Many Handshakes in Fundong

Here I sit, more than a month later, in Bamenda (provincial capital of the Northwest Region, one and half hours from where I will be living and working for the next two years).  I am finishing up with site visit and will be heading back to Bamena tomorrow, squeezing into a run down bus with 19 people, which in the States might comfortably fit 13 people...try to imagine.

Post announcements were announced last week after much anticipation!  I am in 1 of the 2 Anglophone regions, where they speak English, Pidgin (faux-English/special English), and local languages of course, being that there are over 250 spoken in the entire country.  Once I return to Bamena, I will be beginning Pidgin classes and will be able to give you a dose of it!  The local language in Fundong is Kom, and I'm sure I'll be learning a bit of it over the course of my two years.

I will be working in conjunction with an NGO in Fundong called Better Family Foundation (BFF) and they will soon be launching a website.  Their vision and mission is to help families have healthier relationships and lifestyles, through counseling and education.  Additionally, the NGO does community outreach in the health arena...basically, my options for community development and health work will be endless, as I experienced during my few days of site visit.  My counterpart's name is Simon Mbeng, though in Cameroon the last name always is written and often spoken first.  He's a wildly energetic, motivated, educated and generous man and I am looking forward to working with him and the rest of the BFF team, who welcomed me so nicely.

I am replacing a fantastic volunteer named Kim Wilson who was a wonderful host and provided good insight and support regarding living and working in Fundong and just being a Peace Corps Volunteer in general.  Let's begin with my house to be:  1 MASTER bedroom with a connected bathroom and water heater, 2 guest bedrooms, 1 guest bathroom, a large living area and a decent sized kitchen.  Electricity and running water are very consistent and my house is situated in a compound consisting of a night watchman and other educated folks---a social worker, the landlord, and a high school principal.  Pictures will come when I get situated in December.

I met SO many people during my site visit, multiple times and was greeted just as much with the phrase, "You are welcome."  This greeting didn't come without multiple handshakes initially and as we said goodbye.  Keep in mind that in Cameroon handshaking and most other actions using your hands (ie: eating) must be done with your right hand, using the left hand is considered to be dirty and a sign of disrespect.  It's been difficult to get used to since I am a lefty!

Funny story that occurred one evening in Fundong that I think defines the friendliness of the people: 

Kim and I had just finished great conversation and a delicious dinner of grilled whole fish, babaloa (NW equivalent to Baton de Manioc) and much pepe (spicy pepper sauce served throughout the country) thanks to Simon and his wife Rose.  Just as we decided to leave around 7 pm, the electricity in the town went out.  It had been a big market day (every 8 days) and thus it was very busy with many people still remaining in the streets and in town.  As we crossed the street I all of a sudden felt what I thought was a branch next to my big toe in my Reefs.  Turns out it was a thick metal piece that went through my sandals all of the way, just missing my big toe!  Ironically enough, there had been the start of a vaccination campain in the area against TETANUS going on that day!  So, thanks to a car's headlights ahead, I was trying to push the piece out without much success.  Out of nowhere, a random Cameroonian who was selling mini flashlights comes up to help shine a light and when I continued to struggle, he put the sandal into his mouth in order to yank the metal piece out with his mouth.  After successfully getting the piece out, he walked off without a word and just a smile!

So...there will be plenty more to write once I arrive at post and spend the first few months feeling out the population and seeing where there is need, so I will save that for a later date.  There will definitely be opportunities to use my nutrition knowledge and build on that foundation that I already have, in addition to dabbling in other areas of health as well.

Swearing in is on December 2nd, meaning that there are only about 3 more weeks of "Stage" (training) left.  After that point, I should have more regular access to internet as it is pretty efficient in Fundong.

I hope all is well with everyone and I always appreciate hearing what's happening with you stateside via letters, email, texts, calls, etc.  Happy almost Thanksgiving and belated Halloween.

All of my love.
A Bientot.