Friday June 18, 2004 Day 17

My day began with the damn dogs barking at 230am-430am. As much as I love dogs, and as much as they eat dogs here, I am kind of hoping that they do the latter with the pups. They bark constantly. I’m just kidding.
I want to mention that I appreciate everyone who has emailed me with comments and words of encouragement. I need that stuff all the time. I am very sorry that I have not emailed many of you back. Please understand that I have very limited time to spend at the Internet café. Once again, thank you to everyone who is reading my website and staying up to date with what is going on. I hope to post some pictures as soon as I can. I think I need to head to the capital to find a better connection to the Internet to speed up this process. As I mentioned before that my camera was broken, I received good news. The camera has been fixed and it is in Cameroon. Now I need to find it.
It is 1055pm and its way past my bedtime. Good Night
Love Dave


Saturday June 19, 2004 Day 18
Today I had my first evaluation for French class, and surprisingly it was not as bad as I expected. By no means it was a glorification of my French skills.
I do need an additional 7-10 hours extra a week studying. I am also in the process of preparing my first lesson for Friday. Fortunately it is only in front of the other volunteer’s, but I still have to present a 30-minute lesson on simple and compound interest as if I was the teacher. Should be fun. Stay tuned next week for more info about the upcoming experience. Tonight we hit the town. We began the night at Les Merniers (I think that’s what it was called.) After a few cold beers, I experimented with dinner and tried the grilled viper, and it was very good. It had a similar texture to fish but with a different taste (obviously.) It was served with plantain s and white rice. After dinner, a group of us hit the only dance club in Mbalmayo called Les Rolls. Strange enough the first hour we were there they played all American music (Nelli, Celine Dionne (Canadian: She wants to be American) and a bunch of other crap I didn’t know.) Anyway, it ended up being quite the cultural experience.

Sunday June 20, 2004 Day 19
I was actually able to sleep in today. I rolled out of bed at about 930am and spent most of my morning doing homework (guess what I was studying… French you guessed right.) This afternoon was a volunteer’s birthday, so we had a small celebration with some food and a beer or two.
Yesterday, I finally did my laundry. I know two weeks. Yes, I do stink. It takes so long to do one load. First, the clothes soak to 2-4 hours in a bucket. After that occurs, I scrub with a ball of soap for another hour to get all the dirt stains out. It is very dusty here. All my clothes have a red tint to them. So now they are washed, but now the rinsing process begins. There is one faucet out side that I think some of the neighborhood uses, but this is how I rinse my clothes. Very Slowly. This is the real kicker. The drying process can take up to three days. Why, you may ask? Well, there is a thing called mango worms that form in your clothes, and it apparently it takes two to three days for the eggs to die. The disturbing part of these mango worms is that they crawl under your skin and hatch eggs, and the only to get them out is by surgically removing them with a leather man tool or some other sharp object. And there is no way around it. So in a few days I will have clean clothes.
Anyway, it is time for dinner. More fish tonight…
Love Dave


Monday June 21, 2004 Day 20
I cannot believe it has been only three weeks since I have been away. It truly feels a lot longer than that. This morning there was a cockroach in the bathroom that could have easily passed for a young adult. He was so big I could hear him wheezing as he crawled across the floor.
Anyway, today was a typical day of more French classes and lecture on the history and geography of Cameroon. Good Stuff
So, the past week or two a few of us have been going to this small restaurant for lunch. I am not sure I would call it a restaurant, but I will to keep it simple. We were thinking the other day, how bad does it need to get to close a restaurant down because of health concerns? I mean, some places are pretty bad (flies are the least of the problems.) One of the volunteer’s asked for a knife, and the guy who worked their grabbed it off the table behind us and gave it to him. Keep in mind, there was someone at the table using the knife. The point is that the food is fantastic and very cheap. I try not to think about the preparation. For example, this afternoon I had an avocado salad (probably the best salad I have had) and it costs 500CFA, which is less than a dollar. They also have amazing rice and meat dishes. It still blows my mind that I am living of $2-3 a day.
No, my clothes are not ready yet.
IF anyone is interested in calling me, my number is 011 237 930 15 22. Apparently, it does not work very often, but give it a try if you like. Remember that I am five hours ahead from Eastern Standard Time.
Its funny when we walk around town we attract a lot of attention. Mainly because we are the only white people in town, but the little kids will scream “Bonjour le blanche.” Basically saying to us (What’s up Whitey.” It ‘s not derogatory at all. It’s just the way the say hi sometimes. That’s it… Good Night
Dave

Tuesday June 22, 2004 Day21
Today I was given some areas that I might be posted in the beginning of August. I will probably be heading into the Northwest province, which is supposed to be very beautiful. The weather is cool and it is apparently very mountains. Still no hot water, but that is ok. We’ll see what happens. I will find out on Tuesday exactly where I will be going.

Wednesday June 23, 2004 Day 22
The early session this morning was all on first aid. We covered a whole realm of issues from what to do if we have a heart attack to breaking a leg and concluding with the proper procedure on what to do if I would happen to get bitten by a deadly snake. Very uplifting morning, but it is essential that we know how to deal with all these issues. There are no 911 services to come to our rescue.
Another day in paradise with French
I made it to the cyber café to check my email, and once again I want to thank everyone for the emails. I am sorry, once again, that I have not written many of you back, but please do not think that I do not appreciate the inspiring and helpful notes. I look forward to them very much!!!!!
I have had quite a few requests for pictures. I promise that they are coming. I am trying to take some photos around the village to hopefully have all you understand what it is like here. Give me a little more time.
I just wrestled with a roach in my room a few minutes ago. I think the little guy was trying to work his way in my twizzlers bag. Trust me on this one; there was no way in hell he was going to make it anywhere close. He is now swimming with the fishes.
Good night…Dave

Wednesday June 23, 2004 Day 22
The early session this morning was all on first aid. We covered a whole realm of issues from what to do if we have a heart attack to breaking a leg and concluding with the proper procedure on what to do if I would happen to get bitten by a deadly snake. Very uplifting morning, but it is essential that we know how to deal with all these issues. There are no 911 services to come to our rescue.
Another day in paradise with French
I made it to the cyber café to check my email, and once again I want to thank everyone for the emails. I am sorry, once again, that I have not written many of you back, but please do not think that I do not appreciate the inspiring and helpful notes. I look forward to them very much!!!!!
I have had quite a few requests for pictures. I promise that they are coming. I am trying to take some photos around the village to hopefully have all you understand what it is like here. Give me a little more time.
I just wrestled with a roach in my room a few minutes ago. I think the little guy was trying to work his way in my twizzlers bag. Trust me on this one; there was no way in hell he was going to make it anywhere close. He is now swimming with the fishes.
Good night…Dave


June 25, 2004 Friday Day24
So, my presentation went by with very few problems. Fortunately, there was very little pressure for this particular presentation. I think at this point in my life I have mastered the art of BS. That is probably one of the reasons it went well.
The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to a session on conflict resolution and more French class. Next Wednesday I have my first major oral French test. This is extremely important because I will be evaluated on what I have learned so far, and I see my progress as pretty much very little to nothing. We’ll see. Maybe there will be a miracle in the next couple days.
Also, yesterday afternoon we got paid. This was a well-needed payday. I did a poor job at budging my first installment, so hopefully I will plan a bit better this time around.
Of course, we celebrated the completion of week three in training with a few cold beers. I stayed out until 9pm last night, and my family was not to keen about that, so I went to bed with no dinner. Thank God for my secret stash of peanut butter cups and cookies.
Apparently, I am going to Yaoundé (the capital) tomorrow afternoon with my family. Although, I am not exactly why I am going. First, I was told there is some festival. Then I was told I am going to a Baptism, but I am not sure if anyone is coming with me. This is when the language barrier plays a key role. I let you all know when I find out.
Until next time… I have a 4-hour French class tomorrow from 8am-12pm. I miss sleeping my Saturdays away sometimes.

Saturday June 26, 2004 Day 25
As I previously mentioned, I went to a baptism for the day in the capital with my family. Well, it was quite the experience. Firstly, their were about 150 people their:all related I guess. Apparently, I was suppose to rememeber all of the names. Did not happen. I have not seen that much drinking in a very long time. I mean, these people were out of control. Many beers, gin, whiskey, and a little thing called palm wine that tastes... well ok.Ill leave it at that. The baptism was pretty traditional for Catholics, but the interesting part was the mass was in the front yard of the house. On a busy road. Anyway, I was forced to do a little African dance with some intoxicated uncle (I think) and being the only white person there everyone seemed to get a kick out it. Thank God for the palm wine it definitly softened the humiliation. Anyway, it was a exciting night with all that. Good night

Sunday June 27, 2004 Day 26
As of now, I am at the Peace Corps Office in the capital. I finally have the opportunity to update my website and add some pics. There are some from Philly and some in Mbalmayo. That is the name of the town of where I am training. The pics taking indoors with the kids are at my house, and there is a few that are taken in some random places throughout the town. I hope you enjoy and any questions please email me and I promise I will do my best to respond as soon as I can. Take Care Dave

PS. Sorry for all the grammer errors and spelling.