I was gifted a diary from my cousin before I left home that says, “We do not remember day, we remember moments.” This phrase comes to mind as it seems I have successfully been neglecting my blog for the last month or so and indeed, no one day stands out in my mind.
I am very excited to say that I have just finished my final report for my assigned company which marks the last requirement I had to meet in order to swear-in next Wednesday. This report has followed teaching a 30 minutes class on feasibility studies, a 20 minute presentation on the use of pesticides in Cameroon and three 10 minute presentations about our meetings with our assigned companies – of course all in French.
As some of you know I tested positive for typhoid a week ago after being sick for about two weeks beforehand. It’s not serious and I am feeling better but the experience in itself is special. Whenever a volunteer isn’t feeling well we are suppose to contact the Peace Corps Medical Officers (PCMO) and seek advice. After testing positive for typhoid, I was in contact with PCMO who proceeded to inform me that the facilities in Bafia are not able to diagnose typhoid and then proceeded to give me conflicting information from what the doctor said about the doses for the medication for a sickness I may or may not have. Lesson? Prevention is key. Luckily more of this will be in my control next week when I move to Guider and have control over how my food is prepared.
One moment does stand out in my mind from the last month. About a week ago my 3 year old brother was sitting on the floor eating supper. He had a ‘baton de manioc’ in one hand that was serving as a makeshift wand of a king and every 10 seconds or so he would give a throaty “ha, ha, ha!” which would send everyone in the room into a fit of laughter. This very well may be one of those things you “just had to be there” for but anyone who has heard me talk about my little brother knows those conversations usually begin with, “that little twirp” includes, “fake crying” and ends with, “I’m never having children” or “If I had the ambition to dig out my duct tape from the bottom of my suitcase…”
We also have had some very interesting discussion panels and field trips while in training. Two of my favorites were that of LAGA and RELUFA. LAGA was definitely an inspiring speech from a very passionate man about the preservation of wildlife and the illegal trafficking of the bush meat trade. However, it goes way deeper and aims to attack one of the things that many NGO’s never face directly – the issue of corruption in the country. I strongly suggest checking out their website if you’re interested.
Also, another one that particularly caught my interest was an organization called RELUFA. Not only do they sell delicious dried fruit from Cameroon U.S.
Please check them out if it interests you. I’m really looking forward to actually being a volunteer and moving to post – however the logistics of getting there with all my stuff is a little daunting right now. Bonne journée tout le monde!
