Yes, This is My Movie Audition

Auditioned for a vampire movie today at Alliance Francais. Internet is too slow to upload a video, but have no worry...my drama skills for the "Best Actress" Award back in high school came alive :)

I believe this is the most random post on my blog thus far.

Random Cameroonian Things I See From my Front Porch in Ngaoundere

Title says it all.

If that's not a baby on board, I don't know what is...

Ya know...just a man selling egg sandwiches and mayonnaise on his head

Peanuts and a cute, sleeping baby!


Anyone need a bucket?

No matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to balance anything on my head
and walk at the same time


Awesome traditional outfit

This One's For You, Kid: Skype Session!

This post is a shout-out to Nick Kump. He religiously keeps up with my blog (even though my updates are months behind) and even throws in comments for good measure.

I'm a pretty lucky as I'm one of the 5% of PCVs in Cameroon that has internet fast enough to video Skype from home (go Ringo!). So here's Nick!


Fun fact: Nick was a good college friend and moved to Sacramento after graduation. My brother moved to the city for work and they happened to live in the same apartment complex. A few months later, they became roommates without any introduction from me whatsoever. Small world!

Cameroon's Election Day

Happy Election Day, Cameroon! As a PCV, I'm restricted from publicly speaking or publishing my political opinions (see disclaimer on bottom of website). Thus, this post will provide a bit of background of Cameroonian politics and how Election Day works!

Paul Biya, Cameroon's current president, has been in power for the last 29 years. Presidential elections are held every 7 years and before 2004, there was a two-term limit for Presidents. After Biya was re-elected in 2004, he revised the Constitution eliminating the term limits.

Peace Corps Volunteers were put on "No Travel" during the election period as we patiently waited to see the outcome. As everything in the city closed down for voting, I wandered Ngaoundere with Abdul, my 12-year-old sidekick/neighbor to check out the election process in action.

Like in the U.S., people must register before Voting Day. The day of, each voter receives a ballot for every candidate that is running. The ballots are color-coated with the candidates' photo as the illiteracy rate is high, so voters can just look at the ballots without reading.

The ballots of the October 2011 Presidential Elections of Cameroon. Twenty-three ballots for each of the 23 candidates.

Polling place. Voters put their respective ballot in the envelope behind the curtain and then into the ballot box.

I know who you voted for!

After voters put their ballot into the envelope, they leave the polling place with the other 22 ballots to do as they wish. Thus, for the next few weeks, locals will use the ballots as scratch paper, etc.

Things are relatively peaceful, so this PCV won't be evacuated from the country anytime soon! And yes, Paul Biya won again.

Daily Life in Cameroon

Since the beginning of this blog, I wanted to focus on travel and the adventures that came with it. Thus, I've always written about that one-in-a-million exciting event and the once-in-a-lifetime trip. Let this post; however, be just a glimpse into the everyday, no biggie part of my life here in Cameroon.

Hail for the first time in Ngaoundere in years! Everyone ran so fast and it sounded like my tin roof was caving in.

Little Seurah, my next door neigbor! This is the coloring book you sent over Mom! She loved it though we had to talk to her about sharing habits (or lack thereof).

My neighbor making cous-cous Cameroonian style. She is sifting the corn before mashing it and turning it in a cauldron-like pot.

"I love my country, I love peace!" Let's hope this holds true for the
national elections in a few days.

Buying oranges right outside the market. You can't see the baby attached to her back, but the little guy is there!

I always buy garlic and onions from this neighbor who is always preparing some type of food regardless of the time. Here she is cracking open the Cameroonian version of sunflower seeds.

C'est la vie.