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May 29, 2009
29 May 2009 - Bamenda
I was finally able to conquer a major chunk of my research project (or, at least, of the tasks left to do in Cameroon) – going to the market. Jane and I traveled with Charlie to the market and I wrote down the names and prices of as many foods as possible. I currently have a list of over 70 items! From this list, I will hopefully determine a cost-effective diet for HIV/AIDS patients.
After the market, we went to the Delegation of Public Health for the Northwest Province. We intended to meet the Delegate of Public Health, but he was out of the office. The venture wasn’t a total failure, though – we found a poster of several natural medicines and plants native to the tropics that indicated their uses (i.e., to relieve AIDS suffering, to cure conjunctivitis). We copied down the ones that seemed pertinent.
Back at the clinic, we attended a presentation on grant writing, led by Steve. It was actually pretty interesting – very direct and allowed for a ton of group participation - and a nice way to end the week.
As it was our last Friday night in Bamenda, we finally made it to the International Hotel for dinner and drinks with several of the other out-of-towners in the area. We conversed in great length with Sarah and Kristyn, two German volunteers who were about our age (we’re usually 5-10 years younger than all of the other volunteers).
Despite this being the end of my third week in Bamenda, I’m still getting used to the “going out” schedule. In the US, we usually leave to go out around 10 or 11 PM, arriving home at 2 or 3 AM. Here, we go out around 5 or 6 PM and are generally done by 10 PM. I guess this makes sense, as we generally go to bed around 8 or 9 PM here, but I still find it odd when we call it a night at 10:15.
Power outages: 38
Posted by ajvandeu at May 29, 2009 01:38 PM