Tomorrow, I move to Yaoundé, Cameroon! Cameroon is a country on the West African Coast. To prepare for this move, I have researched (with some help) what Cameroon is all about. With all of this information, I still don’t feel that I am aware of the huge experience I am about to take part in. I am extremely excited to be able to move to and live in Cameroon for the next two years. During the two years in Cameroon, I will teach Fourth Grade at the American School of Yaoundé (check the school out at www.asoy.org). I’m very excited about teaching Fourth Grade because they are older than the First Graders that I am used to. I will stay in school owned apartments in a nice part of the city. The apartments are fully furnished with utensils, bedding, and living room arrangements. And the best part is I don’t have to pay rent or utilities!

Each time I tell someone that I am moving to Cameroon, they ask me why I chose Cameroon. The main reason I chose an African country is because I have heard so many positive and negative statements about the continent. I decided that I want to make that judgment myself and form my own opinions based on my experience there. I am expecting a totally different way of life from the one we live in the United States.

I leave tomorrow, August 12 for Yaounde. My plane leaves from Charleston, to Atlanta, to Paris, and then down to Yaounde. The plane ride is going to be so long! There are so many emotions associated with this move including excitement for such a change, nervousness about the unfamiliarity, and slightly sad because I am moving away from the wonderful time I had in Long Beach, CA. It is kind of a bittersweet time. I still have packing left to do. I am not sure how I will fit all of my things in the suitcase. About two months ago, I shipped 13 boxes to Cameroon! Although I’ve shipped boxes, took seven shots, applied for a visa, shopped for school items, and gathered paperwork, it still hasn’t completely hit me that I am moving to another country. I assume it won’t feel real until I step foot on Cameroonian soil.

I decided to keep this blog so that people are able to share in my experience in Yaounde. In this journal, I will write down everything that happens to me during this two year journey. I will also post pictures of all of the sights of my travels. I am unsure how often I will be able to post, but I will try to post as often as I can. My hope is that you are able to come visit my site once or twice a week to read about my life in Cameroon. There is also a portion where you can post comments, so feel free to post your ideas. Also, I know many of you love travel, so if you get bitten by the travel bug, feel free to come out and visit me! Come back again because my next post will be from Cameroon! Talk with you then! In the mean time, you can check out info on Cameroon at this site: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/cameroon/index.htm