Hi! The internet has been down again so have been unable to tell you stuff as it happens....and then I forget it with next exciting development. Have been doing presentations and taking tests and all is going pretty well....Today, we learned our Posts.....very exciting. Mine will be in a village called Batie which is located in the western region. It is a relatively small town, but is only 100 kilometres from the regional (Western) Capital of Bafoussam. I am told the people there are very industrious and that it is a very picturesque area. I will soon find out as we are all going to our "post visits" next week (leaving on Sat...it is Wednesday today). So I will visit the current volunteer who is now living in the house I will take over. She will fill me in. I already met her and loved her when she came to our school for a lecture...she is late 30's early 40's from NYC...instantly like her, very bright and friendly. Anyway I will let you know more about my post after my visit. We have to come back to Bafia for another month of training before we can move to our posts permanently. Training is difficult...I can learn the subject matter, but there are a lot of presentations we have to do in English and French that are a little hair raising (at least for me) and it is hard to stay awake in those Business classes.....boring memorization stuff totally not practical....list the 5 P's of marketing.....really?
Honestly, I feel like I am dreaming. Back in school again, with my backpack, watching my classmates play soccer in the courtyard during break and partying with them after school......it's wierd, but strangely fun! I feel great physically...very alive!....and now don't know if I am losing or gaining weight. Still not eating much, but what I am eating is carbohydrate hell soaked in tons of oil. I have consumed more (mostly peanut) oil in the past month than I have in my entire life. They prepare stuff in big puddles of oil. Oh well, another month of this and if I don't die of heart disease, then I will be in charge of my own cooking and all will be well. I will post a picture of me in pagne outfit one of these days....maybe. I'm getting really good at bucket baths. Some of us will have some running water at post....don't know if I am one of those yet.....that would be NICE! A bientot, Pamela
Very exciting news! Thanks for the update. Love your posts... Good to hear you are feeling so well. Batie looks like a lovely setting -- not too far from a wildlife preserve. It is all taking shape... Much love from Sierra Madre!
ReplyDeleteBonjour ma chere: ok that's about all the French I can handle this morning. Love reading each one of your posts. I'm travelling too, but only as far as Walnut Creek to visit Maman. C is holding down the fort at home. Your adventures continue to fascinate us here and you seem to be thriving in the face of contant challenges. I struggle with my comfort zone in my (still) new job --- and it's in Rosemead! Keep the posts coming as best you can given the connectivity challenges - we hang on your every blog! A bientot.
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