Interesting and Wild Discoveries

October 7th, 2014 by Rachel | Tags: Peace Corps | 1 Comment »

A few weeks ago, just when I finished my hot bucket bath and wrapped a towel around me, I looked up and saw a bright yellow creature. A lizard was crawling on the wall above the door. I bit my tongue to ensure that I would not let out a scream. I quickly gathered my items and rushed out of the bathroom.

Then a couple days later, I dropped a pen by my bed. I kneeled down to pick it up and then found a huge dead fly under my bed. A couple weeks later, I found another dead huge fly in front of my bed. Does that mean my bed net is doing its job in killing bugs as it has this chemical thing on it to kill bugs?

On the way back to Mengong from the big training center in Ebolowa one afternoon, when we stopped at a checkpoint, a man came up to van, right by the windows and held a snake with its head chopped off. Some of us trainees shrieked out and screamed.

Because I told my host siblings the snake story, they decided to come to my room a couple days later with a snake. When I saw them holding a snake, I squealed! They giggled and shook their head “No.”

“Oh! It’s just plastic?” I said.

It sure was just fake. However, I did learn that Cameroonians do eat snakes. But I’ll never try them because Peace Corps Trainees and Volunteers are not allowed to eat bush meat. To be honest, I’m grateful for the policy.

One can say that these experiences of finding creatures are not worth for the two years of Peace Corps service. We need to remember that every destination has its own share of problems but also wonderful treasures. All the wonderful things we’re offered and we’re doing truly outweighs discovering things that may not appeal to us. I am currently loving in learning about how I can help educate people about preventing malaria, vaccination, and nutrition while also immersing myself in a new culture.

I should add a very positive discovery – Cameroonians in general are super clean people. I am having a hard time understanding how they can keep their white clothes completely free from dirt. I have also spotted Cameroonians cleaning their shoes outside. I also always spot my host family regularly cleaning the floors of their home and keeping their home tidy.