Moving on...

I don't know how much time I'm going to have to type this blog entry as I sit in the Peace Corps office waiting for the vans to pick us up and head to my new apartment in Bafoussam...

Before I talk about me, let me respond to your excellent (as always) commentary:

Dad: Thanks for the Hilton invite, you won't be dissappointed. The best part is the all you can eat breakfast buffet. I went there this morning ate like a champ and puked it all up. Yup, I'm in Yaounde, I get sick, thats how it goes. Don't worry though, it's not the foods fault. Read more about this later...

Mel: Thanks for the support, I love you too, say hi to the fam for me.

Mike: Yeah, we'll wash the dirty volunteers, some of them need it too! I wish I had more time to follow the elections more. All the blogs out there, so little time...aaaaaah. I really miss having 24/7 high speed internet; that and ice cubes, I REALLY miss ice cubes.

E: It sounds like you've been reading Adbusters!! Those were some strong words from a strong woman. Send me an email, we'll chat about the subject more deeply.

Grandpa B: I would love to share my blog with the elementary school in Albuquerque. There is actually a Peace Corps program called "World Wise Schools" where the Peace Corps hooks up volunteers with elementary school teachers and their classes to share the Peace Corps experience. If you send me this teachers info and the name of the school, I may be able to set it up with them. Otherwise, they can just use the blog anyways...Let me know. Say hi to grandma for me.

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Okay, back to the crazyness.

I'm in Yaounde, waiting for the bus to Bafoussam where I will live for the next two years.

This morning I took part in my biggest adventure yet in Cameroon. My friends Tiffany and Nick and I decided to jog from the Peace Corps Office, through the crazyness of yaounde, all the way to the Hilton hotel where we would reward ourselves with an all you can eat buffet breakfast.

We woke up before dawn and headed out around 5:45 am. The streets were still dark and fairly empty. We knew the general direction of the Hilton, but we had not planned out any route for getting there. We ran, and we ran. Down busy streets, past yelling people. We ran accross sketchy wooden bridges, we ran along railroad tracks. All along the way, Cameroonians were helping to point us in the right direction. They were very friendly and very encouraging. I think they were amazed to see these three white people running through the crazy city at the crack of dawn, with no sense of direction. We were told to go this way, we were told to go that way. Over the hills, across the busy intersections, through the round abouts, down the dirt paths, over the trash piles, past the shouting street vendors, dodging cars, trucks, buses and even trains.

50 minutes and 5 miles later the Hilton appeared behind some tall buildings. Getting there was the biggest accomplishment to date for me in Cameroon. I think it was for all three of us. When I first got to this city, I was scared to death, its big, its fast, its intimidating, but this morning I conquered this city, and now I have no fear. It was a very symbolic moment. The run through the city really represented all that I have been through so far in this country. Ups and downs, friendly people, accomplishments...

Then I ate breakfast buffet at the Hilton, then I threw up. The buffet was delicious though, really delicious. My throwing up was a result of: exhaustion, lack of sleep the night before, and eating too much too quickly. I'm o.k. now. I ate a full meal since then and managed to keep it in my stomach. Talk about highs and lows: one minute I'm celebrating at the finish line of a fantastic crazy marathon, eating an omelette and smoked salmon, the next minute I'm leaning over a toilet bowl watching my rewards swimming in the toilet bowl. Aaaaah, Peace Corps. What else is there to say.

Oh yeah, I swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on thursday. The swearing in ceremony was held in our training town. Amongst those in attendance: Many current volunteers, myself, the homestay families, and many "important people" from the American embassy, the Cameroonian ministry of education, and all the local authorities.

As I mentioned previously, I was selected to give a speech in Ewondo, the local language. I stayed up half the previous night practicing this speech getting the pronounciation down to a tee. To my, and every Ewondo speaking person in the crowd's surprise, I delivered a smooth, short, sweet speech. The crowd loved it, and they cheered after every sentence. It was a pretty cool feeling being up there and being cheered on by all these African people speaking in a language I have never really spoken before. It's funny, after the ceremony, I was approached by a bunch of people who, thinking I was fluent in Ewondo, starting talking to me in Ewondo, and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying. I only know my speech, and I know how to say "hello", "good morning", "good night", "fish", "chicken", "child", "eat", "white", "native", and "I'm tired."

After the ceremony, I gave about five interviews to various television, radio, newspaper reporters. My name must be all over this country now.

I said goodbye to my host family yesterday. It was harder than I thought it would be saying good bye. I guess when there are 12 people to say good bye to, your bound to be somewhat saddened. Not to worry, I will visit them at X-mas, and they want my Dad to meet them when he comes. Hey Dad! They make great food, it will be fun.

Ok, what else...Oh yeah. I've taken a lot more pictures since the last posting, but I'm still trying to find a way to get them posted. The wait will be worth it when I finally ge them posted, so hang in there.

Ok, its off to Bafoussam. I live near many internet cafes, so I should be able to keep this sucker updated more often. Next week I relax a little and get to know my new hometown. A week from monday, I start what I came to this country to do: volunteering. Sometimes, I forget why I'm here. Once I start working, it will all make sense again.

Until next time...Beum beu mos ntangen (Ewondo for, "have a nice day white guy")