On Taking the GRE and Climbing Mt. Cameroon

Taking the GRE and Climbing Mt. Cameroon were two polar-opposite experiences that took place within 2 days of one another. One experience was miserable, comical, but not fun. One was exhilirating and once-in-a-liftime. First--the not-fun experience. I'll admit, Taking the GRE in America isn't too memorable. However, taking the GRE in the Cameroonian context, makes it an adventure. For starters, just filling out the bubble letters took my fellow test-takers an hour. After that hour, my bladder was about to burst. Meanwhile, the proctor was mumbling criticisms about the "incompetent Cameroonians," (in her words) in front of them. Scrap paper, supposedly a GRE right, was not offered, nor were any breaks. Cheating and cell phones going off, were rampant. Consequently, several test-takers were thrown out of the test, mid-exam. Studying for the GRE in my bucolic, quiescent village was somewhat of a paradox. That is, studying for an exam that will drive me full fledged into the American anxiety-ridden, highway of success; while I'm surrounded by my not formally-educated villagers whose lives have not changed for hundreds of years and are "stuck" in their lives, immobile in time. I felt odd reviewing formulas and revisitng vocabulary, as I looked out my window to kids, who do not have the chance to go to school, adorned with no clothes or sporting evidences of malnutrition.
Yet, to every low-point in life, or rough patch, comes an apex. Minutes after finishing the GRE I was rushed onto a 7 hour bus to climb Mt. Cameroon. It was a memorable, fantastic experience that I recommend to anyone who is mildly in shape and who enjoys camping or hiking. Mt. Cameroon is the highest Mountain in all of West and Central Africa,measuring approximately 14,000 ft. My friends and I decided to do the 3 day hike which took us through Rainforest, Savanna, ridges of active volcanoes, lava flow fields, cold/tundra like environement,verdant "Irelandesque" fields, and lunar landscape. The range of temperature was probably 40 to 90 degrees on the trip. On the summit I felt like I was going to be blown off. It was phenomenal to experience all of this bio-diversity at 13,000 feet. Above the clouds and tree-line, I felt like I could of been anywhere; America, Europe or Asia. It's wonderful how equalizing a force nature is on humanity; how above the clouds, one tends not to worry about everyday matters, traffic, food, news, electricity, cell phone reception etc. I think that this hike, if more publicized and marketed would attract many more tourists, Yet, inevitably with more tourists would come more negative outcomes of human impact, that would surely destroy the pristine landscape. Who knows.
Any way, back to post tomorrow. Back to my diverse roles as; librarian, sewing and english teacher, construction site inspector, "doctor," women's group consultant, and village babysitter. Hope all is well in the States! Much happiness and peace, Ali