Life In Cameroon

New Year's Celebration -Extreme North

2007-09-04T06:29:00.000+02:00

Darrell and I took this video during our visit to the Extreme North in 2005. We were invited to a traditional dance that took place at one of the local hotels. We are able to upload videos, so I chose this as my first video upload. We had a great time celebrating and dancing.

2007-08-19T05:25:00.000+02:00

Darrell and I met up with a group of people in Long Beach and went kayaking!! So much fun! We also touched moon jellies--the non-stinging sorts.

2007-08-19T05:21:00.000+02:00

I bought a new bike. I have been cruisin' around Long Beach ever since picking up this beach cruiser. It has been one purchase that I have not regretted.

2007-08-19T04:19:00.000+02:00

I took a trip down to Portland, to visit Claire, a friend from high school. She did an excellent job at showing me around the city. We took this picture at the rose garden.

2007-08-19T04:14:00.000+02:00

Next up, wedding number two in Washington state. Darrell's sister had her wonderful wedding in a small, quaint church. I had a wonderful time meeting all of his family members.

2007-08-19T04:08:00.000+02:00

After the wedding, Darrel and I took a drive up to Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. We rode lots of rollercoasters and ate tons of horrible food!! I need to watch out--I don't want to gain back all of the weight I lost in Cameroon!!

My brother's wedding....

2007-08-19T04:01:00.000+02:00

Wedding number one of three. Him and his wife (it's funny to say that now) had a wonderful ceremony in a beautiful church. I was one of seven bride'smaids. Congratulations, again!

2007-08-19T03:47:00.000+02:00

While in Ohio, I was able to stop by my college alma mater, Miami University (not in Florida). I met up with my economics professor. Economics was my most disliked class,but I really enjoyed prof. Hart. We had a wonderful lunch together. Later, I hung out with my friend Amber as we walked around uptown, trying to spot all of the changes that have taken place in the last 5 years.

Trekking up to Ohio

2007-06-27T02:59:00.000+02:00

As my parents and I travel to Ohio for my brother’s wedding, I’m thinking of all of the different places I’d like to visit in the future. Mostly, I’m thinking of my cross country road trip with my boyfriend! It’s going to be so much fun. I enjoy traveling and I encourage everyone to do so. You meet so many wonderful and amazing people and see things you wouldn’t normally see (or things you could only see off of google images).

It is also a small world:

1. Darrell and I met a man and his neice while waiting in one of the various lines at the Eiffel tower. The neice was visiting her uncle in Europe. After talking with them, I found out that she goes to a high school close to where I went to high school. And, it is even a high school my basketball team used to play.
2. On the flight from Zurich to Atlanta, I sat next to a friendly man from Ohio also. His son attends the university that I graduated from.
3. My parents and I stayed in a campground in Knoxville, TN. The morning before heading out we met a nice couple who stayed in the RV next to us. My parents were explaing to them how I just returned from Africa. And, the woman says I know so much about Africa. I was stunned because not so many people know much about Africa (or Cameroon for that matter). Well, she explained that she was from Cape Town (where I spent my spring break) and her husband was born and raised in Long Beach, CA where I lived and will return to this summer!

It is such a small world. And, you can find some of the most interesting people when traveling. You never know who you’ll run in to. I always imagine that one day I will come across a long lost friend of mine while wondering the halls of the airport. And, I think it will happen one day. HAPPY TRAVELS.

(This is a picture of my parent’s RV (the one on the right). We spent the night at a campground outside of Knoxville, TN.)

Random thoughts and shots around Paris

2007-06-27T02:54:00.000+02:00

I have just recently returned to the US from Paris, France only to be welcomed with a sore throat and a headache. Before arriving, I spent three days in Paris with my boyfriend, Darrell. Paris is not on my top ten list of places to travel to, despite the wonderful reviews it receives. It is a beautiful city, with tons of cafes, shopping malls, beautiful historic buildings, and TOURISTS!

On Day one, Darrell met me at the airport and we took off to our hotel, Michelet Odeon near the Luxembourg gardens. We dropped our bags and walked to the Notre Dame cathedral, where we took a few pictures but were scared from entering after viewing the long line of people. We wondered around a bit more then decided to go to the Eiffel tower. I was shocked at how industrial the tower looked in person. But, nevertheless, we were there and we were going to stand in line to head up to the top. Once, at the top, we had beautiful views of the city. The entire trip up to the top and back down (including waiting in lines, purchasing tickets, and taking the elevator) totaled three hours!! At that point, I was quite turned off to the idea of waiting in lines since I had just flown 6 hours from Africa and had a hellish last week at school.

The following day we walked around some more, ate at a few cafés, and visited the Parisian shopping malls, Printemps and Lafayette Galleries. I wondered the aisles of the shopping mall, amazed at the selections of designer clothing. And, no, I didn’t buy anything at the mall (but did buy two blouses elsewhere).

The two places on my list to go in Paris were the Eiffel tower and the Louvre. Unfortunately, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. On Wednesday Darrell and I met up with a friend of mine named Sandrine in Reims (a 45minute train ride from Paris), in the Champagne country, which is the only place true champagne comes from. We enjoyed walking around, viewing the cathedral, and of course touring one of the champagne caves (and the tasting of course). Darrell and I bought a vintage bottle of champagne! And, I can’t wait to open it. I will admit that this trip to Reims was my favorite part of the whole trip to Paris. The town is simple, small, and welcoming and we had a wonderful time.

After returning by train to Paris, at 5:00pm we dashed off to the Louvre. Since it was around 5:30 when we arrived, there were no lines to the Louvre. But, don’t let the lack of lines fool you, the place was still crowded! We spent almost 2 1/2 hours in the Louvre and still didn’t get to see everything. By the end of that time, my legs ached and I was exhausted. But, we saw the important pieces like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

My trip to Paris ended quickly, as I dashed off to the airport at 4:45 am on the last day.

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Je suis a Paris!

2007-06-19T23:24:00.000+02:00

You know you're tired when...

2007-06-14T22:44:00.000+02:00

Stressful, Tiresome, and Busy. Those are the three words that would be describe my last week in Cameroon. Definitely not how I would want to spend my last days in Cameroon. In hindsight, I think I would have booked my flight out of Yaounde a week after school got out instead of two days after the final bell rings. Between dealing with school business and arranging my personal things, I have had no time to take in the beauty that I will leave behind nor properly say good-bye to the wonderful people I've met here.

Today, I knew I was tired when my eyes started burning after I tried removing my eye make up with make up remover. After applying the liquid to my eyes, and feeling the burning sensation, I decided to check the bottle. I had applied NAIL POLISH REMOVER to my eye instead of make up remover! I'm so lucky I'm not leaving Cameroon blind.

I can even tell I'm tired when I'm speaking with my co-workers. I will walk into their classroom, stand, and just stare around at the walls not realizing I actually did have something to say to them.

This week I have gone to many going away parties for teachers who are leaving as well as families who will no longer return. At one house, there were drummers who filled the brunch with a lovely sound. I couldn't leave there without doing a bit of dancing. And, of course, I had to say good-bye to my dance and drum instructors. I learned a lot about Cameroon culture from them.

I've done all this and I still have to pick up a skirt I ordered, visit the market one last time, and say bye to my friends at the orphanage.

At this point, I'm too overwhelmed and tired to be excited! But, I'm sure when I board the plane on Sunday, all will be well.

Cameroonian Dance Performance

2007-06-09T09:57:00.000+02:00

Last year, if you remember, I took drum lessons. This year, now that my knee feels a whole lot better, I've been taking Cameroon dance class off and on. Well, let me be honest, more off than on.

One morning I decided to wake up and do the class. Little did I know that that move would land me in a dance performance in front of an audience of people! The other ladies had been practicing for some time, but it didn't take me long to learn the two dance performances.

So, on June 1st we had our performance at the Cameroon Cultural Center. I invited a few people from the school to come out and watch me perform! Surprisingly, three of my students came to watch as well. It was definitely a great performance. Everyone loved our dancing and outfits.

In the pictures, I'm on the left side in a black and purple outfit. My position is in the second row. Hopefully you can see me!

2007-06-09T09:55:00.000+02:00

One week left in Yaounde

2007-06-09T09:43:00.000+02:00

Wow! I can't believe that my two years in Cameroon has come to an end. There is exactly one week left here in Yaounde!! A few weeks ago the moving company came to ship my things to Los Angeles. Wow, I really didn't realize that I had so much stuff. I was even worried whether or not my boxes would fit on this small moving truck, but it did. I'm excited about leaving. I can't wait to decorate my apartment with the things I've bought, have dinner and show my photos, and spread the knowledge of Cameroon and Africa to my future students.

Learning Batik

2007-06-09T09:36:00.000+02:00

The students and I took a trip to Charlotte's house. There we learned the process of batik, or dying fabric. Each student received one piece of cloth to wax. They then selected one of these various stamps. After allowing the wax to melt and become hot, they dipped their stamp in the wax and made patterns of wax on their fabric. I remember being a nervous wreck because I didn't want one of the students to get burnt by the wax. But, I did manage to make my own design.

Orange Dye!

2007-06-09T09:29:00.000+02:00

After stamping a pattern of wax, the cloth is then placed in a bucket of dye. The students chose a bright orange dye. We were all confused because the dye looked purple! We let the fabric sit in the bucket for about 20minutes, turning often.

The places where the wax was placed, penetrates the dye. Therefore, the dye does not stain any place where the wax is. So, once the cloth is removed from the dye and the wax is finally removed, a beautiful pattern is left where the wax once was.

After the 20 minutes in the dye bucket, we laid the cloth out on the ground for the color to get exactly the right shade.

Removing the wax

2007-06-09T09:20:00.000+02:00

After the cloth has been dyed, it is placed in a boiling pot of water. It is left to boil for about 20 minutes. The boiling process removes all of the wax that remains on the cloth. The wax melts away and remains in the water. This wax is collected and reused for later projects.

Drying

2007-06-09T09:10:00.000+02:00

The last step in the batik process is to remove the cloth from the boiling pot and hang dry. Sometimes, you may have to wash the cloth several times afterwards to remove the additional wax leftover.

And, Voila! You have your very own batik masterpiece!

Field trip to Mbalmayo

2007-06-09T09:07:00.000+02:00

The students and I took a trip to one of the father's wood factory. Here we saw the entire process of transforming wood into veneer.

Cutting and Drying

2007-06-09T09:02:00.001+02:00

Huge chunks of wood are brought into the factory and cut into fourths. Afterwards, the pieces are lifted and placed into a huge steamer which dries the wood before it can be cut. The steamer is about 4 meters deep.

Cutting the Veneer

2007-06-09T08:57:00.000+02:00

After the wood pieces are dried, they are put into machines to be cut into small, thin pieces called veneer. The wood sits in the machine and it quickly slices pieces from the top. It then spits them out, the men catch them, and stack them on top of one another.

Sewing pieces together

2007-06-09T08:49:00.000+02:00

The last step in the process is to "sew" the veneer pieces together. They use machines that are similar to sewing machines, but instead put out a zig zag of glue that sticks the pieces together. And, voila!

The factory usually receives a request of the amount of veneer, the type, and the size. And, therefore all of this is done according to their orders.

Shots of the church

2007-06-09T08:42:00.000+02:00

I wanted to add these photos of the church we visited. The sunlight shines directly from a whole at the top of the church. In addition, the church has huge wide open spaces that overlook the mountain.

The Beautiful Church

2007-06-09T08:28:00.000+02:00

After visiting the wood factory, the students and I went to a nearby mountainside that overlooked the city of Mbalmayo. There we met an Italian man who is in charge of building this beautiful open aired church. Coincidentally, I sat next to this Italian man and his family on the plane ride back from California in April. It's a small world (or a small international community here in Cameroon).The wood used in building this church comes from the factory while the rock comes from the surrounding area.

The church allowed for a nice mix of sunlight, cool breezes, and fresh air. It's too bad I won't be around to see it finished.

Butterflies at the sanctuary

2007-06-09T08:25:00.000+02:00

2007-06-09T08:17:00.000+02:00

The class and I took a walk with brother Daniel out to the rocks that over look the city of Mbalmayo. Out on the rocks, they constructed a statue of the Virgin Mary. This area is a place for the brothers and sisters of the sanctuary of peace to pray. The students had a wonderful time talking with Daniel. I think he was even happy to see us!

Shots around Town

2007-06-07T17:31:00.000+02:00

Yaounde is a great place to take pictures. For that reason, I always have my camera at hand. On our return from Mbalmayo I took the following shots from the bus. Here we have a picture of a beer truck making a deliever of 33, one of the locally made beers. And, the other picture is of one of the various driving schools.

2007-05-26T09:30:00.000+02:00

Millipede Mayhem

2007-05-21T16:13:00.000+02:00

This nasty creature was spotted in my friend's classroom. Our teacher's aide pointed it out, shortly after you could hear our screams from down the hall. Even though I was disgusted by this thing, I had to get a picture (well, I persuaded Richard to do it for me). He kicked it and it quickly curled into a ball. After taking pictures, he put it outside...whew!!!

Cape Town South, Africa

2007-05-21T16:04:00.000+02:00

My friend, Andrea, went down to South Africa for hip surgery. She had a lot of free time before her operation, so she kept pushing me to come down to South Africa with her for our Spring Break. I kept going back and forth on the idea. Finally, three days before the flight, I bought my tickets down to Cape Town. I spent an entire week in Cape Town. Below, are some pictures that I took from the visit.

Camps Bay, South Africa

2007-05-21T15:51:00.000+02:00

Camps Bay is beach town just behind Table Mountain. I didn't spend much time in Camps Bay, but would love to go at another time. The beach was amazing, the views wonderful, the housing too expensive!! I might have to keep this place in mind for my next vacation!!

Robben Island

2007-05-21T15:41:00.000+02:00

Robben Island was a prison for political prisoners and criminals during the Apartheid years in South Africa. The prison was a harsh one, designed to silence anyone who spoke out against the laws. However, many of the prisoners, despite the harsh conditions, were able to rise above these hardships.

Today, to visit, you will take a 45 minute boat ride from Cape Town to Robben Island. Once there, you will receive a bus tour and then a guided tour by one of the actual prisoners.

It is definitely a place worth stopping by when in Cape Town.

Nelson Mandela's Prison Cell

2007-05-21T15:32:00.000+02:00

These are pictures of the prison cell of Nelson Mandela. In the prison they separated the political prisoners, from the criminals. They also separated people based on their ethnicity. Each group received different meal plans, different items of clothing, and were treated differently. Before becoming a prison, the island was used as a leper colony. Afterwards, it became a prison that was forbidden for most people to visit.

2007-05-21T15:18:00.000+02:00

The first part of the Robben Island tour consisted of a bus ride around the main parts of the island. One of the major stops on the island was the lime quarry where Nelson Mandela and other prisoners worked for nearly 13 years. Initially, they were only supposed to dig rock for 8 months, but the hard work extended to more than a decade.

The room leading up the stairs, was used to censor any mail that entered the prison. If I remember correctly, the prisoners were only allowed to receive two letters per year. The officers of the prison would cut out any questionable material.

The prisoners were able to play tennis outside in the yard. They used their recreational time to communicate with prisoners in other parts of the compound. In order to communicate, they would stuff messages in the tennis balls and then "accidently" hit them over the wall.

Table Mountain

2007-05-16T17:40:00.000+02:00

You know you're in Cape Town when get a breathtaking view of Table Mountain. And you're right, it was named as such by early explorers who thought the mountain looked similar to a table. At times, the clouds cover the upper portion of the mountain and the clouds become the "tablecloth."

The night before leaving we decided to take the cableway up to the top. Also, there are options to hike to the top.

What wonderful views of the city!!

Table Mountain

2007-05-16T17:22:00.000+02:00

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District 6

2007-05-16T16:45:00.000+02:00

The district 6 area in Cape Town used to be a lively neighborhood where many of the former slaves lived. After some years, many families were forced to move into another area of Cape Town, so that it could become a "white" neighborhood. These families were moved into insufficient housing. Now, the site stands as a reminder of the removal of people. Check out this website for more info:District 6

Out and About in Cape Town

2007-05-09T15:26:00.000+02:00

Around the City....

2007-05-09T15:07:00.000+02:00

Some more Lovely Pics

2007-05-09T15:03:00.000+02:00

Drive down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope

2007-05-07T15:22:00.000+02:00

We decided to take a day trip and head down to the Cape of Good Hope. The Cape is only an hour drive from Cape Town, however, we made a few stops along the way. We stopped at a beach along the way. I didn't actually confirm whether it was the Indian or Atlantic Ocean. Either way, they both kind of converge somewhere around that area.

After hopping out of the car, we took a stroll along the beach and admired the homes and the huge jellyfish (do you see how big that thing is) that laid stranded on the beach!! You wouldn't catch me swimming in those waters, not with animals like that living there.

Well, the following posts will show pictures of our drive down to the Cape. Enjoy.

Boulders Beach

2007-05-07T15:07:00.000+02:00

On our way down to the Cape of Good Hope, we stopped over at Boulders Beach to enjoy the cool waters and penguins. Actually, we didn't go swimming because we left our swimsuits at the guest house. However, we did take off our shoes and walked through the cool, refreshing waters. Looking at these pictures makes me want to go back down to South Africa to swim at the beach.

2007-05-07T13:46:00.000+02:00

The African Penguin

2007-05-07T13:40:00.000+02:00

At Boulder Beach, they have a park where you can admire the African penguins. Of course, they are termed African penguins because this species of penguin are only found in the Africa (southern portion).

The sign reads "Warning: Please look under your vehicles for penguins." I thought that was funny.

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The Beauty of the Cape of Good Hope

2007-05-06T17:58:00.000+02:00

Cape of Good Hope...

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the southwesternly most point in Africa.

Windy at the Cape of Good Hope

2007-05-06T17:28:00.000+02:00

We had a wonderful time at the Cape of Good Hope trying to stand straight up. The wind was powerful and strong enough to hold me up while leaning forward. At times, I thought the wind would blow me down to the ground. The whole point was windy, including the climb up the mountain. But, it was well worth it..check out the pictures of the Cape--stunning.

2007-05-06T17:23:00.000+02:00

Cape point.

2007-05-06T17:20:00.000+02:00

Absolute beauty at the Cape Point.

Baboons at the Cape

2007-05-06T17:10:00.000+02:00

At the park, we were lucky enough to see a few baboon families. While driving along the roads, you would see a bunch of cars and buses parked to the side and wonder what they were doing. Once you got closer, you realized they were stopping to take photos of the baboons. I must say,we fell into the trap too. We took a few pictures once we came upon the baboons.

What was scarier was what we saw on the drive up to the Cape of Good Hope. The roads leading to the park were very windy and rocky. There were signs labeling how dangerous the baboons were more than two miles outside of the park. So, while we were driving we carefully looked out the windows to try and spot one of these baboons. All of a suddon we did see one. He witnessed him jumping up on top of the porch of one of the homes..right next to an open window!! Not sure where he went afterwards. But, one can assume he could of entered the house.

A Drive Around Cape Town...

2007-05-06T17:03:00.000+02:00

...on the left side of the road....on the right side of the car!!! Yes, my friends and I rented a small Toyota Tazz to get us around the city. At first it took some getting used to driving on the opposite side, but after careful determination we got the hang of it. It was actually quite fun. However, I couldn't concentrate on everything at once. I could only concentrate on driving while Andrea concentrated on pointing us in the right direction. When I returned to Yaounde, I had to really concentrate so that I didnt' drive on the wrong side of the road. Actually, a few days after returning, I almost drove on the left side--but luckily didn't when I saw a car zoom in the right direction.

This day, we decided to take a drive around the city. We got out at a few places to take some pictures. The housing and scenary were absolutely beautiful. At the top of one of the hills, we had a great view of the ocean.

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The WaterFront

2007-05-06T16:27:00.000+02:00

We spent a lot of time at the Waterfront. Of course, most of the time spent there was to shop and eat--sometimes we feel deprived of this in Yaounde. The Watefront was a fun, lively place. There was always something to see or hear. I even got to taste ostrich!!

2007-05-06T16:23:00.000+02:00

Wineland Tour

2007-05-06T16:15:00.000+02:00

Wine, wine, and more wine! We hopped on the tour bus and headed out of the city to the magnificent wineland areas of Paarl and Stellenbosch. We visited two cellars and tasted a great number of wines. I was actually not impressed that we only went to two wineries. I thought it was a wine tour--and I expected to be a bit more "happy" by the end of the tour. But, of course we sipped wine at the base of mountains and natural beauty. Who can beat that? Honestly, the best part was meeting other folks from different walks of life on the tour. I met a nice German couple as well as a lady traveling by herself from London. Darrell, Andrea thinks this is a good place for us to visit!!!

2007-05-06T15:53:00.000+02:00

The Cotswold Guest House

2007-05-06T15:36:00.000+02:00

While in Capetown, I stayed at the CotsWold Guest House. The guest house is owned by one of our former adminstrators here at the American School of Yaounde. Her and her husband retired in Cape Town. And, what an amazingly beautiful place it is to retire. Every morning, they served a breakfast of ham, cheese, bread, yogurt, and fresh fruits. It was truly a relaxing time.

Their home is across the street from the guest house. There are two floors: the first offers three guest rooms and the top is their house. Their house includes a balcony, which allows them to see beautiful sunsets such as this one. It's like a beautiful picture.

If you are ever in Cape Town, I recommend staying at Cotswold Guest House.
Please check our their website, either HERE or THERE

Mt. Cameroon Trek

2007-03-18T15:29:00.000+01:00

Each year ASOY sends a highly skilled team on a special mission to Buea. This year is like no other, a special team was sent. This elite squad’s sole mission is to conquer West Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Cameroon (ok, so they got to relax on the beach as well so what?). Mount Cameroon, known locally as Fako is one of West Africa’s two known active volcanoes, the other being Cape Verde, stands at 4095m. Mount Cameroon with its unique climatic conditions and endemic plant and bird life makes it a hiker’s Mecca.

Although there are several routes up Mount Cameroon, the most direct, quickest, and the steepest, is the Guinness Route (named after an early Irish explorer to the region, I am sure…) This year like previous years we followed the Guinness Route to the summit but unlike previous years it was decided to descend via the Mann Spring Route as opposed to coming down on the same path as ascending. Although the trek was a longer distance, the route had an easier vertical decline and was more scenic.

The ASOY Mount Cameroon Assault Team (AMCAT) left the school on Friday, February 9th at 0930hrs for Buea and arrived at 1600hrs. Upon arrival they checked into the luxury Parliamentary Flats Hotel for the night. After consuming their carbo-loaded dinners, they retired to their rooms and settled in for the evening (ha). By 0600hrs the next morning, the climbers were raring to go (haha). After a hearty breakfast at the Hotel (hahaha), the team was transferred to the trailhead where their porters and guides awaited them (hahahaha).

By 0745 the squad was briefed on their assignment and after a short photo opportunity, the team set off on their day’s mission, to make it to Hut Two (2860m) before nightfall. The medical personnel and transportation specialists accompanied the trekkers for the first hours into their trek and then the hikers were sent on their merry way. It was a long slow slog up the hill, first through the tropical rainforest and then into the mountain shrubbery. The climbers kept pretty much together and chatted amongst themselves while enjoying the great outdoors. After three hours the team made it to Hut 1 (1875m) but because of hiker congestion, and the infestation of bees, they decided to continue on to Hut 1. Now that’s an original name for a Hut. After a short lunch break of energy boosting food, the team was on its way to attack the most difficult part of the whole trip (Okay, that doesn’t include going to the bathroom in the dark). From Hut 1 to Hut 2 climbers must ascend over 1000m in a distance of less than three inches, well according to my map anyway. All I can say is, that it was tough and one had the tendency to crawl. Nothing too tough for the ASOY team, though. They all made it to Hut 2 with energy to spare…not a lot but enough to put up the tents, cook a meal, have a few good laughs and then hit the hay or more like burnt grass in their case.

By 0500hrs the next morning the bugle was blown and the assault team was up and at it. They broke camp with military precision (hhhaahee) and were ready to move out at six something-or-other. Okay, it was more like sevenish, but never the less they were ready to go. It was the day they all had trained for. All those after-school training sessions, the Sunday morning hikes up Mount Febe, the running of the stairs of Palais de Congress, the hours of jungle marches were finally going to pay off. Today was the day. Today was the day to assault the summit. The climbers were ready.

Three hours after leaving Hut 2 the hikers made it to Hut 3 (3740m) where they stopped for a hearty lunch in order to replenish their much-needed energy. After a restful break, they set off as a team to the summit. Together they walked, encouraging each other, onward and upward. Together they laughed and joked… (Ok together, except Goldilocks and myself, who were on a reconnaissance mission to see if the summit was safe for the team to attempt). Safe it was found and at precisely 12:48:34, the summit was stormed by the ASOY troop. Everyone climbed the peak beaming with pride and pleasure. Excitement and joy were felt and displayed by all. ASOY had once again conquered the highest mountain in West Africa, Fako, Mount Cameroon at 4095m.

After some short congratulatory speeches and a quick team photo session, the troop was once again on the move. They had to get to Mann Springs before nightfall and it was a good 6 hours or four inches on the map away. Six hours of walking that is. For some reason some of the team had the impression that six hours was six hours if you walked or not. If you walked six hours Mann Springs would appear and if you sat and rested Mann Springs would still appear after six hours…Six hours was six hours….

The trip down the mountain started out rather easy by following a soft, gentle scree. It was quite pleasant and very easy on the hiker’s legs. Although the boots got full of stones and rocks, the knees and ankles were given a break from the pounding they took ascending the hill. After two hours of descending the mountain, the trail led the team into a gully where they followed a dry riverbed that led them to a lava field. Even though it wasn’t a steep descent through the lava field, it was still treacherous to walk over the uneven volcanic surfaces. It was a slow process. After crossing the lava field the team had to transverse an alpine savannah. From there the trail snaked its way across a valley and then ascended to the rim of several volcanic cones. Following the edge of the volcano’s mouthpiece the team entered a volcanic desert which in its own right was spectacular. From there the team walked through another alpine savannah and eventually down into Mann Spring Camp. It was about 1800hrs by the time the last trekker arrived into camp and the sun was just about to set. Luckily for the latecomers, some of the team had arrived earlier and with the help of the porters and guides had set up most of the tents. A second group had started cooking grub and together the team settled into the camp for the night. By 2000hrs, under a 6/16th of a moon, with full stomachs, sore knees and achy, blistery feet the camper fell silent.

By 0500hrs the bugle once again blew and the team assembled and broke camp, once again with military precision. The troop worked very well together taking down tents, packing bags and taping toes and heels. By 0600hrs they were ready to move out.

The walk from Mann Spring to the village of Bowango took over six hours and was mostly through the rainforest. The hikers had to cross over the lava flow from the 1999 eruption at one point on their descent. At another part along the trail they had a great lookout point and had the opportunity to view the ocean off in the distance. Although it was a long and slow trek through the forest, it was very enlightening with the ability to see and smell a variety of plant life. The Mann Spring Route off the mountain took a lot longer and was slower than going up and down the Guinness Route but it provided the trekkers with an opportunity to view a greater array of topographical features and flora species. It provided a great learning experience and it was well worth the trek…. Well I thought so anyway!!!!

Coach Harry

2007-03-18T15:20:00.000+01:00

This first shot is of a mountain they call small Mt. Cameroon. It's hard to tell from the photo, but off the right we had an excellent view of Limbe and the Atlantic ocean. We admired the waves crashing on the beach. It gave us inspiration to quickly come down from the mountain and get into the water.

The last two shots unfortunately appeared crooked. I tried to fix it, but I'm not sure how to fix a thumbnail photo. Either way, if you turn your monitor sideways you will be able to see more igneous (lava) rocks. It was quite difficult to climb over the rocks. But, it was awesome to be able to see the rock stretch for miles and imagine what it might have looked like while it was lava.

2007-03-18T15:14:00.000+01:00

After a 10 hour hike, we were ecstatic to be close to our next camping spot. At this point, we began to see colorful trees that reminded me of autumn in the Midwest.

2007-03-18T15:02:00.000+01:00

This first shot is of the grassy area that we passed. This portion of the journey seemed to go on forever. The second picture is of the two craters that formed after the 2000 eruption. We had to walk around the edge of the upper portion. One of the students had to help me hike this portion because I was so scared! I kept slipping on the rocks so much that at one point I decided to get on my butt to make it around and down. If one were to fall down the edge of this crater, I'm not sure if there would be any means of helping you get back up. It was quite scary to look down the edge of the crater. Despite it's scariness, it was a beautiful sight.

The last two pictures is of the terrain I enjoyed the most. It looked as if we were in a black desert because the fine igneous rocks formed dunes and valleys.

2007-03-18T14:55:00.000+01:00

Not only did we reach the summit on the 2nd day, but we also had to make our way back to the next hut. We hiked for 10 hours on the second day. On the back side of Mt.Cameroon, the terrain changed almost every hour. The first shot we have here looks like a dry river bed. The next two shots are of the igneous rocks caused by the eruption of Mt. Cameroon. The most recent eruption occured in 2000.

2007-03-18T14:51:00.000+01:00

We made it to the top of Mt. Cameroon-the tallest mountain in West Africa and the second tallest in Africa. We are standing at 4,095m (13,435 ft.). We left this license plate to mark our accomplishment. Finally, after training since November, we made it to the summit! This is what it was all for.

2007-03-18T14:49:00.000+01:00

Heading for the summit!!!!

2007-03-18T14:40:00.000+01:00

On day two, we woke up early in the morning to set out for the summit. This was a tough day because our legs were extremely sore from the day before. I think I took about 6 ibuprofens this day so that I wouldn't feel the soreness of my legs.

The next shot is of myself and Antonio, one of the other chaperones. We made it to Hut 3 and decided to take a quick nap while we waited for the rest of the group to meet up with us. You know I was tired in this picture by the fact that I am even sleeping in this dirty hut!!!!

2007-03-18T14:38:00.000+01:00

Another shot of the clouds and the terrain.

2007-03-18T14:33:00.000+01:00

This first shot is trying to show everyone the steepness of the first part of the hike. Hiking up this side was one of the most difficult parts of the hike. The ASOY group usually climbs up this side and goes down the same side, however, this year we went down the backside. There is another shot of Hut 2. Then you have a shot of Meredith and I pretrending that we weren't sore, but happy we made it so far.

2007-03-18T10:04:00.000+01:00

1. Hut 2. We felt we accomplished a lot when we arrived at Hut 2 six hours after beginning our trip. We still weren't at the summit, but we did climb one of the toughest parts of the journey. The climb up was extremely steep and rocky. Once we arrived we realized that all of the usual camping spots were taken by other hikers. There were many other groups on the mountain because it happened to be a holiday weekend in Cameroon-Youth Day. The majority of the porters slept in the huts. Our group set out to find and clear a space for our tents since the regular spots were taken.

In order to use the bathroom, we had to go to an outhouse made from aluminum. When I went to try to use the bathroom, my legs shook because I was so tired. Needless to say, using the bathroom in the outhouse after 6 hours of hiking wasn't the most comfortable.

For dinner, we cooked up a nice meal of peanut butter sandwiches, peanuts, and a neste crunch bar for dessert.

2. Our Tent! Meredith and I found a spot for our tent. The ambassador and his wife slept in the green tent in the back. Before setting up the tent, we had to clear away debris, rocks, and weeds. This happened to be my first camping experience and therefore, my first time setting up a tent. But, I think we did a great job!

3. I think there are about 1,001 uses for duct tape! And, duct tape was my best friend on this journey. The group used it to wrap our toes and heals to prevent blisters from forming. Here, I have it on my big toe because I felt it getting a bit sore.

2007-03-18T09:54:00.000+01:00

1. We took a break at hut 1 1/2. The reason why I took this picture is because it says "Devil's Advocate" on the side. I thought that was hilarious because the day before leaving for Mt. Cameroon, I watched the film Devil's Advocate.

2. It was an amazing feeling being above the clouds. We were able to see them gently move across the mountain side. At one point we took a break to sit down and admire the beauty.

2007-03-17T14:05:00.000+01:00

1. Hut 1. After hiking for about 3 hours we e made it to hut 1. Here, we took a short break. Here in this picture, I had a walking stick. A few times throughout the journey I used a stick to help take weight off my knee. However, at times it was more of a hassle because it was aggravating my hand.
2. We took a breadk to dance at a rock.
3. By the looks on our faces, you could tell it was a tough journey.
4. We made it to Hut 1 1/2.

2007-03-17T13:52:00.000+01:00

1. Starting out our journey. The first portion of our journey took us through the forest.
2. The porters were amazing. They carried our heavy backpacks the entire time with no complaints or injuries. Some even carried the load on top of their heads.
3. Rest break.
4. Another shot of Hans, my porter.

2007-03-17T13:37:00.000+01:00

1. We loaded the school bus with our day packs and our camping bags.
2. This is the Parlimentary Flats, the hotel we stayed in the night before leaving.
3. The morning of day one. A porter was assigned to each bag.
4. This is a picture of my wonderful porter, Hans.

My Parent's Trip to Cameroon!!!

2007-03-03T09:37:00.000+01:00

For winter break, my parents took their first trip to Africa. They traveled far to come visit me in Cameroon. I had such a wonderful time, sharing the experience of Cameroon with my parents. They arrived on Christmas day and were able to share a late dinner with my friend Claudette and I. The following day we departed for one of my favorite places in Cameroon, Bamenda! My parents were impressed with the beauty of Cameroon. They had a wonderful trip and I hope the following pictures show what a great time we had. I know this post is late!!

2007-03-03T09:33:00.002+01:00

2007-03-03T09:33:00.001+01:00

2007-03-03T09:28:00.000+01:00

During my parent's trip to Bamenda, we visited the Bali handicraft place (see the pictures below of the drums). We took several pictures in front of the talking drum. The palace uses the talking drum to communicate with the members of the village. It may be used to call for a meeting or to inform them of other important news.

2007-03-03T09:19:00.000+01:00

At the end of the year, the palaces host a Fon's Dance to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. Here are some pictures from the dance. Many people from the village came out, dressed in their traditional outfits, in order to celebrate with the fon.

Dining with Chiefs

2007-02-08T16:53:00.000+01:00

After the Fon's (traditional chiefs) dance at the Mankon Palace, we were lucky enough to sit down at a reception with the Fon himself. We were first escorted to one of the waiting rooms then soon after to a different one. We waited around, not sure if we could talk or not. Then the Fon entered the room. For those people who are of the village, or know the tradition, should do their traditional greeting. In this case, everyone stood and clapped (I think it was 3 times). After snacking on peanuts, grilled meat, and small sandwiches we had a small discussion with the Fon.

In the picture with the two men sitting side by side, the man on the right is the Fon of Mankon, and the man on the left is another fon (I believe Bali or Bafut..can't remember...I should really write these things down).

In the room were 3 large pictures Fons, including the current one, his father,and his grandfather.

2007-02-08T16:50:00.000+01:00

Here is a shot of poinsettias growing just in time for the winter holidays.

2007-02-08T16:36:00.000+01:00

We took a trip to the pottery place in Bamessing. The "unskilled" workers (as our tour guide named them) dig clay with their shovels out from huge holes in the ground. They then throw the clay slabs up to someone at the top who catches them.That person then throws it to the next person,who places it in piles. Tough work!! My mom says she shouldn't complain so much about her work!

In another picture, we have a "skilled" worker (who was also our tour guide..i can't remember his name now, but it will come to me) who works with the clay after it has been cleaned, sifted, and stored.

2007-02-08T16:28:00.000+01:00

In December, the various villages of the Bamenda area hold their annual Fon's dances where they celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of the next. We were on our way to Bamessing (where they have a nice pottery place) when we came across some men traveling to the Mankon palace for their annual dance. Of course, we had to take some pictures. Since it was such a special day, they gladly posed with us.

2007-02-05T10:32:00.000+01:00

A nice drive on the ring road of Bamenda. We stopped to take some pictures.

2007-02-04T17:12:00.000+01:00

As we drove past Bali we stopped by one of the schools in the area. Here are various pictures of the school grounds. The school had very limited facilities and no electricity. When compared to my classroom (no matter how messy) shows the disparities between many groups of people.

2007-02-04T17:05:00.000+01:00

In Bamenda, we stopped by the Bali Handicraft shop where they do all kinds of wood carvings. My parents ordered a stool made from the Padouk wood. I can actually identify various types of wood that they use here in Cameroon to make carvings. I just hope I'm right when I say this is Padouk. In the other picture my mom poses with the man who carved their stool.

2007-02-04T17:01:00.000+01:00

Eating grilled fish at Down Beach, Limbe. We all feasted on fresh grilled fish and plantains. I must have eaten too many plantains when I first moved to Cameroon because nowadays I can't eat too much of them-they are too sweet for me.

2007-02-04T16:54:00.000+01:00

We passed quickly through Limbe, only spending one day. But, during that day we drove passed a tea plantation and took in the sights of the beach. I really love Limbe's black sand beaches. Of course, you can't go to Limbe without eating fresh fish at Down Beach. The fish comes directly out of the water, onto the grill, and into your plate. You may sit and eat under a boukaru or out on the beach. Either way, the fish is just as delicious!

2007-02-04T16:46:00.000+01:00

My parents and I took an afternoon drive up Mt. Febe. We stopped on the side and took in a view that overlooked the city. We didn't get too many great shots because it was so dusty. Cameroon is currently in the dry season. And, during the months of December and January, Cameroon experiences a great deal of dust from the Sahara desert. The dry and dusty wind which causes this is called the Harmattan. This explains why the day was unclear.

We went to the Mt. Febe Monastery where we took a trip to their museum called the Petite Musee Cameronaise. In the picture we have a bed made from wood (which I believe is the NorthWest province) and a few bronze pipes (West province).

2007-02-04T16:43:00.000+01:00

Here is a picture of my classroom. The day before Winter Vacation I left without cleaning, so don't mind the mess. Also, here is a picture of three of the tennis coaches. I play with Joseph who is pictured on the left.

2007-02-04T16:38:00.000+01:00

My dad took these shots of my apartment building and street. I have also added a few pictures of the school. Someone asked me to post photos of the school. So, I have two here, but if you go to some of the earlier posts (maybe Sept,Oct,Nov 2005) you will see more.

2007-02-04T16:35:00.000+01:00

Drive around the city. We took a quick tour around the city. We stopped by the reunification monument, which symbolizes the union between the English and French speaking part of the country. We also drove by the soccer stadium.

2007-02-04T16:32:00.001+01:00

2007-02-04T16:32:00.000+01:00