Training

Well I have finished the training for Peace Corp and I am now an actual volunteer! I swore in on August 25th, 2005. The training was very difficult. We had many hours of French class a day including a lot of homework and exercises to do in French. Near the end of training we had to give a 30 minute presentation in French in front of other trainees and language instructors. The language instructors were there to critique our presentation and we needed a passing grade to complete training. Somehow I passed. Due to many nights with a lack of sleep. On top of French we had to teach at a summer school for training purposes. They received an enrollment of over 1000 students which was way more than any other Peace corps training they have done (Due to the fact that we were teaching computers). It was pretty crazy but it really showed us what the education system is like in Cameroon. There was around 12 computers in the lab and some classes had over a hundred students. I was averaging I guess 8 students to a computer maybe more for some classes. It was an utter failure in the beginning for all the trainees teaching classes and very frustrating. We soon learned tricks to keep the kids focused and manageable to teach. We also had to teach other subjects, I taught English which I never knew how bad I actually am with grammar. Wow.

I lived with a family in Bafoussam that consisted of Monsieur Pele, Madamn Pele, and many sisters and brothers. I never really knew which ones were actual brothers and sisters because in Cameroon, there is no distinction between your immediate family and your extended family. You could have a friend or a cousin and call them your brother or sister. At times there could be more than 10 kids living in the house. They would cook over the fire for all there meals. They had a gas stove but it would be too expensive to cook for so many people. There is electricity at times but it is always flickering on and off and is not reliable or safe. To use my laptop I must buy a voltage regulator which levels the amount of electricity that flows into my laptop cause it fluctuates extremely and can fry electrical equipment. As far as water it is the same situation, some times you have it other times you don’t have it. You do not drink the water because it is very polluted and not clean. So to get drinkable water I have to boil water then have it go through a water filter. A very tedious process but they insist every volunteer do this cause if you don’t you WILL get sick. The weddings, I didn’t realize until I attended one, last all night. It is a fun event full of food, dancing and drinks. The four parents of the couple get together and negotiate what they will receive if they give up there daughter for marriage. The negotiations last many many hours. My family treated me very well and taught me a lot. I have many great stories from living with my family.

Most of the volunteers have gone to Teachers resource centers to teach teachers computers. But I was actually assigned to a private high school. It is in a town called Tiko, just west of Douala. Tiko is a Anglophone province which does not speak French so now have to learn another language called Pidgin. Travel in Cameroon is very difficult. You have to buy a ticket for a bush taxi to a specific destination, but it won’t leave until the bus is completely full. This can mean you are sitting around for many hours. After our training Peace Corp rented a bunch of Bush taxis to get us to our destinations. Each going in a different direction, my bus only had 7 volunteers on it including all our gear. We had plenty of room, we were definitely spoiled. The first few hours of the trip went smooth we dropped off 3 volunteers and were headed to Kumba which the roads are very bad. Many roads in Cameroon are not paved and even four wheel drive will get you nowhere. After a couple of hours on this road spinning out, our bus finally dies. I think the transmission quit. The four volunteers in the bus were beginning French speakers (Including me). We tried to talk to the driver about what to do, with little success. He eventually left to try to get us a part in the closest town. While we waited and waited and waited for many hours waiting for him to return. We were out in the middle of the bush and it was starting to get dark, the mosquitoes were going to eat us alive and we had all our belongings with us. We had no luck with anyone helping us get into the nearest town until this truck came by with barely enough room to fit everything. I had to sit on someones lap but it was better than sleeping in the van and getting eating alive by mosquitoes. This man saved us. We ended up crashing in a motel room in the town and then negotiated a car the next day to take us to our destination. I arrived safely.

Tiko is a 20 minute drive to Limbe which is a touristy area with very nice beaches. Also near is Mount Cameroon, which I plan to hike with some other friends during Christmas break.



After all my training I feel like I am just starting to understand how to live here. Even after 2 years I will still need peoples help. Life here is completely different from everything in the US. Cameroonians have been very kind and helpful to me since I have arrived.

I would like to keep in touch with all of you, let me know how things are going. You can contact me at oneilg13@yahoo.com.

Me cell phone number in Cameroon… 011 - (237) - 521 - 8218.

Here is my Postal address if you would like to send me something. Thanks.

Gerald Stephen O’Neil
PO BOX 270
Tiko, Southwest Province
Cameroon, Africa