Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Dust-induced Sneezes and Polio Vaccines

Last Sunday I moved into my new place in Nyambaka! I absolutely love it. My neighbors are incredibly generous (they keep bringing me meals and have been helping me set up my place), the community is so welcoming and exctied to have us, and my co-workers at the hospital are so kind. The weather is warm during the day and refreshingly cool at night, and I get to watch the most amazing sunset everynight over the rolling savannah lined with banana trees. As one would say in French, j'ai le chance.

I spent the last four days helping with my hospital's vaccination campaign. We went from door-to-door in both Nyambaka and all of the smaller surrounding villages vaccinating kids against Polio, providing Vitamin A supplements and passing out deworming pills. It was a great way to get to know the area and meet the communities I'll be working with for the next two years. (And I felt like I was in a scene from Mountains Beyond Mountains which was pretty awesome).

Right now they are prepping the road infront of my village to be paved which means that it is both a really exciting and dusty time! I'm really impressed by how quickly they are working even though it means that I have to sweep my house two times a day, wash my floors daily, and only get one wear out of my clothes.

That's all the updating I have time for now. Even though there is so much more to say, I think that "I absolutely love Nyambaka" sums it up as well as anything could. Hopefully by the next time I write, there will be a lovely paved road where the pills of dust currently are and I'll be a little more conversational in Fulfulde. And if not sooner, have a Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Now a PCV!

On Wednesday, December 1st, I officially swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer! Training is over and I have said goodbye to my lastest home of 3 months and am on my way to post. The ceremony was very nice - all of us volunteers got matching clothes made (will post pics when I get the chance!). The Peace Corps hosted a nice lunch reception to follow to give thanks to our homestay families and the community.

December 1st was also World AIDS Day so we included a tribute to those affected by HIV/AIDS in the ceremony as well. Conservative statistics show that 1 in 20 Cameroonians are infected with HIV/AIDS. Although HIV/AIDS tests, treatment and preventative methods are readily available, it is stigma and gender inequality that contribute most heavily to the epidemic.