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
Monday, September 21, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
T-2 Days
Has a year really already passed since I first sat down to begin my application to become a Peace Corps volunteer? Have the past four months of family, friends, freedom and adventure come and gone already? I guess time really does fly by when you are having fun!
I made a goal for myself to post my first blog entry before departing for Cameroon, and so with T-2 days ahead, I will sit here and try to get you on the same page as my thought processes. Maybe the delay in posting is because I have been busy saying goodbye to people all across this country, agonizing over packing, or my desires to have the blog details all worked out before posting.
Most certainly the delay is because I am filled with feelings of great excitement, anticipation, intrigue, and readiness that I haven't been sure how to write down in words. Sure there are probably feelings of anxiety, nervousness, fear, and sadness but I feel that I am so ready for this experience to begin that those are not at the forefront. Who knows, they could pop up as soon as I post this, once I arrive in Philly to begin Staging (Peace Corps terminology for Pre-Departure Orientation), as I step off the plane in Yaounde, or a few weeks from now.
Here's what I'm feeling right now:
1) I'm ready for the anticipation of what's to come, what I'm going to experience, and what my role is going to be to happen already. It has been a year of drawing upon written information, other people's experiences, and my imagination. I'm psyched to hit the ground running and see what being (no longer becoming) a Peace Corps volunteer is all about...for me. Everyone's experience is different (for obvious reasons) and I hope I can communicate what it is that I'm thinking, accomplishing and exploring through blog posts, emails, phone calls, and HAND-WRITTEN LETTERS.
2) It saddens me to think that I will not be around for your milestones, other big events, and just to have the ease of picking up the phone or making plans to hang out at the drop of a hat. On the other hand, though two years (well a little bit more) sounds like a long time, in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't. We shall see what communication opportunities exist in Cameroon (ie: consistency of electricity, access to internet, etc.), though that is part of a moral dilemma that I am having as to how modestly I would like to spend my time while in Africa, if given the choice.
Well then, I could probably write more, but I won't, especially since I have to go finish packing to leave New Jersey this afternoon and head into Philadelphia for my last goodbye.
Take care, be in touch, follow my blog, forward this onto anyone whom you think might be interested, and BE WELL!
A BIENTOT ["Until Next Time" in French]
Stef
I made a goal for myself to post my first blog entry before departing for Cameroon, and so with T-2 days ahead, I will sit here and try to get you on the same page as my thought processes. Maybe the delay in posting is because I have been busy saying goodbye to people all across this country, agonizing over packing, or my desires to have the blog details all worked out before posting.
Most certainly the delay is because I am filled with feelings of great excitement, anticipation, intrigue, and readiness that I haven't been sure how to write down in words. Sure there are probably feelings of anxiety, nervousness, fear, and sadness but I feel that I am so ready for this experience to begin that those are not at the forefront. Who knows, they could pop up as soon as I post this, once I arrive in Philly to begin Staging (Peace Corps terminology for Pre-Departure Orientation), as I step off the plane in Yaounde, or a few weeks from now.
Here's what I'm feeling right now:
1) I'm ready for the anticipation of what's to come, what I'm going to experience, and what my role is going to be to happen already. It has been a year of drawing upon written information, other people's experiences, and my imagination. I'm psyched to hit the ground running and see what being (no longer becoming) a Peace Corps volunteer is all about...for me. Everyone's experience is different (for obvious reasons) and I hope I can communicate what it is that I'm thinking, accomplishing and exploring through blog posts, emails, phone calls, and HAND-WRITTEN LETTERS.
2) It saddens me to think that I will not be around for your milestones, other big events, and just to have the ease of picking up the phone or making plans to hang out at the drop of a hat. On the other hand, though two years (well a little bit more) sounds like a long time, in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't. We shall see what communication opportunities exist in Cameroon (ie: consistency of electricity, access to internet, etc.), though that is part of a moral dilemma that I am having as to how modestly I would like to spend my time while in Africa, if given the choice.
Well then, I could probably write more, but I won't, especially since I have to go finish packing to leave New Jersey this afternoon and head into Philadelphia for my last goodbye.
Take care, be in touch, follow my blog, forward this onto anyone whom you think might be interested, and BE WELL!
A BIENTOT ["Until Next Time" in French]
Stef
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