation with which to back this presumption.)

A fine meal having been had by all, I was off to watch the tail end of the Chelsea Football Club’s match. As I walked along the dirt road to Liverpool Bar, the neighborhood football-watching center, I gazed up at the full moon and random planet hanging together in the sky. “Me” is in Africa, and it is a wonderful place.

Sorry for the insanely long episode this time around, but I felt, due to the sincerity of the requests, a lengthy depiction was warranted. That, and I kind of like to write. I just hope you all like to read.

2005-10-08T14:31:00.000-06:00

Heartbreak does not begin to describe the feeling in Cameroon tonight. The night is filled with an air of shock and utter disbelief. Allow me to set the stage:

Cameroon versus Egypt. Cameroon wins and they qualify for the World Cup. Simple as that. To use the old sports phrase, "Win and you're in." Luckily, I was able to come to Yaounde for a meeting of the SED Committee taking place on Monday and Tuesday. Equally fortunate, other volunteers and I scored tickets to see this historic game. The scene was absolutely electrifying. When the game began it was obvious that Egypt was outmatched. Cameroon completely dominated and went up 1-0 early. But (Isn't there always one?) they sat back and held tightly to a one goal lead. This is the single worst mistake in sports. When you smell blood, you go for the kill. So after 50 minutes of sitting back Egypt, who fought hard all game, was able to score the equalizer. 1-1, and the crowd was shocked. The silence stood in stark opposition to the earlier zeal we'd all displayed. Then, Cameroon turned it on. Once again they dominated. They threw everything, but the kitchen sink at them (Due to the fact that throwing kitchen sinks was barred by FIFA Ruling 28-65B after the horrendous injury suffered by Guy LePariage in 1923). The Cameroon footballers created numerous opportunities, and, with a couple minutes left, received the grandest of chances. After Egypt committed a penalty in the box, Cameroon was awarded a penalty kick. Life was flushed back into the crowd, and we erupted. This was it! The golden opportunity. Score and Cameroon goes to the World Cup. Anticipation built, the kick was taken, and a metal goal post was struck.

The highs and lows of this game tormented all the observers. You see, a draw was not sufficient because Ivory Coast won their game making this one a must win for Cameroon. My heart goes out to the country tonight. Football is the unifying factor in a country with over 100 tribal factions. I am hopeful that the Cameroonian people will find light in this darkness, and I am grateful that I was able to see a match of such magnitude.

2005-10-01T05:08:00.000-06:00

Photo 1: Front of my house
Photo 2: Baptist church at the top of the hill in Kumba with some local kids
Photo 3: My work HQ

2005-09-30T08:41:00.000-06:00

Work. To some it is a dangerous word. Filled with negativity and grave implications. Me? I’ve actually been looking forward to it. (Please reread the previous sentence before continuing. I had to. I wasn’t quite sure I’d written it.)

I began my traditional, brick-and-mortar type work this week at CamCCUL (To break out the acronym: Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union League). The League of CamCCUL I’m working with is based in Kumba, and oversees 14 Credit Unions in the region. Their aim is to end poverty in Cameroon. Based mainly in the Anglophone provinces, CamCCUL traces its roots back to 1963, just after Cameroonian independence and reunification. Essentially, my aim is to help the organization with audits, training, and any other random wisdom I may be able to impart.

I suppose I should take a moment to thank “The One-S-T”, FirstBank in layman circles, without whom I would be, well, lost. I know that my experience there will be invaluable for my work here. Thanks to all who were immensely patient with me and took the time to share their knowledge.

With that important “shout out” out of the way, work, oddly, is why I am here. Sure the endless novelty, challenge of travel, and cross-cultural experience is a plus, but I came here to help develop communities and help people to help themselves. Thus far, I’ve met several people in the League who have the same passion I have, tenfold. They are determined to unite community resources and pull themselves out of poverty. Despite battling against incredible odds, of which I will not speak of here, it appears they are having some success. Membership in the Credit Unions has steadily increased, as have micro loans to members.

And now, a message from our sponsors…

Have you ever been thirsty? I know I have. Heck! I’m thirsty right now! And what’s better when your month is dry as a Puritanical New Years party than a drink? Good thing in Cameroon there’s a drink stop, bar in American English, every five feet. So, what’ll it be? Beer or a sweet? Two brasseries control the beer market here, so beer choice is limited. Will you choose the Cameroon brasserie, offering a fine assortment of beers that all taste about the same, with one exception, Castle Milk Stout, my personal favorite, OR will it be the Guinness brasserie? That’s right kids; the same Irish brewery you know and love is now a Cameroonian staple. Worried about price? Quantity? No worries! Beers come in .65 Liter bottles, almost 30 ounces, and cost less than a dollar. Quite the deal! Worried about becoming a soccer hooligan after drinking too much? No fear, sweets are also available. Sweets come in all flavors, so they’re guaranteed to have one you enjoy: Coca-cola (American wine), orange Fanta, Sprite, and a wide variety of fruity drinks from banana to grapefruit to grenadine. My favorite is the Cameroonian, bottled in Douala, D-Jino. A blend of several fruits and filled to the brim with sugar.

WARNING!!! Peace Corps volunteers have reported withdrawal headaches from D-Jino after returning to the states; so make sure to take a couple of crates back with you.

We now return to our regularly scheduled blog…
My future work schedule is filled with board meeting and audit observations. If that sounds dry and boring, I assure you, in Cameroon nothing is. For the rest of the year, I aim to learn as much as possible about the system and the organization. I’m hopeful from time to time I may be able to offer some of them wisdom pearls. In addition, I’m working to be a part of the Peace Corps SED Steering Committee, so I can help decide the future of our program. The fun will continue. Stay tuned.

2005-09-20T03:25:00.001-06:00

While I have your ear, er eye, I suppose I should cover a couple of the basics in my Cameroonian experience thus far. Namely, the two most influential issues are language and food.

After studying French for 9 weeks and spending many sleepless nights running over various survival sentences in my head, “So, how do I ask my host sister if she can do my laundry tomorrow?”, I was shipped off to the Anglophone province of the South-West. Here they speak English, well sort of. While it is true that most of the population knows how to speak English, amongst themselves they speak Pidgin. I was under the impression that Pidgin is simply broken English, and I’d know how to communicate in no time. I felt like this would be an experience similar to a parent attempting to relate to their “hip” children. I’d throw in a “dude” here, or a “like” there and be A-OK. Ha! Pidgin is slightly more complex than I’d at first imagined. Essentially, Pidgin is the epitome of language evolution. Any linguists out there? Pidgin, at its foundation, is a “trade language”. It was believed to have begun in the 15th century with the arrival of the Portuguese to West Africa. Over the centuries it borrowed heavily from Dutch, German, English, and French. Throw in a little local dialect and there you have it, Pidgin. While I can communicate with English, it is difficult to join in conversations with a group of Cameroonians. My friends, bless their souls, are bent on teaching me, regardless of how stubborn I may be. The extent of my Pidgin thus far is “Ashya” (I feel you, or sorry), and “I chop plenty I done flop” (I ate so much I’m now required to explode). This is a good segue (the food not me exploding) to our next section.

One of my fundamental concerns coming to Cameroon was food. As anyone who knows me can attest, I am picky and don’t eat much as it is. My favorite quote is, “I eat to live, not live to eat”. Cameroon, though, is no Ethiopia. People are often quoted as saying that no one goes hungry in Cameroon. The country is built, almost entirely, on volcanic soil, so anything will grow here well. In fact, it is difficult to walk for more than 5 minutes without running into some food vendor. So, I’ll start here with street food. While it will be (after the rainy season) hot enough to boil an egg on the street, this is not what I’m referring to. The street vendors sell Discoveries (round, dough rolls), hard-boiled eggs, meat on, and off, a stick, yogurt, grilled corn, grilled plantains and prunes, and more fruit than the Chiquita lady could fit on a hat. We have bananas, papayas, watermelon, coconut (fruit or nut?), tomatoes (nailed that one), pineapples, and now is the season for oranges so they too are plentiful. As for the table food (a termites dream), things get a tad stranger (In fact, up North termites are considered the potato chip of the region). Perhaps the food that worries me the most is the mole rat. Young kids can be seen on the roadside dangling the little guys be the tails attempting to make a sell. They average over a foot in length, and, what worries me, is the meat is in many types of food, so I may have already indulged. Other foods include (as I butcher the spellings) Ayroo (Green leaf with palm oil and other ingredients), Foo-Foo (A cassava, play dough-like concoction), Endolay (bitter leaf with ground peanuts), grilled fish (I can spell that), and Bobo (boiled cassava). Of course, in addition, there are the old standbys like rice, beans, tomato sauce, and spaghetti, but two things never change when Cameroonian cuisine is prepared: palm oil and pepe. The palm is perhaps the most important plant in Cameroon. From wine, to oil, to palm nut soup no part is gone to waste. Pepe is a hot pepper that is used to make sauces and as an ingredient in most foods. I love the stuff, but even a bottle of fine filtered water can’t get the burn out. Before you all run out and ship cases of canned foods in an attempt to give me a taste of home, I have found “ice cream”, Snickers bars, and double cheeseburgers. Even I won’t go hungry in Cameroon.

Thanks for listening/reading. We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog…

2005-09-16T03:45:00.000-06:00

Photo 1: Eaten by a lion at the Bandjoun Chefferie
Photo 2: Swearing in as a volunteer
Photo 3: With my family at the appreciation dinner

Let me know what you want to see or know about Cameroon and I'll see what I can do. Love you all!!

2005-09-14T04:20:00.000-06:00

Photo 1: Kumba
Photo 2: My house
Photo 3: My block

2005-09-14T03:45:00.000-06:00

Peace Corps has three goals that we as volunteers must always keep in mind: 1) Exchange American ideals with the local population, 2) Exchange local ideals with Americans, 3) Transfer needed technical skills and knowledge to the local population. While the third goal is one I will not begin until September 26th, I have been busy the past few weeks with the first two. I have had a number of enlightening conversations with a number of locals from businesspeople to students. From these conversations, I have both learned about the current situation and taught about various aspects of the United States. I've gained much needed perspective on the country and this obstacles individuals encounter. I feel that the challenges before me are great, but there are many people who are more than willing to help.

On a down note, we have lost 3 volunteers to the dreaded ET (even Reeses Pieces couldn't make them stay), Early Termination. Cameroon is a difficult place to live, and Peace Corps is not for everyone. Unfortunately, one of them was my Education postmate, Jen, so it has been especially difficult lately. Also, another volunteer is going back due to the situation in New Orleans, his hometown. We expect him to return.

Things are going well for me, though. Continuing to play soccer every Sunday, but have yet to win. First game we lost 2-0, and last game went to penalty kicks 1-1. We lost 3-2 on kicks, but I was able to put one in. We keep getting closer, so this Sunday I expect a win. Well, I'm off to the local market for some fresh vegetables and tomorrow I need to clean-up Jen's house.

2005-09-05T06:39:00.000-06:00

Potential tragedy averted!! Cameroon 3 Ivory Coast 2. The world is a safer place. Cameroon has one more World Cup qualifying match against Egypt, a game they should win. If they do, they're in. I know my fingers are crossed.

So, after the victory I went out with a group of friends to see how the country was reacting. My God, they love their football! People running through the streets, whistling, singing, and waving flags. Simply breathtaking. I couldn't help but smile. There are no better people on this Earth who deserve such a victory and a reason to celebrate.

The next few weeks will be continued adjustment as I don't start work at CamCCUL until September 26th. In the meantime, I'm getting my house clean, purchasing furniture, and turning it into a home. I'm also keeping myself busy playing football every Sunday with the local guys. It's a great time, but the field is horrible. I see broken ankles in my future.

Kids started back to school today, and the local activity has increased significantly. I've been told that from now until January business will be booming, so I'm interested to see what that looks like. The thing that continues to bug me is the fact that there is so much money in this country, but it is highly concentrated in the hands of few. I'm hoping through the work with the credit unions we can help locals to create their own wealth.

A picture disclaimer...
I'm having a tough time not only taking pictures, but posting them, so I apologize. Taking them is a problem because of theft and the level of attention it creates. Posting them is tough because I haven't found a cafe where I can use my laptop without getting charged up the wazoo and I haven't found a cheap flash drive yet. Soon I hope these issues will be resolved. Thank you for your continued patience.

2005-08-30T06:40:00.000-06:00

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.

2005-08-23T10:23:00.000-06:00

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

2005-08-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

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.