Saturday, February 5, 2011

Recent Frustration Mixed with Good Travels to Gabon and the Grand North of Cameroon

I'll begin this posting with a comment from my counterpart, Simon, after a meeting we had with Heifer International yesterday:

"Stef, I want you to have more experiences like this because isn't Peace Corps also a cultural exchange? If you don't have difficult interactions, you won't accurately be able to report on the way things work in Cameroon."

...as if all I do is report that Cameroon is "coming up roses"!

Simon and I had met with the Heifer International Cameroon's Country Director and the Gender Project Specialist (I'll refer to him as GPS) many months ago and got the go ahead to write up a Project Proposal for a continuation of the Plight of Orphans and Widows Workshop that Better Family Foundation conducted in Fundong, last July. We followed through and wrote up the proposal (which would allow us to have the backing of Heifer's name and have them help us find funding from their donors) and have been waiting to have another meeting with the GPS, with the intent of taking the next steps.

The GPS called us in for a meeting - I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I imagine some substantial direction or assistance in carrying out the next step. When we arrived, he acted quite aloof; he told us that now we had to write up a full spectrum proposal to be submitted to donors, but it couldn't be the format of Heifer International...

When I asked him for some guidance as to what to include and many other details, he instead was chatting online and texting on his phone. When I asked again he acted as if I was stupid and didn't understand that we couldn't copy their format and I began developing a "professional" attitude at his evasiveness, "I understand, but can you at the very least show us some samples?" He did once he finished sending some personal emails.

When I asked what Heifer's role would be after we write up the project, he stated that they will send it out to potential donors. When I asked if there's a chance that a donor would not be interested in the project, he wouldn't answer the question and just kept repeating the next step. Again, I got a bit of attitude and said, "Is there a chance that the project will not get funded?", he said, "well yes, it's 50/50 but I didn't want to give a negative response to you." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I said, "well it's important to be realistic...in life and not avoid telling people what to expect."

I think you guys are getting the point of this "productive [okay, in the end it was a bit helpful, though initially I felt like he could've saved us a trip and just sent us this basic information over email] meeting"---though the frustration continued. We were reviewing a chart template for reporting our objectives and activities and risks involved, etc. When I asked if he could give us an example of certain column entries he said, "well that's impossible without an objective". COME ON DUDE...and he ended up being able to explain further, without an objective...even though I did offer one. GRR!

After the meeting I apologized to Simon for my "bitchiness" [which he said wasn't evident...wow!] and explained what he has heard about Heifer and other NGOs project planning under them. Supposedly in Cameroon (this shouldn't come as a shock, knowing the corruption that encircles this "world") there are Heifer employees who are not honest people and who take ideas in order to establish their own credibility! NAUSEATING...both that a world renowned organization allows this and keeps these people as employees!

Deep breath...

Gabon with my Mom and Harry was a wonderful experience over New Years! Their visit was fantastic---a whirlwind in Fundong (once they finally arrived, without all of their luggage---remember that horrible winter in the US and Europe---oh wait, it continues), Xmas in a very small village in the SW Region with my neighbors, Peter & Carine, everything that is Cameroon [corruption, bad roads, new and different foods--not their favorites], and then onto Gabon.

In summary, Gabon and Cameroon are like NIGHT AND DAY! One would never imagine that they share a border. In general, the Gabonese hold themselves and go about life as if they have a PURPOSE---completely the opposite of most Cameroonians! There is infrastructure, development, lines defining parking spaces in parking lots, a flow and rhythm to how to get things accomplished!

It's definitely a country I would recommend visiting; there is definitely a tourism industry---on the rise! They do still have work to do in that regard, and probably need to get English speaking natives working in the industry, but it's a beautiful country---on the coast, 75% of land set aside for national parks, wildlife [we watched monkeys and mandrills grub on bananas just meters away from us and turtles laying eggs on the beach], friendly people, and wood fired pizza!

After my Midservice (medical and dental checkups) conference in Yaounde [Can we believe that I have just about 10 months left??????], I traveled with some friends up to the Grand North of Cameroon - Adamawa, North, Extreme North regions! I now have been to all 10 regions of this country, 90% more than what most Cameroonians have ever seen. It's a whole other world up there; it is dry [riverbeds that must be dug for meters before water is found], little vegetation, and peaceful. We mainly stayed with other PCVs and tried to see as much as we could in our short time up there. We enjoyed the snacks [chai tea, tofu, dates, sesame seed balls, dried meat encrusted with pepe and peanuts], observing the polygamous Fulani (Muslim) culture, and not being bothered as much as Francophones and even some Anglophones do...because we're white!

I'm back at post, quasi preparing for the GRE next weekend and jumping back into "work". My goal with Better Family Foundation (in as much as they want to be helped and guided) is to get them standing on their own two feet before I leave, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function without the constant help of a PCV...I'll keep you posted...

Happy 2011, wishing you less snow and ice over time (if you're in those parts of the country), hoping that you're rooting for the Steelers tomorrow, and more!

Until next time!


Stef