Fourth of July - Embassy Style!

As Peace Corps began in 1961, this year marks the 50th anniversary! Thus, the U.S. Embassy of Cameroon organized a 1,000+ person celebration party specifically for the organization.

In light of the 50th year, 50 PCVs were invited to attend. It was quite an honor, though little did we know we would be asked to perform a choreographed flash mob dance to "Born in the USA" for all attendees (including the US Ambassador and diplomats!). Hope to get my hands on that video soon!

Happy birthday, Peace Corps!

Pre-Fourth of July dinner at Cafe Yaounde with some of my favorite PCVs

With Education PCVs Karen Custodio and Claire Kihn


With some of my fellow trainees (now official PCVs!)

So I Guess We're Not the Newbies Anymore...

Every year in early June, Peace Corps Cameroon welcomes a new training group of Education and Small Enterprise Development Volunteers.

Chosen as Host PCV a.k.a. “Greeter”, I will be co-welcoming the 43 new trainees. What does this entail? I’ll be part of the team that welcomes them as they first step onto Cameroonian ground and will help take care of all the little details before they move in with their host families. It’ll be five days of answering basic questions (‘Will I have electricity’?), assigning them LOTs of paperwork (Visas, homestay questionnaires, etc.), and prepping them for their PC service!

It's incredible how fast the first year went by. Bucket baths are normal, I have enough pagne dresses (i.e. Africa fabric) for a fashion show, and I can actually speak French now. Crazy!