New Normal

My life has change drastically, but it is my new normal. I measure each day by the little successes. If I accomplish one thing each day, I consider that to be a good day. I am also realizing that some days, just aren’t my days, so it is better to throw in the towel and go back to my house and watch a movie. I don't think my life is that interesting, but I realize that it is so different than what it was back home, it warranted further explanation.

Chapter 1: The Morning Routine. I generally wake up to the sound of my neighbor sweeping her floors at 6:30 am. Every once in a while I don’t get the memo that there is going to be a concert next door at 5 am. Understandably I am not too happy about that. After I get up, I fill up my bucket that I use to shower. I have running water at my house but 85 or 90 percent of the time it is not working, so when I do have running water I fill 3 large trash cans up so I am rarely ever short on water. When I have electricity, I heat my shower water with this water heater contraption, but when I don’t I boil water on my gas stove (the stoves that you use for camping). While my water is heating up for my shower, I generally get started on my breakfast. I will boil water for my coffee or oatmeal. Generally I eat oatmeal or eggs. But when I feeling liking being fancy I will make a spaghetti omelet, which is just how it sounds: spaghetti mixed in with an omelet. I put all of my dirty dishes in a bucket and I clean them at the end of the week or when I don’t have enough plates.

Chapter 2: The Market. When things go bad here, they liquefy. And they go bad much quicker than they do back in the states. So that means you buy the veggies that you will use that day. But the most disgusting thing about the market is the meat section. The carcass is laid out on a table. You tell the vender how much you want (and it is generally sold in kilo increments) then you point at the section that you want. There are flies everywhere, it smells and you see a ton of carcasses. I have bought meat once and I don’t intend on buying anymore for a while. It was a scaring experience.

Chapter 3: The Restaurant Situation. Grilled meat is amazing. You tell the meat man how much you want and they take the meat right off the grill and serve it up for you. Generally I get the meat to go, but you can sit down and eat. Well the past 2 times I have decided that I wanted to enjoy my meal at the little restaurant which resembles more of a dilapidated shed. The first time, I sit down and look to my right and I see the cow that I am eating staring right back at me. I have seen goat legs or chicken feet near the meat vendor, but never before the head. The 2nd time I decided to eat my meal at the restaurant, I look to my left and see a skinned goat just hanging out waiting to be cooked. It was fully intact with its tail and everything! I haven’t decided yet if I am going to just take my food to go now on.

Chapter 4: Life goes on even when there is no electricity. This is shocking, I know! But there is still life with no power. I stock up on candles, so when this does happen (which is often) I can have light. The only 2 down falls I can see about not having electricity for a while is that when power cuts out so does my water. But like I said before, I have running water, but I really don’t. And the second problem with power out for an extended period of time is that the beers at the bar get cold. When electricity turns back on, you hear an eruption of cheering by all of the neighborhood kids!

When I walk around I am hearing more people yelling my name versus Nascara. This could be partly due to the fact that I will correct people and introduce myself. My French is getting better every day. I have a cat now named Makala, which means doughnut in English. (I was craving one when I got my cat) I am getting more traditional outfits made. I am starting to dive into work and planning out my projects. Life is good. Yes there are days when I wonder, ‘how am I going to handle this for 2 year?’ or ‘what the heck am I even doing here?’ but then generally when you are having those days something happens that you just smile. A group of kids run up to you just wanting to shake your hand, then once they do they check their palm to see if they changed color. Or you set your cat food outside and a little boy decides that it needs to be his lunch and eats the sardines. My life now just seems normal.

Invisible Children.

This is why I wanted to do the Peace Corps. I wanted to be apart of a change, I wanted to help out people who did not have a say in the conditions that they were born into. Although I live in Cameroon now, but my heart will always be in Uganda. President Obama will be deploying 100 troops into Uganda to find Joseph Kony and to fight the Lord's Resistance Army. This is a monumental step forward in this 20+ year war. This is a day to celebrate the hope for Uganda!

Just a little chuckle...

I saw this video and it made me chuckle. I saw it after arriving in Cameroon, which made it even funnier after experiencing a bit of what this video says. Enjoy!

World Wise Schools Correspondence

I decided to join the  World Wise Schools Correspondence Match Program. Here is the first letter that I wrote to a high school in Harrisburg, PA. For my 2 years here I am partnered with Ms. Larson who is a French teacher. We will write back and forth, with the purpose of these letters is to better explain a Francophone country and culture to the students. I think this letter will better explain what I am doing, a little bit of the reasoning behind why I wanted to join the Peace Corps, and a few interesting cultural notes. Enjoy :)

Hello!

My name is Danielle Nicolai. I am living in Meiganga, Cameroon as a Small Enterprise Development Volunteer. But I will explain exactly what that means later on. I am 23 years old from Tustin, California. I went to The University of Arizona and studied Retailing and Consumer Sciences. I graduated in May 2010. After, I moved to Portland, Oregon to work with Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The main reason why I wanted to move to Oregon was to snowboard. I like to think that I am good, but I am really not. I find it extremely relaxing. It is nice to get out of the city and get into nature. In college I played goal keeper for The University of Arizona Women’s Soccer team.

Soccer in Cameroon is extremely popular. Apparently there is a women’s soccer club in my village. I just found out a few days ago, so I have started researching to find out the validity of this rumor. One of the projects that I want to work on here is starting a girls soccer club. There is an existing girls scholarship program here that I would like to incorporate soccer with.

I have been in Cameroon for exactly 3 months now! The first 11 weeks I was in Bafia, Cameroon. I was 43 other people from around the United States doing training. We had lessons on the Cameroonian culture, language classes and technical trainings. During training, all of us lived with a host family. I think for the first 11 weeks, this was the most important part. This allowed us to practice our French, learn about Cameroonian culture, but most importantly help us integrate.

On August 17, with all of my Friends I was sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV). Why did I want to join the Peace Corps? Why not is always my response. Not only is Peace Corps an amazing program, but it will also get me to where I want to go in the future. I want to get my Master’s and through Fellows Program it is possible. Before I came here, I did not speak any French. I did not even know the greetings. By the end of 2 years I know that I will be fluent. My goal by the end of 2 years is to be able to speak the local dialect, Fulfude, as well. The people are known as Fulbe.

The reason why I wanted to join the Peace Corps was to be able to learn about another culture. It is one thing to study about a country, but it is completely different to live in the country. Cameroon is very diverse. There are over 300 languages spoken. French and English are the official languages. I am finding out that a lot of people do not speak either language. Especially where I am posted, there are a lot of refugees from the surrounding countries. Fufulde, generally in Northern Cameroon, the language spoken at the market; therefore it is extremely necessary to know both languages. People really do appreciate when you can speak a little bit of the local language. People love teaching you and other love when you can throw out the salutations and key phrases.

Right now I am working at a Micro Financial Institution, Credit du Sahel. It is a smaller bank, which focuses on 3 things: Savings & Credit accounts and loans. There are larger banks in the regional capitals or larger villages that offer the same services that we are used to in the States. The difference with MFIs, is that their goal is to reach the people living in the small villages. People call the smaller villages the “Bush.”

I do not anticipate working at Credit du Sahel much after a few months. The nice thing about Peace Corps is that they give you the freedom to choose the work that you want. I have already started working with 2 Women’s Groups, one in Meiganga and the other in a neighboring town, and also a Honey Union. With my counterpart at Credit du Sahel, we are brainstorming an agriculture project that would teach the students how to plant and harvest different crops, the nutritional benefits of their crops as well as the financial benefit of selling a new product.

I have been to a few villages now in Cameroon and I have noticed that at the market people sell the exact same thing as their neighbors. It is difficult to even comprehend this before witnessing it first hand. There are boutiques after boutiques that sell the same pots and pans, the same rugs, the same type of dry goods. And the kicker is that everything is the same price! When you go to the market, people assume if you are a foreigner (they like to call us “La Blanche” or “Nasara” which means the same thing in Fufulde) that you have money. The shop worker will then increase the price and you have to haggle your way down to a decent price. Another thing I have found when shopping here, is if I want to spend any significant amount of money (more than 5,000 cfa which is equivalent to $10 USD) it is best to bring a Cameroonian. You explain to the Cameroonian exactly what you want and how much you are willing to spend. I will then hide and let the person do their thing. Once they have decided on the price, I will swoop in and pay for it! This is a common practice for foreigners.

Something else that I have found to be extremely interesting while working here is the identification cards. A lot of people only know their birth year. So it is written 00/00/1931. There is a high population of illiterate people in Cameroon. For the signature, people will write an “X,” “O” or scribble. A lot of times this is the first time someone has held a pen.

Since I am still new with French, I will start off writing in English. I will be getting a French tutor in the coming weeks, so as my French progresses I would love to write more in French to you!

I wish you all the best during this school year! I look forward to corresponding with you all and sharing my experience. I also am looking forward to hearing about how things are back in your hometown! (Please eat a pizza for me and let me know how it is!)

Du Courage!

Danielle

African Success!

Uploading pictures is an absolute feat here in Africa. 4 hours and 2 failed attempts later, the photos are now ready for your viewing pleasure. Thank yous can be send in forms of mac & cheese cheese packets. Only slightly kidding, and by slightly I mean not at all.

This is my favorite picture. I took a walk with my post mate, Andrew, and we turned around once we couldn't pass the river in the middle of the path.

This was the last of 7 school that I visited with UNICEF and UNHCR to see the progress of the projects at the schools around Meiganga. Hopefully I will have more information later on about these projects.

Oh rainy season! This was the traffic jam with over a hundred trucks waiting to get through this section of road. The passengers in my bus had to get out and walk this section while the men push our bus.

On a field trip during stage (before I officially became a volunteer). I forget the name of the village, but I just thought that this village was beautiful! The houses all have the pyramid roofs because the people believe that they are descendants from one of the 12 Tribes of Israel that came down through Egypt.  

And I will end with entry with a video that everyone sings here...including myself.

3 Months of being an Ex-Pat

I have officially been an “Ex-Pat” (people like to refer to us as this) for over 3 months! I have been in Meiganga for a month now and I have been working at Credit du Sahel for 3 weeks now. It is frustrating now because I am still in the beginning stages of speaking French. But this is the best thing for me. I sit in an office with 2 other employees. Clients come in and out all day. I am greeted by each person, which intern means I get to practice my French all day! Come 2 hours into my day, I am exhausted, but like a said before this is the best thing for me! I have been meeting tons of GIC members, which means work opportunities!

My coworker has lots of great ideas of what I can do and what would be good for Meiganga. I have been introduced to many people in my first week that are doing great and innovative things! Dairy is a thing of the past for me. Powdered milk is my new staple for my calcium intake. I have learned how to make a basic ricotta and yogurt from powdered milk and a mean Alfredo sauce! (Don’t gawk, it is surprisingly fantastic) But my life is about to change dramatically. I met this GIC who makes cheese from, get this, REAL MILK!!! I am anticipating my taste buds to go bonkers.

When talking with people from back home I have been asked a lot of similar questions. The most popular being are you happy? Yes, I am beyond happy! I know that I have not experience the lows that inevitably all Volunteers will face, but right now I am happy. I have great post mates, an amazing Community Host, and a wonderful Host Organization (Credit du Sahel).

Background information: When getting to post you are partnered with a member of the community whose role it is to introduce you to as many people as possible, help you integrate, and be the family that you need in your new home. You are also partnered with a Host Organization. Some are partnered with the Mayor’s office, others NGOs. I am working for a micro financial institution. It provides 3 services, Checking & Savings accounts and loans.

The other common question I am asked is about my safety. Am I safe? Yes I am safe. This questions ties directly to my community host and host organization. Getting to know people is essential to my safety. They will look out for me. The community wants me to be here and they want me to be safe. I live in a gated concession with 3 other families. Someone is always around. And every time I come home I am greeted by one of the neighborhood kids asking for a gift.

I have been handing out letters to important members of the community. (ie. Mayor, Police Chief, Traditional Authority, ect.) I exchanged numbers with each person and each person told me that if I were to need anything I should call. The Head Gendarme in particular seems like an awesome guy. (He worked in Darfur for 14 months with the UN. He is new to Meiganga and to this position.) When we exchanged numbers he told me that he will be checking up on me often. He also said that next week he is going to see my house to make sure it is safe and meet my neighbors. When this happens, my post mates will come and I think I will bake cookies!

My neighbors in Bafia, Cameroon. The little boy standing next to me is named Ferrel. He was my buddy! He would greet me every morning and night by screaming my name and giving me a big running hug.

Crazy picture of the sky!

While having to walk 5km because the roads were so bad, I was snapping some photos and the Cameroonian I was with wanted to take one of me

Welcome! Bienvenue! Jabbaama!

Welcome to Meiganga! I am sitting on my hay couch that resembles more of a bed in my living room with socks, sweat pants, jacket and a scarf on. The power is out so I am typing by candle light. It is rainy season in Cameroon, meaning it is cold and wet. Power goes out frequently during this season. When that happens the water is soon to follow.

I arrived in Meiganga Sunday and I was greeted with a beautiful rainbow! I was also warmly welcomed with no electricity and no water. I will have to postpone my deep cleaning of my house until that changes. But until then I have done work in my house: My bags are unpacked. My bookshelf is organized and decorated with a framed family photo. And most importantly my kitchen is organized, my bed is made and the mosquito net is hung!

The night I arrived I was talking with my post mates, Andrew and Carlos, about their projects and brainstorming for mine. I know that I will be working with bee keepers and a micro financial institution. For a Small Enterprise Development Volunteers (which is what I am) there is not a structured work schedule. We were told for the first 3 months my job is to go to as many meetings as possible and get to know your community. The thing that I have found in my short amount of time here is that there is no way that I will be able to have any impact without knowing the community. I need to meet as many people as possible, network as much as possible, and build the trust of the community. The beauty of my job is that I am given almost free range to do whatever I want to do. This is exciting but also daunting for a Type A personality. But I need to remember; when again in my life will I be given this opportunity? I hope again, but I am betting that it might not be the case.

I have ideas of what I might want to do for work. For my main project somehow I want to figure out a way to incorporate teaching classes to girls with soccer. I would want the classes to include girls’ empowerment, HIV/AIDs education, basic personal hygiene, safe food preparation, and VSLA (Village Savings and Loans: Google “VSLA”, it was said that this is one of the top ways to get people out of poverty).

This is just an idea I have. There are many projects that I could do. I do not want to get set on one idea and not see other opportunities that may arise; hence the Peace Corps emphasis on not working for 3 months. This allows you to meet community members who have ideas but may not have the resources to execute their ideas. I do have a few goals, one of the more important goals would be to partner with as many other volunteers as possible, not just Small Enterprise Development volunteers. In Cameroon now, there are 185 volunteers working in 4 categories: Small Enterprise Development, Education, Health and Agro-Forestry. In September there is a new program starting: Youth Development. In Meiganga specifically, there is SED, health and education.

As I start to get settled in my new home for the next 2 years, I have some new contact information. I have a new Post Office Box and number. My email is the same, but I will give that to you as well.

Danielle Nicolai
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 89
Meiganga
Cameroon

daniellenicolai@gmail.com
Shoot me an email if you want my number!

People have been asking what I need or want and I have compiled a list of ideas. But I love letters just as much :)

Personal
• Magazines
• Mild scented candles
• Hand sanitizer
• Pictures or post cards so I can decorate my house
• Mixed CDs (put your favorite music on it…it will remind me of you when I listen to it)
• Nail polish/nail polish remover
• Degree Deodorant...you can find most things here, apparently this is not one of them
• Travel games
• Cards/card games

Food
• Seasoning packets
• Crunchy Peanut butter
• Cholula Hot sauce
• Ranch Dressing
• Parmesan cheese
• Brown sugar
• Cake or brownie Mixes
• Crystal Light/Gatorade packets
• Hard candies
• Luna bars or any type of bar for that matter
• Mac & cheese sauce packets
• instant soup mixes
• pesto sauce mixes
• beef jerky/pepperoni
• soup mixes & Lipton's pasta / sauce pkts.
• falafel mix
• pudding mixes
• dried fruits, apricots, apples, etc.
• jell-o mixes
• salad dressing packet
• bullion cubes…chicken & beef

Entertainment for the neighborhood kids
• Crayons/markers/colored pencils
• Coloring books (unisex)
• Art project material
• Colored/construction paper
• Stickers
• Legos or toys that they can continually play with
• Balloon…they love them!
• Memory games
• Honestly they would love anything