Dozens of countries, hundreds of adventures, endless of moments and counting...
Saturday 23 April 2011
Chutes des Tello (Tello Waterfalls)
Friday 22 April 2011
Friday Prayer at Mosque Alhadji Garou
Thursday 21 April 2011
Computer Literacy Education for Women
Atlas Café, Ngaoundere, Adamawa
This project was a success. Over the period of the project, 8 women were trained in basic internet usage (researching topics, reading news, finding recipes, etc.) and email account creation and usage. We were able to negotiate lower prices for first time women customers (300CFA per each two hour lesson), removing a barrier to women’s computer education. The cyber café is owned by an MC2 client and the project also served as an income-generating activity for him.
The women were trained over a one week period, with two hours of instruction each day. Most women attended two courses and received four hours of training over the week, thus two hours were spent learning how to use the internet and two hours were spent on creating and sending e-mails. Over the course of the week, 6 email addresses were created which allowed the women to practice email writing to retired PCVs, Peter and me, and amongst themselves.
Over the same period, Peter was able to work closely with the cyber café staff to give training in computer maintenance and repair. There were a total of 4 staff members who benefited from this training. The staff seemed very interested in gaining skills in this area. They were able to fix one decommissioned computer and evaluate the broken components in three others.
Peter and I were also able to promote continued educational courses at the cyber café. The owner, an MC2 client, will take over the teaching position. At the time of this report, the owner has already continued classes with 2 women and 1 child.
In addition, many educational materials from the ICT toolkit as well as my Peter’s lessons were given to the cyber café as resources for their internet literacy and computer classes.
This was a simple and fun SED/ICT project and I'm glad to see it continue on!
*As of July 2011, the owner of the cyber cafe has continued the introductory course with over 20 students benefiting!
Wednesday 13 April 2011
Calabash Design Classes
Saturday 9 April 2011
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Birthday Safari - Waza National Park
Alim (+237 99 71 73 40) picked us up from our front door step as we hired a car from Maroua to Waza. I shared shotgun seat with Jasmine Junk and Jenny Wang while the rest of the car blasted 80s music from an IPOD. It was good times as when we got closer to the park, monkeys darted right in front of us.
It was a hot day (I’m estimated 95+ degree Farenheit), but well worth it as we saw giraffes, vultures, warthogs (Puumba!), ostriches, antelope, and deer. First safari in Africa: check!
Sunday 3 April 2011
Welcome to Maroua, Cameroon
After a nine-hour bus ride from Ngaoundere to Cameroon, we were finally in Maroua. With two trip buddies on a paved road, this was one of the easier travels in Cameroon!
If you're ever traveling in Cameroon and you're hungry, just grab something out the window!
First stop: the Artisan Market (“Artisinat”)! In a period of an hour, I spent about 20.000CFA ($40US) buying gifts and crafts. Luckily, all the merchants there understand that PCVs like to bargain hard and as I spoke the little Fulfulde that I know, I was able to walk away with fair prices on everything from shell earrings (500CFA) to calabash shakers (1.000CFA).
Andrea and I headed to the “Beauty Institute” at Domayo where our friends have a salon. In December, we met Joserne and Esther while taking the train from Ngaoundere to Yaounde and promised them that we would visit when we came to Maroua. It was really great to meet women who own their own successful business in a place where some women need permission to leave their homes. Go Joserne and Esther!
First things first: Esther wants to do my hair! As she’s worked with foreigners in the past, I let her go while Andrea received a pedicure. The salon also offers massages and has a portable sauna. Never thought that I would be at a salon here in Africa!
Joserne in the salon's portable sauna!
Back at the PC house, PCV Martin Case requested a meeting with me. He had just changed sites and wanted to discuss project ideas and city living. It was highly productive as we discussed how to empower youth to how to figure out who has serious projects.
The hightlight (beyond everything earlier that day!) was attending dinner with Joserne and Esther. We went to Restaurant Venice and enjoyed chicken and plantains over good laughter. Naturally, of course, Esther brought along her son in case Andrea was looking for a husband.
Our delicious chicken and plantain dinner with red wine at Venice
Andrea realizing that she's been set up on a date with her (potential) future husband
Oh, Cameroon!
Saturday 2 April 2011
Just Another Faux Pas
My neighbor, Mariamou, is currently hosting a study abroad student from the Students of International Training (SIT) Program. Since Ashley is currently sick in the hospital with malaria, Andrea DeRocco and I came to pay her a visit yesterday. She must be hungry, I thought. I’ll bring her meat on a stick.
Too bad she’s a vegetarian. Fail.