After many unsuccessful attempts...

After many unsuccessful attempts at putting up photos, I have decided that there's no point to dwell on that issue. However, I will try to explain the photos that I really wanted to show. Firstly, two adorable children, who give me much happiness; two sprightly children who adore to follow me around, run with me, come into my room and play with my things, cry…pick on each other, and ask me for "cadeaux" every hour. Secondly, two much older "grandmères" of the house, who (rumor has it) are 110…hmmm, they only speak Patois, a native language, thus my interaction with them has been quite disconnected and vague. Every morning I eat breakfast with them, as they look at me in splendor and me at them, sans communication. Thirdly, my two sisters that are so, so caring towards me and are much fun to be around. They help me clean my room, my clothes, my shoes (a cultural faux-pas here is to have muddy shoes, quite challenging after a torrential downpour and a long walk through mud). They also have introduced me to many of their friends and, recently I enjoyed going dancing with one of them at a Cameroonian discothèque. Fourthly, I assume I would show a picture of Bangante itself: its green, rolling hills, muddy streets, colorful vegetation, and tin-roofed houses that dot the landscape.

For the most part my time here has been quite pleasant. Training lasts another 9 weeks. My days are quite regimented. Between language training, tech training, cultural training, hanging out with my host family or exercising, I do not have much time to hang out with friends or just by myself. My friend explained it quite well in saying training is like summer camp, with new people, gossipy situations, regimented schedules, and learning new tasks. Yet, training is a lot less fun and more technical. I somewhat yearn every once in a while, while starring out of the window, to have the ability to escape from being cooped up, listening to French discussions. Sometimes it's difficult to know that although I'm surrounded by 85 degree sunny weather, picturesque scenery, and unimaginable adventures, I must abide by such structure and administration.

I'm sure however in a few months time, when I'm alone in an isolated community, I will miss the pleasures of a home-stay family; getting a baguette with some questionable, bright-pink sausage-looking substance and coffee in the morning, always having people to talk to. I'm sure that I will desire to be only a few minutes walk away from other Americans, occasionally to have the ability to go out with them. I'm positive I will thoroughly appreciate all my technical training and how much it will prepare me for what I will encounter. Thus training is going…c'est pas horrible, mais c'est pas super non plus. Ca va.

Until my next post, I can probably, fairly easily predict what my life will be like; I will experience electricity and water "cuts" daily, continue to consume an, approximately 75% Carbohydrate diet, fend off various large insects from my clothes, experience the changing of the seasons from rainy to dry, still have a 6 o'clock curfew, and sit in training for around 7 hours a day. Despite all those occurrences, however, I hope I will continue to be happy, and I know I will continue to feel very blessed that I am experiencing a little slice of Cameroon.

After many unsuccessful attempts at putting up photos, I have decided that there's no point to dwell on that issue. However, I will try to explain the photos that I really wanted to show. Firstly, two adorable children, who give me much happiness; two sprightly children who adore to follow me around, run with me, come into my room and play with my things, cry…pick on each other, and ask me for "cadeaux" every hour. Secondly, two much older "grandmères" of the house, who (rumor has it) are 110…hmmm, they only speak Patois, a native language, thus my interaction with them has been quite disconnected and vague. Every morning I eat breakfast with them, as they look at me in splendor and me at them, sans communication. Thirdly, my two sisters that are so, so caring towards me and are much fun to be around. They help me clean my room, my clothes, my shoes (a cultural faux-pas here is to have muddy shoes, quite challenging after a torrential downpour and a long walk through mud). They also have introduced me to many of their friends and, recently I enjoyed going dancing with one of them at a Cameroonian discothèque. Fourthly, I assume I would show a picture of Bangante itself: its green, rolling hills, muddy streets, colorful vegetation, and tin-roofed houses that dot the landscape.

For the most part my time here has been quite pleasant. Training lasts another 9 weeks. My days are quite regimented. Between language training, tech training, cultural training, hanging out with my host family or exercising, I do not have much time to hang out with friends or just by myself. My friend explained it quite well in saying training is like summer camp, with new people, gossipy situations, regimented schedules, and learning new tasks. Yet, training is a lot less fun and more technical. I somewhat yearn every once in a while, while starring out of the window, to have the ability to escape from being cooped up, listening to French discussions. Sometimes it's difficult to know that although I'm surrounded by 85 degree sunny weather, picturesque scenery, and unimaginable adventures, I must abide by such structure and administration.

I'm sure however in a few months time, when I'm alone in an isolated community, I will miss the pleasures of a home-stay family; getting a baguette with some questionable, bright-pink sausage-looking substance and coffee in the morning, always having people to talk to. I'm sure that I will desire to be only a few minutes walk away from other Americans, occasionally to have the ability to go out with them. I'm positive I will thoroughly appreciate all my technical training and how much it will prepare me for what I will encounter. Thus training is going…c'est pas horrible, mais c'est pas super non plus. Ca va.

Until my next post, I can probably, fairly easily predict what my life will be like; I will experience electricity and water "cuts" daily, continue to consume an, approximately 75% Carbohydrate diet, fend off various large insects from my clothes, experience the changing of the seasons from rainy to dry, still have a 6 o'clock curfew, and sit in training for around 7 hours a day. Despite all those occurrences, however, I hope I will continue to be happy, and I know I will continue to feel very blessed that I am experiencing a little slice of Cameroon.

Bangangte

Hello! It’s 5:30 a.m. here and I am sitting in my bed at my new home-stay family listening to the sounds of ménage, children getting ready to go to school, and rain pouring down outside. After 5 days of training at the PC headquarters of Cameroon in Yaounde, we have now moved to Bangangte, a town about 3 hours NW. I did not have very many internet options in Yaounde. The drive here was quite pretty, for the geography became increasingly filled with rolling, tall hills. This area of the country contains very lush vegetation and tall trees.

I’m very excited to see a new part of the country and now have more freedoms…well, besides the 6 curfew...that’s a whole other tale. There are about 11 children in my host family (I’m still trying to figure it out) and they seem quite remarkable having children literally spread out through the world in Europe and America studying various subjects and gaining professional degrees. There are still about 4 or 5 children at home, so I’m excited to once again have the opportunity to be an older sister and have siblings to play, gossip and joke with. Last night as I walked into the house there were about 30 people inside singing and dancing for the birth of a new baby in the family. Since I have an affinity for fetes and soirees, this was quite exciting!

Today we start our 11 week intensive training program where I will learn much more about health in Cameroon and work on languages. Here is my cell phone number:
(011) 237-74-83-02-23…..It’s quite fun to have a cell phone again.

Chau tout le monde et beaucoup de bonheur et paix!

First Couple of Days in Yaounde

Salut tout le monde!!!!! Hope all is well in the US! I arrived in Yaounde, Cameroon on Saturday evening. After about 24 hours of traveling, 8 meals, and 2 hours of sleeping my group of 42 fellow PC volunteers and myself were very, very ready to reach Cameroon and our lodging that we stay in, ‘til next Thursday. The group is geographically very diverse; a disproportionate amount hails from the Pacific Northwest, others from all over the US. There are astoundingly 3 from WI, and oddly I have made various second degree connections with about 10% of the group…(I like numbers), knowing cousins, flings, roommates, etc.
Unfortunately, as of right now, I sort of feel like I’m in a zoo: We are restricted to our hotel and cannot leave the confinements at all. It is quite difficult for someone who usually runs wild and thoroughly enjoys exploring new places…I realize that Yaounde may be a difficult or dangerous city to navigate; however, I feel very restrained and isolated, surrounded by various smells, visions and sounds that bring me back to Senegal 2 years ago. I also have absolutely no idea what language I will be learning and am rather dreading continuing with French. I realize that that is what I got myself into by coming to a Francophone country…oh well.
Altogether things are good. Highlights: We didn’t have water for 2 days, the food is tasty, a lot of rice and various sauces, and I cannot exercise (so probably going to gain loads of weight, since I eat more than most here…). Heureusement this program is blessed with many wonderful, warm, compassionate staff that seem very motivated and down-to-earth. I look forward to my first home stay family here on Thursday, about 2.5 hrs from Yaounde and to starting more technical health education. Peace, happiness and love to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vous me manquez.

Hi everyone! I decided this would be the easiest way to communicate, (although I realize how popular long emails sent en masse can be.) I look forward to hearing from anyone and know how much in advance any sort of communication, i.e. letters, emails, packages, peanut butter jars, etc. will be greatly appreciated. Here is my address while in Cameroon:


Alison Starling, Peace Corps Volunteer
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215
Yaounde, Cameroon

While I'm doing the Peace Corps my assignment is Community Health Education. It is a 27 month program....So if anyone ever happens to be in the general West/Central African vicinity and wants to visit, the invitation is open!!! Peace, happiness, love and good times to all!