Waisima everyone...how is it? Things here are going well, work is continuing on, and my sign language skills are improving each day. I continue to be frustrated at the lack of education the children are getting here, not to mention the misspelled words that I continue to see on written final exams... Yes, even the exam makers cannot spell properly here!
I am sad to say that yesterday my grandfather passed away, though from what I hear he died very peacefully. It is always you're biggest fear that something will happen to a loved one while you are away. I am not leaving Cameroon early though and my family is very understanding about this. I think it would actually piss my Papa off if I left, so I will continue my work here and be with family when I come back to the states.
Life here is so different then it was 3 years ago... I will say this often because the changes never cease to amaze me. While I have seen many important solutions within BERUDEP which are making the organization run more smoothly, the things I liked most about my first experience are no longer evident. I enjoyed how all the volunteers were treated as part of the BERUDEP family back then; and now, whether it is because they are growing and are overwhelmed with volunteers, or perhaps for other reasons, volunteers are just people. It saddens me because being part of a Cameroonian family is what makes the experience so special... I am just thankful I had that experience before. I think the volunteers here now are a great bunch; but sadly, their opinion of BERUDEP and it's director is not good and I cannot see any of them coming back.
But it is not all bad here, just sharing the very real dilemma's faced daily by all of us! I think the disenchantment is what is helping all of us to grow and to work even harder at what we are doing.... does that make sense? Truly, it's the little things here that make me and the other workers stay, enjoy ourselves, and find each day a blessing. My blessings come in the form of the rare occasions that a cool wind blows in while I am doing my evening treks, sweating profusely, and thinking of nothing but a cold shower. I take a pause to enjoy the breeze, open my eyes and really look around. The colors here are so vibrant; greens and reds mostly, with a shot of some blues, greens, and oranges in the womens traditional dresses. I am surrounded by banana, mango, papaya, and avocado trees; and on every hill lies someone's farm. The mountains are green and beautiful, especially after a light rain, and food is in abundance here. I am eating the most delicious sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots, and was in a state of ecstasy last week when a group of us made homemade pizza with cheese! Yes, cheese on a pizza; a real luxury here... There is a nun at a local hospital the next town over who makes it, and it is heaven! Of course, with no fridge, we had to eat the whole 2 pounds of it; but it was no problem!
I also find joy each day working with my kids. I don't know if I am having any effect on them, but they are having a profound effect on me. I learn from they everyday, and hope that some of our good western values and way of doing things will rub off. Godlove, one of my deaf students, is truly an amazing kid, and he puts a smile on my face daily with his wonderment at learning and his true compassion and kindness; something I have seen lacking in a great deal of young men his age.
Tomorrow I am leaving for Kribi with 3 other volunteers to do a bit of traveling. Kribi is very far, so it will be a long trip. I am looking forward to going, though, and seeing something other than the Kom traditions and people.... I did not travel the last time I was here, preferring to learn as much about the local culture as possible.
Oh, I wanted to say one last thing about the western world. I am learning a lot here from my fellow volunteers about their countries and traditions. I am learning new things about what I knew, and putting long-held misconceptions to rest. The rest of the world does not hate us; but actually feels sorry for us. They cannot understand how the people of one of the most powerful countries can know so little about the rest of the world, and can be so uneducated about what is really happening globally. We have a bad reputation, and while many of you will say, 'So what, we're America; yadda yadda....", I know there are a few of you who are truly interested in changing this image. When I was here the first time I knew so little; but thankfully, I am married to a guy who is always challenging me on world and national politics which has forced me to learn about things I never thought I wanted to know. Now, instead of looking like an ignorant American I can actually discuss world politics. The world is so big and America is just a small part of it!
Love to everyone,
Amanda
PS: The statement heard round the globe is Sara Palin saying that President Obama would show the world he had a backbone if he invaded Iran.
