Above:
-Sabina, the immersion group coordinator, Geoff and I
-Me getting a haircut on the roadside in Yaounde
-Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Final Stretch
Our trip with the immersion students went really well. In the nation's capital, Yaounde, we visited the US Peace Corps office and learned that Cameroon has the longest continuously running peace corps program in the world. They currently have about 130 volunteers here and plan on doubling that number for next year. We also visited the Brasseries (breweries). We got to tour the brewing plant that produces 33 Export and many other beers found here in Cameroon. It was incredible to see how industrialized and developed the plant was. Cameroon drinks A LOT of beer. The company is mainly French owned with the Cameroonian government owning part of it as well.
We also visited the US embassy and got to meet with the ambassador. The security was incredible. Our names had be submitted in advance for background checks, they caught a couple people taking pictures of the building while we were still on the bus and called them out and made them delete them, all the doors were explosion proof, and many other things. I learned a lot during the talk about the role of embassies in countries and the fine line between being there to make changes and impose our way of things and being there to promote relations. There is corruption in all levels of government here so that is one of the main things they focus on changing. They make public announcements about their disapproval of things the President does and are always sure conduct business in a fair manner.
In total we spent about 20 hours driving throughout the country. It was awesome to get to see all of the landscapes. In the north there were lots of mountains. We also got to see all of the agriculture throughout the country: Bananas, plantains, mangoes, papaya, rubber trees, corn and many more. Cameroon has an amazing amount of resources. They help feed many of the countries in West Africa. That is one of the major things that has helped Cameroon become so developed. And it is something that could allow them to continue to develop and become quite powerful in Africa.
We have about 10 days left in Cameroon and are going to be SUPER busy. We have trips planned to 4 villages during this time to finish up designs and do some final survey work. It should be a lot of fun.
I will post pictures of our travels soon!
We also visited the US embassy and got to meet with the ambassador. The security was incredible. Our names had be submitted in advance for background checks, they caught a couple people taking pictures of the building while we were still on the bus and called them out and made them delete them, all the doors were explosion proof, and many other things. I learned a lot during the talk about the role of embassies in countries and the fine line between being there to make changes and impose our way of things and being there to promote relations. There is corruption in all levels of government here so that is one of the main things they focus on changing. They make public announcements about their disapproval of things the President does and are always sure conduct business in a fair manner.
In total we spent about 20 hours driving throughout the country. It was awesome to get to see all of the landscapes. In the north there were lots of mountains. We also got to see all of the agriculture throughout the country: Bananas, plantains, mangoes, papaya, rubber trees, corn and many more. Cameroon has an amazing amount of resources. They help feed many of the countries in West Africa. That is one of the major things that has helped Cameroon become so developed. And it is something that could allow them to continue to develop and become quite powerful in Africa.
We have about 10 days left in Cameroon and are going to be SUPER busy. We have trips planned to 4 villages during this time to finish up designs and do some final survey work. It should be a lot of fun.
I will post pictures of our travels soon!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Hitting the Road!
This past week was spent relaxing around the house, reading, and a lot of sleeping. I can thankfully say I have recovered from malaria. Thank you everyone who was thinking and praying for me. I was able to finish East of Eden by John Steinbeck this week and am close to finishing a Time to Kill by Grisham. The lazy days reading were something I have not enjoyed for quite some time and were happily welcomed.
I spent more time with the immersion students on Friday and Saturday. We got to meet with the head chief of Kumba. He is the top person in Kumba in the traditional part of the government. The government has both elected officials and then traditional member who are usually members of royal family. He said that the government is approaching a critical decision between the traditional way of things and the western influenced way of government. Really interesting stuff. We also visited an orphanage run by a widow. It was home to 19 kids and was very emotional. Very inspiring. Her faith was incredible. The group brought big boxes full of clothes, toys, and supplies for the house.
Tomorrow morning Geoff and I are leaving with the immersion students on a week long trip through Cameroon. Will will visit the coast, the capital and then a city in the north that supposedly is very scenic. We will return next Sunday. I am quite excited!
Spain or Netherlands?? Should be a great match!
I spent more time with the immersion students on Friday and Saturday. We got to meet with the head chief of Kumba. He is the top person in Kumba in the traditional part of the government. The government has both elected officials and then traditional member who are usually members of royal family. He said that the government is approaching a critical decision between the traditional way of things and the western influenced way of government. Really interesting stuff. We also visited an orphanage run by a widow. It was home to 19 kids and was very emotional. Very inspiring. Her faith was incredible. The group brought big boxes full of clothes, toys, and supplies for the house.
Tomorrow morning Geoff and I are leaving with the immersion students on a week long trip through Cameroon. Will will visit the coast, the capital and then a city in the north that supposedly is very scenic. We will return next Sunday. I am quite excited!
Spain or Netherlands?? Should be a great match!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Minor Setback
The past week has been quite eventful. We have been doing some more traveling to villages and had some interesting discussions with them. We have had to tell some villages that the water sources they originally showed us were not going to work for gravity water systems. One village was able to locate a different source that is actually much better hydraulically and has a way larger volume. We will go survey this source during the last two weeks we are here.
We have been mingling with the immersion students. This past Thursday we had 5 of them over to our house along with the directors of the immersion program and Karine and her twin sister. There were 11 people total. We cooked 2 African dishes for the students to try. It was a lot of fun and I think everyone enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, Friday i got sick and Saturday I spent all day at the public doctor with Karine and then some of the immersion leaders and Dr Amin. I had to get blood work done and was diagnosed with malaria. I was given the best of medications tho and have spent the last couple days resting. I am already feeling much better!! The malaria pills are only 6 tablets but are VERY powerful drugs.
The whole thing has opened my eyes to how common malaria is here. Everyone i know here has had malaria multiple times. It is just what happens. Where people get into trouble is if they do not have the funds to purchase all of the medication. A lot of times people will space out the treatments as the money comes in. I was very blessed to be able to purchase everything I needed right away to ensure a speedy recovery.
Next week we will be travelling to 3 different cities with the immersion students and will be gone the entire week. I am quite excited to go site seeing!
We have been mingling with the immersion students. This past Thursday we had 5 of them over to our house along with the directors of the immersion program and Karine and her twin sister. There were 11 people total. We cooked 2 African dishes for the students to try. It was a lot of fun and I think everyone enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, Friday i got sick and Saturday I spent all day at the public doctor with Karine and then some of the immersion leaders and Dr Amin. I had to get blood work done and was diagnosed with malaria. I was given the best of medications tho and have spent the last couple days resting. I am already feeling much better!! The malaria pills are only 6 tablets but are VERY powerful drugs.
The whole thing has opened my eyes to how common malaria is here. Everyone i know here has had malaria multiple times. It is just what happens. Where people get into trouble is if they do not have the funds to purchase all of the medication. A lot of times people will space out the treatments as the money comes in. I was very blessed to be able to purchase everything I needed right away to ensure a speedy recovery.
Next week we will be travelling to 3 different cities with the immersion students and will be gone the entire week. I am quite excited to go site seeing!
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