I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Where do I go two weeks before I am heading to Cameroon and should be frantically packing? San Francisco. Devin had to apply for a visa at the French Consulate to be a language assistant in France this upcoming year, so I decided to take the opportunity to see another part of the U.S. before I leave for 2 years.

I was pretty blown away by the city and maybe the best thing that we stumbled upon was San Francisco's (and the United State's) first AIDS Memorial Park. It was both very moving and inspiring to walk through the garden's that were built by many volunteers to pay tribute to and remember those affected by HIV/AIDS.

About .60% of our population is infected with HIV/AIDS compared to 5.10% of the population in Cameroon (CIA World Factbook, 2007). Although Cameroon's HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are on the lower end compared to other Sub-Saharan African nations such as South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe & Zambia (whose prevalence rates all exceed 15% of their respective populations), I know that HIV/AIDS prevention work will most likely be incorporated into my work as a health volunteer.

http://www.aidsmemorial.org/getting-to-the-grove

Three Weeks to Go & The Packing Starts!

In almost exactly three weeks, I will be signing in at my Peace Corps staging event in Philadelphia! I have begun the packing process and have stocked up on enough toiletries to at least last me the first six months to a year. Of course with my limited packing space, I am having to prioritize what makes the cut and what I can do without. So what is it that I want to bring enough of more than anything? Dove soap. Dove soap makes me feel at home because I grew up using it, and that feeling of home might turn out to be really nice while I'm very possibly taking bucket baths.

Heading Home Before I Leave Again

I'm at the Burlington, VT airport and am heading home after a great vacation on the East Coast with Devin. Last Sunday was Nadya's wedding (my best friend from childhood) and it was absolutely wonderful. I was able to both enjoy Vermont (we stayed in a beautiful cabin in the woods) as well as all of the wedding festivities leading up to the big day. Devin's favorite part (and very possibly mine as well) was the pig roast for the rehearsal dinner!

After the wedding, Devin and I headed up to Quebec. We stayed two nights in Quebec City at a charming little B&B and one night in Montreal. Both cities were much fun and we both enjoyed sprucing up on our French before we head off to the French-speaking world (he is going to France around the same time I am heading to Cameroon).

On the Peace Corps front, I received my flight!!! I will be leaving on September 14th at 8:30 AM for Philadelphia where my group's 2-day staging will occur (think orientation + a lot of shots). Both receiving my flight details as well as suffering quite the tears after saying goodbye to my best friend has made me realize how near my departure really is.

The Closing of a Great Chapter

This week has been quite eventful:

1) On Sunday night I picked Devin up from the airport (he just returned from a 6-week trip to Kenya)
2) I had my last day of work on Wednesday - I am now officially unemployed
3) I packed up my life in Bellingham and said goodbye to the city that has been home for the last 6 years

As excited as I am for my upcoming adventure, closing this chapter of my life in preparation was harder than I had originally thought. And as often as I move around, I tend to also get attached to the places and people I meet along the way, thus making it harder to leave. The goodbyes never tend to get easier, but they always end up being worth it once I get to my next destination.

I'm back in Olympia - my other home - and will be heading to Vermont on Monday for Nadya's wedding. I'm excited for some quality time with family and friends before I board the plane to Cameroon in less than 6 weeks!

Story on Micro Loans

Here's a story about Micro Loans from a farewell card I received.

Sherida began selling tomatoes in 1995, starting her small business with only $10 in working capital. Although her produce sold well, she could never really afford to improve or expand her business; her profits went immediately to fulfilling her family's basic needs. In 1998, Sherida heard from a friend that an organization called FINCA was offering loans to women in the area. Shreida used her first FINCA loan to purchase spare bicycle parts for transporting the tomatoes. She also cultivated her own tomato garden, and was able to afford seeds and insecticides. But perhaps most important, she was able to set aside savings, even after paying school and uniform fees for her children.

Only 4 more days of work left - I'm getting excited!

Thank you OHC

I am just under two months from boarding that plane to Cameroon and have been chipping away at my lengthy to-do list before I go. Excitedly, I have nearly finished my Bellingham bucket list and only have one non-checked item: Pizza & beer at the North Fork Brewery.

This evening marked my last Oral Health Coalition event. Thank you to everyone who turned out for our social and to wish me adieu - you all will be greatly missed. I have so looked forward to every moment & meeting I have been able to spend with all of you OHC members if not only to be further astonished by work that you do. You have made so passionate about oral health and a believer in what a concerned community can accomplish. And for that, and everything else, I am forever grateful.

Good luck collecting dimes :).

World Cup: Cameroon vs. Japan

I woke up early this morning, grabbed some bagels and coffee for breakfast and went to my friend's house to watch the game. I had prepared myself well with plenty of background information on Cameroon's Soccer/Football team Les Lions Indomptables. I was certain - as many of the World Cup Fans were - that Cameroon would take the game. End result: 1-0, Japan. Next game: Cameroon vs. Denmark, June 19th.