The difference a table can make...

You can use a table for an assortment of things...eating, studying, shelving things, even sitting on top of and so much more. I realized the importance of a table while at university - I can get nothing, and I mean nothing, done without a table...and a chair and headphones to block out noise so I can work or course. This is one piece of furniture that has been at the top of my list since moving into my new place last month but the last thing I've purchased. I was holding out on getting one 'donated' like the rest of the things in the apartment but my procrastination and outright laziness needed to come to an end. I've taken pretty much a month off for any serious work and it's time to get back on the train/bus/car/motobike that is moving forward. My latest investment is a table and I'm ready to work.

Happy 4th of July!!

 I celebrated America's independence by indulging in a delicious burger at one of the only places the sell real hamburgers. I splurged, most meals will run me anywhere from 35 cents to 2$... this one was almost $5 but so very worth it.

Largest papyia EVER brought to you by
Bonga Juice, Molyko, Buea.

For my birthday, a friend and I traveled North to Ngaoudéré in the Adamawa region of Cameroon. What a culturally different region! The vegetation and much of the scenery was similar to that of the South but the food and life style were quite contrasting.

A Peace Corps friend from Buea gave me the contact info of Walid, someone who lives up there and would probably show us around the town and what not.

Starting on the left and ending on the right: 16 hour train ride with 18 stops!

Welcome to the train ride from hell

When we arrived at the train station in Ngaoundéré, I called Walid and he came straight away to pick us up.

We were lucky enough to be put up in his guest room at his house. He even took us touring all around the Adamoua region...
Upon arrival we went a bit out of the city a small ranch that was build by one of Walid's friends, they are in the Rotary Club together and everyone was invited out to celebrate the completion of the ranch. We hiked around a bit, were fed delicious food and I learned a bit of Fulfulde. Fulfulde is the language spoken by the Fula or Fulani people. The Fulani are the largest ethnic group in all 3 regions in the North of Cameroon (Adamoua, North, Extreme North). They are are Islamic pastoralists. Although it is a Francophone region, Fulfulde is the common language and French is the language of formal education.

 Fulfulde Crash Course!!!

For those of you who are inspired to travel to West Africa.

Hello. Salaamu Aleykum (This is an Arabic phrase I heard first when in Senegal. It's used when entering an area and used in most Muslim dominated areas).
Hello. Sannu, Sannuko
How are you? Jam na?
How is your health? Jam bandu na?
Fine, thank you. Jam koo dume.
What is your name? Noy innde ma?
My name is ______. Innde am ______.  
Please. Useni.
Thank you. Useko.
You're welcome.  Koydum 
Yes. Ohoo.  
No. Kay.


First we went to Lake Tison (aka Lac Tizon). This is a volcanic crater lake not too far from Ngaoundéré. According to the locals, the lake changes color every now and then. Not too many people swim in the lake, the depth is unknown. We had the place to ourselves and hiking around for about 30-40min.

Lake Tizon

Lake Tizon

Vina Falls is after Lake Tison and not too much further down the same road (Meiganga road). It started to rain as we arrived to we werent able to hike around as I was hoping. It is about a 30m (~100ft) waterfall and really pumping right now since it is rainy season.

We headed to another crater lake called Lake Mbalang that is much less scenic and less popular

Walid brought us to hike Mount Ngaoundéré early one morning. We were hoping to get there for sunrise but missed it by about 30min. The view was still spectacular. If I ever lived in Ngaoundéré I would make hiking the mountain every morning my workout - it was a perfect work out and a rewarding view.

Mount Ngaoundéré: Some people say it looks like a breast and nipple...

View of Ngaoundéré from the top of the mountain.

Tello Falls are by far the most popular attraction in the area. On the weekends you can find plenty of expats and locals relaxing on the beach and even swimming. The smaller waterfall is perfect for a shower! It was even a beautiful hike down to the waterfall..

on our way down...

View from behind

Our friend Walid was so charmed by Monica and I that he named his new turtles after us:

Monnie and Toni!

I was challenged to a game of basketball...

I hadn't played since 2009..

 If I won, Walid would pay off my student loans. If he won, Monica and I would come back up for a visit...

 

I was a bit rusty at the start.. he won the first game and I killed him in the second (both up to 11). I was going to die from being so out of shape so we agreed that we would play the final game in August when I returned for Walid's birthday.

 

I spent my birthday amongst several Peace Corps volunteers who live in villages surrounding Ngaoundere. It was a really different experience being surrounded by 'white Westerners' - I'm not too sure I enjoyed it all that much. It's true what they say about Americans... they sure can be obnoxious! :D I hope I'm not like that...

The one good thing that came out of that night was meeting a beautiful young Laywer named Aysha. I was getting an egg sandwich before heading home for the night and she was waiting for hers. We struck up a converstaion (in French of course), talked about the North, Buea, the work I was doing, how much I LOVE Cameroon, and in the end... she invited me to her house the following day to try a local meal, Foloré and couscous. You might remember reading about Foloré from another blog post, but this one is food as opposed to a drink. And a scrumptious food it is!!

Aysha's son

Foloré and couscous!

When we came back from Adamoua... there was mouse droppings EVERY where, half of our food was eaten into and our clothes were moldy as heck. Here I am with a boot in my hand chasing the mouse around the house... I did end up getting it!

"THAT MOUSE WILL DIE!"

An old snapshot from a day visit to Limbe!

New Foods:

Foloré with 'couscous' (only found in the north!) (couscous is actually just fufu but its what the francophones call it)

I am running out of new foods because I have tried them all!

Update on my life...
My internship is over August 5th.
I dont know what I am doing with my life but I am learning to appreciate the 'place in the middle' as they call it in yoga.
The unknown... its exciting. I just have faith that everything will work out the way it is supposed to.
I am still on the job hunt. Had an interview with Youth Advocacy Network today. Wish me luck, if I get the job I will be in Buea until July 2014.
My Peace Corps application is about 1/3 of the way finished, I am waiting for my student loan providers to reply to my message so that I can continue.
All I know is... I am not ready to return to the USofA.
I came to Cameroon to gain a certain amount of experience and I dont feel like I have succeeded in gaining that.
And, when I go home, all I think about is leaving.




Now that I have a desk... be prepared for more consistent updates. 

Homeless and Unemployed in Cameroon

Not all of this is African tunes but most of it is :)

Some major events have happened throughout May and as much as I tried to stick to the good ol' Morzenti work ethic sometimes there is just nothing that can be done to fix a situation that has gone bad. May was one epic roller coaster of emotions and to save all parties unnecessary stress and bad feelings I made the decision to resign from my post with Social Development International. The director and I had contradicting ideas and opinions which began to cause conflict and made not only the workplace uncomfortable but made my job as the Teen Mother Empowerment Project Coordinator impossible. I am sad to be leaving the girls in Muea, Bolifamba and Dibanda - but after meeting with them a final time and explaining the situation, they understood.

Muea teens creating their 'vision board' at the final workshop I facilitated.

I am disappointed in the end result of not finishing what I came here to do. I came here to get solid work experience. I had intentions of improving the sustainability of projects by finding funding so that projects can run more smoothly, setting up a better system of records/project reports so new comers could continue working with ease and working to find qualified and more full time volunteers/interns so that there will be someone working on the project throughout the year. I was hoping to get experience writing annual, quarterly and monthly reports - managing and recruiting local and international volunteers/interns, improving financial accountability and transparency all on top of some project management experience. Lets just say, J'ai appris des autres lecons.

Since I am no longer part of the SDI work force I have to leave the wonderful host family that I have become so close with.

My beautiful sister Bernadette and her baby Jason.

The Teuma Family (less Jose)

My papa who has left to visit his children in US.

In a matter of days I became unemployed and homeless...

Because of my commitment to Omprakash and the grant that they awarded me, I am tied to working with an Omprakash partner until August 5th. Thankfully, there is Green Cameroon in Buea. I met with and spoke to the director of what I can do for them for the next 2 months. They are in the middle of trying to develop and Environmental Education Curriculum so that they can give the packet to local coordinators who are working at primary/secondary schools and brief training so that they are able to teach and continue the class for the entire year without too much outside support. There was also mention of my helping with the coordination/managing of local volunteers and grant research and writing. I will also help with updating/improving their visibility and connectedness to the Omprakash network.

My birthday is coming up (June 27th) and I am trying to plan and epic trip to Adamawa the North and possibly even the Extreme North. I will be traveling alone or with one friend and have connections up there already who will be helping me arrange accommodation and activities. There are several Peace Corps volunteers up there, so as a last resort I can always stay with them.
Below is a map of all 10 regions of Cameroon. I live in the Southwest which is #9. I will be traveling to Adamawa (#1) and the North (#6). I will have to go to Yaounde (#2) to take the train north.

My dear friend and 'sister' Sara has left us this last weekend. We were sad to see her go but celebrated our time together with a dinner and a 'send off' party at our host family's house.

My first and only little sister!

Goodbye SARA dinner party!

Thankfully I was not homeless and unemployed alone... Monica was by my side and we found an a nice little one bedroom apartment not far from the host family. We moved in and have 1 bed and 2 chairs. If you are in the Fako district of the Southwest Region of Cameroon and have some extra furniture, donations are happily accepted. 

Living room/salon

Kitchen

Bathroom

Monica and I took a mini-trip to Limbe to just have a day of relaxing and not dealing with stress or people. It was raining the whole drive there and flooding when we got to town. We stayed in the very same taxi we drove there in and decided to just head back to Buea - we came for the sun that was not there. Here in Cameroon, a taxi that sits 3 in back and 1 person in front (not including the driver) actually sits 4 people in back and 2 passengers in front. As we waited at the taxi park for more passengers the taxi driver said "Do you want to drive" because I had moved into the drivers seat just for more space. I said "Of course"! He handed me the key and I started the car. "Wow, a woman can start the car!" he said as he directed me to "Just drive up there then turn around and park." So I did as he said - in the pouring rain I drove down the roan in Limbe scared out of my mind because you never know what other drivers are going to do here - there are no rules. I was on a hill and burned the absolute crap out of his clutch and then safely returned us to the parking spot but not before a guy tried to pass me on the left as I was doing a Y turn and nearly T-boned us :)

You can see my fear...

I miss Canada. I miss ILSC. I miss learning and improving my French everyday.

Helping the family to prepare fufu for a church event!

FUFU

Because of the recent series of unfortunate events here, I am no longer certain that I will be moving to Yaounde in August and am starting to look at going back to school for my masters then continuing with the Peace Corps. Or doing AmeriCorps then Peace Corps then grad school. Either way, life will go on! I am comfortable with my place 'in the middle' of this fork in the road... not knowing what to do or which direction to go. I know I have all the tools I need and I know I will figure it out when it's meant to be figured out.

Soon to come in the next post:

-Mbongo Chobi recipe and video

-Elephant Dance/Mali videos and ethnographic field report