Running up volcanoes and meeting Khadafi

I did a lot of traveling last week. It all started in Nkongsamba which is located south of Bafoussam. I spent a few days there working with another volunteer who is involved with the same NGO and Micro banks that I work with. The two days spent there were helpful to say the least, as they gave me more of an idea of what I can actually do here. I’m still a little confused as far as my purpose working with these banks and in which areas I can contribute. But there is plenty to be done on the computer side of things which is where I see myself fitting in. I can create spreadsheets to track account info, stats, and other data, and then I can bring a copy of those spreadsheets to the village banks and train them on how to use them. Most of the banks are not computerized AT ALL. They may have a computer, but most of the time it does nothing but collect dust. Every transaction is done by hand; there are boxes full of cards with each person’s account info, everything by hand. It’s often extremely disorganized. I thought I was disorganized, but this is ridiculous.

This is truly the Wild West. We visited a village bank with bullet holes in the walls from a robbery that occurred earlier this year. Armed robbers aren’t the only ones after money here. Corruption is out of control. Bank presidents are stealing money. Cashiers are stealing money. Accountants are stealing money. Everyone knows about it, but nobody seems to care enough to do anything about it. They can’t afford to fire people. Corruption is a part of life in this country; it is accepted and rarely questioned. It starts at the top of the chain and it works its way all the way down to the cashier at the village bank. HOW DO YOU STOP SUCH A WIDESPREAD INFECTION? If you can answer that, come here, you are needed. I am doing what I can, but they won’t listen to me unless I slip them a couple hundred francs.

On my way home from Nkongsamba, I stopped in Buea. This is the town situated at the base of Mt. Cameroon – a 12000 ft. volcano that sprouts out of nowhere and borders the Atlantic coast. It is supposedly beautiful, but I couldn’t see it as it was engulfed in clouds the whole time I was there. I plan on climbing this mountain in December, during the dry season. There is supposedly a great three day trek you can take to the summit. In February of each year there is a world renowned RACE to the top of this volcano and back down and it is sponsored by Guinness. It is a grueling race. Apparently the descent is the most difficult part. The people who make it down alive are usually covered in blood after they tumble down half of the mountain. SOUNDS AWESOME! I have decided to take part in this race in February of 2006. This will give me time to train and familiarize myself with the course. The fastest time to date is about 5 hours, I will do it in 4. The race is followed by FREE Guinness to ease the pain of open wounds! WOOHOO.

After Buea, I visited Limbe, a beautiful coastal town situated on the other side of the volcano. Try to picture a black sandy beach, palm trees, and a 12000 ft volcano backdrop. The water was perfectly warm, and the grilled fish was delicious. If it weren’t for the prostitutes harassing us, the trip to Limbe would have been perfect. Once we told them we were volunteers who did not make money, they left us alone.

I am also planning a solo adventure through the remote countries of the Sahara. I will start in Cameroon, head north into Chad, continue heading north through the barren desert into Niger. Upon arrival in Niger, I will jump up and down screaming “I’ve made it to the middle of nowhere!” I will do this entire trip by bush taxi and whatever other means of land transportation I can find. If I have to ride of camel, so be it. It will be the cheapest, most exciting trip ever taken by man. The travel ban to Libya has been lifted, if I can fit Tripoli into my itinerary, I will. Khadafi loves me. This journey will happen sometime in March of 2005, I think. Wait till you see pictures and read about that adventure!

As you can see, I’ve been doing plenty of planning. Aside from thinking about the future, I do a lot of reading. No TV = plenty of books. There is a great network of book exchanging between volunteers in Cameroon. Hemmingway is great. I am also memorizing every single world capital. I am doing two each day using the map on my wall. Today’s capitals:
Niamey – Niger
Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso
Once I get through Africa, I will start working on Southeast Asia, which seems to be the area I know the least. The plan is to eventually travel to each one of these capitals, in alphabetical order. I think I would have to start in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, then head to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Though, I could be missing one of the A’s in there somewhere.

I am thinking of bringing back a bunch of kids to the states. Let me know if you want one or two, they are incredibly cute. They work very hard, and they never complain. Cutest darn little things you have ever seen. Most of them spend their time carrying peanuts on their head walking from bar to bar trying to make a living. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to see the States.

I may start teaching English to 6th graders next week. I don’t know how I got sucked into this one, but it sounds fun and challenging. I am also setting up computer schools in villages across the region; I just need to find funding and donors. Bill Gates, if you are reading this, send me an email.

I miss a lot of things and people still. Sometimes it gets pretty sad. I’m in this huge city surrounded by 500,000 other people and a roommate, yet I feel lonely. The best remedy is keeping busy, reading, and listening to music. Other days I feel wonderful. The rollercoaster ride continues.

I am eating potato soup for dinner. The best part of living in a great apartment in a large city in the Peace Corps is the fact that you get many visitors who cook food for you. Tonight, Jeanah is cooking potato soup, a very large pot of soup, enough to last a week.

DIINNER IS READY! GOTTA GO.