Obama in Mandama

So this week I visited my future village. It can't be found on any map that I have seen, but it is close to the city of Guider in the North province halfway between the border of Nigiera. Its a small town of about 2000 people, but it has a high school, elementary school, health center and catholic mission. There is no running water or electricity yet, but there are wells and pumps around the village. There are electric poles erected, but the wires aren't connected yet, but there is talk that it should coming in the future (that could mean in a few months or in several years). When I stayed there this week I stayed at the catholic mission where there are three nuns, two polish nuns and one young cameroonian nun. The mission is like a little oasis in the village because it has electricity (generator) and running water with cement buildings. I actually took a shower last week for the first time in a month and it was a little strange. The nuns are great they run a pre-school, something like a boarding school for girls who attend the high school and a pharmacy for those who can't afford to buy medications. Two nights that I was there I heard some strange growls at night. There are three dogs that roam around the mission at night, but I could tell that they were not dog growls. I asked the nuns in the morning and they said it was a hyena. Not only are there hyenas, but apparently by the river there are crocodiles. The nuns then preceded to kid me that if I didn't lock my door at night the crocodile would open it up and eat me. I am told that there are also baboons around that like to come down from the hills and eat the farmers peanuts.

My job for the next two years is to work with the health center in town, which is run by a head nurse and has a total of 8 staff members. I think I will be working alot with the schools and with the surrounding smaller villages as well. This week I got to watch an animation (demostration) put on by a two year agro volunteer about soy. It was like nothing I have ever encountered in the demonstrations in the states. It was a group of 20 women sitting outside under a tree teaching each other how to use soy to make milk, beignets (which are like doughnut holes) and carmelized soy nuts. It was great cause the volunteer didn't really do much in terms of teaching, she organized the event, but the women taught each other and it gave them sometime to get out of their houses and congregate with other women. I also got to see my future house, which is rather big for one person, but has nothing in it. I think my first two weeks at post will be used on trips to Guider trying to get stuff to fill all the space. My house is wired for electricity so if I get a generator or wait for electricty I at least have the option in the future. Even though I am what you would call in The Bush I am only a hour and 15 minute moto taxi ride from Guider where there is internet and a big market. I am excited to start my work and am a little tired of school right now. Just got to get through one more month, learn some more french and then start to learn Fulfulde cause most of the people in my village speak that local dialect as well as Daba. I was told by my future landlords three wives that I had to learn Daba cause that is what they speak.

OBAMA!!!!!!!

Interesting side note about Obama and his influence in Cameroon. Even though my village doesn't have electricty and is in the bush they all knew before I did that he had won. Obama is popular everywhere in Cameroon. In the big cities there are clubs devoted to him and in cities people have put up pictures of him in there stores and boutiques. As soon as I mention that I am american the next thing out of a cameroonians mouth is his name. The general impression that I get from people is that he is not only the future president of the US, but that he is the future president of the world and all those looking for hope that change will come to their country and lives. I too have hope that when I return in two years things will have changed, if even for a little bit, for the better.