So far so good

Just returned from the clinic this morning which means I'm officially done with the staging process! I arrived on Wednesday afternoon 1 1/2 late for my first seminar (not because of Cook time but rather fog delays in Phili!) yet everything worked out OK because more than half the group was delayed as well. Our first day was consumed with group activities and lectures. It feels great to finally be among others who will be sharing in the same experience as me. The majority of the group is girls (typical of the Peace Corps where ratios are usually 60% female 40% male). Everyone is super friendly just as I'd imagined and several of the boys on the group are down right hilarious. "Since this is the Peace Corps" as they put it, we've been doing a lot of talking about our feelings (excitement, anxieties, aspirations). It seems at the moment every one's feelings are quite similar, but once we've landed and the reality of living in Cameroon sets in I'm sure they'll vary drastically. The Peace Corps staff (3 former volunteers) so far has been wonderful. Very knowledgeable and professional. They each served in a different decade so it's been nice to have that perspective of how Peace Corps was and what it has become. After a long training session on Wednesday we finished the night off at an outdoor pizzeria, followed by a karaoke bar that unfortunately was not doing karaoke that night but totally redeemed themselves with a rock, paper, scissors tournament! Honestly the whole first day left me feeling like this was my third study abroad. As much as I enjoyed them I'm anxious to get away from that lifestyle which will be coming shortly. Day two was another full day of seminars; a little more focused on Cameroon itself. Although I don't have my official post yet, I can tell you that the Northern Provinces are the Anglophone regions, Muslim, more conservative, very HOT (120) but dry climate. The South and West is the Francophone region, more liberal, roughly 90 degree temps, and apparently people are Very friendly. I'll be happy with either although I do really want to become strong in French. This morning I received my Yellow Fever & will start taking my weekly Malaria pill at noon. The Peace Corps provides all the preemptive strategies to getting sick thus it's up to the volunteer to be sure they abide by them. Setting a Friday reminder as we speak! Okay off to checkout and then do more shopping. How it's possible I still need more things I Don't Know..but I do. Au revoir! My next post will be from Cameroon!!!