Well much has happened since I last wrote! For example, my camp! It went well: the kids had a blast and I think maybe learned a little too! We played lots of soccer and Frisbee and they learned about everything from Puberty to HIV/AIDS to how to plan their future and avoid things that might make that future impossible. We did voluntary HIV/AIDS testing, risky I know, but luckily had all negative results! YAY!!! It’s been about a month and a half since camp has finished and the kids are still talking about it!! They want me to organize a 3 month long camp next year, etc. haha! So overall I’d say the camp in and of itself was quite a success! However, I found out that someone I work with was taking money behind my back which was quite disappointing and a little hard to swallow after all the work that I had put into making the camp a success. But that is the way things are here in Cameroon. Corruption is this country’s downfall and the main thing holding them back from developing. It is quite sad but the reality.
After my camp I took a week and went up to the Adamaoua region to help another volunteer with a camp…yes I know, what was I thinking? Haha But really it was the best thing I could have done, considering how things ended after my camp. It was a great chance to see a couple other volunteers, visit a new region, and get to just have fun with a camp rather than be overwhelmed with logistics. We had a fabulous time in a little village called Ribao. We had 20 kids and they were super shy to start with, but as usually happens they warmed up to us as the week went on. It was so rewarding to watch them come out of their shells and watch as they got super excited about learning about health topics and singing some silly songs I’ve written since being here. We had a blast and their village was soooo beautiful!!! It was exactly the break that I needed after so much planning and then carrying out with all the pressure on me!!
Since then I have been doing a little of this and a little of that but mostly trying to get my body healthy again. I started with a sinus infection right after the camp in the Adamou (I can’t handle ‘cold’ weather anymore I guess) and then a kidney infection followed by malaria which I just finished the meds for yesterday. So needless to say it’s been a nice time of resting and reading and going to visit friends to hang out. But I am doing much better now and no need to worry…malaria really wasn’t too bad!
O and I almost forgot! My postmate, Peter got here about 2 weeks ago! He will be teaching computers at the high school! Their school year ‘starts’ today, which means a couple people might be there by the end of the week but classes will most likely start next week. He is super nice and seems quite excited about the work he’s going to be doing. We have also talked about a number of collaborations we are going to try to do! I’ll keep you updated on those as they happen!!
Also I have gotten some requests for things that I’d like in packages so here is a short list of things that might make it seem less like Africa! Hehe! O and a little tip if you do send a package, the flat rate boxes are the best deal!! Don’t spend 100 bucks on a package…that’s crazy!!! Anyway here ya go:
Magazines (Nice to know what’s going on over there)
Instant grits (a big bag or individual servings are good)
Parmesan cheese!!! (most missed item by Peace Corps Cameroon Volunteers)
Candles (Yeah…power…not so regular here)
Seasonal Teas (I LOVE Christmas teas!)
Candy/Chocolate of any kind! Hehe
Toys or games for young kids (I work with a group of orphans and also have kids at my house all the time)
DVDs and/or Cds (again we’re kinda disconnected out here)
Instant hummus powder (not sure how easy this is to find but there is another volunteer who had someone send her some so…)
Crystal Lite packets (I love water but sometimes it’s nice to pretend it’s something else)
Any kind of UNC paraphernalia!!
Canned chicken!!! (Yeah I know it sounds disgusting but when you eat fish 2 times a day everyday…)
Really any little pasta packets that can be quickly and easily made (PastaSides, Ramen, etc.)
Ok well that’s just a little list, and please don’t feel obligated to send me anything! I live quite well here so absolutely not necessary!! Anyway I hope that everyone is well! I miss you all terribly!! Can you believe on the 18th I will have been here in Cameroon for an entire year?!?!? 15 months left!! Anyway I hope that everything is well for all of you! I miss you and I will try to write more frequently now that I have internet at my house again! YAY!! Have a great day!! Love you!!
<3 Amanda
Monday, September 6, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Let the games begin...
Hello Everyone!
I hope things are going well?! I hope you're all keeping up with the World Cup...as we play tonight! Not something I ever followed before being here in Cameroon...it HUGE here! Sadly our team did not play well at all...it was kinda embarrassing. But c'est la vie! hehe! In other sports news...I'm organizing a camp right now with three other people in my community. It is going to be a weeklong overnight camp with about 100 kids...I know...I'm insane. But I think it's going to be a blast! The kids are super excited about it and people from the community are so willing to join in and help out!! We've had mattresses and labor and supplies donated right and left which is super exciting and sustainable! :) So that is pretty much my life right now. I'm working like crazy to get things together for this and doing lots of praying that it will go off without a hitch.
Also I'm awaiting my new postmate, an IT education volunteer, who will be coming to Lolodorf for a weeklong visit this Tuesday!! Not sure how I feel about it honestly...it's exciting and will be nice to have another American around...you know speak a little English from time to time, but at the same time the dynamic at post is going to change significantly. I have kind of gotten used to being the only blanche for miles around. But we shall see...I'm sure it will all work out wonderfully...and Peace Corps really teaches you a lot about being about to deal with and work through changes. So I will keep you posted on how that goes!
Well friends...I need to get some more work done as my time here in Yaounde = time with internet/computer is quite limited. I hope you are all doing well and thank you so much to everyone who has written letters/sent packages etc...it's so wonderful to know that you guys are over there supporting me and taking the time to think about me!! Know that I love you all so very much and I think about you all the time!! I miss you and I will try to write again soon!!
<3 Amanda
xoxo
I hope things are going well?! I hope you're all keeping up with the World Cup...as we play tonight! Not something I ever followed before being here in Cameroon...it HUGE here! Sadly our team did not play well at all...it was kinda embarrassing. But c'est la vie! hehe! In other sports news...I'm organizing a camp right now with three other people in my community. It is going to be a weeklong overnight camp with about 100 kids...I know...I'm insane. But I think it's going to be a blast! The kids are super excited about it and people from the community are so willing to join in and help out!! We've had mattresses and labor and supplies donated right and left which is super exciting and sustainable! :) So that is pretty much my life right now. I'm working like crazy to get things together for this and doing lots of praying that it will go off without a hitch.
Also I'm awaiting my new postmate, an IT education volunteer, who will be coming to Lolodorf for a weeklong visit this Tuesday!! Not sure how I feel about it honestly...it's exciting and will be nice to have another American around...you know speak a little English from time to time, but at the same time the dynamic at post is going to change significantly. I have kind of gotten used to being the only blanche for miles around. But we shall see...I'm sure it will all work out wonderfully...and Peace Corps really teaches you a lot about being about to deal with and work through changes. So I will keep you posted on how that goes!
Well friends...I need to get some more work done as my time here in Yaounde = time with internet/computer is quite limited. I hope you are all doing well and thank you so much to everyone who has written letters/sent packages etc...it's so wonderful to know that you guys are over there supporting me and taking the time to think about me!! Know that I love you all so very much and I think about you all the time!! I miss you and I will try to write again soon!!
<3 Amanda
xoxo
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Not very good at this game...
Hi Everyone!!
So sorry it has been forever since I've gotten on here! Things have been quite crazy and it doesn't help that I don't have internet at my post. I also don't have a computer for the moment since my harddrive died...boo!! But it's ok! I come to Yaounde pretty regularly so it'll suffice for right now! I hope everything your way is going well! I miss you all terribly and think of you often!!
Just a quick note about what I'm up to...been in Yaounde for about a week getting funding for my camp. I dropped off letters and will go back by in about 2 weeks to see what these companies have to donate! People were very nice overall and seemed quite excited to help out! I am also anxiously awaiting an education postmate! Yes I will no longer be the only white person in Lolodorf...hehe! Anyway I love you all...heading out and ready to get in line to be crammed on a bus for the journey back to my village! Please take care and be in touch!! Thank you so much for all the packages and letters! You guys are wonderful and I'm trying to keep up with responses! Know they're coming soon!! Love!!!
<3 Amanda
So sorry it has been forever since I've gotten on here! Things have been quite crazy and it doesn't help that I don't have internet at my post. I also don't have a computer for the moment since my harddrive died...boo!! But it's ok! I come to Yaounde pretty regularly so it'll suffice for right now! I hope everything your way is going well! I miss you all terribly and think of you often!!
Just a quick note about what I'm up to...been in Yaounde for about a week getting funding for my camp. I dropped off letters and will go back by in about 2 weeks to see what these companies have to donate! People were very nice overall and seemed quite excited to help out! I am also anxiously awaiting an education postmate! Yes I will no longer be the only white person in Lolodorf...hehe! Anyway I love you all...heading out and ready to get in line to be crammed on a bus for the journey back to my village! Please take care and be in touch!! Thank you so much for all the packages and letters! You guys are wonderful and I'm trying to keep up with responses! Know they're coming soon!! Love!!!
<3 Amanda
Friday, February 26, 2010
It's Been A While...
Hello Everyone!
So sorry that I haven't blogged in a while...I've been quite busy and without internet for the most part. My internet quit working at home as some of you know...so I really can only use it when I'm here in Yaounde. Which is kinda sad but in reality I haven't had much time to anything other than work while I'm in Lolo! I've been super busy doing lots of animations and lessons.
Well I'm working with most of the same groups, but I just started teaching lessons once a week in a neighboring village (Bikoka) on health and english at a school for kids who live too far to go to the normal high schools or technical schools. The school teaches things like sewing, cleaning, cooking, farming etc. I'll also be starting two girls clubs (one at the elementary school and one at the high school but with girls 10-13 yrs. for each group). I'm pretty excited but kind of scared! It'll be a lot of work and large groups of girls can be kind of intimidating! But I'll give you an update after a few meetings! hehe! I'm also doing some survey work...one with pregnant women who are doing prenatal consultations and another at the library at the high school to find out what kind of books the kids are interested in so that we can get some new books for next year/start a book club hopefully!
That is about all for new work stuff! But I have a pretty exciting story from last week: So I woke up last Thursday morning and walked in my kitchen to find my countertops crawling with big black biting ants...who proceeded to crawl all over me and take little bites! So I quickly exited and found my neighbor/landlord who instructed me to throw salt around which I guess in big black biting ant language means "Go away" because within an hour or two they had all cleared out! It was kind of traumatic in general but even more so since I just finished "Poisonwood Bible" which is a book about a family who decides to become missionaries in the Congo (now Zaire). There is a scene in the book where the family is forced out of their village along with everyone else by these big black biting ants...yeah I was a little worried when I saw that had taken over my kitchen overnight! haha! But no worries...they are all gone...or at least they were when I left on Monday...
Anyway...I love you all dearly and I hope that you are all doing well! I miss you terribly and love you tons!! Take care and I'll try to be less of a stranger! Love you!!
<3 Amanda
So sorry that I haven't blogged in a while...I've been quite busy and without internet for the most part. My internet quit working at home as some of you know...so I really can only use it when I'm here in Yaounde. Which is kinda sad but in reality I haven't had much time to anything other than work while I'm in Lolo! I've been super busy doing lots of animations and lessons.
Well I'm working with most of the same groups, but I just started teaching lessons once a week in a neighboring village (Bikoka) on health and english at a school for kids who live too far to go to the normal high schools or technical schools. The school teaches things like sewing, cleaning, cooking, farming etc. I'll also be starting two girls clubs (one at the elementary school and one at the high school but with girls 10-13 yrs. for each group). I'm pretty excited but kind of scared! It'll be a lot of work and large groups of girls can be kind of intimidating! But I'll give you an update after a few meetings! hehe! I'm also doing some survey work...one with pregnant women who are doing prenatal consultations and another at the library at the high school to find out what kind of books the kids are interested in so that we can get some new books for next year/start a book club hopefully!
That is about all for new work stuff! But I have a pretty exciting story from last week: So I woke up last Thursday morning and walked in my kitchen to find my countertops crawling with big black biting ants...who proceeded to crawl all over me and take little bites! So I quickly exited and found my neighbor/landlord who instructed me to throw salt around which I guess in big black biting ant language means "Go away" because within an hour or two they had all cleared out! It was kind of traumatic in general but even more so since I just finished "Poisonwood Bible" which is a book about a family who decides to become missionaries in the Congo (now Zaire). There is a scene in the book where the family is forced out of their village along with everyone else by these big black biting ants...yeah I was a little worried when I saw that had taken over my kitchen overnight! haha! But no worries...they are all gone...or at least they were when I left on Monday...
Anyway...I love you all dearly and I hope that you are all doing well! I miss you terribly and love you tons!! Take care and I'll try to be less of a stranger! Love you!!
<3 Amanda
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy 2010!
I hope everyone is enjoying the first day of the New Year! I had planned to go to Ebolowa yesterday to pass the Eve of New Year's with 2 other new volunteers, however Yaounde is CRAZY during the holidays. Paul (another new volunteer) and I decided to just stay here and hang out with the other volunteers who are at the case. We had a good time sitting around and playing a little basketball...watching Cameroon's version of fireworks which consisted of one every 10 minutes or so! It's still hard for me to believe that Christmas has come and gone and now it is 2010.
We're all laying around having a lazy day of it here in Yaounde. Not much is open and evidently drunk drivers are an issue all day long...so we are passing the time laying on couches watching American TV shows. It really kinda makes you feel like you're not in Africa...it's a weird feeling. So not too much going on...I head back to post tomorrow which I'm quite excited about! I got text messages and phone calls...not just beeps from some of my friends in village! It was super exciting to feel so loved! By the way...calls here are very expensive so normally people just call and hang up to say hi (it's called beeping). Ok well just thought I'd send a little howdy-do to everyone over in the States! I am still here and loving it! Excited to start doing some surveys and planning and preparation stuff for projects! I love and miss you all!! As I've said before...my house is always open if anyone wants to come visit...hehe! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
<3 Amanda
We're all laying around having a lazy day of it here in Yaounde. Not much is open and evidently drunk drivers are an issue all day long...so we are passing the time laying on couches watching American TV shows. It really kinda makes you feel like you're not in Africa...it's a weird feeling. So not too much going on...I head back to post tomorrow which I'm quite excited about! I got text messages and phone calls...not just beeps from some of my friends in village! It was super exciting to feel so loved! By the way...calls here are very expensive so normally people just call and hang up to say hi (it's called beeping). Ok well just thought I'd send a little howdy-do to everyone over in the States! I am still here and loving it! Excited to start doing some surveys and planning and preparation stuff for projects! I love and miss you all!! As I've said before...my house is always open if anyone wants to come visit...hehe! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
<3 Amanda
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