Here I go again on my own… da na na na na…

Here I go again on my own… da na na na na…

November 14, 2008, 10:59 am
Filed under: Cameroon

Today is a good day! We got out of training early this morning so I jetted over to Garoua to use the net for a bit and get some lunch. Training is almost over… which is crazy! Many mixed emotions will go into training being done. On one hand, the training classes have really not been all that informative as have been very theory based and not much nitty-gritty technical knowledge that I know a lot of the other health volunteers feel they are lacking. Yet, on the other hand, we are all going out into uncharted territory and leaving eachother behind. After swearing in it will be much harder to see everyone often. For the agros, it will be even harder because our in-service-training which takes place in 3 months only consists of the health people. Also, I have mixed emotions about leaving my homestay family. It will be nice to have independence, privacy, a place of my own to relax… but at the same time I really do like them and it is a double edged sword to not have to cook for yourself. I get food without having to prepare it, but I get no choice in what I eat…

I really like one thing about Africa and that is being able to pee anywhere you want. Really, anywhere. You will just be walking along and see people dissapear into bushes to do whatever they need to do. Or, some will even just not try to hide it. They will walk a couple steps away and just drop their pants. I mean, yeah, from a health perspective it really is not good, not at all, but when you have to go you really appreciate the convenience.

We went to a school this week and observed a classroom and then did a little animation and it was really fun. I really am looking forward to being able to work in the schools because working with these kids is just an absolute joy. Their eyes are so full with enthusiasm and the desire to learn and absorb information. In the states a lot of times kids are really just blase and take school and knowledge for granted. And really, you can tach yourself many things with the internet and the plethora of other ways to get reliable information in the states. Here… reliable information is REALLY at a premium.

For example, my host mother is a nurse at the local Pitoa hospital. She is very well respected in the community and thus is a great resource for information about many health topics. Yet, after spending some time in my host family I am finding out that there are real gaps in her knowledge about KEY KEY KEY health messages. For example, she insists that breast milk cannot spread HIV. No, it can.. and for this reason it is extremely important to advise women to breast feed exclusively for the first 6 months as giving hard food while also breast feeding can cause portals of entry for the virus in the stomach/intestines of the child. Here in Africa we reccomend exclusive breast feeding for mothers with HIV/AIDS over formula for two main reasons, 1. formula is expensive/hard to get, 2. the water here is not clean and research has shown that more children die of diahrreal diseases or other water-borne pathogens than would become infected with HIV/AIDS if one practiced exclusive breast feeding.

Anyways, my host mother also had gaps in her knowledge regarding tuberculosis/the TB vaccine and how easily/how it is spread. I really have only had those two conversations with her but I assume there are many other arenas that knowledge is lacking/incorrect. Being able to privide good, reliable, unbiased health messages will be an important element of my service. However, I want to focus more on training other individuals to actually disseminate the knowledge to the community. It does no good for me to simply transmit the information myself and then leave. The peace corps development model focuses on empowering communitys to adress their own problems, through a bottom-up approach, not through a top-down approach. Communities themselves assess what the problems are and with the help of the PCV develop action plans to address these problems and do so on their own, with little or no direct action by the PCV more than simply providing reliable information and aiding them along the way.

Well, I really have not had many crazy experiences since site visit. There were a ton of praying mantises around last night, that was pretty cool. I shaved for the first time in a long while and left a moustache so that has been something to entertain me for a day or two now. We had a big ultimate game yesterday and i sported aviators, a sweat band, and a creepy looking ‘stache for the competition. It was fun. Somehow my host sister thinks it is good looking. I don’t see how.

This sunday we are going to one of the final games for the African cup I believe? It is coton sport (the Garoua based team) versus Egypt? Coton sport is from Garoua and I think there is one person at least from Pitoa who plays on the team. Anyways, they are one of the best teams in Cameroon and I will be there cheering them on on Sunday.

W00T Barack Obama! I had a 3 year old the other day at 7:30 am look up at me and yell “NASSARA OBAMA”. It was pretty funny. Seriously he was tiny, I woudn’t be suprised if those were his first words. The people here are so excited about Obama and I get thanked for electing him at least once a day. Thank you everyone for voting blue. I am really excited, for the first time in around 8 years, about the potential for amazing change and increased world cohesion around key issues in the coming years. However, I really am happy that I am abroad for 2 years and not trying to look for a job right now in the states (sorry Pat + Matt + everyone…).

Miss you all!

XOXO,

 

B

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