FAQs Answered

Hello again!

To everyone that has emailed me, bless you. Thank you. Bonus points to Shila, as I believe our email thread may be longer, more detailed, and in the long run, more effective for keeping track on how I’m doing than my journal.

There have been some common questions though, so here is an FAQ Answers blog post for you all.

Q: How are you REALLY doing, Maura?

A: Well world, I am doing pretty well. Still rockin’ and rollin in the honeymoon phase. I thought my iPad died a couple nights ago and there was about 5 minutes of my life that were rapidly spiraling out of control, but luckily it was just having a temper tantrum and is working again. I thought I downloaded skype on my computer before I left, but I didn’t and now skype is having major issues downloading, and I don’t think it will ever work. So, that is pretty frustrating. But, other than that, all is well. I am sweaty all the time, but I am get a fair bit of sleep and I am pretty good at taking my multi-vitamins in the evening and my malaria pill in the morning, so I am even vaguely healthy.

Q: What’s the weather like? How sunburned are you?

A: Broad statement: Cameroon is hot. BUT, where I am living in the mountains, it is SIGNIFICANTLY cooler here than it is in most places in Cameroon which is something I am grateful for. Our place is like a 10min cab ride out of the downtown area, which is good because even from our house to downtown there is a major temperature difference most days (we live on a very large hill). We are still in the rainy season, apparently it is hotter in the dry season, so I am hoping that I am less sweaty at the end of the rainy season so I can adjust to the dry season with a less sweaty transition. I don’t know what it averages temperature wise, but I just checked and it is ~10:30am and 26C if that is a point of reference for you. In regards to sunburns, the battle of Irish skin vs Cameroonian sun is ever raging. I wear a lot of sunscreen. To date, I have not gotten burned. There were a few days where I was quite pink (and had a really cute sunglasses outline on my face) but a little aftersun cleared it right up.

Q: Why aren’t there any photos on your blog?

A: Because it would take my entire workday to upload them. The internet here is not as fast as it is at home. For all the X Alumni, you know when you would be on webfx and the connection would be crap and you would become frustrated that your library procrastination is delayed by having to wait almost an entire minute for you faebook page to upload? I crave the day that my internet was that fast. There was like 30min last Friday that the internet at work was unreal, like home fast, but I was doing real things like attaching documents to emails and such. I’ll get some photos ready on my computer incase that speed happens again.

Q: What do you miss the most?

A: I recognize the correct answer to this question is “you!”. To be honest, I don’t really know, there isn’t one thing that I miss the most. I miss my friends, obviously, but I know I will see you all again soon. In terms of material things, I am pretty particular about my bed pillows. Anyone that has ever seen a room that I lived in knows there is a mass amount of pillows of various sizes and densities. I don’t like the one that is on my bed, but I brought my thermarest pillow, so I have just been using that, so that is good. I miss youtube too I think, just the availability to find new music, and watch funny videos. That one of the woman dancing to single ladies with a gorilla mask on and then she crack her face off the TV makes me laugh every time; infact, I am laughing right now just thinking about it. I don’t even really miss having internet at home at all, I check my emails at work, save them to my computer, respond at home, send them the next day. I do wish that I had sync’d my music from my mac to my iPad or computer before I left because I downloaded a bunch of good music that I don’t have with me. (it won’t sync now off icloud re: the answer to the above question) Teary times. I think in the fall I am going to miss the 2 TV shows I watch. If anyone tells me what happens in the fall of TV I will be so so sad. In terms of things I miss, there are a lot of food items that I can incorporate into this category.

Speaking of food…

Q: What is the food like?

A: Well, the girls and I have our own place, so we have been doing our own cooking which is nice. We have been eating lots of rice, beans, lentils, veggies, and such. We went out for Cameroonian food with a coworker which was cool. My main dish jama jama (which is also known as ‘fried vegetables’), which was described as huckleberry with some tomatoes and onions, but it isn’t huckleberry like we have at home, it was like a limp shredded kale and parsley in palm oil. I think I liked the meal more than the meal liked me, but it is all part of the experience. The same meal we also had fried plantains, which make my life and I have been craving them everyday since. There is a lot of meat and fish in everything, and since I jumped on the vegetarian train (other than a bite of beef I had from peer pressure, my last serving of meat was at the Bicycle Thief in Halifax) which makes for a bit of a challenge. One of our coworkers is coming over on Thursday to show us how to make a dish, which I don’t know what it is, but Leah ensured that the crayfish was removed from the ingredients list. I also had something called a spaghetti omlette. Which is literally an omlette, with pasta, tomatoes and onions in it. Sounds strange, but it was oddly satisfying.  There is going to be an entire post about food, I am going to try to wait a month or so to do it, but it will be a post on what I have eaten what I can make (which is hopefully something) and food that I miss (which right now roast chicken dinner is topping my list, movie popcorn with white cheddar seasoning a close second and stockwoods baked goods (cakes, cupcakes, and shortbread) coming in the bronze position)

Q: What is your living situation like? Do you have internet at home?

A: Living situation is great, we live in a nice part of town which is like a 10min cab ride to work. (though we normally walk for 20 min to get halfway and then get a cab). We each have our own bedroom, a cute little living room and a bathroom.  There is a 5 burner gas stove (no oven), and a fridge in the kitchen, a couple of chairs and a loveseat in the living room, and a little table for three. In the washroom there is a toilet, and sink in one room, and a tub/shower and sink in the other. There is no warm water, but I am getting pretty good at showering in the cold water. No, there is no internet at home, but as previously mentioned, I don’t really miss it that much.

Q: What is the city you are living in like? Do people speak English? What are the amenities like?

A: Bamenda, where I am living, is the capital of the North West province. The North West and South West provinces are English provinces, the other eight provinces in Cameroon are French. So officially everyone speaks English, though there is a bit of French that does creep into day to day life. Most of the locals speak pidgin; sadly my pidgin isn’t improving as much as I would like, but it will get there, it hasn’t even been a full three weeks yet! The city itself is a fair size, I don’t know the exact population but I would guess it is around 400,000-500,000. In terms of amenities, you can get everything you need here from produce to electronics to everything in between. There are no malls, only stores or street vendors, there are no brand names I recognize (other than laughing cow cheese) no Walmart or McDonalds or anything like that. But, I can still get everything I need as long as I am willing to haggle for it, and still get ripped off. (The other day I paid 200 CFA [~40 cents CDN] for a bag of hot peppers that I really only should have paid 50-75 CFA for [~10-15 cents CDN] it’s ok, I clearly didn’t break the bank, but if you look at the numbers I paid 300% more than the value, which is a lot no matter the numbers involved)

Q: Exercise, is it a thing for you there?

A: Bless you for being optimistic. On Sunday I walked (from a restaurant to a bakery) if that is an answer to your question. But let’s talk about that bakery for a second. There is a grocery store in it, with real wine, like real French bottles of wine (which are vastly overpriced), and cereal and lots of other fun things. Then there is the bakery with little donut things and various pastries. And guess what is above the bakery and supermarket? A bar. With a balcony. One day soon I want to go and sit at the bar and double fist beer and cake and then I feel like everything will be right in the world. But to answer your question, exercise, ha.

That is most of them for now, keep those emails pumpin’ kids.

Sending you all of my love,
Maura

Alive and Well in Bamenda

Hello World!
I am alive! Sorry for the delay in the update, it has been a busy week or so, and we don’t have internet at home.

Travel was long, but good. I recommend Turkish airlines, lots of food, lots of movies. We flew from Halifax to Toronto to Istanbul to Douala. Sadly, I did not get any baklava in Istanbul, but there were a few very interesting looking Turkish ice cream stands that I will certainly be investigating on our way home; who even knew that Turkish ice cream was a thing, but it looked delicious. I also found a place in the food court that has something very similar to pizza, and right next door somewhere to get profiteroles. Delicious.

Once we landed in Douala (at 11:30ish at night) I was hit with the heat almost instantly. Thankfully, where I am living now (Bamenda) is significantly cooler than it is in Douala. 

We were greeted at the airport by the executive director of our organization, who got us settled at a hotel for the night before the 6/7 hour drive to Bamenda. After a good, but too short of a rest, it was time to embark on our journey. What a pretty drive, the landscape here is quite unique, the trees are tall and dense like in Costa Rica, but the hills were rolling like the Northern part of the South island of New Zealand, but it was dusty too. Very different, but very cool. The roads are actually quite good, to be honest the highway to get from Douala to Bamenda was as good as, or better than, some of the highways in rural Newfoundland (if my memory stands correct). We also had some unreal jams on the drive up, definitely a good omen of things to come.

We arrived (and have since settled in quite nicely) into our new home for the next 6 months. We are living in the basement apartment of our executive director’s aunt. It is a nice spot, 3 bedrooms, nice yard overlooking the city, and there is even a little convenience store at the end of our road. We have a double layered front door, which locks almost a little too well, considering we have already had an encounter with a welder to get us back in. Overall, the family has been very very kind to us, even hosting us for dinner on our first night there. For the record, incase anyone needs a welder in Cameroon, welding is a team sport. It requires many tools, some of which don’t need to be plugged in, just incase the closest outlet is on a second story window.

Our organization is great, they allowed us this week to get settled before we dug in too deep on our work. A couple of the ladies we work with took us into town to show us around and take us to the bank and show us the market and such, which was very much appreciated. The office itself is great, the organization runs some great programs, the people are so kind and helpful, and there is even an amazing view of the city, and mango trees in the yard. I could not ask for anything better. The programs are really cool, I am helping out with the café that the NGO runs, as well as youth entrepreneurship workshops and related activities. I just found out that I am also going to be assisting on a project with some imprisoned youth as well, very cool.

In terms of my adjustment, I think I am doing pretty well so far, though I am still very much in the honeymoon period. Every time I go to the market I end up trying to speak Spanish to people, for who knows what reason, but it is definitely a thing. I am getting pretty slick with the gas stove, thanks to many years at camp and my mother dragging me outdoors. I have done my first (small) load of laundry, which went pretty well if I say so myself.  

Yesterday I even greeted my first person in Pidgin! (the local dialect) it went like this:

Me: Good Morning
Man: Morning, sister. How fo you?
Me: I dey fine, how fo you?

Then he just looked surprised that I could respond, and I prayed quietly that he said nothing else to me in pidgin because that is all I know. Luckily one of our cowokers typed up a 2 page document which is basically pidgin for dummies, which I am forever thankful for, and will be practicing frequently.

We got a mirror for our place yesterday, and though I am still undecided if it was a good thing or not, it does make it feel a little more homey. We have even found a couple of cool places to eat, and you all know up there with couch napping, eating is my #1. I missed Knoon at one point when we were eating out, so I got a cola and slammed it in her honour; it was the biggest one on the menu, you’re welcome. My next task is to find a guitar, and I am yet to find anywhere selling musical instruments. A challenge in finding a guitar will be nothing compared to the benefits it will give, because if I don’t have one it will be a very long 6 months. I’ll give skype concerts, don’t worry.

I even have a cell phone, which I am happy to give you the number if you facebook/email me, incase you ever get lonely and want to rack up your phone bill with a call to Cameroon. I would certainly appreciate it (hint hint).

All is well, though I miss most of you reading this, it is comforting to know that there are 19 other Coady interns adventuring in various corners of the world (well, 17, if you remove the two other girls with me here). Besides, I am thinking it would also work well for me to combine my birthday and coming home event to a mega brunch. Only time will tell!

All my love,
Maura

Game Day

Good Morning, from the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax. As I sit in my plush double bed, with air conditioning pouring into the room, I thought it would be a good time to remind myself of something...

I move to Cameroon today.

Orientation in Antigonish was fantastic. We had some fantastic sessions on ABCD, Power and Privilege, Micro finance, and so many others. Yes, we had a session on safety and security, Scottie Mac. Hopefully that means the chances of me using my going away present have decreased exponentially. Becky, please still stand by, we both know in that situation you would be the one calling the shots.

(Another common question, "how do I find out if you are sick/dying/dead", well world, it is a pretty informal phone tree, basically my sister just calls Kathryn, and then Kathryn has a couple people to call and then from that word should spread.)

How am I feeling? Well, to be honest, I keep forgetting I am heading out. My mama came into Halifax last night and Aileen joined us for dinner at the Bicycle Thief. Needless to say I ate and drank my face off, and when I am sad in Cameroon I will think about that Gnocchi, and probably become more sad (item #14 that makes me sad). To be honest, I know I'm not ready. But realistically, who is ever ready for something like this? If you are thinking that you would be, you're lying to yourself, and I bet your pants are gonna catch on fire. The orientation was so inclusive and essential, and I am as ready as I will ever be. Some of the people who are going on placements are just so fantastic. If someone could explain to me how I was able to smile in life before Carmen's positivity surged into my soul, I would really appreciate it. Leah and Dana are now officially stuck with me for the next 6 months, so good luck girls; but I have faith.

To all the Coady interns, you're beautiful, I love you, and keep smiling. You'll do great, and I am so proud of all of you.

To Shila and Steph, thank you for keeping me sane for the 3 weeks prior to orientation, for that I will always be indebted to you. During the orientation I cannot express how nice it was to have a smiling face in the room, someone to ask my dev'sy questions to and challenge me on my ideas. You are both beautiful humans. Shila, thank you for also being my personal chauffeur, I will always treasure our chats in the car, especially when they are sweat lodge themed. I love you both dearly.

Well, I should probably jump in the shower and get ready for the long flight path ahead. All will be well; how do I know? Aileen is psychic and told me.

2013, makin' it work. Next time you'll hear from me, I will be in transit or in Cameroon!

All my love,
Maura

Back in the 'Nish

  Hello world. Sorry I am the worst blogger; maybe I should switch to youtube vidz.

So, since I have last updated I left good ol’ Newfoundland behind me and have hit NS. My first weekend I spent in Hali, living with Olwyn. I had such, such a delightful time; it was so nice to catch up and spend some time with her before embarking on this journey. Olwyn, all my love. Please watch The Help. It was a great weekend all in all, Jigs was down from Calgary, so I got to spend some time with the homecoming crew, YOL-for a short while. Can’t wait to hang out with everyone soon. It was really good for me to see them, because I had not seen Olywn since thanksgiving, and Jigs and the girls since homecoming. When I think about how long I am going to be gone, it feels like forever, but it has been six months since I had seen them and everything was perfect. It gives me faith.

On Sunday the lovely Shila picked me up and we drove through both McDonalds and Tims, before heading to her family reunion and then Antigonish. We are all living on wellness in the mount. So ironic. But, the view is nicer from my room than it was on 2^nd Camden, and I am not woken up by the daycare, even if it does mean more stairs. Overall, I must admit, it is kindof nice being back in the mount, even if the facilities are not top notch. (Obviously, Shila and I got security to get the elevator going for us when we moved in our bags, don’t worry.)

Since then, we have been going pretty flat out with training. I am really enjoying it and learning lots, especially since I have zero devs background. Some of the things we are talking about are familiar to me, but I learned about them from a very businessy background, so that’s cool. The other IYIPers (International Youth in Partnership) are really cool too, I have been enjoying getting to know them. It feels very much like I am back at Glenburn for the first time; strangers from everywhere, some friends from previously, but everyone is friends right away. It is cool, but also leads me to believe I am going to be a teary mess when we all split ways.

During our first week, the girls I am going with and I got to meet Patience, one of our supervisors at YOP (the organization I am working with in Bamenda). She is so kind, and so well-traveled, I am really happy we got to meet her before we arrive. She also said not to look out the window when we are flying into Douala because it is really rough looking. She said when she first landed there she thought she was landing in another country and felt bad for all the people in need and their homes that she could see when landing. Then she found out she was in Cameroon. We all promised to keep an open mind and I won’t be looking out the window.

Overall, I am really enjoying the program so far. This past week we had 3 day intercultural learning training, though it got boring at some points, I feel far more prepared for heading to Cameroon than I did before. I also learned that the internet situation probably won’t be ideal, but Leah (one of the girls I am going with) may have a solution from a device she used in Kenya, who knows, I am sure all will be well. I have also decided I need to zen out if I am going to be the most successful that I can be. Businessy Maura will have to be on the backburner most of the time, which is going to require some zen to keep going. So I have decided yoga may be a potential solution. We will see how it goes, but people keep telling me I will love it by the time orientation is over, and if I do, I may be strapping a yoga mat to my backpack. I know right, who saw this one coming. Not me. Thanks Shila and the yoga girls for the free yoga classes, and not getting mad when I start to giggle and fall over.

All is well here in Antigonish, as soon as I learn how to work this PC I am bringing with me, all will be perfect.

 

All my love,
Maura

See you later, St. John's

Well, the time as come. My bags are (mostly) packed and I am heading off to Nova Scotia. This part of the journey isn't too bad because I am just going to Hali to hang out with some friends for the weekend and then to Antigonish. Just feels like I am heading back to school, so it is pretty good. Tall and Small pulled pork sammy, I am comin' for you.

Last night, I had a few clowns come by for mass amounts of food and some good conversation. I'll miss everyone at home dearly (especially since Scott won't make it home after running with the bulls, lets be serious). I am for real taking my going away present with me, actual useful information, thanks kids. I am yet to clean up the kitchen, so very sticky.

To everyone who popped by last night, and helped me get ready, or at least talked me through what I am about to do, I send my deepest thanks and love. You guys are the best, and I can't wait to come home and play Catan and cerveza facea and do DIYs with all of you again very soon. At least a chunk of my friends are super smart and got into MUN Med so I know they will be here when I get back (read: I am going to you with medical aliments I contracted/developed in Cameroon).

I am bringing such an embarrassing amount of luggage, but alas, that is that. I am bringing a little backpack and wheely carryon (typical), and I am checking two bags. The first, is my hiking pack, which I have no intentions of touching until I get to Cameroon, because if I move things I will never get it all back in. The second, is a bag for Antigonish, one to live out of for 3 weeks and then leave at Coady for when I get back. As a reminder I get back in winter, and (obviously) won't have any winter clothes with me.

Well HRM friends, Shila (shilaandbotswana.blogspot.ca), Steph (who still doesn't have a blog because she is a big loser) and I are having a going away party at the Alehouse this Saturday (May 11th). I really hope I see you there, questions / comments / concerns feel free to text/facebook.

In the meantime, I am reunited with some of my besties in preparation for the beginning of the end.

All my love,
Maura

Let the Goodbyes Begin

Well, another week has passed too quickly in the preparation of my adventure. This past week I was in St. Catharine’s for a few days visiting my sister. To all my friends in the GTA, I am sorry I didn't call you / didn't see you. It isn't because I don't love you, it is just that my sister is my emergency contact, so I kind of wanna keep on good terms with that, you know. Realistically, I was hardly even there; promise I’ll visit when I get home.

I did have a delightful visit though, lots of eating, lots and lots of eating.  It was nice to spend a little time with sister before embarking on the next 6 months. Though the goodbye was sad, I only really see Margaret a few times a year so it is not a big deal. My pants were tight before I found out about the internship, but now they just don’t fit. It feels like my entire family is trying to fatten me up, like a pig for slaughter. I’m not complaining, all the food I am eating is beyond delicious.

I started my first round of vaccinations; I thought I was more than halfway through, but it seems not. Alas, I am rapidly losing my concern over needles, so it is for the best. Also, because I am technically in an educational program, I am back on George’s insurance. It is nice to save a little money, it is better in my pocket than someone else’s. It makes me feel like this:

                                 

Also when I was away I met (via email) the other two girls I am traveling with, Dana and Leah. I thought I was only going with one other person, so it was a nice surprise; strength in numbers. I also got my flight path, which isn’t bad at all. Pretty easy connections 2/3 hour layovers which is just enough time to get through customs which is nice. So, I officially leave Halifax the afternoon of Saturday, June 1^st, and officially return to Halifax the night of Sunday, December 1^st.  Both ways my flight path is Halifax – Toronto – Istanbul – Douala. Once I am in Douala, I have about an 7/8 hour bus ride (or so it seems according to all the blogs I have been reading) from Douala to Bamenda. In regards to luggage, my goal is to have a hiking pack, my little wheely carryon suitcase and a small backpack to serve as my ‘personal item’. As I look at the cramped loveseat filled with all the stuff (read: crap) I want to take with me (and I still have a page long list) it isn’t looking all that promising. Well, I can always try my best, and if I need to take a second suitcase I certainly can.

Speaking of the mess of things, I should probably purge some items and see where I really stand with my luggage.

All my love,
Maura 

Pre-Trip, Trip.

So, packing.

I like to think that I am pretty good at packing, lots of moving between Newfoundland / New Brunswick / Nova Scotia, and a few spur of the moment trips; not to mention being on the road for more than a month last summer. Normally, when I would move from place to place, I wouldn't need that much stuff. Most places I have gone for a chunk of time you know you can get your favourite shampoo, and that a store will have your size...Needless to say I had a pretty overwhelming trip to Walmart yesterday; but alas, it is all coming together. Though trying to fit all my belongings for the next 6 months in a hiking pack, will prove to be challenging.

Overall, preparations are going really well (so far). I talked to a friend who spent 6 months in Cameroon and she helped me out in terms of what to expect, and a few things to bring which was super helpful (thanks, Link; so typical of our relationship). I also had a fantastic phone conversation with Steph, one of the Coady interns from the last cohort. Though I felt like I was interrogating her a bit with all my questions, it was great to talk to someone about what to do / bring / leave. She is going off adventuring in South East Asia this week (with one of the Coady interns from her cohort as a matter of fact), so I am forever grateful to her for speaking with me and answering all of my strange questions.

Last night I (read: my mom) booked a trip to see my sister tomorrow until Thursday evening. She has a day or so off, so I am going to go show up on her doorstep so we can have our last sister time before she gets another couple days off over Christmas. Unless she decides to come visit me, it isn't like she is doing anything important, like going medical school. Oh wait...

So now I am trying to reschedule appointments I had made during that time, and making sure that everything is on track. When I get back I will have two weeks exactly before I end up in Halifax, so I need to make sure I have everything that can be done before I go, done.

On the note of packing, I should probably go do a load of laundry, a chore which I have been procrastinating. I can only imagine how bad it is going to be for the next 6 months when I don't have a laundry machine...

All my love,
Maura