Nous Sommes Ensemble

Here we are in Yaounde, Cameroon---the capital city of slightly more than one million people.  We really haven't seen too much of the city during these first few days, basically we are being shuttled between our hotel and the Peace Corps office [located directly across from the "Indomitable Lions" stadium for those soccer fans out there].  We did detour last night for a welcome dinner at our Country Director's house in a very secure and upscale portion of the city.

The saying above is a typical Cameroonian phrase that translates to: "We Are Together," which literally is the theme of our time both in Philly and in Yaounde (and how Peace Corps strives to structure the program).  Though the 32 of us have only known each other for five days, it definitely feels like much longer, you know how it is when you spend every waking moment with someone and are in a shared, life-changing experience.

We have been having our meals at the hotel, think fried/boiled plantains (my absolute favorite), a good amount of rice, bread, meat, fish, pineapple, and papaya.  Coffee was my saving grace the other day to alleviate a few days of constipation, though right after a delicious lunch today, I had my first bout of diarrhea.  Hopefully that was the one and only!

Pre-Service Training (PST)  has been off to a slow start.  Saturday we had language interviews to assess where our knowledge and skills with French conversation stand before training.  We received our level today and I was placed in Intermediate Mid, right below Intermediate High which is where we need to be when PST is completed, before venturing to our posts to begin service.  Not too shabby, and I am looking forward to some review and refreshing. 

Today PST began to pick up as we begin the health, safety and security bulk of training, especially the important topics of appropriate food and water preparation.  Those have priority since on Thursday we will be heading to Bangangte for the main 11 weeks of PST while living with host families.  We also received our Medical Kits which have a multitude of items in them ranging from bug spray to lip balm and condoms to water purification tablets.

I'm going to end this posting since the electricity and wireless internet connection (at the Peace Corps Office and Volunteer Guest House) are shaky and my computer battery is on its last few minutes.  I hope this gives you some initial insights and leaves you knowing that I am beyond satisfied with my choice to become a Peace Corps Volunteer. 


Until next time...


Love Stef