Yaounde, Giardia and Chewing gum... oh my!

Happy New Year family and friends… better late than never, am I right? It’s February already and the weather here seems to get drier and drier each day.  It’s really feeling like Africa with the strong Sahel dust and hot gloomy afternoons.  I really can’t wait till raining season approaches.  I have a feeling I will be regretting that wish here in the next two months. 

All is well with me at the moment.  Went through what I like to call the true African experience with worms, giardia and unknown illnesses.  Of course everyone knew I would get sick, but me being stubborn… I tried to trick myself into thinking I was healthy and the life cycles I seemed to be experiencing were a figment of my imagination.  However, my body decided otherwise and off to Yaoundé (the capital) I traveled to see the PCMO (Peace Corps Medical Officer). I received some medication and after one HORRIBLE week, my body decided to kick the illnesses and I treated myself to endless amounts of delicious pizza, popcorn, ice cream… and oh did I mention margaritas.  Oh Yaoundé, you little minks, you.  I hope I don’t have to see you for a very, very long time. 

One good thing that came from my trip to Yaoundé (besides the AMMAAZZZING food and drinks) was all the time I got to Skype my loved ones.  It was so nice to see all my beautiful family and friend’s faces.  It made me super excited for my visit home in May.  That’s right ladies and gentlemen; I will be back in the sunny state of California for three whole weeks.   I will be attending my beautiful sister’s wedding, visiting family and friends and hopefully seeing the birth of my first niece.  She is due the day before I am to return back to my home here in Cameroon.  I am secretly (well not so secret now) hoping she comes a week early.  That way I get to see her!

The time away from my post made me realize how attached I already was becoming.  I felt extremely guilty being away for as long as I was and when I came back, was greeted so warmly by everyone.  I truly missed my village and my counterpart.

Speaking of my counterpart, I had the most interesting conversation with him the other day about gum.  He tells me that by chewing gum you are making yourself smarter, it somehow builds your intellect because it stimulates the mind.  I know that it can increase stimuli and concentration.  He told me he read it in a magazine once.  Note to self: Cameroonians seem to believe everything as long as they have read it somewhere printed or it has an official stamp.   This is true, which is why I am having an official stamp made with my name on it!!

After we finished our conversation about gum and beers, we made our schedule for the week.   I decided to tackle the disastrous darkness Justin (my counterpart) likes to call his bureau (office).  I had wanted to help him with his organizational skills but I didn’t really know what I was getting into until I was knee high in papers from the 1980’s.  That’s right, my counterpart is a hoarder.  I found papers and articles in his bureau from before I was born.  Some papers where you couldn’t even read what it said because of aging and then a billion phone numbers, he insisted on writing each down.  I think he is sick of me asking if and when he will ever look at this paper again, and then telling him to trash it.  Successfully he has thrown away some stuff, with praise by me of course, which I believe is to his delight.  Every time he finds something to throw away, he makes sure to rip it up in front of me so that he can get a celebratory smile or clap from me.   After 6 hours of constant struggle, we were able to finish his desk and a book shelf.  We still have the library to do.  I think I will take that one slowly. 

It’s been really nice being back in village.  I have had a chance to meet more important people, each eager to start projects with me and having me promise to involve them in my plans.  I tell them as volunteers for the Peace Corps, the first three months are for analyzing and assessing the needs of the community.  We are not to begin any projects.   But that doesn’t stop them from telling me about their individual problems or dreams.  You got to love the enthusiasm though.    My time here in Cameroon has been so rewarding already.  I can’t wait to see what the next two years will have in store for me.   

It’s going to be an exciting year for all of us.  Wish I could be in two places at once.  I miss you all dearly and wish you well.

By the way, thank you all for you letters and packages. 

Kate